For babies and adults alike, the best white noise machines produce calming sounds to encourage a better night’s sleep
There are some things in life that money can’t buy – but a good sleep isn’t necessarily one of them. When sirens, traffic and loud neighbours disrupt your bedtime peace, the best white noise machines can out the racket with a steady din all of their own. From the fuzz of a de-tuned radio to the replicated drone of an industrial fan, these little gadgets emit white noise sounds to help you drift off to dreamland.
“White noise contains all frequencies of sound at the same volume, like static,” explains Dr Lindsay Browning, a chartered psychologist and neuroscientist at Trouble Sleeping and author of Navigating Sleeplessness with a doctorate in insomnia from the University of Oxford. “It can be quite unpleasant to listen to, so there are other options including green, brown and pink noise that have quieter high frequencies.”
Noise machines vary from little portable powerhouses that throw out a handful of fan sounds to complex and expensive wired ‘companions’ that connect to your phone and train you in sleep-related habits, like meditation and mindfulness. As a result, they range greatly in price too. Some are aimed specifically at calming children, with long battery life and baby-proof clips for cots. Others are good for adults, thanks to more sophisticated designs and diverse audio options.
You can read more about the different types of white noise, along with expert advice from Dr Browning, in the FAQ section below. If you’re in a hurry, here’s a quick look at my top five: