Dryer sound – characteristics, white noise, research, sources

Proven content

The sound of the hair dryer may irritate some people, but for many mums it is an effective way to calm down or even put the baby to sleep. This method was already known to our mothers and grandmothers who also used it willingly. Why is the sound of a dryer so effective in soothing children? What is the so-called “White noise”?

Dryer sound – characteristics

The sound of the dryer is perfect when you want to calm your baby down. Studies have been carried out on the effects of the sound of a dryer on infants to understand the secrets of this phenomenon. The researchers concluded that the sound of the hair dryer just reminds your toddler of the sounds that reached him during his prenatal period. These sounds accompanied the baby throughout the pregnancy, so now it allows him to quickly calm down and calm down.

The baby hears all sounds from about 4 months in the womb. However, these are not just outside sounds. The sound that accompanies a toddler all the time is the hum of flowing umbilical cord blood, which resembles the sound of a blow dryer.

Dryer sound – white noise

Dryer noise belongs to the group of sounds known as white noise. These sounds have a beneficial effect on newborns and babies. They allow them to calm down and calm down, for example during colic.

White noise is a combination of sounds with different frequencies. The sound is measured, calm and very slow. So it’s not just the sound of the dryer. It can also be the sound of water, sounds in a moving car, the regular ticking of a clock, the sounds of a gentle, fine rain, or the sound of water in an aquarium. There are many possibilities.

Check it out: What is infant colic?

The sound of the dryer – research

The effects of white noise on babies began around the second half of the 1990th century. In XNUMX, research was conducted in one of the maternity hospitals, the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Queen Charlotte’s Hospital in London. It quickly turned out that newborns falling asleep in the presence of white noise fell asleep much faster than babies falling asleep in absolute silence.

In addition, it turned out that white noise, and thus also the sounds of the dryer, slowed down the heart rate of infants, which dropped from 180 to 110 during the test. This allowed for faster relaxation and restful sleep. In other words, white noise, and so dryer sound style sounds make it easier for children to adapt to new conditions outside their mother’s abdomen.

It is worth remembering that the baby was not in absolute silence during the 9 months of pregnancy, so he may now consider it something unnatural, so it is no wonder that the silence causes anxiety in the baby.

The sound of the dryer – the source

The sound of the dryer is such a popular way to soothe your baby today that you can easily download applications to your phone that allow your baby to play this sound when the need arises. Audio files with dryer sound can also be found on the Internet and downloaded to your phone or computer.

Dryer sound – other uses

The sound of a blow dryer and other sources of white noise can also positively affect concentration and is often recommended by doctors working with children with ADHD. This is because these sounds block various harsh sounds coming from the surroundings and, surprisingly, muffle the noise.

Check it out: Layette for a newborn – necessary accessories, when to start?

The sound of the dryer – rules of use

White noise, i.e. the sound of a dryer, should be applied according to certain rules. Remember to:

1. the sound source was not left in the baby’s cot or directly next to it;
2. the sound should not be more than 50 dB;
3. the sound should resemble the sounds you hear when someone is taking a shower;
4. it is best to use the sound of the dryer only when the toddler goes to bed – it is not recommended to use white noise when the child is active;
5. before using white noise, it is best to consult a doctor;
6. the sound of the dryer helps babies fall asleep from birth to the maximum of 5 years of age.

Check it out: How much does a newborn sleep? How to deal with disturbed sleep?

Dryer noise and other white noise sources

The sound of a dryer is not the only source of white noise in our homes. We can achieve a similar effect thanks to the sounds:

1. air purifier;
2. ticking clock;
3. aquarium;
4. quiet music similar to the sounds of nature, e.g. the sound of the ocean, the sounds of the forest;
5. empty cassette;
6. dripping tap;
7. the sound of rain outside the window.

Check it out: Baby bedding – what should you pay attention to?

Dryer sound – indications

The sound of the dryer is beneficial for little ones who are difficult to calm down. This is often the only way your baby will stop crying. The sound of the dryer will also help children with infantile colic.

It should be remembered, however, that some children may just need stroking or rocking to calm down, while others fall asleep alone in their crib. It is also worth bearing in mind that if the child gets used to the sound of the dryer, he may not want to fall asleep without it.

Dryer noise – precautions

As newborn babies have very good hearing, be careful not to place white noise devices too close to your baby’s ears. Remember that in utero, the baby perceived only muffled sounds, so they do not like loud, clear sounds. Ideally, the source of the white noise should be outside the baby’s crib.