Best Portable White Noise Machine
You love your baby, but sometimes your little one just doesn’t want to take a nap or drift off to sleep for the night. You’re tired. He’s tired, and you need a little help. Consider the use of “white noise.” For years college students used small fans to block out loud noises from the hallway or street traffic. The constant whir of the fan kept the extremes of ambient noise at bay and made it easier to relax or get to sleep.
Over the years, we have to come to realize the value of white noise in the sleep process, and today’s choices left the whir of the fan behind and replaced it with a wide range of sounds from waterfalls to babbling brooks. In some cases, it has also proven useful for people with tinnitus. Check out some of the modern modes of white noise and the machines that produce them.
SoundBub, White Noise Machine and Bluetooth Speaker
Made to look like a friendly owl to make it pleasant for a baby to look at, the SoundBub is a compact little machine that measures only 3.5” x 1.4” x 1”, smaller than a 3” x 5” index card. It has a large handle you can clip onto a crib, stroller, or other nearby handle to help baby go to sleep or entertain him.
Who is this product for?
This product was primarily designed to help babies get to sleep and stay asleep. This white noise machine produces soothing sounds to minimize other noises that might make it difficult for baby to go to sleep or stay asleep. However, it’s also very useful for adults.
What’s included?
The SoundBub white noise machine comes with 2 preloaded white noise tracks: ocean waves or gentle rain, as well as instructions. It’s shaped like an owl with a face so you know it was made with baby in mind.
Overview of features
This little machine does double duty as a Bluetooth speaker. You can choose from 12 additional noise sounds from the manufacturer’s VoiceShare app and play them through the speaker. Or, you can play other music or phone messages through the app so baby can hear the voices of friends and relatives through the speaker.
The SoundBub has a sleep timer that includes 30, 60, and 90 minute choices, as well as an option for continuous play for a full night’s sleep.
Pros
- Very small, lightweight and portable
- Recharchargable battery with a 3-year life
- Makes a great gift
- Can choose to use the timer or continuous play
- Has a clip for attachment to stroller or crib
- Made of chew-safe materials
- Can also play baby’s favorite music
- Also comes in rabbit or bear forms
Cons
- Adults may not like the owl look
LectroFan Micro Wireless Sleep Sound Machine and Bluetooth Speaker
Who is this product for?
This product comes to the market from Adaptive Sound Technologies. With a sleek, sophisticated look, it is clearly intended for adults, however, is very appropriate for use with babies. In fact, once your baby has outgrown it, you may feel more comfortable using a machine that doesn’t look as though it was made expressly for a baby.
What’s included?
The package includes the very small Sleep Sound Machine, 2” x 2.75’ x 2.8”, and instructions.
Overview of Features
If you’re really stuck on the sound of a fan, the LectroFan Micro Wireless Sleep Sound Machine comes loaded with five different fan sounds. In addition, it has four other noises and a very soothing ocean sound as well.
This machine is also a Bluetooth speaker, so you can play other sounds or your favorite music to help you get to sleep. The swivel design allows you to focus the sound in the direction you want. And since it is a Bluetooth device, you can also use it for phone calls as well as conference calls.
It has a built-in rechargeable battery that will give up to 16 hours of soothing white noise or up to 6 hours of streaming audio on a full charge.
Pros
- Very small and portable
- Sleek sophisticated design
- Can focus sound
Cons
- Runs only on battery
- Has no clip to attach for stroller or crib for baby
Three sheep White Noise Machine
This unobtrusive little white noise machine from three sheep looks like a small alarm clock and will fit anywhere. It produces white noise and also serves as a clock. Use it in the bedroom, nursery, office, living room, or anywhere you want to keep out distractions or other ambient noises. The white noise choices can help you relax, study, or get to sleep.
Who is this product for?
This product has been designed for anyone who has difficulties falling asleep or staying asleep and is appropriate for use with babies or adults.
What’s included?
Open the box and you will find the white noise machine, the DC 5V 1A adapter, a USB cable, and user manual.
Overview of Features
This nifty white noise machine comes loaded with 10 sounds that will soothe, calm, and relax. Those sounds include white noise, crackling fire, rain, a bird, a brook, thunder, the sounds of a typhoon, and the ocean. All are designed to give you the experience of being close to nature. There are also 2 lullabies included.
The white noise machine also comes with an easy to use power supply that consists of a micro-USB cable and a wall AC adapter. You can plug it in next to your bed, in a PC, or auxiliary USB port in your car. If you want to use it where you have no AC power available, it will also run on 4 AA batteries which you will have to buy separately.
Its LED screen clearly displays several sleep timer options of 15, 30, 60, and 90 minutes. You can also choose the full night sleep selection.
With complete volume adjustment, you can make it low enough for a soothing sleep or loud enough to block noisy outside distractions such as noisy neighbors or the neighbor in the room next to you.
This device also operates as a clock, but the manufacturer missed an opportunity to add an alarm feature.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Relatively inexpensive
- Portable
- Operates on AC power or battery
- Also operates as a clock
- Has a volume control
Cons
- No alarm clock feature
Conclusion
If white noise is what you want, white noise is what you can get from a variety of machines. They’re all small, portable, and inexpensive. They come loaded with a selection of sounds but since they are Bluetooth compatible, you have the option of finding other sounds or music on the Internet.
Of the three reviewed here, my favorite is the three sheep model. The size of a small alarm clock, it comes loaded with 10 different sounds and has a volume control. It can also operate on either AC or battery power. I always like options, and this one certainly has them. But beware. While these white noise machines provide ambient sounds you may find relaxing, you can get hooked on that wonderful feeling. Oh, wait. That can’t be all bad.