# White noise machines **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 3, 2003, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-noise-machines/152466 "2003-02-03T08:26:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![beckwall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b487fb/32.png) [@beckwall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beckwall)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-noise-machines/152466/21 "2003-02-03T20:54:22Z")
I have a tough time getting to sleep, staying asleep, etc. and I have been using a sound machine for years. I’m afraid I am so used to it that when I went camping - out in the middle of vast wilderness, pure silence - I could not sleep without my machine. I also recommend foam earplugs and a nice satiny sleep mask. Sweet dreams! ---
**Author:** ![Nightsong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nightsong/32/3083_2.png) [@Nightsong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightsong)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-noise-machines/152466/22 "2003-02-03T21:52:40Z")
I find the white noise from the machines to be non-helpful: the noise and air movement from a noisy fan is what does the trick for me. Ear plugs are good for blocking out the snoring of others, but they might keep you from hearing your alarm clock! If you do pick up one, pick up one that has a wide variety of different sounds, and is multi-function. That way if one noise doesn’t work, perhaps another one will, and if none of them work, then at least you have a radio and/or clock out of the deal. * * * \<\< Rain drops keep falling on my head… \>\> ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-noise-machines/152466/23 "2003-02-04T04:01:33Z")
I got my white sound machine (it also has all those other weird noises, the heartbeat, etc.) at the Salvation Army on a whim for $4. I then invested in a power cord, and I use it every night. I am not exaggerating when I say _it changed my life._ I have several cats, some of whom are noisy in the morning, but with the white sound machine on, I can close my door and not hear them. I love my white sound machine! ---
**Author:** ![Klaatu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Klaatu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Klaatu)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-noise-machines/152466/24 "2003-02-04T04:53:58Z")
I just groove to the fan noise of my mighty IBM 166 Aptiva… ---
**Author:** ![Osbie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/cdc98d/32.png) [@Osbie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Osbie)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-noise-machines/152466/25 "2003-02-04T05:09:17Z")
I heartily endorse Hammacher Schlemmer’s Sleep Sound Generator. You can read a description of it at the link below. It makes a “whooshing” noise which is something every Doper will appreciate. [http://www.hammacher.com/publish/60586.asp](http://www.hammacher.com/publish/60586.asp) ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Mapp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miss_mapp/32/369_2.png) [@Miss\_Mapp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Mapp)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-noise-machines/152466/26 "2003-02-04T13:36:11Z")
I’ll have the fan on at night when it’s warm enough, but I also bought a Noise Box last fall for about $20 that works very nicely. I usually put it on the “rain” setting for half an hour to fall asleep. The “babbling brook” and “waves crashing on the shore” are also soothing, but somewhat disorienting, since I know I’m nowhere near a body of water. The Box also has a heartbeat sound, which is too creepy to listen to. I never liked plain “white noise,” since to me it suggests that I fell asleep during a movie, the TV station’s gone off the air, and it’s time to turn it off and go to bed. Not sleep-conducive on its own. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-noise-machines/152466.md?page=1)