White, pink or brown — what is the difference?
White noise has equal energy at every frequency, so it sounds bright and hissy, like a radio between stations. Pink noise rolls off the highs, closer to steady rain. Brown noise goes further, a deep rumble like a distant waterfall or the inside of a car. All three mask background sounds; they differ in how bright or warm they feel.
Because BabySleep synthesizes each one rather than playing a recording, you can start with white noise and drift towards pink or brown without a jarring track change, or layer a little heartbeat or rain underneath in the mixer.
Built for the crib, not the desk
Most white noise apps were built for adults working or sleeping. This one was built by people who have been up at 3 a.m. with a newborn:
- No loop point — the sound is generated continuously
- No ads, no autoplay video, nothing that wakes a sleeping baby
- Every sound soft-starts over two seconds; no sudden onsets
- Master output hard-capped in the audio engine, not just the slider
- Works with the phone locked and without signal
Timer, fade-out and Rescue mode
Set the white noise to run for 15 to 90 minutes or all night. At the end it fades over 1 to 30 minutes rather than stopping cold. If your baby wakes crying, Rescue mode switches to a stronger settle mix of brown hush and heartbeat and then softens over ten minutes.
Using white noise safely
Place the phone at least two metres from the crib, keep the volume moderate — louder is not calmer — and use the fade-out so the sound is not running at full level all night. The app enforces a hard volume ceiling, but placement is up to you.
BabySleep is a sound and tracking tool for parents, not a medical device. Nothing on this page is medical advice; if you are worried about your baby’s sleep or health, talk to a pediatric professional.
Frequently asked questions
Is white noise or pink noise better for a baby?
Both mask background noise; pink and brown noise simply sound warmer and less hissy. Many parents try each in the app and check the sleep log after a week to see which one lined up with longer stretches.
Can I leave white noise on all night?
The app has an all-night timer option. Whether to use it, and at what distance and volume, is your call — the hearing-safety guidance in the app suggests two metres from the crib and a moderate level.
Does white noise drain the battery?
The sound is generated on-device with a lightweight engine designed for all-night playback. As with any audio app, keeping the phone plugged in for an all-night session is sensible.