After you’ve put your baby to sleep at night, you make a cup of herbal tea for yourself and your partner, put on your favourite record, and plunk yourself down on the sofa to tell your partner about your day and hear about theirs. But the living room is right next to where the baby’s sleeping.

You’re aware that your little one has very fragile ears, and you wonder: Should I whisper and turn down the music so my partner and I can barely hear it? Or is it OK to have a certain amount of noise? You may have some similar concerns about noise when your baby is awake and wonder: Do I have to protect them from loud drills on the street and toys that are excessively loud? Or is it better for them to get used to loud sounds?

We hear you! These questions go through the minds of most parents. So let's shed some light on what the supposed benefits and risks are when it comes to exposing your little one to noise, so you can discover what is best for you and your baby.

What are the supposed benefits of exposing my child to noise?

A certain amount of noise is desirable, especially if you have other children or your child will soon go to daycare.

It is better for a child to get used to noise so they will not be shocked by noisy environments with other children.

If your baby gets used to sleeping in complete silence, then even the tiniest sound can wake them up.

Making sure your baby has sounds going on around them will help them get used to sleeping in a variety of different environments.

Now let’s see what the experts say and what the risks are associated with exposing your child to noise.

What do the experts say about exposing your child to noise?

According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, sounds at 70 decibels or lower are considered safe. Normal conversation is around 60 decibels.

Sensorineural hearing loss can take place when there’s continuous exposure to sounds at 85 decibels or higher.

For infants, the American Academy of Pediatrics (APP) recommends keeping the noise levels to around 50 decibels in hospital nurseries.

As well as the volume of sound, we also need to consider the distance from the sound as well as the length of time your little one is exposed to it. Research has discovered that many baby toys that produce loud sounds can be dangerous for babies, as they hold these toys close to their ears.

One study found that out of 90 popular toys marketed for babies 6 months and older, 88 of them produced a whopping noise amplitude of 85 decibels! It was further discovered that even when these toys were held 30cm away, 19 of the 90 toys still produced a noise amplitude of more than 85 decibels.

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, a noise amplitude of 85 decibels would even be dangerous for adults if they were exposed to it for an average of 8 hours a day (for example, at their job).

A study carried out by the APP found that out of 14 different sleep machines for babies, all of them produced a sound above the recommended 50-decibel level, and 3 of them produced a sound greater than 85 decibels! In addition to this, the study also showed that there were no adequate instructions on how to use them safely.

How do I use this information to make a decision that’s right for my baby?

If you would like to use a sleep machine, then make sure you place the machine as far away as possible from your baby, on the lowest possible setting, and limit the amount of time you use it.

It’s important to realise that babies’ ear canals are a lot smaller than ours, and their skulls are also a lot thinner; therefore, noise has the potential to cause significant damage and hearing loss. If your baby is around loud noises for long periods of time, it can cause damage to the inner ear and hearing nerve.

As parents, it’s our responsibility to limit the time we expose our little ones to loud noises. Be aware of the toys you provide them, how loud you speak, as well as how loud you have the music on in the car.

If you know you have to expose your baby to loud sounds, then consider getting them some ear defenders.

When it comes to your little one's sleeping habits, you need to do what’s best for your household and your lifestyle. When determining the environment that suits them best, consider their temperament and general sensitivity.

As we mentioned earlier, normal conversation is just under the decibel limit of what’s considered safe for humans. It is helpful for your child to get used to sleeping in the absence of silence, so feel free to chat away with your partner while your baby is asleep in the next room. Just remember to keep the music volume at a moderate level and be aware of how loud you’re speaking.

As long as you stay aware of your baby's needs and sensitivities, it is healthy to have background noises in your home environment.

Should my house be silent for my baby?

On Unii’s Baby Sleep Journey, we ask if your house needs to be silent for your baby.