Best Sound Machines of 2025

The Hatch Baby is one of those buzzworthy baby registry products you’ve likely heard about from friends even if you’re not yet a parent. It’s the most-registered-for sound machine on Babyist registries and received major write-in love from hundreds of parents in our Most Loved Baby Gear survey, with many telling us it was their favorite item on their entire registry. “I use it every day. It makes my life so much easier,” said one. “I cannot live without it,” added another.

Revered as an all-in-one sleep solution, the Hatch truly does it all: it’s a sound machine, color-changing night light and a time-to-rise clock for older kiddos all rolled into one. It also offers music, stories, curated routines for different ages and even customizable “tuck-ins” (recorded messages from you or from family or friends). There’s something for every age and stage; many parents keep their Hatch in rotation well into elementary school. “It’s an item that lasts for years instead of months,” one parent told us. Another shared, “I used Hatch from day two and still use it now, four years later.”

For the baby stage, I love the ability to create a personalized sleep routine—and other parents agree. “It has been essential in getting our babies into good sleep habits,” said one. “As soon as our baby hears it turn on: instant yawning and eye rubbing,” added another. You can also access one-on-one sleep support via a real-time expert chat, read baby sleep guides and create predictive sleep schedules (especially helpful for taking the guesswork out of newborn sleep). And once your baby is older, the Hatch still delivers. My five-year-old loves the stories and “tiny bed concerts” as a wind-down before bed.

Hatch Baby is fully app-controlled, but you can use the unit itself for some features. (I love the “big button”—the top of the device—that controls volume and lets you start, stop or pause your preprogrammed favorites.)

There are a few drawbacks, though. The Hatch relies on WiFi and must stay plugged in, so you’ll need to plan for an outlet near (but safely away from) your baby’s sleep space. (There is Bluetooth back-up, however.) It’s also on the pricey side, and while premium sleep content is free for the first six months, you’ll need a subscription—$4.99 per month or $49 annually—if you want to keep access after that.

Additional Specs

• Dimensions: 4.5” x 4.5” x 6.5”

• Sounds: 45

• Special features: Custom sleep schedules, app-controlled, combines night light, sound machine and time-to-rise clock in one

• Power source: Plug

More than 85% of Babylist parents we surveyed said they own a portable sound machine, and the Sprucely Travel Sound Machine is a favorite.

This tiny sound machine packs a big punch. It has over 20 sound options, including fan and nature sounds along with white noise. There’s an adjustable warm night light and an auto-shutoff option for 30, 60 or 90 minutes. And the detachable ring enables you to secure the sound machine wherever you need it, like on your stroller when you’re on the go or to the side of a playard if you’re sleeping away from home. 

Another big perk: the Sprucely features an impressively long battery life. “I’ve used it for three nights in a row without charging,” says Briana, a Babylist editor. (There's a USB charging cable when you run out of battery life.) She also raves about the volume wheel, which is easy to see, access and use, something that isn't the case with all portable sound machines.

Before you use this portable sound machine, it’s important to know that the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends placing a sound machine at least seven feet from a child’s head and using the lowest effective volume. Since that’s not possible when you’re using it on the go (like attached to a stroller), Barclay, a pediatric audiologist, recommends “turning the volume down softer to compensate for the decreased distance to the baby’s head.” (Just note that the exact volume level hasn’t been formally investigated, so try to keep it as low as possible while also still being effective.)

The only downside of the Sprucely is that the buttons aren't backlit, which can make them a bit challenging to see in the dark—but the night light helps. Parents also note that they wish the night light had a few different color options other than white, like pink.

Additional Specs

• Dimensions: 3.9"D x 1.6" H

• Sounds: 21

• Special features: Adjustable night light, detachable ring, long battery life, USB charger

• Power source: USB rechargeable battery

For just about $25, the Momcozy offers a lot of bang for your buck. It’s mini but doesn’t skimp on features, boasting an impressive range of sounds (20 in total), including white noise, pink noise, nature sounds and soothing spa-like music and lullabies. It also doubles as a light source, perfect for seeing during those late-night feeds or for older toddlers who are scared of the dark. You can turn the light on or off with a quick tap of the little light icon in the center or adjust the brightness simply by long pressing it. I really like how you can flip the machine with the light face up for brighter light when you need to grab a diaper or bottle, or down for a more subtle night light glow.

The lightweight, compact design and long battery life of the Momcozy make it especially great for hotel stays and trips to grandma’s. “Love that it’s portable and holds a charge,” said one Babylist parent. Another called it “so easy to use” and “convenient.” I couldn’t agree more. While Momcozy states the sound machine has a 10-hour battery life, I was able to get two nine-hour+ nights out of it before having to recharge (which only takes two and a half hours to fully charge). 

Another feature that stood out to me was the memory settings. When I powered off the Momcozy in the morning, it automatically remembered my previous setting for the next sleep, saving me precious time and the hassle of having to shuffle through to find my little one’s favorite sound, adjust the volume or flip on or off the light again. There are three timer options too (one hour, three hours and six hours) so parents can set the sound machine to automatically shut off after a set time. Once your baby hits toddlerhood, the Momcozy features a genius child lock button so kids can’t mess with the settings or turn it off in the middle of the night. 

For serious white noise users, the quality of some of the sounds, particularly the pink, white and brown noise, may underwhelm; however, I found most sounds to be quite pleasant and soothing. I do wish the buttons were backlit, as even with the nightlight on I had to use my phone’s flashlight if I wanted to switch sounds or adjust the volume during the night.

Additional Specs

• Dimensions: 3.6” x 3.6” x 2”

• Sounds: 20

• Special features: Dimmable touch lamp, child lock, built-in memory function

• Power source: Rechargeable battery

Shushing a baby for even just a few minutes can be exhausting—I know from experience. While I regrettably never owned the Baby Shusher, which uses the rhythmic shushing sounds of a real human voice to put your little one to sleep, Babylist editor Jen LaBracio told me she swears by it. “I consider this one of those simple, straightforward baby products that just work,” she says. “There's nothing complicated about it; it literally emits a continuous shushing noise so you don't have to. And most babies love it, both of mine included. I used it at home and on the go with both of my kids during their first few months.” Many Babylist parents agree, with one calling it a “lifesaver for car rides or getting baby to sleep” and another dubbing it “the single best thing we ever bought for our baby,” conserving parents’ limited energy and their sanity. 

To use, simply rotate the top to the 15 or 30-minute timer position and twist the bottom to your desired volume. While it requires 2 AA batteries, they’re included, and according to Babylist’s assistant editor Briana Engelbrecht, the batteries lasted her family almost a year before they needed replacing (and by that time you’re probably done using it anyway).

A common frustration expressed by many parents is that they wished the Shusher stayed on longer than 30 minutes. “So annoying that it shuts off after 30 minutes and wakes a newborn with the sudden change,” one parent noted in our survey. Others were dissatisfied by the shape, which rolls around when placed on its side and muffles the speaker when upright.

Additional Specs

• Dimensions: 2.3” x 2.3” x 5”

• Sounds: 1

• Special features: Uses real human voice to shush babies to sleep, two automatic timer options

• Power source: 2 AA batteries (included)

The Nanit Pro Smart Baby Monitor was a clear favorite in our Babylist survey, with 20% of parents relying on it to monitor their little ones nightly. If you’re a Nanit user, it’s worth investing in the sound machine and night light, albeit pricy, for convenience—and to avoid the headache of yet another app. “As a Nanit user, this was a really convenient sound machine for me,” says LaBracio. “I'm all in favor of any item of baby gear that simplifies my life, and it was nice to be able to use this in sync with my Nanit monitor that I was already using in my nursery. You can operate the sound machine via the main Nanit app—no need to toggle back and forth between two different apps—which I liked.”

The sleek machine comes with 11 sound options, and there’s a good variety, from calming white noise to tranquil nature sounds to please even the pickiest baby. LaBracio also appreciates the customization options “so you can find the light and sound options that work best for you” and save your faves for the next nap or nighttime. Users can create custom wake routines, bedtime routines and more, all with a unique light color so it functions as a toddler clock too. 

The only complaint reviewers have is that the app can be buggy, often disconnecting the sound machine, which can be a pain.

Additional Specs

• Dimensions: 5” x 3.5” x 3.5”

• Sounds: 11

• Special features: Can set up custom routines and save favorite sound/light combinations, app-controlled via the main Nanit app

• Power source: USB rechargeable battery, plus power adapter for use at home or on the go

If you’re looking for a sound machine without all the bells and whistles, the longstanding Yogasleep Dohm, which has been lulling littles and their parents to sleep since 1962, is your best option. The Dohm has the official stamp of approval from the National Sleep Foundation and, not surprisingly, was the second most popular sound machine amongst Babylist parents we surveyed. “It creates a soothing windy white noise that is absolutely key to helping baby fall and stay asleep,” remarks one parent. 

What sets the Dohm apart from other sound machines on our list is not that it only offers one sound, but that its beloved white noise is generated by an actual fan with an adjustable speed (there are two settings), volume and tone so you can find the perfect setting to soothe your child. “White noise is calming for babies, as it sounds similar to what it sounds like inside the womb,” explains certified infant sleep consultant Carolynne J. Harvey, founder of Dream Baby Sleep. “It actually switches on the calming reflex in your baby’s brain, allowing him or her to fall asleep more easily. There are other benefits, too: it drowns out background noise, helping them get uninterrupted sleep, and it's a great part of a sleep routine.”

The Dohm doesn’t connect to an app. There are no set sleep schedules or library of sounds or night light options or plethora of buttons. But this simplicity is why it shines, and why it’s an easy first choice for some parents. The Dohm also needs to be plugged in, so you’ll want to be sure to place it a safe distance (seven feet+) from your child’s crib or bassinet. (According to Yogasleep, at six feet the maximum decibel level of the Dohm Natural is 58.1dB. The AAP recommends 50 dB or lower, while the CDC recommends under 60 dB, according to Barclay.)

Some Babylist reviewers have complained about a loud rattling sound coming from the Dohm when used at the highest setting over time, but that isn’t the norm for most people.

Additional Specs

• Dimensions: 5.62”L x 5.62”W x 3.97”H

• Sounds: One

• Special features: White noise created by real fan with adjustable speed, volume and tone

• Power source: 7-foot 120V AC plug