Best Baby Sound Machines, Tested by Sleepy Infants and Tots

The Dreamegg Nite1 Baby sound machine has it all: user-friendly features, a large range of sounds, smart features with an intuitive app and a price point that won’t break the bank. Let’s take a closer look at how it performed during testing.

First of all, I really liked that I was able to use the machine even before downloading the app. This made it easy to familiarize myself with the machine, explore some of the sounds and lights and use it for my baby’s nap right out of the box. The “quick start guide” card was also helpful with getting the machine up and running quickly. As I shuffled through the sounds, I was pleasantly surprised by the range and quality offered, but I especially loved the nature options. There were multiple ocean sounds, rain sounds including a gentle pitter-patter and a heavy downpour, a variety of animal sounds including bird song and crickets chirping and even a crackling campfire track. In total, there are 34 different sound options, so you’re sure to find something that calms and soothes your baby.

While I appreciated the freedom of using the machine manually, I also had a really good experience with the app interface. The machine could be connected with two different apps: Smart Life and Tuya. You need a subscription to use Smart Life, so I opted for a free version of Tuya app as it didn’t require payment or membership. Connecting and setting up the device was a breeze and only took a few minutes. From there, the app was simple and intuitive to figure out. Even though I was in guest mode, I was still able to access all of the machine features, so I didn’t feel like I was missing out on anything. I was able to do everything on the app remotely: change light colors, toggle through sounds, adjust the brightness, set the clock and alarms, activate the child lock and adjust the volume.

I found the dimmest setting to be a perfect amount of light to help take the “scaries” away from a dark room but not bright enough to disrupt sleep, and the brightest setting provided enough light to comfortably change a diaper in the middle of the night. And something I really liked about this machine was the sunlight light feature, which was basically a range of light that was meant to mimic the feel of a natural sunrise. It went from a deep orange glow into a softer yellow hue to then a brighter and more vibrant white light at the peak.

In conclusion, the Dreamegg Nite 1 Baby sound machine gives you all the basic features you’d need in a good sound machine—a variety of sounds, plenty of light with brightness settings and easy to use controls. Aside from that, it has really cool smart features that are customizable based on your child’s routines and age, all within a super intuitive and user-friendly app.

Dimensions: 4.4" (L) x 4.4" (W) x 5.5" (H) | Weight: 1.1 lbs | Number of sounds: 34 | Night light: Yes

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The BGOVERSS White Noise Sound Machine is our budget-friendly pick of the bunch. Priced well under $20, this infant noise machine is cost-effective and holds its own in terms of sounds, features and functionality.

This machine had a decent selection of sounds including white, pink and brown noise sound tracks. The brown sleep noise worked best for putting our baby and toddlers to sleep—it was the perfect static tone that was neither too high or too low pitched—while the gentle lullabies were perfect for creating a relaxing environment after bath time or during our bedtime routine. In fact, all of the 14 sounds were very realistic and high quality and the device offers excellent volume control. Since the machine remembered the last sound and volume setting I had it set at during my previous use, I didn’t have to flip through a bunch of options every time I turned the machine on. This was an unexpectedly useful feature to have since it saved me time and just a little bit of sanity.

While some sound machines could be figured out pretty quickly without a manual, I didn’t find that to be the case with this one. The controls weren’t intuitive on their own—especially given the combination of both touch and physical buttons—but it was easy to get the hang of it after a few uses. The touch buttons actually lit up, which made it really easy to find and operate when I’d use the device in a dim or dark room. It’s also worth noting the touch buttons were very sensitive, which can be both a good and bad thing. For what it’s worth, my kids loved helping me use the night light and power the machine on and off by tapping and holding the metal grill part of the sound machine.

This sound machine also had a few other helpful features, including a night light with 10 color options and timer settings. The night light wasn’t as illuminating as I would have liked, but it still offered a nice, soft glow. All in all, the BGOVERSS White Noise Sound Machine impressed me with its sounds, features, and durability given its affordable price tag. It’s such good value, you could get one for each room!

Dimensions: 4.8" (L) x 4.8" (W) x 3.9" (H) | Weight: 0.9 lbs. | Number of sounds: 14 | Night light: Yes

We’ve come a long way from boring night lights plugged into power outlets. Enter: the Hatch Rest 2nd Gen, the smart sound machine with the best functional night light and sunrise alarm for kids.

This machine had every possible light color available with not only a bunch of pre-set options, but also a dropper tool that allowed me to choose any color on a color wheel within the app. But that’s not all: I was also able to set light patterns that I could pair with sounds. It was also really easy to set the intensity of the light to the level I wanted by using the touch screen buttons on the side of the machine or through the app. The range of intensity was really good and there were useful number indicators to show which brightness setting I was on.

My baby loves sleeping with white noise, so this machine definitely helped soothe him during bedtime routines and in those middle-of-the-night wake ups. My baby especially liked the brown noise option, but the fan and dryer sounds also get honorable mentions. The time-to-rise option was useful for my 4-year-old, who just started school and was having a hard time transitioning to earlier wake ups. The gentle yet stimulating alarm was the perfect way to create a calm wake up experience setting a nice tone for his day.

This machine is meant to be used while plugged in and the battery is intended for “emergencies” only. Even so, it has up to 8 hours of battery life with a full charge, which is a good amount of time in case of a power outage or wanting to take it to another room without dealing with the cord.

The Hatch app definitely deserves a shoutout for its features and resources. For example, the app was very informative about the benefits of pairing a red light with a sleep sound, since studies have shown both of those things promote better sleep. I also loved how the app used my child’s age to provide helpful and informative sleep tips based on his current age. For an extra $5 fee per month you can subscribe to Hatch+, which gives users access to stories, music and personalized “goodnight notes.”

While it was cool that I could remotely control all of the Hatch’s features through the app—lights, volume, brightness, alarms, etc.—I wish the machine was more intuitive to use manually. I found the app to be much easier and more intuitive to use than the physical controls on the machine. It’s clear the Hatch was meant for use primarily from the app, which admittedly does make the machine heavily reliant on having your phone on hand. Despite this minor bugbear, I would still recommend the Hatch Rest 2nd Gen. With endless light options, app resources and bonus features this is an incredible sleep aid that adapts to your child’s evolving sleep schedule.

Dimensions: 3.5" (L) x 3.5" (W) x 6.3" (H) | Weight: 0.4 lbs | Number of sounds: 11 | Night light: Yes

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Life happens! And every once in a while you’ll have to settle for naps on-the-go. Days like that call for a portable sound machine that you can easily take with you anywhere. The Dreamegg Sleep Lite 1 is my pick of the best portable sound machine thanks to its compact size, night light feature and functional carry strap.

Weighing less than a quarter-pound, I never noticed this sound machine in my purse or diaper bag since it didn’t take up much space and didn’t add to my load. The small round size was perfect for changing the sounds and volume settings comfortably with one hand. The hang strap was my absolute favorite feature about this product! The strap itself is a durable and flexible non-slip silicone material with a button clasp. This made hooking it onto the crib, car seat or stroller incredibly easy and accessible. (I know this may seem like a no-brainer, but other portable sound machines I tested didn’t have a functional strap and it was a real pain.) The best part was definitely the 360 degree rotation feature that allowed me to move the machine in whatever direction I wished—essentially controlling where the speaker faced and directed the sound.

The Dreamegg Sleep Lite 1 also included a night light around the perimeter of the speaker with two settings: dim or bright. I found the gentle yellow glow it created in a dark room or space was the perfect amount of light for nighttime feeds or diaper changes without startling the baby awake. Another feature I really liked was the sound machine remembering the previous sound and volume setting when powering it back on again. On the other hand, I found the shut-off mechanism to be a bit jarring since the sound didn’t taper off but rather stopped abruptly, potentially waking the baby. Last but not least, the child lock was a really thoughtful feature since it prevented tiny fingers from accidentally changing the sound machine settings.

When it came to sounds, I was impressed by the selection of 19 sounds this sleep machine included. Although the sound quality wasn’t as deep as some other comparable speakers, the selection and range of volume was enough to make up for it. It had basic sleep sounds such as white noise, brown noise and pink noise. But there were also a lot of nature sounds including a creek, ocean, birds and crickets. In addition, it also had a small music selection that included lullabies and gentle piano tunes.

The selection of sounds along with all the extra features such as timers, night light and a child lock make this suitable for both everyday use. But it’s also great for travel, thanks to the non-slip strap and long-lasting battery life. Another reason we love it? Reasonably priced at $30, the Dreamegg Sleep Lite 1 gives you a lot of bang for your buck!

Dimensions: 2.6" (L) x 2.6" (W) x 1.9" (H) | Weight: 88 g | Number of sounds: 19 | Night light: Yes

Want to play a traditional family lullaby or a curated playlist of your baby’s favorite songs? The Momcozy DreamSync Tech Baby Sound Machine is up to the task. Equipped with Bluetooth, this wireless infant sound machine lets you stream tracks that are personal to you and has a nice range of preset sounds to choose from.

Pairing this machine with my phone was a seamless experience. And, once connected, the app allowed me to set the clock, alarms and timers, remotely control the sound and light settings, activate the child lock and connect to the speaker remotely via Bluetooth. This last feature was really nice to have since some other smart sound machines didn’t offer that and I often get song requests from my two toddlers (I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve listened to the Frozen soundtrack). This feature could also be used to play stories or audiobooks for older children, so the options really are limitless.

When it comes to app control, less is more. I really appreciated how simple the Momcozy app was with minimal colors, icons and menu options. This made it incredibly straightforward to find the feature I wanted to adjust, so that I could get bedtime going quickly. I also liked that while the app did have additional features and customizations, the sound machine was still very functional without it thanks to its intuitive buttons and manual controls.

The lights on this machine brought out the inner child in me with how beautiful and mesmerizing they were. The rainbow shape really added to the magic of it all and the dynamic light options were some of the best I’ve seen. There were options such as shooting stars, starry night and campfire that creatively utilized flickering, sweeping and fading light effects. The colors were vibrant and bright, but could also be adjusted to a very dim setting when it was time for my kids to wind down and go to sleep. I was even able to turn the clock display light off for times when I wanted the room to be completely dark.

All in all, the Momcozy DreamSync Tech sound machine is ideal for creating personalized bedtime routines thanks to its bluetooth speaker, timer and alarm features as well as the adjustable app controls.

Dimensions: ‎10.2" (L) x 7.1" (W) x 3.6" (H) | Weight: 1.9 lbs. | Number of sounds: 34 | Night light: Yes

A common complaint about sound machines is that you can’t see the controls or buttons in the dark. That’s not a problem with the Yogasleep Hushh 2 sound machine. The back-lit buttons, powerful speaker and dimmable night light make it a great option for night-time wake ups.

Let’s start with lights and features. The dimmable night light with four brightness levels provided a good range of light for varying needs. The dimmest setting was barely there and the brightest setting was enough to illuminate a few feet of the surrounding area. I loved the backlit buttons that made it really easy to operate the device even in the dark. The child lock feature was an added bonus: It required a long press to engage or disengage, which made it harder for curious little ones to figure out.

Though the Yogasleep Hushh 2 doesn’t have as large of a range of sounds as other devices—there are three tracks to choose from—the sound quality and volume control was excellent. The volume was powerful and loud and the sounds were crisp and full-bodied. The signature fan-based white noise sound mimicked the whirring of a fan really well, the nature sounds were realistic and soothing and the lullabies were relaxing and gentle. I would say the white noise and fan noise were pretty effective at soothing my 4-month-old baby during wake ups and helping him fall back asleep. The steady, static-like sound worked like magic to get him to relax and self-soothe.

Shaped and sized like a hockey puck, this machine was incredibly light and sleek. It included a loop on top for the plastic clip it came with and the clip can be operated with one hand. This was super-helpful to me as I’m usually juggling one thing or another, so being able to clip it on with one hand was convenient and easy. However, the ridges on the clips weren’t very sturdy and made fastening it tricky. My plastic clip wouldn’t stay on the ridges so it couldn’t be tightened. Other than that, the sound machine seems durable and sturdy. It’s the perfect size and shape for fitting into almost anywhere—purses, diaper bags, suitcases or even a really big pocket.

Whether for travel or for home, the Yogasleep Hushh 2 is a useful sound machine that’s equipped with backlit buttons, an adjustable night light and incredible sound quality, making it a great choice for those inevitable night-time wake ups.

Dimensions: 3.4" (L) x 1.6" (W) x 3.9" (H) | Weight: 0.3 lbs | Number of sounds: 6 | Night light: Yes

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The Fisher-Price Soothe ‘n Snuggle Otter is an adorable bedtime companion that mimics gentle breathing motions and plays calming sounds to help little ones relax, making it my top choice for the best sound machine toy. Stuffed animals already provide a sense of security and comfort, but sound machine toys take it a step further by including soothing sounds and music to fall asleep to. Although it’s important to note that baby should not sleep with stuffed animals in their cribs until they’re at least 12 months old.

My kids couldn’t wait to test this otter and my 2-year-old daughter fell in love with it right away. The combination of the breathing motion and heartbeat sound really mesmerized her and she could not get enough of snuggling with the toy. The electronic unit did make the toy feel a little harder than a regular stuffed animal, but I think the added weight actually worked in its favor by making it feel more “real” for a child. Even my 4-year-old son wanted a turn snuggling the little critter.

Along with the breathing motion, the toy offered five different sounds—relaxing music, womb sounds, snoring, a rhythmic heartbeat and a fan-inspired white noise. My baby and toddler both enjoyed the rhythmic sounds of the heartbeat and womb sounds, both options seemed to comfort them the most. The belly of the otter also lit up with a pleasant yellow glow to act as a night light. Although it couldn’t be adjusted, I think it was a nice level of light that wasn’t too bright nor too dim since the softness of the yellow color made it a soothing rather than harsh light. While there were default time settings for how long the sound, breathing motion and light would stay on, it was easy to get it started again by pushing the belly gently.

Did I mention how seriously adorable this otter was? It had the softest fur, cute designs on the paws and tail, excellent stitching and overall amazing attention to detail. My daughter was delighted by the tiny fish on the silky nylon underside of the otter’s tail. I’m usually able to get away with spot cleaning stuffed animals, but this toy is actually machine washable after taking the electronic unit out, which is another big win for parents.

The Fisher-Price Soothe ‘n Snuggle Otter sound machine toy is the perfect bedtime companion for little ones, acting as a soothing reminder of a newborn’s first home and providing comfort during big sleep transitions or changes.

Dimensions: ‎‎9.8" (L) x 6.1" (W) x 4.3" (H) | Weight: 1.1 lbs. | Number of sounds: 5 | Night light: Yes