How does the Moonie White Noise toy work? Sleep coach Douina explains

The Moonie is a cuddly toy with white noise: a monotonous, deep sound that masks background noise, so that a door, a creaking stair or the doorbell is barely noticed, if at all, while your baby sleeps. The toy also mimics the heartbeat and the sounds of the womb, has a warm little light in its tummy and switches on automatically as soon as it picks up a sound. Do use it at a safe distance from your baby's face, for example by the feet or just outside the cot.

This week the Moonie White Noise cuddly toy takes centre stage at the Kideo Store, and of course a blog from our sleep expert can't be missed. My name is Douïna. I am a childcare practitioner and sleep expert at Kideo childcare centres, mum to Silke and expecting our second child.

What is white noise?

White noise masks background sounds. Other noises around the house are barely noticed, if at all, while a little one is asleep.

Many people are familiar with white noise by now, but it only works when the sound is monotonous and deep. Lullabies and chirping birds, which are often included on a white noise device too, don't have the effect you use white noise for.

How does white noise work?

The monotonous, deep sound is what creates the desired effect. The monotone white noise masks the sounds around the house that a sleeping baby would otherwise notice: a door, a creaking stair or a doorbell ringing.

Why the Moonie?

For a newborn baby, the first days and weeks can be very quiet. Your baby is used to the womb, where it is never silent for a moment. That silence can be quite unsettling for a baby.

That's why I always recommend plenty of skin-to-skin contact in the first weeks and months, so that your baby can hear your breathing and your heartbeat. That makes your baby feel secure and safe, which is also good for bonding and, if applicable, breastfeeding.

There are also moments when you want your hands free for a while or need to rest yourself. That's when the Moonie can give a lovely feeling of security. The Moonie contains several sounds that mimic the heartbeat and the sounds of the womb. That still gives your baby the safety it wants and the feeling that it isn't alone.

From my own experience

Sometimes I wish I'd had the Moonie myself, especially when Silke was newly born. With her we used Spotify to mimic these background sounds. To be honest, I didn't like the idea of my phone lying close to the cot while she slept, so we stopped doing that pretty quickly.

What does the smart cry detector do?

The Moonie is a lovely alternative. There is a warm little light in its tummy, so the bedroom isn't pitch dark, and the toy makes a calming sound that can help your baby settle.

The Moonie also switches off automatically and back on again as soon as it picks up a sound. That way your little one's ears aren't stimulated for too long and the white noise is only used at the restless moments it is meant for.

How do you use a white noise toy safely?

Veiligheid.nl advises against putting soft toys in bed with babies. This is to prevent cot death. If a baby ends up lying with its mouth against the toy, rebreathing can occur: your baby breathes its exhaled air back in and doesn't get enough fresh oxygen.

If you choose a white noise toy such as the Moonie, use it at a safe distance:

• Place the toy by the feet, so it doesn't come near your child's face.
• Or place the toy just outside the cot. Your child can still hear the sound, but the bear is at a safe distance.
• Check on your child regularly.
• Mind the volume and don't set it too loud.

Good to know: a child only becomes attached to soft toys from around the age of 10 months.

Want to know more?

Would you like to know more from our sleep expert Douïna? Get in touch via Instagram: Douina.slaapdeskundige

Summary

• White noise is a monotonous, deep sound that masks background noise; lullabies and bird sounds don't.
• The Moonie mimics the heartbeat and the sounds of the womb and can give a baby a feeling of security.
• A warm little light in the tummy stops the room from being pitch dark; the smart cry detector only switches the sound on when the baby is restless.
• Never place the toy near the face: by the feet or just outside the cot, with the volume not too loud.
• Plenty of skin-to-skin contact remains the most important advice in the first weeks and months.

Frequently asked questions

Can a Moonie toy go in a baby's cot?

Veiligheid.nl advises against soft toys in bed with babies, to prevent cot death and rebreathing. So place the Moonie by the feet or just outside the cot, where your child can still hear the sound.

Why don't lullabies work as white noise?

White noise works through a monotonous, deep sound. Lullabies and chirping birds aren't monotone and therefore don't mask background noise.