Baby Won't Settle? Try This White Noise Trick!

Here’s a very handy trick to add to your baby settling repertoire, and while it may mean a higher water bill – what price can you put on your sanity?!

Postpartum Doula Katherine Powers shared the simple trick on TikTok, and frazzled parents everywhere have praised the easy tip to get unsettled babies to calm down.

Katherine simply takes her crying baby over to the sink and turns on the tap. She puts the baby’s ear close (but not in) the water and almost immediately he settles and calms down completely.

@safeharbordoulacare Our water bill’s gonna be high this month #newborn #fussybabyhack #parenthood #momlife ♬ original sound – Katherine Powers

She explains that at the moment, it’s the only thing that stops her baby fussing, but of course she says their water bill is going to be high this month! Katherine explained in the comments that she does have a sound machine, but they’re finding this trick is working better.

Other mums had some great tips, including recording the sound of the tap running to play back when bub is unsettled or downloading other water-related sounds.

Do you have a handy tip like this that works for settling your little one? Make sure you share with us in the comments below!

43 Comments

- - meedee said
  - 17 Aug 2024
    8:49 am
Brilliant idea.

With baby #3 I always had a relaxation cd playing. It was either the sound of waves gently lapping, whale sounds or jungle sounds. It created a background noise so my other kids could just play as per normal.

- - Lividanke said
  - 21 Oct 2022
    1:52 pm
While it’s a good idea in theory it just sounds like such a waste of water, when water is very precious these days.

- - Zmijka86 said
  - 15 May 2022
    12:42 pm
White noise didn’t work on our kids.

- - ~Loui~ said
  - 09 Apr 2022
    10:19 pm
We had a white noise machine. My youngest really liked the thunderstorm setting and would settle with that 🙂

- - mom160289 said
  - 07 Apr 2022
    8:21 pm
A white noise machine is great for this reason

- - rachel1970 said
  - 05 Apr 2022
    6:23 pm
I only wish I knew this when my kids were babies!

- - mom461384 said
  - 05 Apr 2022
    4:22 pm
Wish I knew this when my kids were little

- - bellabecca said
  - 05 Apr 2022
    10:10 am
Love the idea, reading lots of comments I might record the sound or look for one already don
Our car the new Kia Carnival has ‘Sounds of nature’ which includes waves and rainy day, great in the car

- - rovermum said
  - 04 Apr 2022
    1:58 pm
Wow, so can she record that noise and keep it near the child’s cot/bed? My son was used to white noise. We used to keep doors open so that he could still hear the house hold.

- - cassy26 said
  - 04 Apr 2022
    8:32 am
My kids all loved music and all had their favourites they would settle to, From Il divo to the Foo fighters.

- - mom484856 said
  - 03 Apr 2022
    8:16 pm
WATER is amazing for all my children!

- - mom241861 said
  - 03 Apr 2022
    12:17 pm
My son never slept well but he was so relaxed in the bath the pool and listening to running water it was a godsend.

- - Shorty said
  - 03 Apr 2022
    8:55 am
This would of worked really well for my daughter, I don’t know how many times we would end up in the shower together because she just wouldn’t settle

- - TraceyGail said
  - 03 Apr 2022
    7:48 am
Now I just have to remember this when I’m frazzled. Worth a try.

- - ralu said
  - 03 Apr 2022
    6:23 am
I wish I knew about it when my son was a baby.

- - Forgetful Mumma said
  - 02 Apr 2022
    8:03 pm
I don’t like the idea of wasting water. But if you are filling a pot or something then not so bad. I do like other mums ideas of recording the sound, however.

- - mom101628 said
  - 02 Apr 2022
    1:10 am
Think I would record this tap running noise and see if it works just as well to save on wasting water. Great tip. Thanks for sharing.

- - mom474510 said
  - 01 Apr 2022
    10:16 pm
Sorry but that’s a blatant waste of water when we need to be water wise it would make more sense to have white noise sounds playing on your phone

- - sars_angelchik said
  - 01 Apr 2022
    9:58 pm
That’s cool- a great, easy idea!

- - shocolatmoose said
  - 01 Apr 2022
    9:47 pm
Bub can be screaming the place down but is always calm when I’m running his bath, sits in the bouncer until the bath is ready, loves the sound of running water. Haven’t tried using it as a settling aid as yet. We only do bath before bedtime.