May 8, 2013
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Noise Conditioning
Noise Conditioning
When you live in a house with seven other people [1 other adult (the wife) 2 teenagers in high school (ages 16 & 17), 3 kids under 6, and an infant], you come to expect a certain level of noise. If we were using a noise scale from 1 to 100, my house would average about 87. This comes as simply a natural byproduct of all these people living in such close proximity. The way I've calculated it, the combined commotion increases exponentially for each person in my house under 18, and that doubles if you have a newborn in the mix.
As the days wind down, we can usually start to see a gradual decrease in the peak volume level. The teenagers are barricaded in their room either texting or frying their brains through YouTube overexposure. The small children may have their mouths full with a snack, something to drink or they're being bathed. And the milk-drunk baby's eyelids are getting heavier and heavier.
Now normally, in order to get the smaller kids (and especially the baby) to sleep, you'd think that we'd want the house to be as quiet as possible. You know, that whole "hear a pin drop" kind of quiet? But noooo. That couldn't be further from the truth. What we've found is that our children actually sleep BETTER when they've undergone some noise conditioning.
What does that mean, you ask?
It means that from the moment they come home from the hospital, we take no special pains to make the house quiet. As a matter of fact, we prefer the house to maintain its typical volume level just as it existed prior to the baby's arrival. Why? Because once the baby has grown accustomed to the noise level, it becomes a lot easier to get them to fall asleep, and we don't have to worry about a sudden crash or bang waking them from their slumber.
It's a wonderful thing.
Our children have slept through all kinds of noise... like the karoake New Year's Eve party that ran til 3am... mistakenly setting off the house alarm at 1am... dogs barking... thunder... you name it, and our children will probably sleep through it!
You know what the best part is? When the children fall asleep while we're out visiting, the hustle and bustle of life won't cut short their naps. We don't have to whisper and beg people to tip toe around the house. We just carry on living life and usual and the kids get the rest they need.
Comments (19)
I agree! We do the same thing. Whether we want to or not because I'm not sure we actually could enforce quiet if we tried. ha.
The only thing that wakes my boy up is turning off his TV.
My brother-in-law and sister-in-law did the same thing with their little one, so she sleeps through everything! It still feels strange to talk full volume in a room with a sleeping baby, though
Yup! My one aunt didn't do this and likes to entertain... oops.
dude, the format of your site is impressive! I like it!
Ugh. I wish more people understood this. Glad you found something that works well!
that is true. I never took pains to be queit for the kids sleeping but I do try and keep my voice down just because I have one of those voices that carry. In alaska they hear me when I talk normally and when I yell they hear me on saturn
I have a great voice for stage without a mic.
it's kinda scary when you realize conditioning that happens without you knowing. I recently switched my alarm and now I don't wake up to the new alarm sound. I'm still waking up on time (fortunately). But it is crazy when I realized that it happened. I think it's smart to not have to create an "ideal" environment just to help the kids fall asleep. It would make it way too hectic for you. haha.
Hmm, that's a pretty clever idea.
It's funny how that works isn't it?
I live in a home with 8 others so I am so used to a noisy house. If it's dead silent in the house, it's way too creepy.
Yes! Agreed! I found the same thing to be true!
Seems like whenever I did try to tiptoe, I always found the one squeaky board in the floor! 
Besides, I think while they are in utero they get used to all the noise around their mom. 
When my firstborn was born (a million years ago), I just had us go about our typical noisy lifestyle and he always slept right through anything.
HUGS and love to your precious, beautiful family!
I always thought it is best to get your kids to get accustomed to sleeping with lots of noise because then people don't have to tiptoe at your house when they visit. Makes life easier for everyone.
That's actually a good idea
smarter than your average bear. my first didn't get that because I was alone and I'm very quiet, but the second will because I will need some relief when dad gets back home! lol
Even though I agree with you about not making the house quiet for the new baby, I would die in your house unless you had a closet for me to hide in.
This is a great post
We're about 5-6 weeks away from welcoming our first, and we've read all kinds of stuff about having "white noise" or whatever around to help baby fall asleep - cuz it sure ain't quiet in the womb!
I am the total opposite. I sleep easy, no matter if it's noisy or not, if I'm tired, I will sleep. But after the initial tiredness is gone, the slightest thing can wake me up. I think your idea works better.
I only have one child, but I had the same philosophy. When she was a baby, I kept the windows open, played music, and vacuumed while she was napping. It made life easier when the military jets were practicing over our neighborhood.
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