Is your child addicted to white noise to sleep?

[sksjasams]

This is another one of those things I would probably do differently when raising DS11. Just like my DH and I, DS11 is used to the hum of a box fan when he sleeps. For him, it started because we lived in an apartment, and the sound of the fan would help drown out the noise of the tv or kitchen.

Unfortunately, the sound is very addicitive. He can not sleep with out it, and the few times he has slept over a friend's house, he was awake most of the night and only drifted off for an hour or two. He toughs it out since it is only one night. Well, DS11 will be going to summer camp this year for 5 nights. There is no way he will cope with no sleep for that long.

For those of you with kids who are used to sleeping with a fan or other white noise, how have you (or they) handled it when away fior a night or two, and then also at camp for a longer period?

I have told him not to worry, that he will be so tired he will sleep, but I'm really not convinced and I know he is not either. I also told him we could reduce the fan noise between now and then, to get him used to not sleeping with the fan, but he is not willing to try it.

Any experiences you can share? Thank you!

 

[amylevan]

Honestly, after the first night, he WILL be so tired that he'll sleep. Camp is exhausting and in all of my years as a counselor (14) I've never had campers who had trouble sleeping after the 1st or 2nd night.

But are you sure he won't have fans at camp? All of our cabins with electricity have window or box fans. And whenever I was in a shelter or tent without electricity, I had my battery-operated tent fan with me. It's hot in the summer and I want some comfort! Actually, why not buy one of the tent fans for your son and send it with him. They are small enough to fit in a bunk, make white noise (and a breeze) and run off of batteries. Mine is a coleman from Target.

 

[Wenny]

DD isn't addicted, but I am.

In the past when I traveled, I would tune the clock radio to AM - and set it in between stations. It worked ok for me.

Now I have an iPhone app for that.

I'm not sure how the AM radio idea would work at camp, but if the family can tolerate it, it might work for family travel. Or, maybe find a cheap, transitor radio for him to use under his pillow? (Do they even make transitor radios anymore???)

Or get him an iPod Touch.

 

[Mickeypooh99]

We have a battery operated fan. I think its coleman. I take a fan anywhere I go. I pack one in my suitcase for Disney.

 

[Kuffam]

My family is addictied to white noise too. However, when we camp (RV) the noise of nature is just as good as a fan. However, I would do the small fan headphones (if allowed).

 

[rodeo65]

Same here - I'm the addict in our family. When we used to live in an apartment the kitchen was on the other side of our bedroom, so I always ran the dishwasher as I went to bed - drove DH crazy!

When we had DS he was colicky and our floors squeak so once he was asleep I would do anything to keep him that way, so I got him a white noise machine - he listens to rain. At home he needs it on, but at my parents house he doesn't. We're moving this summer so I'm going to try and get him to try the new room without it.

In my wisdom, I decided that DD needed something as well, so I got her a machine when she was a baby and for whatever reason tuned it to ocean waves - I think it was my thing at the time. When she got to about three or so she said the waves scared her, so could she have birds.

I also have a machine now and tend to go with thunderstorm - my current fave, although I also still like waves. All of our rooms are close together so from the hallway you can hear thunder, rain and birds chirping.

DH wears earplugs.

 

[Fall1]

My kids are addicted and we have this small noise maker in their room. We packed it in our suitcase and took in to DW in October. It's pretty small.

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2401840

 

[DrummerBoy523]

This is another one of those things I would probably do differently when raising DS11. Just like my DH and I, DS11 is used to the hum of a box fan when he sleeps. For him, it started because we lived in an apartment, and the sound of the fan would help drown out the noise of the tv or kitchen.

Unfortunately, the sound is very addicitive. He can not sleep with out it, and the few times he has slept over a friend's house, he was awake most of the night and only drifted off for an hour or two. He toughs it out since it is only one night. Well, DS11 will be going to summer camp this year for 5 nights. There is no way he will cope with no sleep for that long.

For those of you with kids who are used to sleeping with a fan or other white noise, how have you (or they) handled it when away fior a night or two, and then also at camp for a longer period?

I have told him not to worry, that he will be so tired he will sleep, but I'm really not convinced and I know he is not either. I also told him we could reduce the fan noise between now and then, to get him used to not sleeping with the fan, but he is not willing to try it.

Any experiences you can share? Thank you!

What we've done is gradually reduce the noise. We originally started off with a rather large stand fan which made a lot of white noise. When DS was about 2, we reduced the size of the fan which reduced the volume of the white noise. As he got older, we kept reducing the size of the fan and we are now down to a very small desk fan which honestly, you can barely hear. Another thing we did was introduce music for him to fall asleep to. We bought the Rock A Bye Baby U2 Lullabies CD for him when he was about 3.5yrs old and it has smoothed the transition to a smaller fan.

Our 2.5 year old is now using a small floor fan that we will probably pack with us when we hit WDW in April. It doesn't take up too much of the luggage space and really helps both boys fall asleep better.

Our oldest DS doesn't have any issues w/o white noise luckily, so I'm not quite sure he's addicted to it - but it certainly helps drown out the other noises in the house.

 

[dizneechic]

All 3 of mine are, as is dh. We just came back from 10 days at WDW and ended up putting the radio between stations, and also discovered that our walkie talkies on a random station also worked well.

As for being tired enough to sleep, unfortunately for two of mine this rule never applies. My oldest was up for 48+ hours straight in ICU (post heart procedure) because he couldn't sleep. They even tried giving him IV Ativan, which did nothing (except gave him double vision for days). I drove home, got him his sleep machine, and within hours he was passed out cold. My middle guy this past week was up from 4 AM our departure day, all night our 1st night there and until night 2 when we thought about the radio for white noise. NOT pleasant for mom or dad as both kids are unbearable without sleep, so I am glad we have a few tricks up our sleeves now for travel.

 

[sksjasams]

Thanks for all the suggestions so far!

But are you sure he won't have fans at camp? All of our cabins with electricity have window or box fans.

We actually saw pictures online and the one we saw did have a box fan on the floor. Of course we don't know if his cabin will have one. And it will be in early-mid June in Wisconsin, so it will be chilly at night and he is worried that the other 8 or 9 boys will object if he wants the fan on.

Being that he is an 11 year old boy, he is acutely aware and self-concious. He does not want to be seen as different or weird, so bringing a sound machine would be out. They are not allowed to bring ipods. A portable fan might be an option if it were discreet and did not use a case of batteries over the course of a week.

When we travel as a family this is not an issue, since we just bring a box fan with us. We even had Garden Grocer deliver one to WDW.

I guess I'm hoping for some additional suggestions from people who have older children....how have these older children coped on their own at a friend's house or camp when you are not there...

Thanks again!!!

 

[tinkerbelletreasure]

If he absolutely must have white noise, what about one of the teddybears that make womb sounds? Those could be turned low enough most cabinmates would not be able to hear it. Although having a teddybear could be a deterrant to an 11 y/o boy.

 

[terri01p]

 

[hanutedmansionmomma]

we are a fan family

travel is so exhausting, everyone just falls asleep. we don't bring fans with.

 

[Hawk]

We are a fan family as well. We buy two box fans (two rooms at POR) each visit and leave them to mousekeeping. Thats 4-6 fans per year! Luckily they are only $15.00 each at Wal Mart. We usually don't go anywhere that does not have electricity. I can imagine worse things to be addicted to.

Tim/Hawk

 

[abcboys]

We are a fan family as well. We buy two box fans (two rooms at POR) each visit and leave them to mousekeeping. Thats 4-6 fans per year! Luckily they are only $15.00 each at Wal Mart. We usually don't go anywhere that does not have electricity. I can imagine worse things to be addicted to.

Tim/Hawk

I'm glad to hear that. We are all addicted the sound of a fan year round and are planning a trip to WDW prob sometime in 2011 to POR...I wonder if they save your fans for people to borrow? Well.....have you ever tried to see if your old fans are there for you to reuse? What do they do with them. Sleeping without a fan is my worst nightmare.

At POP century when we went we flew and didn't have a fan so I got up every 45 minutes or so and set the bathroom vent fan to run. Unfortunately it was on a timer and wouldn't stay on all night.

 

[gandycat]

My kids are addicted and we have this small noise maker in their room. We packed it in our suitcase and took in to DW in October. It's pretty small.

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2401840

I'm LOL b/c my 6 yo DD has the same one! We had a different one for years and it broke and I got this one as a replacement. We bring it everywhere we go overnight, including camping in a tent. It's great to read some ideas about how to break the habit b/c I'm worried she'll be going to college with it

 

[AirGoofy]

We have a Disney lullaby CD that we purchased when oldest was infant (age 8 now). When second child came along, I purchased the same CD for her. Now, both children (8,5) still have their Disney lullaby CD at bedtime. We even take it in the car when we drive to WDW so they can fall asleep. I guess they'll lose it when they lose the night lite?

 

[honeydiane1953]

This is another one of those things I would probably do differently when raising DS11. Just like my DH and I, DS11 is used to the hum of a box fan when he sleeps. For him, it started because we lived in an apartment, and the sound of the fan would help drown out the noise of the tv or kitchen.

Unfortunately, the sound is very addicitive. He can not sleep with out it, and the few times he has slept over a friend's house, he was awake most of the night and only drifted off for an hour or two. He toughs it out since it is only one night. Well, DS11 will be going to summer camp this year for 5 nights. There is no way he will cope with no sleep for that long.

For those of you with kids who are used to sleeping with a fan or other white noise, how have you (or they) handled it when away fior a night or two, and then also at camp for a longer period?

I have told him not to worry, that he will be so tired he will sleep, but I'm really not convinced and I know he is not either. I also told him we could reduce the fan noise between now and then, to get him used to not sleeping with the fan, but he is not willing to try it.

Any experiences you can share? Thank you!

We take a small fan with us in luggage on plane. It blocks out noise for kids and us as well. I understand I need something to block out dead silence.

 

[sksjasams]

I guess I'm still hoping for some additional suggestions from people who have older children....how have these older children coped on their own at a friend's house or camp when you are not there...


Thank you!

 

[hanutedmansionmomma]

my kids are fan addicted and don't take ones with them and have never mentioned wanting them when away. Again, I think travel is tiring enough for them, or staying with other kids means they're up until they can't keep eyes open anymore, so it works out. Are your kids worried about not having fans? too lazy to go back and read OP...sorry