"Caution urged for infant sleep machines" By: McKay Fugate

Infant sleep machines have become a popular aid for parents with a baby getting inadequate sleep because of a busy household, loud neighbors or other noise disturbances. But a new study says parents should be cautious with the devices because they can generate sound levels that could place infants at risk of developing noise-induced hearing loss. In addition, they are often sold with limited or no instructions for safe.Most of the devices studied featured a volume control, which suggests that safer use is possible and that the machines can be used in accordance with recommendations for hospital nursery noise. With that in mind, the study says manufacturers should be required to limit maximum output levels; print warnings about noise-induced hearing loss on the machine's packaging; and include a mandatory timer on machines marketed primarily for infants that would make them automatically shut off after a predetermined period of time. Families can more safely use the machines if they place them as far away as possible from the infant and never in the crib or on a crib rail; play the the devices at a low volume; and operate them for a short duration of time.

This was kind of scary to read, because a lot of the families that I babysit for ask me to turn on noise machines for their children. This is obviously targeted at all parents who use a noise machines for their kids, and cautions them to monitor the noise level. I never grew up with a noise machine, and now I'm very glad I didn't.