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Baby Shusher: Rhythmic Shush with Soft White Noise

Parents all over the world calm babies the same way: a long, soft “shhhh”. Our Baby Shusher keeps that rhythm going for 10 hours over a bed of soft white noise, so your voice can rest while the shushing continues.

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About this sound

Sound	Soft white noise with a rhythmic “shhh” on top
Shush rhythm	A slow, rounded shush that rises and fades every 3 seconds
Filter	5 kHz low-pass: sharp, hissy high pitches removed so it stays soft
Length	10 hours, seamless loop with no clicks or volume jumps
Screen	Picture for 1 minute, then fades to fully black
Made by	Generated and mixed in-house by Shush Bean (no recordings, no voices)

What the research says

Shushing in the research

Shushing is one of the “5 S’s” (swaddling, side or stomach position for holding, shushing, swinging and sucking) popularised by pediatrician Harvey Karp. In a randomised trial of 230 infants at their 2- and 4-month checkups, babies comforted with the 5 S’s right after their vaccinations had significantly lower pain scores and cried for less time than babies given standard comfort ^[1]. The study tested the 5 S’s together, so it cannot tell us how much shushing alone contributed.

Why a steady shush helps

Like white noise, a shush is a broad, soft sound that masks sudden noises. Newborns also fell asleep faster with white noise playing in a well-known study: 80% within five minutes, compared with 25% without it ^[2].

Why we soften it

Raw white noise can sound sharp and hissy. We filter out the high pitches above 5 kHz and shape each shush so it rises and falls slowly instead of starting abruptly.

Why we fade to a dark screen

Young children’s body clocks are very sensitive to light in the evening. In a small study of preschoolers (ages 3–5), one hour of bright evening light cut the sleep hormone melatonin by 88%, and it stayed low for at least 50 minutes after the light was switched off ^[3]. A phone screen is far dimmer than that study’s light, and babies were not studied, but the lesson is simple: the less light in the nursery, the better. That is why every Shush Bean video shows its picture for one minute and then fades to a fully black screen.

How loud is too loud

Researchers in Toronto measured 14 infant sleep machines at full volume. At 30 cm (about 1 foot) every one of them was louder than 50 dBA, the limit recommended for hospital nurseries, and three could exceed 85 dBA ^[4]. Their advice: keep the device well away from the crib, keep the volume low, and do not run it at full volume all night. The American Academy of Pediatrics’ safe sleep guidance still comes first: baby on their back, on a firm flat surface, in their own crib or bassinet with nothing else in it ^[5].

How to use it

Shush is often most helpful for fussy newborns and the first few months.
Try holding and gently rocking baby while it plays, then lay them on their back in the crib once asleep.
Keep the volume low, about as loud as a soft shower, and the device across the room.

Use sound gently

Keep it low. Choose the lowest volume that still masks background noise. If you have to raise your voice to talk over it, it is too loud.
Keep it far. Put the phone or speaker across the room, not in or next to the crib. Researchers who measured infant sleep machines advised keeping them more than 2 metres (about 6.5 feet) away.
Keep sleep safe. Baby on their back, in their own crib or bassinet, with nothing else in it.

Source: Hugh et al., Pediatrics (2014), as summarized by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Questions

Is this a real person shushing?

No. The shush is generated by us so it stays perfectly smooth and even for 10 hours.

Shusher or white noise: which should I pick?

If your baby calms when you shush them, try the shusher. If they prefer an even, unchanging sound, try our soft white noise.

Is there a shorter version?

Yes, our 2-hour Nap Time Shusher uses the same sound and ends gently after a typical nap.

References

Harrington JW, Logan S, Harwell C, et al. Effective analgesia using physical interventions for infant immunizations. Pediatrics. 2012;129(5):815–822. Link
Spencer JA, Moran DJ, Lee A, Talbert D. White noise and sleep induction. Archives of Disease in Childhood. 1990;65(1):135–137. Link
Akacem LD, Wright KP, LeBourgeois MK. Sensitivity of the circadian system to evening bright light in preschool-age children. Physiological Reports. 2018;6(5):e13617. Link
Hugh SC, Wolter NE, Propst EJ, Gordon KA, Cushing SL, Papsin BC. Infant sleep machines and hazardous sound pressure levels. Pediatrics. 2014;133(4):677–681. Link
Moon RY, Carlin RF, Hand I; AAP Task Force on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Sleep-related infant deaths: updated 2022 recommendations for reducing infant deaths in the sleep environment. Pediatrics. 2022;150(1):e2022057990. Link

This page summarizes published research for general information. It is not medical advice. Research on sleep sounds for babies is still limited; talk to your pediatrician about your baby’s sleep and crying.