Just because it works on babies doesn't mean it won't work on you!
After I crested the age of 35, I accepted I sleep sounder in new environments with a nice smooth white noise playing in the background. It's the ultimate sleep aid, and this portable sound machine is the perfect fit for my sensible and pack-light travel style.
Consideration #1: 💸 Cost
I didn't know what portable white noise machines were supposed to cost, but I didn't expect them to be as expensive as they are. As always, I started looking for alternatives and realized a baby sleep sound machine is the same thing, plus you get bonus lullabies if you want. Once I saw some options for the $20-$50 range (CAD) I started to drill into what was important to be in features.
Consideration #2: 🧳 Portability
Even though I was buying this for use in my van, I wanted it to be compact and portable. I had used a bunch of different travel sound machines in the bathrooms at my past office (feel free to steal that hack!) so I was familiar with the basics but didn't want to pick something that required wall power and took up a lot of space. I also wanted something that was relatively durable and could hang it up to not take up precious surface space in the van.
Consideration #3 🔋 Battery & ⚡Charging
Reading reviews, every portable sound machine with a hook seemed to be quite similar in size and form factor, so I focused on reviews with good battery life. I settled on one that had a good battery but also charged via USB-C so I wouldn't have to lug around an extra cord or charger to keep it alive. While it seems small, when you travel in a 28L bookbag, every little piece of cord and clutter adds up!
Consideration #4 🔊 The Travel Sound MAchine Sounds
I wasn't terribly fussed about these, as long as they had a couple of white noise sounds, I knew I would find something I liked, if you are pickier, there are some videos on the product page* that play the sounds.
In Summary: ✅ I bring it on every trip!
It's always a must-pack for me - having that white noise sound that my body now associates with sleep helps me adjust to new time zones and environments. Being a light sleeper, it helps me more than any sleep medication could because I wake up well rested and not groggy! After a year of travel and use, I have been extremely satisfied with my battery-powered sound machine choice. I tested it when I first purchased it and the battery ran constantly for over 7 days. The charging being USB-C is a big plus for me since most of my gear, including my laptop, is all USB-C and saves me packing extra stuff. It has a bonus nightlight that I do leave on if I am leaving in a bathroom in an extra dark hotel room. That way the travel sound machine doesn't have to muffle the sound of me stubbing my toes in the middle of the night! This is a generic sound machine that comes in various brands on Amazon. It also now has different colour choices!
*If you buy this sound machine through my link, I receive a small commission to help my website and travels.
What do you think? Are you a white noise girlie or a stone silence girlie (Or dude)? Let me know what your best travel-friendly sleep solutions are in the comments.
I just successfully followed your link to the white noise maker! I can't wait to try it. Thanks for all your travel tips. Cheers, Kindle on the Pacific Ocean area.