You Should Buy: Travelcube Portable White Noise Machine
Great for camping and traveling. For your or your kids.
When my son was first born, I bought a classic Dohm white noise machine to block out sounds while he slept. It turned out that I liked it just as much as he did! I have slept with a fan on for as long as I can remember, and most of the time it has been for that sweet white noise that drowns everything out. Last year, when I was buying camping gear to go with the kids, I realized a white noise machine would be a fantastic idea for a toddler trying to get to (and stay) asleep in a tent in a busy campground, so I bought the Yogasleep Travelcube and it has been worth every penny.
Features
6 sounds: Original Dohm, White Noise, Brown Noise, Rain, Ocean, Lullaby
Sleep Timer: 30m, 1h, 2h
Rechargeable via USB-C
Removable Lanyard
4oz. / 114g
Why It’s Great
This thing fits in any bag, purse, or suitcase. It lasts a long time on a charge, but the best part is that you can leave it plugged into a portable battery pack (like this one) when you’re on the go to ensure it lasts all night (and all weekend). The lanyard is useful for hanging it in the best spot - I suggest having it as close to your ears as possible to really drown everything out. It slips nicely into a side mesh pocket in a tent!
You Should Buy It
This is a useful tool for people who travel. There’s nothing worse than being kept up by rowdy hotel neighbours or the late-night sounds of the streets below (like you get at some hotels in downtown Halifax). It is of course fantastic to use with your children, but I use it just as much for myself!
I initially only used it for camping with the kids, but I’ve since taken it with me to AirBNB's, friends’ houses, and on my solo camping trips when the campground is busy. You can find it on Amazon or Bed Bath & Beyond for under $40CAD.
At-Home Alternatives
The Travelcube is the best solution for on the go, but when you’re home you have several other options. Both Alexa and Siri have great sound options. “Hey Siri, play white noise” will play room-filling white noise on the HomePod Mini. Asking Alexa to play brown noise should bring up an option to add that skill and away you go. I use that feature on my kids’ Amazon Echo.
Bonus: There’s An App For That
Another option is to play white noise on your mobile device. Though there are lots of options on Spotify and Apple Music, you run the risk of being disrupted when the “song” eventually changes. That’s why I bought the excellent Dark Noise app:
It is a beautiful, well-designed app that offers an impressive number of sounds. You can even combine sounds and customize your perfect sleep noise. I’ve used it quite a bit, and I love the sounds. The downside is that it drains the battery if you don’t have your phone plugged in, so it’s not the best option for travelling unless you’ve got a portable battery pack or can plug your phone in.
Conclusion
If you or your kids can fall asleep anywhere, regardless of noise, I’m very jealous. I’ll take anything to help me doze off, and the Travelcube is the perfect companion for when I’m not home to have Siri lull me to sleep with white noise.