Every parents want their baby to sleep soundly. But noisy neighbors, construction work near your area, or street traffic can disrupt our baby’s sleep.
It’s best to soundproof your baby’s room to get rid of the solution. So, how to soundproof baby room?
Well, there are various to soundproof the baby’s room. It includes installing soundproof curtains or sealing the door gaps with weather stripping, using heavy rugs or carpets on the floor, and many more.
The article discusses how to soundproof baby room. So, you can keep scrolling through this article to learn different ways by which you can soundproof your baby’s room and create a peaceful environment.
How To Soundproof Baby Room?
Imagine your immediate neighbor is playing loud music late at night. Consistent hearing of loud noise can harm your baby badly.
It can disturb sleep and, in the worst cases, cause hearing problems or late speech development. So you must soundproof your baby’s room.
Additionally, you must keep various things in mind, like choosing your abby room far from the noise source. Out the baby crib away from the wall if most come from it. Consider placing a white noise machine in your baby’s room to mask other noises.
Now let’s discuss how to soundproof baby room.
1. Soundproof The Door
The door is one of the large openings in your baby’s room, allowing sound waves to enter. So you must soundproof it.
We have listed various ways by which you can soundproof the door to minimize noise in your baby’s room.
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Attach Door Sweep
The gap under the door allows air and sound waves to enter the baby’s room easily. So you must seal it. You can attach a door sweep there to block sound waves.
The door sweep is usually made from rubber. First, measure the door width and cut the door sweep according to the measurements.
Clean the bottom of the door to remove all the dust and dirt. Allow the air to dry properly. You can then attach the door sweep at the bottom of the door.
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Install Weather Stripping
The gap between the door and the door frame is relatively small, but it allows soundwaves to enter the baby’s room and create a disturbance. So, you must use weatherstripping to seal the gap. The weatherstripping is either foam or rubber.
Measure the length and width of the door with the help of a measuring tape. You can then cut the weatherstripping according to the measurements and install it on the gap between the door and frame.
It will create an airtight seal and prevent sound from entering inside or leave from the baby’s room.
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Install Acoustic Curtains
Hanging acoustic curtains on both sides of the door will help minimize the noise in your baby’s room. These curtains are usually heavy and can absorb sound waves.
Another best thing about these curtains is that they are available in various colors and designs. So you can purchase the one that matches the decor of your baby’s room.
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Seal Gaps And Cracks Near Door Frames
The small gaps near the door frame are enough to enter the sound waves and air. Hence you must seal it. Well, you can do it by using acoustic caulk or foam sealant.
You need to clean the area to remove all the dust and debris and apply the acoustic caulk. Allow it to dry thoroughly.
Ordinary caulking is usually made from silicone material and becomes hard when dry. It minimizes noise levels initially, but their performance will decrease later. Ordinary caulking usually cracks with time and can no more block sound waves.
But if we talk about acoustic materials, they are made from latex and remain flexible when dry.
They will not even develop cracks with age. So it permanently seals the gap near the door frame and is quite effective in blocking sound waves compared to ordinary caulking.
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Use Door Mats
You can keep door mats on both sides of the door. It helps to block space beneath the door and prevent sound waves from entering and escaping from your baby’s room. Various types of door mats are available, like foam, cork, or rubber. Always buy heavy door mats, as they are effective in blocking noise.
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Use Soundproof Blankets
Install soundproof blankets on the door to muffle soundwaves inside the baby’s room. But they are not visually appealing.
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Replace The Hollow door with A Solid door
Knock on the door of your room. If it’s hard, then it is a solid core. But if it feels like cardboard, then it is a hollow door. Remember hollow door can easily enter sound waves. So, you need to replace it with a solid one.
2. Soundproof The Window
The window is another culprit which allows soundwaves to enter the baby’s room easily. Well, you can soundproof the windows by following ways.
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Use Double Glaze Windows
Single-pane glass in windows can easily enter soundwaves. Hence it’s best to use a double-glazed window. It will trap the air between two layers of glass, and thus, soundwaves can enter your baby’s room.
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Use Acoustic Caulk
Do you find any gaps near the window frame? If yes, then you must seal it by using acoustic caulk.
If you have applied acoustic caulk earlier, scrape it and replace it with a new one.
First, you have to clean the area to remove all the dust, debris, or old caulking near the window frame, and then use acoustic caulking by placing the nozzle at a 45-degree angle.
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Hang Drapes Or Curtains
You can hang soundproof curtains or drapes on the window to absorb sound. Always purchase thick curtains like velvet or blackout curtains as they are good at absorbing sound.
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Window Inserts
Window inserts consist of sound-absorbing material that can help to minimize noise. You can easily get it from any hardware store. Attach to your existing window with the help of Velcro. The best thing about window inserts is that they are easy to install.
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Window Plug
A window plug is the best way to soundproof the window. You can take a thin board according to the window size and then attach the acoustic foam and mat. Try to install handles on the window plug to make it easier for you to install.
3. Soundproof The Walls
Your baby needs a peaceful environment to have a sound sleep. Hence besides soundproofing doors and windows, you need to soundproof the wall. Well, you can do it in various ways listed below.
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Mass Loaded Vinyl Sheets
Choose mass-load vinyl sheets if you wish to soundproof the wall at an affordable rate. They are flat sheets and are pretty easy to install. You need to take measurements of the wall and purchase the mass-loaded vinyl sheets accordingly.
Try to buy extra MLV because leaving a slight gap between two sheets can make your effort useless.
Start installing MLV from one corner and cover the entire wall. Overlapping two MLV sheets will not create any problems. It will help to have better sound absorption.
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Seal Cracks
The wall may have cracks, allowing sound waves to enter inside. So try to seal it by using acoustic caulk.
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Add Dry Wall Sheets
A thin wall can easily penetrate sound. So you need to increase the wall’s mass to block sound waves. You can add two layers of drywall sheets with green glue between them.
The drywall sheets comprise gypsum, which can absorb high and low frequencies.
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Install Foam Mats
Installing drywall sheets takes a lot of time and effort. Additionally, they are a bit expensive to install. Well, if you want some affordable options, then choose foam mats.
They have adhesive at the back, so you can quickly install it. Additionally, the foam mats are available in different colors and designs. So, choose according to the decor of your baby’s room.
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Install Soundproof Curtains
Soundproof curtains are an inexpensive way to soundproof the wall. They will even enhance the look of your baby’s room. Try to purchase thick soundproof curtains and install them on the wall to make it soundproof.
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Acoustic Panels
Acoustic panels comprise foam and fiberglass. You can install them on the walls. These panels will act as a sound barrier and reduce noise inside your baby’s room.
4. Soundproof The Ceiling
Noise from upstairs neighbors can enter through the ceiling and disturb your baby. So, you must soundproof the ceiling. Well, you can do it in various ways listed below.
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Acoustic Foam
You can install acoustic foam on the ceiling as they are lightweight and help to reduce echo and reverberation.
You need first to clean your ceiling to remove all the dust. Seal any possible cracks in the ceiling and then cut acoustic foam according to the measurement of the ceiling.
Use adhesive ta the back of the adhesive foam and install it on the ceiling. It will help to dampen the sound waves.
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Install Drywall Sheets
You can install two drywall sheets on the ceiling to minimize noise. Use sound-dampening compound, i.e., green glue between two drywall sheets, to reduce most noise.
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Add Insulation
You can install insulation on the ceiling. It will not only increase mass but also provide warmth in the room. Various types of insulation are available, like mineral wool, rock wool, foam board, and fiberglass. You can choose according to your preferences.
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Use Rellient Channels
If you have only one layer of drywall sheet on the ceiling, it can transmit sound waves easily. Well, you can install resilient channels between ceiling and drywall sheets. The sound from upstairs will be distributed among the resilient channels and finally lose energy.
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Soundproof Paint
You can apply soundproof paint on the ceiling. These paints are latex-based and can absorb sound waves. The best thing is you can use them without a professional’s help.
5. Soundproof Floor
Most people forget to soundproof the floor while soundproofing their baby’s room. But remember, the floorboards can easily transmit sound waves. So you must soundproof it.
You may think that soundproofing a floor is expensive and requires much effort. But in reality, it is not so.
We have listed some of the best ways by which you can soundproof the floor of your baby’s room.
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Use Mass Loaded Vinyl Sheets
Mass-loaded vinyl sheets can also be used on the floor to prevent sound waves from passing through the floorboards.
You must first remove the baseboards, padding, and carpet and then clean the entire floor to remove the dust and dirt. Install the sheets throughout the floor, then lay the padding and carpet again.
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Rubber Mats
Laying rubber mats on the floor will also help to muffle sound waves. It will even reduce slipping and provide comfort when you walk on the floor.
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Try To Build Floor Over Existing Floor
You can lay vinyl or laminate over the existing floor to muffle sound waves. Ensure that the subflooring and the existing flooring are in good condition.
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Use Interlocking Floor Mats
Interlocking floor mats are available in various colors and designs. So choose your baby’s room and lay it on the floor. They will help to reduce noise transmission.
6. Add More Furniture
If your baby’s room is empty, it will echo more. So try to add more furniture like a sofa or old bookshelf in your baby’s room. Try to place them near the walls so that it will reduce noise coming from the walls.
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Conclusion
Babies are small, cute, and precious. A newborn baby usually sleeps more than 12 hours in sleeping. But the noise will disturb your baby if you have noisy neighbors or any construction work near your house.
He may get awake and cry on hearing noise. Remember, consistent hearing may cause hearing issues in babies.
So it’s wise to soundproof your baby’s room. We have discussed different ways to soundproof a baby room and hope you will utilize these techniques for soundproofing.
FAQ :How To Soundproof Baby Room
Q1. Can babies sleep in a noisy room?
Ans : No baby cannot sleep in a noisy room.
A newborn baby usually spends most of the time sleeping. If your baby makes continuous noise, then it will him awake from a deep slumber.
Q2. How much noise is Ok for the baby?
Ans : 50-60 decibel sound is considered safe for your baby.
Q3. How can I soundproof my apartment with a baby?
Ans : You can soundproof your apartment for your baby’s comfort in various ways. It includes hanging soundproof curtains or sealing cracks through the acoustic sealant, using door sweep, or replacing single pane windows with double pane windows.