Were we meant to sleep in complete silence?

There is a popular idea that sleeping in a perfectly quiet room is ideal, but silence can be surprisingly quite loud. If you're in bed in a deathly quiet room, a car door slamming outside or a creaky floorboard can feel like a sudden shock. Instead of relaxing, your brain stays on high alert, constantly scanning your surroundings for random, disruptive sounds.

I have spoken with many people regarding their sleep. It seems to me that what they actually crave isn't total silence, but a consistent, predictable sound. They need something to mask those sudden, unexpected, jarring sounds. Whether it is white noise or the calming sound of steady rain, having a constant acoustic backdrop helps your brain settle into a rhythm instead of staying on guard.

That's a big part of why we designed SleepPhones® headphones as we did. We wanted to move away from bulky, cumbersome headphones that slip off when you toss and turn or earbuds that easily jam in your ear canal and become painful after a short time. Our headband design allows you to drift off naturally while listening to your own personal soundscape. By nestling ultra-thin, padded speakers inside a soft, comfortable headband, SleepPhones® headphones are perfect for any sleeping position, even on your side. Many customers report they forget they're even wearing them.

Again, total silence isn't necessary to get a good night's rest. For many of our customers, finding the right background sound is actually what lets them fall, and stay, asleep. With SleepPhones® headphones, you can comfortably listen to music, ambient sounds, guided meditations, or white noise while still masking disruptive, sudden sounds. The best part is that they don't get in the way, unlike earbuds and traditional headphones.

Find more answers on our "Frequently Asked Questions" page.