White noise is suitable for use from your little one's very first day. Babies hear their first sounds at around 16 weeks gestation and by the time your little one is born he will be used to sleeping with the constant muffled sounds of his mother's heartbeat and the world outside. It can actually be unsettling for some babies to be in quiet environments once they are out in the world. White noise calms babies because it mimics the sound inside the womb. There is no need to stop using white noise, in fact, some adults even find that white noise helps them sleep better. However, if you are concerned your little one will become too dependent on white noise to sleep we suggest you wean him off the sound by 12 months of age. You can do this easily by slowly decreasing the volume of the sound over a number of weeks.