ergoPouch Drift Away White Noise Machine review: we put the cute sleep aid through its paces

Price on writing: £50 | Buy now from Olivers Baby Care

What we like

• Looks great

• High quality sound

• Rounded and soft

• Silicone loop

• 7 sounds

• Nightlight with 3 brightness levels

• Impressive battery life

• Adjustable volume

What we don’t like

• Pricey

• Buttons are hard to get to grips with in the dark

How easy is the ergoPouch Drift Away Portable White Noise Machine to set up and operate?

The Drift Away comes with a charging lead included, so you’ll need a USB charger plug to get it charged up before your first use. Once it’s charged, there are 4 buttons and a simple, clear instruction leaflet on how to use them. The buttons include:

• A power button for operating the light and switching the device on and off

• A musical note button for switching between 7 sound options

• Volume up

• Volume down

How effective is the white noise machine?

With 7 sounds to choose from and adjustable volume, there’s bound to be a sound that’s soothing for your little one (or yourself!) on the Drift Away. We found it useful on stormy nights, sleepovers at the grandparents and during daytime naps if there was noise outside to help drown out unfamiliar or distracting sounds.

Read next: Best white noise machines for babies Mumsnetters swear by

What’s the ergoPouch Drift Away White Noise Machine like to use day-to-day?

The controls take a bit of getting used to, especially if you’re operating them in the dark. But once you’ve located the right button, it’s easy to navigate between sounds, volume levels and the nightlight’s three brightness settings. I like the soft rubber handle that makes it easy to hold or clip onto a buggy, car or cot.

I was really impressed with the battery life. It takes 2 hours to reach a full charge, then boasts a massive 48 hours of battery life. We haven’t needed to charge it again, as we’ve only used it from time to time rather than every night. 

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Does the ergoPouch Drift Away White Noise Machine offer value for money?

At £50, it’s by no means cheap. However, it has a much less tinny sound than white noise apps you can play from your phone, and has the advantage of being ridiculously good looking - just as appealing for adults as it is for little ones. 

If you’re looking for a high-quality, aesthetically pleasing white noise machine you can take anywhere, the ErgoPouch DriftAway is a pleasure to use. On the other hand, if you’re in search of a straightforward sleep aid to see if it helps your baby snooze, apps or cheaper options are probably a better bet.

Read next: The best baby monitors, tried and tested by real parents

About Mumsnet Reviews

All Mumsnet product reviews are written by real people after weeks of research and testing. We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust. Sometimes, we earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. However, we never allow this to influence our coverage.

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