I use white noise (fan) for my 6 week old daughter. Why? She is very colicky and the fan seems to help her to sleep. My question is... will she always be dependent on this noise to sleep? Or will she eventually be able to sleep without this noise? :rolleyes:

The white noise is to used to deprive the senses as it's louder than all other noises that might wake her. It's very easy for the mind to block out white noise, in other words, to her it sounds just like silence. You can test it yourself by having it your room for a night, your brain channels it out.

There should be no reason for a dependency to form, but I would avoid using it habitually, use it only when she is having a hard time sleeping.

We use soft music - mostly classical music for our daughter. We always have. She can sleep without also. If you want background noise - that isn't a bad option. There has been a study done that there is actually a link between classical music and math skills. In 1998, every child born in Georgia was given a classical cd when they went home from the hospital (Building your baby's brain ?)
My daughter is almost 7 and she has great math skills! Which is good, because I don't! :)

My son has had a white noise machine or an air purifier (used for the noise) in his room since birth. He is not dependent on it but I am. I can't go to bed without hearing it on.