We have been recommending the Snoo for several years. It is the only truly “smart” bassinet, designed by Dr. Harvey Karp, known for his Books about the “5 S” For getting kids to sleep. She described the Snoo to me as an extra pair of hands to rock the baby back to sleep and believes it can add an hour or two of sleep to the average baby’s night. In my experience, her claims are true.
The Snoo listens to your baby and reacts. The motion starts out as a slow side-to-side rocking sound with a subtle water-like sound meant to mimic the womb, then gets more vigorous if your baby starts crying. The most intense phase is a jelly-like motion, accompanied by more white noise. It has a simple app for iPhone and Android phones that tracks sleep patterns and lets you modify how the crib responds to your baby. If your baby’s distress reaches level 5, it automatically stops after a minute or so and sends you a notification. I liked locking it on a low level and tweaking its sensitivity a bit.
Unlike any other bassinet, it requires a special sleeping bag that connects to its sides and keeps babies face up. If the bag isn’t connected properly, it won’t work, which the company says makes it “a problem.”The safest baby crib ever made“Sleeping on your stomach, being too hot, and sleeping together are all things Possible causes of SIDS.
At $1,695, it’s pricey, though you can also rent it for $159 a month from Happiest Baby. It looks the part, with a clean, modern metal and mesh aesthetic. But it’s not perfect. Sometimes it doesn’t react quickly enough, and other times it seems too aggressive, especially as your baby gets smarter. I also wish it had a cover to block out some light. And because my son spits up a lot, I sometimes found myself short on bags. (Make sure you check the bag size and color of the bag.) Get an extra pair.) The velcro on the bags could also be a bit stronger. Finally, the Snoo is not completely invulnerable to hacking – no internet-connected product can be. You can turn off the Wi-Fi features, though if you do, you won’t be able to change the settings. As of September 2024, there are also Certain hidden features behind the new Premium subscription of the application ($20 per month). If you buy the crib directly from Snoo or an authorized partner, you’ll get the premium features for nine months — plenty of time for your little one to grow, but this affects the resale value and means you’ll have to pay for it for your second child. If you buy the crib secondhand, however, you’ll have to pay for the subscription for the entire time.
This crib should work “from birth to 6 months (or when baby can get up on his or her knees).” Read your User Guide here.
