I Couldn’t Believe the SNOO Bassinet Would Be Worth It, but I Was So Wrong

During the so-called “fourth trimester,” when your baby adjusts to the outside world, I’d planned to use swaddles, white noise machines, and carriers to help with the transition, but I still expected to be sleep-deprived (as everyone liked to remind me … cue eye roll). 

Then I stumbled upon an ad for the SNOO Smart Sleeper, a revolutionary baby sleep solution that gets rave reviews from parents. This bassinet promised to be not just a bed but a complete sleep system with a built-in swaddle and white noise and rocking features that adjusted automatically. It would be like having a robotic night nanny.

The 30-day return policy gave me the confidence to try this new technology, so I bought one — and I was not disappointed. Here’s my review.

My first son was my rainbow baby after two losses. After my miscarriages, I found a lot of comfort in my ultrasound pictures, seeing my baby snug and safe in the womb, like being in a gentle, rocking hammock with the soothing background noise of my heartbeat and soft swooshing. I knew I had to re-create that cozy environment as best as possible to get sleep during the early months.

More specifically, here’s what I was looking for in a baby bassinet:

• Safety: Safety was a top priority when choosing a baby sleeper. It had to comply with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines to help prevent SIDS and other hazards, which was a non-negotiable priority. Since babies can’t turn over themselves, the sleeper had to be breathable and safe. 
• Comfort: Ensuring that my baby was cozy in his sleeper was a top priority, not just for me, but also so I could get some rest.
• Ease of Use: Many new products come with apps that let you adjust settings and controls, which are cool, just not for me. I knew that a sleeper with complicated controls or setup would frustrate me when I needed it the most, so ease of use was essential. 

The SNOO seemed like something out of The Jetsons (There. I aged myself). I had never heard of anything like it, and I was among the first people to try it because it still hadn’t come to market when I preordered it. Here’s what I really loved, and a few things I didn’t love as much.

• The safety features: Designed to reduce the risk of SIDS, the SNOO has a zip-up swaddle that snaps into the crib mattress and mesh lining on the walls. I knew of Dr. Harvey Karp, author of The Happiest Baby on the Block, who developed the 5 S’s technique to help calm and soothe babies. So when I heard he had worked with MIT engineers to develop the SNOO, I was in.
• The self-soothing features: When I set my baby down, and he started to stir, the SNOO would kick into gear and lull him back to sleep. With the SNOO, my baby also seemed to settle more quickly and sleep longer, which was a game-changer.  
• How easy it was to use! Setting up the SNOO was a breeze, and the app made it easy to adjust settings and monitor my baby’s sleep patterns. With my first son, I used the app to adjust the white noise level and sway motion speed manually. With my twins, I surrendered all thought and control to the SNOO, and it did the job of quieting the babies back to sleep just fine.
• The sleek design: The SNOO is sleek, modern, and calming to look at. (I’m so glad that the days of having no choice but to stare at bright, cartoon baby gear are over. ) As someone who lives in a small space, I appreciate its streamlined design. I also loved the mesh sides because they provided good airflow and visibility so I could peek at my baby.

While there was a lot to love about the SNOO and I would absolutely buy it again, there were some downsides:

• It’s expensive: Since I bought the SNOO when it first came out, there weren’t any in the secondhand market, so I had to pay the full (very expensive) price.
• You can’t use it forever (obviously): The SNOO is designed for babies up to six months or until they can roll over.
• Some (mild) dependency concerns: I did worry that my baby would become too dependent on the SNOO’s motion and noise, making the transition to a crib challenging. But in the end, sleep progress was uninterrupted and I didn’t even use the SNOO’s weaning feature (that gradually reduces noise and motion to help babies transition).

Buy it: SNOO Smart Sleeper Bassinet, $1,695 from Happiest Baby