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 and one of the parent-picked winners of Cubby’s 2024 Nursery Awards for the Best Bassinet. This bassinet was not just a bed but a complete sleep system with a built-in swaddle and white noise and rocking features that adjusted automatically. It was 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. Safety was at the top of my mind in almost every decision I made in those early days. I was working at the Clinton Foundation while I was pregnant, and around that time, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released new guidelines to reduce SIDS-related infant loss. They were pushing for moms to stop co-sleeping with their babies. Chelsea Clinton, a massive advocate for women’s and children’s health, shared an article on Facebook about a hospital that would give out box cribs to new moms to help with this effort.

A box can help ensure babies don’t end up in our beds, but not enough to ensure they sleep. 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.

With that in mind, before I get into my experience with the SNOO, I’ll tell you what I look for in a baby bassinet:

• Safety: As I mentioned, safety was a top priority when choosing a baby sleeper. It had to comply with the 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: When I was pregnant, people often told me to “‘get sleep while you can.” It’s like they didn’t realize I had a belly the size of a watermelon with a little acrobat inside, making it impossible for me to balance and find a restful position. It didn’t help that I’m a stomach sleeper. I was looking forward to being able to lay down peacefully (at least physically) after my baby was born, so ensuring that my baby was cozy in his sleeper was a top priority so I could finally get some rest.
• Ease of Use: Many new products come with apps that let you adjust settings and controls, all of which are cool but useless (at least for me) when I’m panicking trying to calm a crying baby. I knew that a sleeper with complicated controls or setup would frustrate me when I needed it the most, so ease of use is essential. 

• Name: The Snoo Smart Sleeper Bassinet
• Dimensions when assembled: 35.75” L × 19” W × 31” H (with legs)
• Weight when assembled: 38 lbs
• Cost: $1,695

The idea behind the SNOO was a marvel to me, and I knew I had to try it. Here’s what I really loved:

• The safety features: 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. Designed to reduce the risk of SIDS, it 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: I once saw a relatable meme of a mom putting her baby down in her crib, except the sleeping baby was dynamite. That’s how it felt every time I tried to put my son down after he fell asleep in my arms. The SNOO came in the clutch. 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 seemed to settle more quickly and sleep longer, which was a game-changer. The relief and peace of mind it brought me were immeasurable, and I’m sure it can do the same for you. 
• 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. The app also provides helpful tips and sleep insights. With my first son, I used the app to adjust the white noise level and sway motion speed manually (I was a typical first-time mom control freak). 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. It was appropriately responsive and highly effective. In my humble opinion, the government should give all moms of twins or more free SNOOs. They’re must-haves if you have more than one baby to put to sleep at the same time. The convenience and ease of use of the SNOO made me feel less overwhelmed and more in control of my baby’s sleep routine. 
• The sleek design: I love that more and more baby products are available with design in mind. I’m so glad that the days of having no choice but to stare at bright, cartoon baby gear are over. The SNOO is sleek, modern, and calming to look at. 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 (more on that at the end!), 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 full price, which was expensive. It was initially shocking, mainly because the idea of something like this was so new. My mom thought I was crazy for spending so much on a bassinet that I would only use for about half a year. But getting quality sleep in the early days of motherhood was invaluable to me, so the investment was worth it. And I was glad to see how easy it was to resell. When I had my twins, I knew I would do whatever I needed to get the SNOO (short of selling my firstborn), and by then, they even started offering a rental option! I am so grateful for the SNOO and its difference in my life.
• You can’t use it forever (obviously): The SNOO is designed for babies up to six months or until they can roll over. That’s not a lot of time, but time is relative, and for me, on many days in my life with kids, the adage “the days are long, but the years are short” rings true. So even though I didn’t use it for long, it was significant. I hope they’ll invent a SNOO for grown-ups one day.
• Some (mild) dependency concerns: I worried about my baby becoming too dependent on the SNOO’s motion and noise, making the transition to a crib challenging. I even called customer service before my 30-day return window closed and got a call back from Dr. Karp himself! (I guess that’s a perk of being one of the first customers ever). He reminded me that the early months could be the most challenging for sleep and that the SNOO has a weaning feature that gradually reduces noise and motion to help babies transition. After all my concern about dependency, I didn’t even use the weaning feature, and sleep progress was uninterrupted (that is, until the 9-month sleep regression hit us like a ton of bricks!)

So, is the SNOO bassinet worth it? Absolutely! There’s nothing quite like it on the market, and it was incredibly helpful during those crucial first months of sleep. Parents today deserve all the support they can get. My grandmother raised nine kids, including three sets of twins, without anything like this. She had a literal village helping. I’m grateful and feel lucky that I had the SNOO. 

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