As a baby sleep consultant since 2015, I’ve seen firsthand the struggles that new parents face when it comes to helping their newborns sleep well. That’s why when the SNOO Smart Bassinet came out, I was excited to learn how a bassinet could not only help parents get the sleep they needed, but also helped to keep babies in the safest sleep position all night long.
Was it too good to be true or THE best thing for new parents?
Thankfully, two members of my team were eager to test it out with their newborns and give their honest feedback. They were second-time moms, so they had the experience of having a newborn without the SNOO, which is a great way to compare if the SNOO is really worth the hype (and price tag).
Let’s dive into what exactly a “smart” bassinet is, how it can help tired parents get more sleep and, most importantly, how it helps keep newborns safe.
My blog posts may contain affiliate links (at no extra cost to you.) I only recommend products that me and my team have used and love.
What you’ll learn:
- How does the SNOO work?
- What features does the SNOO have?
- Pros and Cons of the SNOO
- How well does the SNOO actually work?
- Is the SNOO really worth it?
- How to transition out of the SNOO?
- SNOO FAQs
How does the SNOO work?
The SNOO smart bassinet was created by a pediatrician, Dr. Harvery Karp, and is designed to be a smart, safe bed for babies from 0-6 months old.
It uses technology to respond to your baby’s cries and comfort them. For example, at 3 am if your baby starts to cry or fuss, this is automatically detected by the SNOO and it responds by providing white noise (or “shushing”) and motion to help lull your baby back to sleep- often within a minute!
Your newborn still needs to feed at night, and as of yet the SNOO isn’t able to feed babies, but it can decrease the amount of times that you would have to get out of bed and soothe your baby back to sleep when they aren’t hungry.
Specifically, the SNOO helps to minimize the number of times your baby wakes at night between night feeds, which is a BIG plus in my opinion.
Secondly, the SNOO comes with a unique swaddle design that keeps your baby sleeping on their back all night long. This swaddle keeps your baby safe and secure, and locks into two anchor points, so that your baby cannot roll over during the night, which can give you peace of mind that your baby is safe.
What features does the SNOO have that are worth mentioning?
Safe rocking – Most babies feel comforted and soothed by being rocked. The trouble is that parents can’t rock their babies all night long, they need to sleep!
You can think of the SNOO as your night nanny because its rocking feature takes over the job of rocking your baby during the night. The way SNOO keeps this rocking motion safe (unlike other products like inclined seats and swings) is that your baby is kept on a firm flat surface and safely secured in a swaddle. These small details make a big difference with preventing SIDS and accidental death.
White noise – White noise has been proven to help babies fall asleep quicker and sleep longer stretches. Need I say more?
I wouldn’t invest in the SNOO solely for its white noise feature (because you can get a $20 sound machine on Amazon) but what’s unique is that the SNOO will adjust the volume of white noise depending on your baby’s cries. (Think: your baby is crying, white noise gets louder to soothe them.)
Safe swaddling- The SNOO swaddle is a simple zip that can’t unravel or come undone. It’s also “hip friendly” meaning that your baby’s hips are allowed freedom of movement which is important with preventing hip dysplasia.
Plus, your baby cannot roll over into a dangerous position thanks to two secured anchor points. It’s also made of breathable mesh at the shoulders and legs to help prevent your baby from overheating.
Easily customizable- The SNOO connects to your smartphone allowing you to track your baby’s sleep patterns as well as control the motion, sounds and cry sensitivity of your SNOO bassinet all from your phone. Pretty inventive!
Pros and Cons of the SNOO
Pros
+ Safe sleep for babies and peace of mind for tired parents.
+ Adds 1-2 hours of sleep per night.
+ Responds to baby’s fussing without parents having to get out of bed and sooth their babies back to sleep. (Unless your baby is hungry, then you do have to get up!)
Cons
– The price (although some countries have affordable monthly rental and second-hand models available).
– Not portable around the house because it needs to be plugged in and isn’t on wheels.
How well does the SNOO actually work?
Two of my team members tested the SNOO out personally so let’s hear their experiences.
Alyssa:
“When I found out I was pregnant with my second daughter, I knew that I wanted to try the SNOO this time around. I could clearly remember how exhausted I was after the birth of my first daughter. I was up every hour for months trying to nurse and rock her back to sleep. I couldn’t imagine being up that much in the middle of the night and then needing the energy to chase after a toddler too!
I had a very positive experience with the SNOO and recommend it to all of my friends! We chose to rent the SNOO because we were only going to be able to use it for 4 months due to a military relocation. It was an easy process to rent and secure our delivery date. We did choose to have it delivered three weeks prior to her arrival date, and I am glad we did this because she arrived two weeks early!
Setting up the SNOO was a breeze and we loved the quality of the product. Customer service was always wonderful if we had to ask any questions.
I do believe that the SNOO helped us gain an extra 1-2 hours of sleep every night. This may not seem like a lot, but for those first few months, this extra sleep is a true blessing for sleep deprived parents.
Not only did we have our hands free to sleep, but the SNOO provided us with extra reassurance that she was sleeping in a safe environment. The SNOO was worth every penny for our family. I hope it brings some peace of mind and extra sleep to your family too!”
Clare:
“I used the SNOO for my second child from birth until 4 months old when we moved overseas. I was upset to say goodbye to it as it worked SO well for us! It really helped to soothe my daughter when I wasn’t able to get to her immediately if I was helping my toddler.
I could sleep safe and sound knowing that my daughter was secure in the SNOO. Being away from family with a two-year-old as well, the SNOO helped to be the extra pair of hands I desperately needed in those early days.
My daughter was sleeping stretches of 6 hours by 8 weeks old and the soothing features helped me to learn the difference between cries of hunger and fussing between feeds.
The transition out of SNOO was smooth as she was already used to sleeping longer stretches, and using the techniques from Jilly’s gentle sleep training program helped to complete a smooth transition.”
Is the SNOO really worth it?
If you think of the SNOO as an affordable night nanny, who can soothe your baby overnight while you continue sleeping, then yes it’s worth it!
Some countries have monthly rental options, which can bring down the price as well.
You don’t have to get a SNOO, newborns can sleep well in traditional bassinets and cribs, but if it’s within your budget it could be a good idea.
How to transition out of the SNOO
If the SNOO is as wonderful as it sounds, what happens when you can no longer use it? Do babies wake all night wanting to be shushed and rocked?
Like all bassinets, the SNOO has a height and weight limit. This means that at some point your baby will need to stop sleeping in it (by 6 months of age latest).
I recommend waiting as long as possible (if your baby still falls within the height and weight limit and is under 6 months) so that you can incorporate gentle sleep training with transitioning out of the SNOO.
Thankfully, the SNOO has a weaning feature so that you can get your baby ready to sleep in the crib. This weaning feature slowly lessens the degree of rocking each night so that your baby can get used to sleeping without motion. And keeping the white noise is as easy as investing in a good white noise machine that will help your baby sleep well for many years to come.
As your baby is already used to resettling in the night without your direct help, it can make the transition to independent sleep even smoother. Especially when you follow our seven proven steps to get babies sleeping through the night in our sleep training program here.

SNOO FAQs
Is the SNOO safe?
Yes, the SNOO bassinet has been thoroughly tested and deemed safe for babies to sleep in. The unique features of the swaddle keep your baby from accidentally rolling over and ensure they stay safely sleeping on their back.
How does the SNOO soothe babies?
The SNOO soothes your baby through responsive rocking and shushing. It automatically detects your baby starting to cry and responds with just the right level of rocking and shushing to help your baby settle back to sleep without you needing to get out of bed!
Can the SNOO help with sleep training?
Yes, the SNOO can help with sleep training as your baby gets used to settling back to sleep without your direct help. It also helps you learn the difference between your baby’s cries when they are hungry, or they just need help resettling back to sleep.
How long can my baby use the SNOO?
Your baby can safely use the SNOO from birth until around 6 months old. Make sure to stay within the weight and height recommendations.
Is the SNOO bassinet worth the price?
If you think of the SNOO as an affordable night nanny, who can soothe your baby overnight while you continue sleeping, then yes it’s worth it! Some countries have monthly rental options, which can bring down the price as well. You don’t have to get a SNOO, newborns can sleep well in traditional bassinets and cribs, but if it’s within your budget it could be a good idea.
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