What’s all the hullabaloo about the SNOO?!
If you are an expecting parent, a new parent, or a friend of a new parent, chances are you have heard people talking about the SNOO. It’s become pretty much synonymous with “my-baby-doesn’t-sleep-so-I’m-exhausted-so-I splurged-for-the-SNOO-and-it-was-worth-every-penny”. But there are a lot of pennies that come along with this cult-favorite item, so let’s dive into it to investigate what all the hullabaloo is about and if it is worth the investment and supportive for your baby!
From the Happiest Baby website
What actually is it?
If you’ve heard the word “SNOO” exclaimed from the mouth of a new mom or dad but still aren’t quite sure what it is, here is the description for you, straight from their website: “Created by celebrated pediatrician Dr. Harvey Karp (Happiest Baby on the Block), SNOO is the world’s smartest and safest baby bed! Like a 24/7 babysitter, SNOO boosts sleep with gentle rocking and soothing…for all naps and nights. Its quick response often calms upsets in under a minute. And our “5-second swaddle” reduces dangerous rolling.”
What does it do?
The SNOO is different from your typical newborn bassinet in several ways: most notably, it offers sound and motion to soothe baby and encourage them to go back to sleep. The advanced technology is designed to pick up your baby’s noises (compared to room noise) and respond to it with appropriately to soothe them back to sleep without you (the parent) moving a muscle. It comes with specific sleep sacks that secures baby in supine (lying on their back) and the company boasts that because of this, babies are not able to roll to their tummy and therefore are safer (I will dive into this more in a minute).
Snug as a bug in a SNOO! (Peep the sleep sack, too)
It seems to good to be true!! Is it..?
Keep in mind several things here. First of all, I am coming from the perspective of optimizing infant development. Second of all, I am not a parent (yet), so can’t speak to the personal experience of using the SNOO. We do have a SNOO in our NICU for use with babies who need it (reserved for those with neonatal exposure experiencing withdrawal symptoms and those with limited parental involvement), and I have mixed experiences with this with my patients. As always, every baby and family is different, and there is NO JUDGEMENT and no shame either way! My goal is to provide you with objective information so you can make the best decision for your family!
brave space
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brave space 〰️
That said, here is my break down. The PROs here are obvious: the automatic sensors triggering comforting movement helps soothe baby without waking up the parents. This allows increased quality of rest from both baby and caregivers, and leaves YOU, parent, with more energy to interact with baby, take care of yourself, and engage in regular life activities! If you are exhausted, in the thick of the newborn phase and reading this desperately at 3 am as you comfort your baby, I think you’ve read enough! Sending you love, Godspeed, and the link to order is here: happiestbaby.com/products/snoo-smart-bassinet. (Just keep in mind they cost $1,595.00)
Another pro is that SNOO offers rental options! This is nice, since it is only usually needed for the first few months of baby’s life, the cost doesn’t always make it worth it. You also might not be sure if baby will like it or need it. If this is you consider the rental program! At $159/mo for the first 4 months and then $49/mo after that, it can be a more affordable option.
Biggest challenge of parenting is often lack of sleep!
The SNOO is often able to help with this immensely!
Ok, give it to us straight. What are your concerns?
You caught me! As a pediatric PT I am always wary of baby equipment of any kind. Of course there is a time and place for carefully selected, safe, and developmentally appropriate equipment (like the Upseat), but in general, natural environments (like your arms, the floor, or a play mat) are best for baby to learn and grow!
Obviously though, baby needs a safe place to sleep. There are strict guidelines surrounding safe sleep, which you can read more about in this blog post. Guidelines include putting baby on their back to sleep every time they sleep, on a surface that is flat, firm, and free of any blankets, pillows, and toys. One aspect of the SNOO they highlight is that the bassinet has special leg lifters that safely elevate baby’s head, but they claim it does not turn the SNOO into an inclined sleeper (which is not allowed for safe sleep). I have found very little information on this, but have concerns about the safety of it, really. Take from that what you will!
The next thing I worry about is the impact on head shape and development from an increase in time spent flat (because the SNOO swaddle secures them on their back). We know that increased time spent flat is correlated with delayed motor development, torticollis, and plagiocephaly. Typically, babies can wiggle and move a bit in their crib, and this shifts the pressure on the back of the head. Also, once baby learns to roll tummy to back independently, it is typically considered safe for them to sleep that way, and is good for their posture and head shape. If you choose the SNOO, make sure baby gets in plenty of tummy time while awake!!! Read here for tummy time tips and tricks.
Take your tummy time tips from this cutie!
Attachment theorists (aka my parents lol) bring up an interesting consideration for the SNOO that is worth discussing as well. If the crib is rocking and responding to the baby’s cues instead of the parents, there may be a disconnect with parental-infant bonding and the powerful impact of human touch. It may create challenges for baby to learn to self-soothe as well, so transitioning to a traditional crib can be a rude awakening.
In conclusion…it DEPENDS!
Sleep is crucial for all of us (trust me, I know this too!). For baby, it supports brain development, growth, and emotional regulation. For parents, decreased exhaustion has a plethora of benefits, including improved mental and physical health and better energy for daytime parenting.
However, the SNOO is expensive, creates an environment that may increase risk of head shape and developmental concerns, and can impact the chance for parents to bond with and respond to their baby.
But don’t just take it from me! Here is a pro/con breakdown from a mom herself who used the SNOO with her baby!
TL;DR
The SNOO is a popular baby crib that many parents love for many reasons!
It’s advanced technology responds to baby’s patterns to provide movement and sound to help soothe them back to sleep.
PROs: improved sleep for both baby and parent, leading to better energy, and there is a rental option that is more affordable.
CONs: expensive, considerations for safe sleep, head shape and developmental concerns, and impact to parent-infant bonding and self soothing.
Take in all the info and make the best decision for you and your baby!