SNOO Bassinet: 13 Things You Should Know Before Purchase

When it’s time to start choosing the bassinet your new baby’s going to be sleeping on, you might have already glanced at the high-tech SNOO Bassinet. I’ve narrowed the most common questions down to 13 things you should know before purchase. 

In addition, I’ve included some information about the SNOO sleep sack that goes along with the bassinet (questions 9 to 13). By the end of this article, you’ll know if you want a SNOO or not! 

1. Can you travel with the SNOO?

Parents whose babies benefit from the effects of a SNOO Bassinet and who travel often would most likely like to combine the two. In general, babies tend to sleep well enough without the SNOO provided they’ve slept in the SNOO for about 2 months. This ensures your baby has developed a consistent and fuss-free sleep pattern. By this time your baby would have started self-soothing. 

However, if your baby still needs the SNOO, you can quite easily disassemble the unit and take it with you. If you have additional swaddling sacks and fitted sheets or SNOO fitted sheet alternatives, be sure to pack them as well. 

Here’s a short video by the creators of this bassinet on how to repack the device along with its accessories. You might not have the card boxes anymore; just simply use bags instead for the accessories.

2. Should I rent or buy a SNOO?

SNOO has the option to rent as well as the rent-to-buy option. This is great for parents who aren’t sure if this smart bassinet is the right choice for their baby. A one-month commitment will give you the opportunity to see how your baby adapts to sleeping in the SNOO. 

After that, you might decide to buy your baby their own SNOO. Many parents also feel that buying one is a very hefty price tag to pay for only 6 months of use. This makes the rental option quite popular and budget-friendly! Here’s the link to renting it.

3. Should my baby nap in SNOO?

If your little one is struggling to develop consistent sleeping habits, letting them nap in the SNOO might be a good idea. One of the benefits of this device is to promote good sleeping habits, so it can only benefit your baby. 

Essentially, SNOO adds at least 2 hours of extra sleep to an average night. The white noise and rocking motion automatically responds to most fussing and tends to calm the baby in a matter of minutes. Babies who are restless will receive all the benefits of swaddling without having to be picked up every few minutes. 

4. When to stop using SNOO?

The creator of SNOO, Dr. Karp generally recommends that SNOO only be used up to the age of 6 months. Or alternatively, when the little one can get onto their hands and knees and might actually be able to get out of the SNOO. 

To make the transition process easier, parents might start weaning the baby off the SNOO by letting them nap in a crib. And as the months progress, move them to the crib for a night or two. Eventually, they can sleep without the rocking and soothing of SNOO.

5. Does the SNOO rock all night?

Yes. Once you’ve strapped your baby in, SNOO will gently start rocking and playing white noise through the onboard speakers. The white noise and gentle rocking continue all night and will only stop when the baby gets upset. 

When SNOO sense’s your baby’s fussing, the rocking and volume will increase in an attempt to soothe the little one. In most cases, the baby will fall back to sleep. When this happens, SNOO will gradually decrease the volume of the white noise and the rocking motion. 

6. Can you use the SNOO as a regular bassinet?

Many parents use SNOO from day one as a regular bassinet. Babies benefit from swaddling without the risks of getting tangled in loose blankets. SNOO also works well to calm crying and fussing babies by emitting womb-like sounds. It’s a great way to set up a sleep pattern from an early age. 

You can set the SNOO to not provide any rocking motion when the baby fusses or cries. This is the easiest way to wean your baby off of the SNOO. Keeping the motion and white noise off will teach them to self-soothe and the SNOO can be used as a normal bassinet. 

7. Do pediatricians recommend SNOO?

Since the SNOO is designed to keep your baby sleeping on their back, it’s often recommended by pediatricians. In fact, its founder is a pediatrician. SNOO is also the number one safeguard against SIDS. The fact that SNOO keeps babies from rolling over and suffocating on loose blankets or pillows is one of the top reasons parents and doctors like this product! 

8. What is comparable to the SNOO?

As a parent, you might want the features that go along with a smart bassinet but might not entirely be sold on the SNOO brand. Fortunately, there are several other brands that could offer you the same features. 

I recently posted an article on the common SNOO alternatives which some parents are considering. For a detailed analysis of these products, please read that previous post or specific comparison articles I wrote:

• Graco Sense2 Snooze bassinet vs SNOO
• 4moms mamaRoo Sleep bassinet vs SNOO
• Halo bassinet Luxe series vs SNOO

9. How many SNOO sacks do I need?

If you’re renting your SNOO, rental usually comes with an additional three brand new SNOO sacks in different sizes. These sizes include small, medium and large. You’ll also get a mattress and a fitted sheet with your SNOO, for a new and a rental device.

It’s a good idea though to get an extra SNOO sack for each different size. The main reason for this is the possibility that wetting the bed will leave you without a sheet or swaddle if you only have one. 

10. What to wear under a SNOO sack (e.g. in winter)?

Most parents use SNOO with a simple onesie. If it’s a little cold in the nursery, you can dress your baby in a footless romper or even a long-sleeved onesie such as the Gerber long sleeve onesie. A much lower temperature will require a TOG sleep sack and extra clothing to keep warm. Here’s a separate article I wrote on what your baby should wear in a SNOO.

11. Can you use a SNOO sack in a crib (outside of SNOO)?

SNOO sack is specifically designed for use in a SNOO bassinet, it can safely be used in a regular crib as well. So, if you’re traveling or your little one has outgrown the SNOO, you can use the sacks in your little one’s next crib. 

Many parents who travel have found that the best sleep results happen with the SNOO sack and the white noise. This combination still gets your baby to sleep peacefully. 

12. Can you use SNOO without a sleep sack?

For the most part, sleep sacks allow babies to keep the correct temperature. They also prevent the baby from overheating with too many blankets. If the room is cold, use a light blanket and some warm footie pajamas. 

13. Can you use SNOO swaddle without bassinet?

The swaddle is specific to SNOO so ideally it should be used with the bassinet. You can use a swaddle designed for use with a bassinet such as the Cuddlebug adjustable baby swaddle for the times you want to swaddle your baby in your arms. 

For additional input on whether SNOO is the right choice for your baby, here’s a clip featuring the creator, Harvey Karp, explaining why he thinks every parent should have one!

Final thoughts

The SNOO bassinet has many benefits. Not only does it reduce the risk of SIDS but it also helps your baby develop regular sleeping patterns. The 13 questions in today’s article will help you decide if SNOO is the right choice for your baby. 

With the rental option or the rent-to-buy option, you can easily use the SNOO for a month to see if it works for you. Whether you rent or buy, always get one or two extra sacks and fitted sheets in various sizes. This will make sure your little one has one to use in a bedwetting emergency. SNOO has helped many parents develop and assess their baby’s sleeping habits. Take the stress out of naps and nighttime sleep time!