Can Your Baby Sleep Smarter? These Smart Cribs May Help Them Snooze

The original smart bassinet, SNOO is the one that started it all. The brainchild of Dr. Harvey Karp, pediatrician, author and baby sleep whisperer, SNOO is designed to add one to two hours of sleep per night by automatically responding to your baby’s crying with a mix of motion and white noise. The rocking and shushing move through increasing levels depending on how much comfort your baby needs (there are custom options available, too), then revert back to a gentle baseline once your baby has calmed down. There’s also a built-in swaddle to keep your baby safely on their back during sleep. 

SNOO is far and away the product I get asked about the most as a baby gear expert. “Is SNOO worth it?” and “Should I register for the SNOO?” are questions I field all the time from expecting parents. My answer? It depends.

Opinions on SNOO are decidedly mixed. Many parents absolutely swear by it. “The Snoo was a game changer,” one mom told us. “It’s the absolute best,” said another. “We were able to get much-needed sleep, and our newborn loved the motion and comfort it provided. We also loved the safety aspects.”

Others, however, aren’t as impressed. “It’s so expensive and just didn’t work for us,” said one parent in our annual favorite products survey. “Our baby hated it so much. He hated to be swaddled and that’s the only way you can use it…[and] when he would cry and the Snoo would speed up [and] it would scare him.” Brittany Sheehan, one of the sleep consultants I spoke with, isn’t a fan. “It trains babies to require motion and is often hard for them to be weaned from. In many cases, I come across four and five-month-olds who are still swaddled and much too big for the Snoo, not learning to roll or fall asleep independently, and the parents are terrified to make the transition.” And some pediatricians and physical and occupational therapists recommend either using it only for a short time period or skipping it altogether because the built-in swaddle limits babies’ movements and may lead to developmental issues if used too long. 

Like so many baby products, I tell expecting parents that whether or not they should register for SNOO comes down to personal preferences. It’s by far my favorite smart bassinet, which is why it tops this list, and when used as directed can be a very good option for many families. But it’s expensive, has a short usage window and there’s no way to know ahead of time how your baby will respond to it. Two alternative options are to purchase a Certified Pre-Loved SNOO that has undergone a refresh and reconditioning process for about 25% off. There’s also a rental option for $159 per month (one-month minimum rental commitment), which works out to around five dollars a day.

Additional Specs

• What’s Included: SNOO Smart Sleeper, 3 100% organic cotton white SNOO Sacks (small, medium and large), a water-resistant mattress and a 100% organic cotton fitted sheet on the mattress

• Dimensions: 35.75” L x 19” W

• Child Guidelines: For babies 0-6 mos old who cannot roll over consistently

Smart cribs have a lot of impressive features—but price isn’t generally one of them. While the 4moms bassinet is not without its flaws, it’s much less expensive than many smart cribs on the market and is our top choice if you’re in the market for a budget-friendly(er) pick.

If you recognize the 4moms brand, that’s because they’re the geniuses behind one the most popular baby swings around, the mamaRoo—a parent favorite that moves like you do to rock, swing and comfort your baby. The brand’s Sleep Bassinet was designed with exactly the same idea in mind.

Unlike many of the smart bassinets on our list that feature only one type of motion (front-to-back or side-to-side), the mamaRoo has five completely unique motions: car ride, wave, kangaroo, tree swing or rock-a-bye. These distinct motions imitate human movements and all the ways babies like to be soothed and comforted. If one’s not doing the trick, just switch to another until you find your little one’s favorite. 

Unlike SNOO and a few other smart cribs on our list, the mamaRoo Sleep Bassinet doesn’t feature cry detection and or auto-respond to your baby’s cries. You’ll need to turn it on and off manually and toggle through the movement options until you find what works.

I used the 4moms for the first few months after my second son was born and thought it performed really well considering the price point. The five different motions came in really handy as I tried to figure out just the right settings to settle him down, especially during the first few weeks. I mostly turned the motion on and off manually but did utilize the app at times, so it proved to be a nice perk when I didn’t feel like getting out of bed. I also liked the built-in white noise, breathable mesh sides, adjustable-height legs and its clean, modern aesthetic.

While you can set a custom timer, the motion maxes out at four hours then automatically shuts off. This wasn’t an issue for us (and isn’t for most newborns who aren’t sleeping in more than four-hour chunks), but it can become one if your baby relies on motion for soothing and starts sleeping in longer stretches. Some parents also complain about the bassinet malfunctioning after extended periods of use, but that wasn’t an issue for me.

Additional Specs

• What’s Included: Bassinet, washable mattress cover, leg extenders

• Dimensions: 34” L × 24” W × 39” H; weight: 30.5 lbs

• Child Guidelines: Birth to 25 lbs or until baby can get on hands and knees

We’re always here for a multifunction, multiuse product that grows with baby. Cradlewise combines a bassinet, a crib and a baby monitor into one smart package, and while it’s expensive, it’s a great all-in-one option if you’re considering a smart crib.

Similar to SNOO, Cradlewise automatically responds with a quiet, gentle bouncing motion when your baby starts fussing to soothe them back to sleep. But it takes things one step further. The built-in baby monitor—it’s located in the middle of the wooden bar that’s positioned over the top of the crib—learns your baby’s sleep patterns and schedule and responds accordingly. (The bouncing then turns off once your little one has settled down.) There’s also a breath rate monitor (using the camera and a depth sensor), picture-in-picture mode, white noise and other sounds, tons of customization options and sleep data and analytics. And because of its larger size, you’ll be able to use it until your baby reaches about 24 months.

“I thought [Cradlewise] was unnecessary but honestly I don’t think my baby would sleep as well as he does without this thing,” one mom told us in our favorite baby products survey. “It soothes him to sleep multiple times through the night without waking me. It’s magical.”

Like a few other smart cribs on our list, Cradlewise is really pricey; however, it does go the distance. At two years, it has the longest lifespan of any smart crib on our list. (The built-in smart monitor helps to justify the cost, too, since you won’t need to purchase one separately.) And speaking of pricing, you can save by purchasing the crib ahead of time and planning your delivery in advance. For each month you plan ahead you can save $100 (ships by the 23rd of the selected shipping month).

Users do complain that the app can be glitchy at times. And while some parents reported that their babies liked the up and down bouncing motion, others felt it didn’t do the trick.

Additional Specs

• What’s Included: Smart crib, bassinet attachment, mattress with cover, one fitted sheet, baby monitor, sleep tracker and power cord

• Dimensions: 40” L x 25” W x 42” H; weight: 67 lbs

• Child Guidelines: Newborn up to 2 yrs old; maximum weight 33 lbs

If you’re looking for the responsive benefits of a smart crib but aren’t sure if you want to introduce motion into your sleep routine, the Luminate Bassinet from Fisher-Price may be right for you. Although it’s stationary, it does have something called the Smart Sensing System. It detects your baby’s cries and has three different response modes with soothing features like an amber nightlight, music, sounds and vibration—all controlled from your smartphone or other compatible device and all fairly customizable depending on your baby’s preferences.

We love this bassinet’s clean, modern look and the breathable mesh sides. The floor light is another great feature; the soft light turns on automatically as you approach, perfect for those middle-of-the-night feeds.

While the lack of motion is a plus for some parents (and some babies), others may see it as a drawback, especially considering the bassinet’s price. Also note that although this smart crib does feature automatic response, the Smart Sensing System must be turned on manually from the bassinet’s control panel in order to be activated.

Additional Specs

• What’s Included: Bassinet, machine washable sheet, AC plug

• Dimensions: 21” D x 33” W x 38” H; weight: 28 lbs

• Child Guidelines: Use only with a child who is unable to push up on hands and knees, pull up or sit unassisted; maximum baby weight 20 lbs

Coming soon from Halo, this is the brand’s first undertaking in the smart crib space. The Connected combines the signature features of the BassiNest line with AutoSoothe technology, a smart feature that automatically responds to baby’s cries to help soothe them back to sleep. Soothing features include rocking, vibration and calming sounds and can be customized by age and state. The Connected smart crib is well priced at under $400.

Recently released from Maxi-Cosi, the Starling is a design-forward smart crib that features five natural rocking motions: cradle, sway, flutter, cascade and Zephyr. Like SNOO, the Starling has auto-respond technology, using AI and CryAssist technology to both diagnose and respond to baby’s fussiness. And it’s made from 100% recycled fabric made from plastic bottles.