To Snoo or not to Snoo

The baby tech worth having…and the products you should give a miss

There is an overwhelming market crammed full of baby products that are advertised to expecting and new parents from the moment you whisper conception. With technology advancing the way we parent all the time, there are understandably going to be many machines, gadgets and devices to help with parent-processing, whether for convenience, time-saving or ideally both!

Some products can be incredibly useful, and have become almost must-haves for parents-to-be. But others can be more hassle than they’re worth, more time consuming, they may remove parental instinct or simply not work at all.

At HushaBoo we have the pleasure of testing out all of these products so we know what truly works…and what doesn’t. Let’s take a look at the most popular baby and toddler gadgets, and find out if they actually provide enough benefits to make them worthwhile.

Gadgets or Gimmicks

I think ultimately for a product to be a useful gadget rather than wasteful gimmick, it needs to provide at least one benefit to us as parents. This could be anything from speeding up a night feed, settling your baby more quickly and easily, or helping the whole family sleep more soundly at night.

Even with an endless budget, no one wants to buy things that they find out further down the line they don’t actually need. But almost every parent has panic bought something on the promise of more sleep or an easier life!

There are some pieces of tech and equipment that I recommend to nearly every family I work with, because they really do make a difference. There’s lots more products that are useful, but not essential, or may have a simpler, cheaper alternative.

Top 5 Must Haves

Swaddle suits. Swaddling is my go to for every newborn baby I meet, seldom do babies not sleep better after being wrapped up safely and securely. And if you’re going to swaddle (which if it isn’t clear already, I highly recommend!) then why bother fiddling around with a large swaddle blanket for ages only for them to escape from it minutes later! Swaddle suits are easy to use, safe due to being one thin piece of material rather than bundles of layers, and they actually keep their arms from flailing everywhere mid-sleep. My favourite universally successful swaddle suit is the Love to Dream as their arms are positioned up by their head rather than down by their sides, which some babies resist.

Night lights. An essential from birth, because in order to help your baby’s body clock in line with the correct night and day, they shouldn’t be exposed to too much light overnight. A good night will help you see for night feeds and nappy changes, but keep you sleepy enough to settle back down soon after. A portable, USB rechargeable night light is best so it’s easily portable around the house and bedroom, but doesn’t leave you searching for batteries at 2am!

White noise machine. Another go to with newborns, I love white noise! It helps so many babies fall asleep, as well as sleep more soundly. It can also help to calm an overtired/overstimulated baby in readiness for sleep or a feed, especially colicky babies that just need a helping hand to re-stabilise their central feverous system when overwhelmed. Just like with night lights, white noise machines are great when portable so you can use on the go too. Phone apps and smart speakers are useful…until your internet drops out or you want to use that device for something else! If you have an old device dedicated just to white noise, I’d recommend the Sound Sleeper app which has an array of noises to suit every baby and toddler. Otherwise, a white nose machine such as the Marpac Hush, is the better, cheaper option to ensure your white noise plays all night.

Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep machine. Obviously the only applies to formula feeding, but if that’s the route you decide to go down, it’s an absolute must! Like a coffee machine for babies, it’s provides a perfectly-warm bottle of formula in a matter of seconds. My top tip for even speedier night feeds; have a pre-sterilised bottle ready with the correct amount of formula in the bottom and then not only is there no measuring to be done in the night, the formula doesn’t get clogged up in the measuring spoon from the steam if you were scooping into the hot water!

A HushaBoo Night Nanny! Completely biased, of course, but no top 5 ‘sleep benefits’ for newborn parents would be complete without the help from a professional who can care for your baby just as you would do, whilst you catch up on much needed rest and sleep overnight. Whilst not for everyone, did you know we can provide ad hoc care as well as set nights per week? You don’t get much better than being able to completely switch off for the night!

The Best of the Rest

Cribs. Newborn pre-cot sleep environments come in all varieties; from the extremely high-tech Snoo, to the tried and tested moses baskets, there’s so many options. There’s actually no reason not to go straight for a cot, if living arrangements and space allow. The one down side to a stationary cot, it doesn’t have to ability to be rocked and so many babies need some sort of movement to settle to sleep when very young. Many of the cribs/side sleepers on the market offer a rocking motion, even if its manual. Though this is where the Snoo really comes into its own; it provides not only the rocking but also white noise AND a swaddle in one. These benefits come at a huge premium of course, but you can rent one directly from some retailers, as well as buying second hand.  A big worry for some parents worry about the transition to Life After The Snoo, but the reality is that, when ready, they adapt pretty quickly. Most babies need movement to sleep, so why not have assistance with this if you can afford it?

Books. Not exactly state of the art technology, but I swear by the use of books and reading as a sleep-inducing tool. Perfect for any age, what better way to settle down for sleep than to be cuddled, listening to the voice of someone you love? You also don’t need to lull you baby to sleep – the purpose is to make your child feel safe and secure before they go to sleep, so mix up the books and if you’re up for it, enjoy bringing the characters to life with voices and actions. A happy baby is more likely to sleep better.

Baby monitors. There are such a wide variety of baby monitors on the market with a price range to match. Some smart monitors such as the Nanit or Owlet are all singing and dancing, and come with a wide range of features such as the ability to track movement and breathing. Whilst these monitors are fantastic at what they offer, they certainly aren’t a necessity. If you are an anxious parent, you will likely get the most benefit from this type of monitor because it can give you peace of mind that your baby is safe, which in turn will give you a better nights sleep. However, a standard camera monitor can be just as effective, and still provide a window to check on them from afar.

Comforters. Whilst not a huge expense, having a toy comforter can actually become a hassle if you only have one! If your child becomes quite attached to a soft toy, you usually need at leats one as a back up for either when it needs a wash or worst still, gets lost! Knotted muslins are actually great comforters as babies can chuck them around, snuggle with them or suck and chew on them, plus they’re breathable so ideal for younger babies. The best part is that they’re easy to wash, cheap and easy to replace!

Rockit Rocker. This one I find is quite divisive! It’s a device that vibrates and ‘rocks’ your baby’s pram or crib, enabling you to be hands free and keeping the constant movement while they are asleep. It works so well for some babies, but it is very hit and miss. It certainly is a much cheaper option than the Snoo, so its worth a go especially if you can get a second hand one.

Tracking apps. Whilst there’s definitely a chance you can become obsessive when tracking your baby’s feeding and sleeping patterns, on the whole it can be a lifesaver at times. It can save your sanity when your hormonal brain is at its most forgetful – I used to forget what side I’d fed on last even though only an hour or so had passed! Plus as they get older, apps like Huckleberry are really beneficial in timing for naps and bedtime, with the paid versions actually giving you prompts to put your baby down for a sleep before they get overtired.

Breast pumps. A good breast pump should do one fo two things; enable fast expressing and/or allow you to carry on tasks while you pump. I have found that the Medela pumps tend to be the most effective for all types of boob shapes and sizes, especially the hospital grade pumps which are almost essential if you’re pumping for each and every feed. The downside is that they are attached with tubes, making it difficult to move around. hough you can buy great holders like this one to at least be hands free, even if you have to stay sitting. To be totally hands free and mobile, you can’t beat the Elvie pump. Though not as effective as hospital grade pumps, it fits right inside your bra so is extremely discreet for pumping out and about.

Blackout blinds. These aren’t on the essential list because not every baby needs a pitch-black room in order to sleep well. But for those sensitive to light, a decent blackout solution can be a must-have. The temporary solutions such as the Gro Everywhere Blind can be great for travelling (as can tin foil!), but tend to lose stick when used in the longer term. For your baby’s nursery, I find the best solution is actually layering up a regular roller black out blind, with curtains over the top; this way the light coming round the edges is as blocked as can be by the extra layering of the curtains.

Twins feeding pillow. Not applicable to all the single babies, but for those with multiples, I highly recommend purchasing a double feeding pillow for solo bottle feeding. The priority with twins is keeping them on the same schedule and speeding up the feeding process as much as possible to maximise sleep. A feeding pillow enables you to feed both at the same time, keeping one elevated a little while you wind the other, and is also a great place for them to chill during the day.

Let’s not forget the toddlers

Sleep trainer clocks