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

SNOO is far and away the product I get asked about the most as a baby gear expert. “Is it worth it?” “Should I register for it?” My answer is always the same: it depends. But if you’re set on a smart crib, it’s the gold standard.

SNOO was designed by Dr. Harvey Karp, a pediatrician, author and the baby sleep whisperer behind The Happiest Baby on the Block. It works by automatically responding to your baby’s crying with a combination of motion and white noise. The rocking and shushing move through increasing intensity levels depending on what your baby needs, then settle back to a gentle baseline once they’ve calmed down. There’s also a built-in swaddle to keep your baby safely on their back. The app gives you control over custom settings and detailed sleep data.

Opinions on SNOO are genuinely mixed, not because of its functionality (tech-wise, it’s the best smart crib on the market), but because it’s “magic” is pretty baby-dependent. 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,” one parent commented in our annual 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, the Snoo would speed up, and it would scare him.” 

Some pediatricians and occupational therapists flag that the built-in swaddle can limit movement and potentially interfere with development if used too long. And Brittany Sheehan, a pediatric sleep consultant and founder of Brittany Sheehan Sleep, has concerns about motion dependency. “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.”

All that to say: SNOO is still my top pick in this category because it’s the best at what it does and, when used as directed, it’s genuinely effective for a lot of families. Like so many baby products, I tell expecting parents that whether they should register for it often comes down to personal preference.

Worth noting:

• If SNOO isn’t in your budget or you’re hesitant to commit, there are two great alternatives: you can purchase a Certified Pre-Loved SNOO that has undergone a refresh and reconditioning process for about 25% off, or rent a SNOO for $159 per month (one-month minimum rental commitment), which works out to around five dollars a day.

• The built-in SNOO Sack is required for use, which means babies who hate swaddling may not tolerate it.

• Some pediatric occupational therapists recommend limiting use or skipping it altogether due to restricted arm movement; discuss with your pediatrician if you have concerns.

• Usage window is short: newborn through about six months, or until baby can roll consistently.

Additional Specs

• What’s Included: SNOO Smart Sleeper, 3 organic cotton sacks (S, M, L), organic cotton sheet, mattress and water-resistant cover, 9-month Happiest Baby App subscription

• Dimensions: 35.75” L x 19” W

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

If you’re curious about incorporating motion into your newborn’s sleep routine but aren’t completely sold, the Soma Smart Bassinet from UPPAbaby is an excellent choice. Think of it like a SNOO “lite”: it offers motion options + sleep sounds, but skips cry detection and auto-response, so you’ll need to toggle through the different settings to see what works. (You can do that manually on the bassinet’s touchscreen, or via the connected app.) But the movements are gentler, the bassinet itself is a bit more portable and it shares SNOO’s modern, neutral aesthetic. It’s also less than half the cost.

Like the brand's Mamaroo Smart Swing, the Soma was designed to imitate human movements. It offers five parent-inspired motion options: cruise, bounce, sway, rock and wave. Unlike some smart bassinets that feature only one type of motion (front-to-back or side-to-side), the Soma also moves in a circular motion, which many babies like. And there’s a unique motion feature called MotionSync, which lets you record your motion with your phone then suggests a motion setting and speed for the bassinet that mimics your natural movements. Add in four sleep sounds, five adjustable speeds, two height settings and a breathable mattress, and it’s a pretty well-rounded bassinet—just not an autonomous one. 

I used a previous version of the Soma with my second son and the lack of auto-response features was exactly what drew me to it. I loved the straightforward functionality and the ability to use motion when I wanted to—and to skip it when I didn’t. 

Worth noting:

• No cry detection means you’ll need to actively toggle settings when your baby wakes, as the bassinet won’t respond on its own.

• The footprint is larger than many traditional bassinets; measure your space before ordering.

• Some parents complain that the built-in white noise and other sound functions aren’t high quality and are too loud.

Additional Specs

• What’s Included: Bassinet, AC adapter, mattress with cover, storage basket

• Dimensions: 24.5”L x 33.8”W x 37”H

• Child Guidelines: Birth to 25 lbs or until baby pushes up on hands and knees, whichever comes first

The Sabine is a newer entry into the smart bassinet space, so we haven’t had a chance to test it yet, but it’s one I’m watching. It sits at a more approachable price point (similar to the Soma), but adds in a feature you won’t find there: automatic cry detection with responsive motion. That combination alone makes it intriguing for parents who want a bit more hands-off support without committing to the higher price tag of something like the SNOO. It also checks a few other boxes I like, including a clean, neutral aesthetic that fits seamlessly into most spaces and a straightforward feature set that doesn’t feel overly complicated. 

I’m always looking for gear that stands the test of time and truly grows with your baby. Cradlewise delivers; it combines a bassinet, crib and baby monitor into one tech-forward package and is a solid option if you’re looking for a smart crib that can go the distance.

Similar to SNOO, Cradlewise automatically responds to your baby’s fussing with a gentle bouncing motion to help soothe them back to sleep. But there are two big differences. The first is size. Cradlewise is larger—much more “crib” than “bassinet”—meaning you’ll be able to use it until your baby is about two years old. The second is functionality. This smart crib features a built-in monitor, mounted on a bar over the crib, that learns your baby’s sleep patterns and starts responding before they’re fully awake. There’s a breath rate monitor (using the camera and a depth sensor), picture-in-picture mode, white noise and other sounds, extensive customization and detailed sleep analytics. That extended use, plus the built-in monitor (meaning you won’t need to buy one separately), helps justify the cost. (Pro tip: You can save money on Cradlewise by ordering in advance. For each month you plan in advance, you save $100.)

“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 shared in our annual survey. “It soothes him to sleep multiple times through the night without waking me. It’s magical.”

That said, just like SNOO, Cradlewise’s effectiveness is pretty baby-dependent. What works to soothe one newborn doesn’t always work for another, so keep that in mind as you’re considering your options.

Worth noting:

• The app is the main complaint of this smart crib. The interface can be slow and glitchy and the app occasionally disconnects from the crib. Many parents also report that it drains their phone’s battery fairly quickly. 

• The bouncing motion is vertical (up and down), which some babies love and others don’t respond to as strongly as horizontal rocking.

• At 88 pounds, it’s heavy, so you’ll lose portability. 

Additional Specs

• What’s Included: Smart crib, bassinet attachment, mattress with cover, one fitted sheet, baby monitor, sleep tracker, 2 years of Nurture Core and power cord

• Dimensions: 40”L x 25”W x 42”H

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