My Honest Experience With the Snoo: What Worked, What Didn’t, and What I’d Do Differently

Trigger Warning: This post contains discussions about my experience with a traumatic birth. If this topic is difficult for you, please feel free to skip this post. Your well-being comes first, and there are plenty of other resources on this blog that may serve you better.

If you need support, please reach out to PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia) at 1300 726 306. If you’re reading this from outside Australia, consider contacting a local mental health support service or speaking with a healthcare provider. You’re not alone, and support is available.

Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored or affiliated with the Snoo or the Happiest Baby Company. All opinions shared are my own.

Why I Turned to the Snoo

With my first baby, I had a relatively smooth experience. I remember looking at the Snoo and thinking, Why would anyone need that? My baby slept well, I felt capable, and I assumed that’s just how it would go with every baby.

Then my second baby arrived, and it was a completely different story. After a difficult and traumatic birth, I was left with sprained wrists and a separated pelvis. My baby, born at 4.6 kg (over 10 lbs), had a broken collarbone from delivery. Holding, settling, and comforting him was physically exhausting, and I was overwhelmed.

With no family or friends able to visit due to the pandemic, I felt like I was on my own. My husband had returned to work quickly, and I was caring for a toddler as well. In the early hours of one particularly difficult morning, I rented a Snoo. I didn’t hesitate - I needed something, anything, that might give me even a little relief.

How the Snoo Helped

The Snoo arrived the next day, and I remember the relief I felt when it was set up. It offered an extra pair of hands when I desperately needed one. The responsive rocking and white noise often soothed my baby when I couldn’t.

• It gave me time to recover. Physically, I was limited. The Snoo helped bridge the gap on days when my body simply couldn’t do what I needed it to.
  
  
• It provided reassurance. Knowing my baby was safely clipped in, lying on his back, and unable to roll over gave me peace of mind.
  
  
• It offered predictable support. For those early weeks when I was just trying to survive, it was comforting to have a tool that could take over when I needed a break.
  
  

But while it was incredibly helpful, it wasn’t a miracle worker. The Snoo didn’t prevent all wake-ups, and it certainly didn’t stop the normal challenges that come with newborn sleep. Sometimes I’d get a notification on my phone that simply said, "SNOO has stopped. O needs your care." The Snoo had done all it could, and of course I still attended to my baby. He needed me.

Transitioning Out of the Snoo

One of the biggest questions parents often ask is, How do you get out of the Snoo once your baby no longer needs it?

For us, the transition happened almost naturally. At around 13 or 14 weeks, I accidentally forgot to turn the Snoo back on after a night feed. When I woke up hours later, I realised my baby had self-settled and gone back to sleep without it.

From there, I gradually weaned him off the motion, leaving the white noise on instead. I moved him into a regular bassinet, then to his cot, and we never looked back. That said, not every family has this experience - some babies rely heavily on the Snoo, and that’s okay. There are age appropriate, supportive ways to help with the transition when the time comes.

Would I Use the Snoo Again?

If I were to have another baby, I wouldn’t rush to buy a Snoo straight away. Instead, I’d wait to see what my baby’s temperament and needs were like. Renting worked well for me - it was far more affordable, and I didn’t have to worry about reselling or storing it when we were done.

While the Snoo can be a helpful tool, it’s important to remember that it’s not a solution for every sleep challenge. Things like reflux, tongue ties, and other feeding issues won’t be solved by a bassinet. And if you’re concerned about the transition, know that it’s absolutely possible to move from the Snoo to a cot with the right support.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, the Snoo was a lifeline for me during a time when I felt physically and emotionally depleted. But it wasn’t a magic fix. It’s a tool, and like all tools, it’s most helpful when used in the right circumstances.

If you’re considering using a Snoo, think about your family’s unique needs and how it might fit into your sleep support plan. And if you’re curious to hear more about the pros, cons, and everything in between, I recently discussed this on my Nap Trapped podcast.

👉 Listen to the Episode Here

I hope these insights have been helpful as you consider whether or not the Snoo is for you. It's my mission to smooth the way for parents in their journey to better sleep with their little ones.  

- Sally, The Sleep Concierge