Many parents swear by the SNOO to help their babies sleep through those early months, which are often filled with fuss and crying, but transitioning little ones from a smart sleeper to a crib can be difficult.
According to the company, babies who use SNOO often sleep nine hours or more by the time they are 2 to 3 months old.
“It was developed by Dr. Harvey Karp as an additional way to soothe your baby,” Dr. Kelsey Alford, D.C. sleep consultant and owner A dream is investedtold News4.
The smart sleep bassinet is designed for babies up to 6 months and automatically responds to baby’s fussiness with soothing sounds and motions, helping to soothe baby’s cries without the help of mom or dad.
But that extra sleep doesn’t come cheap for parents. A new SNOO costs about $1,700, or families can lease it for a monthly fee of $99 to $159.
Some say the SNOO works so well that they have trouble transitioning their babies to sleep in a crib.
“You want to go before the baby gets so used to it and it becomes so comforting that it’s hard to get out of it. And that happy window, I think, is about three to four months, rather than waiting until that full six months of time,” Alford said.
Alford said she encourages her clients to start with subtle changes to their baby’s sleep patterns.
“Start with the first nap, because during the first nap, the baby is not overtired. He doesn’t have overstimulation from the day. It’s a good time to practice those sleep skills,” she said.
She also recommends that parents stop swaddling their baby during this time to help them develop their sleep skills.
Another tip: Babies don’t have to move into the nursery right after they leave SNOO.
“Many parents think it’s just SNOO or just the baby sleeping in the nursery. They absolutely can sleep in a pack and play for a while in their parents’ room, and it allows them to have more space to sleep, it allows them to roll around, to get used to the new environment,” Alford said.
No matter what parents decide, Alford said it’s important to have a plan in place before leaving SNOO.
“You don’t want to rush into a game plan at 1 a.m. because you’re both exhausted. You’re both like, ‘I just need to get this baby to sleep,'” she said.
“It could just be talking as parents and coming up with a game plan. It could be reading books or working with a sleep consultant. There are many different options.”
