The tale of two bassinets: snoo vs. halo

the halo

I am writing this post because my bassinet just saved my sanity. When you're out of hands and options, it's nice for the bassinet to have your back. Have you been there? You changed their diaper, they are fed, gas expelled, but they're still unhappy? This was the situation I was finding myself in a few hours ago. I happened to buy two bassinets. Why? Good question. 

I had decided on the Halo for a few reasons...none of them good.

1. Reason number one, and here's where I made my mistake, I found a good deal on a used one sold by a local resident. 
2. I liked that it swiveled
3. It was popular

So here is how it went with an actual baby.. I put baby in and 3 minutes later there was crying. I then used the swiveling action to try to 'rock baby' but the swivel was not natural and was sort of jolty and made baby cry harder. Baby was quiet in my arms basically until I put him in the bassinet. Now, just because that is MY experience, does not mean it will be yours! There are countless good reviews about the Halo-- because I read them! 

Check out the video review of the Halo here

In comes the Snoo. After week 2 of this nightly routine of crying, rocking, then into bed with me, I knew I couldn't go on like this for long. PLUS I was FREAKING OUT because of all the scariness of people saying that you can't sleep with baby in bed with you and they will die.
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I was now paranoid on top of sleep deprived!
​Such a bad combination!! 

​So around 1 AM, I look up the Snoo. It's on sale for 30% off. Now 30% is substantial when then original price tag is like $1200 something dollars. Could I buy it second hand? I check Facebook Marketplace and the best I could find is like $700 and I would have to drive into Manhattan to get it during a Pandemic with a newborn baby. So not happening.  I decided to order it. They PROMISED to give me free return if I hated it. To be honest, I was hoping that would be the case because I wanted him to just use the stupid bassinet I already had! 
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This is what I weighed in my head...

For the Snoo

• I could always return it
• I could resell it
• It promises I'll sleep longer
• It's apparently the safest bassinet

Against the Snoo

• Holy crap that is expensive
• For literally only 6 months? 

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the snoo

Obviously I ended up with the Snoo. While I was frightened at what my husband would say about buying another bassinet, he was sort of relieved that I was going to be trying something because he too was losing it. 

I remember the day it arrived. We set it up right before bedtime. Well, it was love at first sight. The rest is history as they say. The other bassinet sits in the corner of our room waiting for a new home. 

I remember the first week or so thinking... is this really that great? I voiced this aloud to my husband who said.. and I quote, "Don't you dare send that thing back." Why was I hesitant? Well, see it didn't work instantly. In my mind, $1200 means the baby stops crying immediately. Not the case. I had to learn to be patient and give it time to work its magic. So if baby was whiny at all I would say it's not working and pick him up. I learned to back away and give it time. If baby was wailing or minutes had passed and he was not showing signs of the whining winding down, or the opposite was happening it was ramping up, then I intervened. 

But that's really just the part about having a baby that I was learning. They are going to cry when they need something. I just wasn't good at figuring out what that was yet. What saved me was that the Snoo was able to rock him to sleep when he was drowsy. I would hear him stir and grab my phone, bump up the rocking and he would settle down and return to sleep. 

I did a video review of the Snoo you can check out here

I have to say in the end, I felt like I wasn't really resting with the Halo. I was always checking him. Is he safe? Is the swaddle coming undone?  Is he breathing? Did he turn over somehow? From the moment we used the Snoo. felt a sense of peace. I knew as long as he was in there he was okay. Perhaps that is just really great advertising on their part, but it helped me sleep at night. 

UPDATE!!: 
The 4 month sleep regression hit us hard. Baby wasn't a fan of sleeping in the bassinet at night. I had hoped it would get us through the sleep regression unscathed but it did not. He did manage to spend 20 minutes napping in it a couple times a day, but it was hard to keep him sleeping there. Coming out of the regression I am happy to say we are back in the bassinet, but we are no longer swaddling.

​I'm having an issue because you need the swaddle with the clips to use the Snoo. I've read people cut the sack so that they can use the Snoo without the swaddle. I wish they would just make that feature for when the child is older. He can get out of the swaddle seemingly easily now that he is much stronger! 

Just something to think about since it is an expensive purchase!!