Sleep at the touch of a button? The «Snoozy» claims to make it child’s play
Any inventor of a sleeping aid for babies will attract interest from chronically overtired parents. Me included. I tested a Swiss startup’s Snoozy device and quickly fell in love with it.
Most parents sit up and take notice when they hear the words «sleep aid». If not, good for you – you can click right on past to the next article. Maybe you’re like me, though, and sleep has become a luxury.
A new device called the «Snoozy» is supposed to help us overtired parents. Or, as the Swiss startup claims on its own website: «Liini makes parents’ life easier». A bold promise, I reckon. And a good reason to put the product to the test.
Of course, the device is primarily intended for babies. Despite my two daughters being older (four and seven), I consider myself to be a legitimate tester. Because – to this day, unfortunately – one of them struggles to fall asleep and the other doesn’t sleep through the night. So, when it comes to sleep deprivation, I’m an expert.
I’ve also tried out a number of (settling to) sleep aids in recent years, from night lights in all imaginable colours, noise apps and sleep music compilations to children’s meditation audio tracks. Now I’ve got the Snoozy to hang up too.
Overpowering hair dryer noise and soothing rain
My first impression when I take the first of two test devices out of its box: the Snoozy is very lovingly made. The small, round, pastel-toned device is a subtle addition to any nursery or hangs unobtrusively on a pram. Six light grey buttons and a charging socket sit around the soft apricot edge (the manufacturer calls it «beige»). The speaker is covered by mottled grey fabric. A button lock prevents the child from adjusting the device. And an elastic rubber loop means you can hang it up, including on your cot or pushchair.
Source: Katja Fischer
Using the USB-C cable provided, the Snoozy takes around two hours to be fully charged and ready to use. The battery should last about 20 hours. The QR code on the back takes you to the digital manual on the website (in German). Using it is simple and self-explanatory. The heart button gives you five sounds to choose from: hair dryer, heartbeat in the womb, rain, summer evening and river with birdsong. All have great acoustics. But what strikes me is that the hair dryer option –overpowering even for an adult – is very loud compared to the other noises. The heartbeat, on the other hand, is too quiet. However, I can control the volume manually using the plus or minus buttons on the side of the device.
If your child prefers a combination of sounds, you can choose between five lullabies. To go to the next song or sound, simply press the corresponding music note button again.
If you want to limit the duration of the sound, you have two timer options: 60 or 120 minutes. Too bad there’s no shorter option. Especially because, according to the manufacturer, your child will fall asleep in a flash thanks to their device – allegedly, 80 per cent do within five minutes. You can also use another button to switch on an ambient light around two centimetres wide. Unfortunately, you can’t dim it.
Source: Katja Fischer
Like magic for the one who doesn’t fall asleep
Despite minor flaws, I like the Snoozy. But now it’s my daughters’ turn to try it. I got two test devices, so they can both take one to bed and carry it around with them. The little one chooses «Summer evening with cricket noises», but soon wants to switch to music. It’s understandable – I find the chirping crickets annoying too. She’s the one who falls asleep quickly anyway (but has trouble sleeping through the night), so she soon drifts off into the land of nod. The older one – who doesn’t fall asleep easily – opts for a piece of music from the start: «Starry Sky» promises to send her to sleep. When I step into her room half an hour later, she’s still holding the device in her hand – but now she’s sound asleep. Snoozy did a good job.
Of course, that doesn’t have to mean anything. Children are so different. What works for one doesn’t necessarily apply to another. But, personally, I’d have loved the Snoozy when my girls were younger.
That was the Swiss manufacturer couple’s approach: they make products based on their own needs. A few years ago, when [Olivia Wyss and Mike Roth] (https://liini.ch/ueber-uns/) (website in German) were looking for a suitable bottle warmer, they «didn’t find a product that even remotely met our expectations» on the market, as they write on their website. So, under their company name Liini – based on their daughter’s nickname – they made their own bottle warmer with a battery to use on the go, which has been available since autumn 2021.
They’re expanding their range with the Snoozy, which has been on the market for a few weeks. It was also born out of their own need. «We played playlists with hair dryer noises for hours to calm our daughter,» says Mike Roth. Conversations with other parents revealed that rain and womb sounds were also popular.
That sounds familiar. A few years ago, I actually downloaded an app on my smartphone with these exact sounds.
Conclusion: sleep is expensive, but precious
Wondering what the Snoozy can do that other sound apps, baby sleep playlists, music boxes or sleep lamps can’t? Well, nothing really. And yet it combines all these functions in one small device. It’s handy, you can take it with you everywhere and hang it up in multiple places. The timer is a drawback, because I would have liked another option under one hour. A dimmer function for the night light would also be useful. But the bottom line is that I really like this family helper.
However, the Snoozy also has its price: 63 francs (as of 21 April 2023). Would I still buy it? Absolutely. If the background noise actually helps your child fall asleep, the investment is worth it. After years of chronic fatigue, I know that a decent night’s sleep is more valuable than a pile of money.
Source: Katja Fischer
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Katja Fischer
Senior Editor
Katja.Fischer@digitecgalaxus.chMom of Anna and Elsa, aperitif expert, group fitness fanatic, aspiring dancer and gossip lover. Often a multitasker and a person who wants it all, sometimes a chocolate chef and queen of the couch.
