Verdict
The SnuzCloud looks great on paper, but while it sounds great, the lack of a rechargeable battery and a 20-minute operation time allows it to fall behind the competition.
-
Secure velcro strap allows for safe sleeping and portability
-
Sound quality is fantastic
-
Powered by three AAA batteries, which aren’t included
-
Powers off after 20 minutes
-
Two volume settings might not be for everyone
Key Features
-
Review Price:
£31
-
Four sounds
Heartbeat, pink noise, lullaby and waterfall sounds with adjustable volume
-
Sleep safe
Long velcro strap so it can be hung from cot or pram edge
-
Machine washable
Plushy cover can be kept fresh with a 30 degree wash
Introduction
If you’re looking for a white noise machine for your baby, chances are you’ll have come across SnuzCloud at some point. This soft cloud-shaped sleep aid is a portable white and pink noise machine that you can use at home or on the go to soothe your little ones.
I’ve seen them hanging from plenty of prams when out and about, so when I was offered the chance to test one for my first child, I jumped at the chance. But while the SnuzCloud looks great on paper, does it live up to its reputation as one of the best white noise machines for babies? Let’s find out.
Design and features
- White and pink noise
- Integrated light
The SnuzCloud calms your baby with a combination of noise and lighting. It has four sound profiles, which include pink noise (which is often seen as a deeper, more soothing sound to white noise), heartbeat, waterfall, and lullaby.
While the profiles aren’t quite as diverse as the Ewan Deluxe’s, for example, there’s enough here to mimic the sound in the womb and home environment to soothe any stirring infant. All profiles are easy on the ears, without major volume peaks, making the overall listening experience (for you and your baby) pretty good.
The SnuzCloud also comes with two lighting options: a calming reddish-pink glow, which are made to look like the cloud’s cheeks, or a soft white light, which appears in the centre. The pink lights are my preference for soothing, as it replicates conditions inside the womb. The white light, which I’ve not used much, is meant to act as a night light for feeding or as your child gets older. However, I’m not confident that it emits enough light to really do that by itself, so that’s something to consider if you do have older children.
You can turn the sounds on by pressing the left-hand side of the cloud and the lights by pressing the button on the right-hand side. The controller, which can be accessed via the velcroed pouch at the back of the cloud, has power and volume controls.
The controls are super intuitive and easy to use. I particularly liked that I could have just the lights on without the music (and vice versa) by long-pressing the relevant buttons.
What isn’t so good is the 20-minute operation time. While this restriction is good for battery life, it’s not so great for babies. Other competitors have plenty of timer options or continuous playback features, which I feel the SnuzCloud is missing and ultimately lets it down.
The SnuzCloud is super portable and safe to use, thanks to the secure velcro strap that allows you to hang it from whatever you want. The strap can be adjusted to 10cm, which will fit most cots and cribs, but it’s worth checking the width of where you want to use it before buying. I found the velcro was quite strong and easily attached to both my moses basket, pram, and next-to-me crib. It is on the larger side (although not as big as the Ewan) so you might want to think about where you place it on your pram.
Lastly, the cloud cover is machine washable, which honestly is a huge plus. You can whip the controller out the back, pop the cover into the machine at 30 degrees, and leave to air dry.
Sound quality
- Loud without being overwhelming
- Clear audio
The sound quality of the SnuzCloud is one of the best. Although the machine only comes with two volume presets, the quiet setting is enough to soothe a baby and the loud is quiet enough not to overwhelm them. The quality of the recordings are also really good – there’s no noticeable loops and the actual sounds are pretty crisp with no real distortion or static.
To help you gauge the volume of the SnuzCloud, we checked the decibel ratings in three different locations: from next to the moses basket (~30cm), from the nightstand (~100cm), and from across the room (~200cm). Here’s what we found:
| 30cm min volume | 30cm max volume | 100cm min volume | 100cm max volume | 200cm min volume | 200cm max volume |
| 35dB | 47dB | 33dB | 44dB | 32dB | 42dB |
The SnuzCloud is the quietest white noise machine that I’ve tested overall, meaning if you or your baby is a light sleeper, this could be the perfect option. My husband has always struggled to sleep with white noise in the background, but he has managed it with no problems, giving you plenty of co-sleeping options.
Even on loud, the machine is still the quietest I’ve used overall, making accidental presses a non-issue. If your home environment is relatively busy, the Snuz might not have the effect you were hoping for.
Safety
The SnuzCloud gives you the chance to follow the Lullaby Trust’s safe sleeping advice of keeping the sleeping environment clear, thanks to its velcro strap. Just make sure that if you’re going to hang the machine above the cot, you do so at the feet-end just in case.
The battery compartment is also screwed down with two screws for safety purposes.
Battery life
- Requires three AAA batteries
The SnuzCloud isn’t rechargeable, which is a shame, and operates via three AAA batteries, so your battery life will depend on the quality of batteries that you put in it. Obviously, the noise machine only operates for 20 minutes at a time and over the period of testing my Duracell Plus’ have done me well.
It’s worth noting that batteries do not come included.
Should you buy it?
You want a clean-sounding noise machine
Excellent audio, with just the right voiume options, make this a good choice for many.
You want more flexibility
If you want more than 20-minutes of sound and rechargeable batteries, you’ll need a different option.
Final Thoughts
Between the SnuzCloud, Ewan the Sheep, or Ollie the Owl, it can be difficult to know what portable plushy white noise machine to buy. They all have slightly different features, use cases, and prices – and if you look online, parents will swear by different ones.
I really wanted to like the SnuzCloud more – the sound profiles are great, the volume is good for my personal home life, but the 20-minute operation time and the fact that the machine can’t be recharged like many others is a huge letdown.
Sure, the lower price helps justify those shortcomings against competitors, but I’d rather the option to be more environmentally friendly – and have more playback options – than this.
How We Test
We test every white noise machine thoroughly in the appropriate setting. We check how loud the machine is, its sound quality, and safety – especially if it’s marketed for babies – and its battery life. We will always tell you what we find and we never, ever accept money to review a product.
- Used over a week in a nursery setting
- Thorough testing and checking safety compliance
FAQs
Yes, the velcro stap allows you to follow the Lullaby Trust’s clear-cot guidance by attaching the Znucloud to the outside of a cot crip or pram, rather than leaving it loose in the sleep space. Just hang it at the feet-end as a precaution, and the battery compartment is screwed down for extra safety.
The Snuzcloud runs for 20 minutes per activation before switching off automatically. There’s no continuous playback function with this machine.
