How to Transition From the SNOO to the Crib

The SNOO is a wonderful tool for those sleepless newborn days when sleep training isn’t an option yet. I actually used it myself for my second daughter and despite knowing all the ways to build healthy sleep habits from the start, it was worth the investment. In a nutshell, if your baby responds well to the SNOO, the SNOO does the work ( instead of you) to soothe your baby to sleep and also helps them connect their sleep cycles during the night. It rocks, swaddles and shushes your baby, which are all developmentally appropriate things to provide before a baby is ready for independent sleep through sleep training. I absolutely love the SNOO for the first three months of life and can be very effective at encouraging long stretches of sleep at night and even build the foundation for independent sleep.

However, there comes a point where your baby is ready to move to the freedom and space of the crib. If your baby is what I call a “SNOObie”, this transition might feel very daunting as you might be afraid your good sleeper might be a thing of the past. It absolutely does not have to be though.

What age does a baby usually need to be transitioned out of the SNOO?

Happiest Baby recommends that parents transition out of the SNOO by 6 months at the latest or when baby can get on hands and knees. Because your baby is clipped into the SNOO, they can continue to be swaddled in the SNOO beyond when they are showing signs of rolling.

These guidelines are around when it is SAFE to continue using the SNOO. However, in my experience, babies have their own agenda.

Around 3-4 months is when your baby will go through the big change where their sleep cycles mature from infant two stage cycles to adult 4 stage cycles. This is what we typically know as the “Four Month Sleep Regression”. This regression is misnamed though. It is actually a permanent change in their sleep cycles and more of a “progression”. As well, it usually hits between 12-16 weeks old, which is when baby is closer to 3 months old.

Right around this time is when the SNOO starts becomes less effective at keeping your baby asleep as for many, it no longer connects their sleep cycles. As well, baby’s this age are going through other developmental changes, such as rolling and wanting to move/have access to their hands.

So while the SNOO can technically be used until 6 months old, many babies show signs of readiness to move out by 3-4 months old. My recommendation is to follow your baby’s lead and move to them to the crib when they show signs of readiness.

What are some signs that a baby is ready to transition out of the SNOO?

1. Baby is having frequent wakings and is no longer being soothed back to sleep by the motion of the SNOO.
2. The motion of the SNOO seems to irritate your baby.
3. Baby is escaping the swaddle and showing sign of wanting to move/roll.
4. Baby is disengaging the clips on the SNOO
5. Baby is pushing up to hands and knees
6. Baby is too big for the SNOO

What is the best way to transition a baby from the SNOO into the crib?

The answer to this completely depends on your comfort level around sleep training.

If you feel comfortable with sleep training, my favourite way of transitioning out of the SNOO is cold turkey while also sleep training at the same time. This is due to the fact that since you removing the assistance of the SNOO, sleep training/independent sleep will replace this and allow your baby to connect their own sleep cycles. As well, it will allow your baby to resettle themselves while adjusting to the freedom of the crib and being un swaddled. If your baby moves to the crib and they are still assisted to sleep, through feeding, rocking or the pacifier, it is highly likely your baby will look for these things when coming out of sleep cycles during the night. Cold turkey means that you go straight from SNOO to the crib, un swaddle and sleep train at the same time. With this approach, it is not necessary to use weaning mode or to have arms out before. Every change requires an adjustment period and this approach only involves one transition as opposed to multiple little ones.

Some parents don’t feel comfortable with the cold turkey approach and prefer a slower, more gradual approach. This is particularly for parents who do not feel comfortable sleep training.

If this is the case, here is my step by step approach to gradually moving out of the SNOO and into the crib. Durations can be longer or shorter, depending on your baby’s progress.

1. Remove on arms from the swaddle for one week and letting your baby adjust. Remove the next as well.
2. After two weeks of arms out, put on weaning feature on the SNOO for at least one week.This
   now requires the premium subscription on the app. Practice putting your baby in the SNOO as
   awake as possible as you no longer have the soothing motion of the SNOO.
3. Turn the motion of the SNOO off completely for a few days.
4. Move to the crib. I highly recommend having established a solid bedtime routine before making this transition as this will act as a powerful cue and tell your baby it is time for sleep. I also suggest trying to put your baby in the crib as awake as possible. You can use the SNOO white noise to help your baby adjust or use an extra sound machine.
5. If your baby is waking frequently and it continues after one weeks still, it might be time to prioritize independent sleep.

In summary, how to transition out of the SNOO will depend on your comfort level and how your baby is responding. It is ok to combine a gradual approach with a final step of sleep training or decide to sleep train if the gradual approach is just not working.