Shnuggle Dreami Clever Baby Sleeper review

Verdict in 10 seconds

• Bigger than similar beds, such as the Mothercare Knitted Moses Basket

• Lightweight to move around and comes with a rocking stand

• Made from solid plastic – it feels sturdy and is easy to clean

• Doesn’t rustle when moved, like wicker or palm baskets

Pros

• Quick to set up – simply insert the liner and build the stand

• Base is made from strong, flexible plastic so it is very easy to wipe clean

• Feels more secure than similar bassinets, which gave peace of mind to our mum who also has twin four-year-old girls

• Handles feel very secure when carrying the bassinet around

• Stand has two height settings

• The liner is made with soft, breathable mesh – also machine-washable

• Hypoallergenic base has holes in the bottom to ensure air can flow easily

• Unlike other baskets, it has no hood – hoods can sometimes get in the way anyway

• Lightweight and easy to move around the home day and night so you can keep baby close at all times

• Minimalistic design which looks clean and stylish

• More spacious than other baskets – offers good longevity

• Stand folds down easily for travel

Cons

• There’s no incline option to help with reflux or congestion

• You have to turn the stand around to rock the basket, which could be fiddly with a sleeping baby inside

• No drop side, like you see on bedside cribs, so you may have to get out of bed for night feeds or to comfort your baby

• The light colours show up marks easily

• More expensive than standard Moses baskets

• While it is bigger than typical baskets, it may not last as long for larger babies

• Only one height setting when in standing mode

What are the key features?

• Made from BPA-free plastic, which is silent when moved

• Has a ventilated, hypoallergenic base to maximise airflow

• Bassinet comes with a 3D mesh liner which is padded for comfort, yet fully breathable

• Includes a quilted, water-resistant mattress

• Two-position curve stand for low-level gentle rocking or a high-level fixed position

What are the specs?

• Can be used for up to six months (maximum weight 9kg) or when the baby can sit up or roll over

• Basket weight: 4kg

• Stand weight: 3kg

• Base: 85cm x 50cm

• Stand folded: approx 63cm x 32cm x 41cm

• Mattress (included): 74cm x 30cm

• Basket is made from non-toxic polypropylene

• Dressing is 95% polyester and 5% cotton

• Stand is made from MDF

• The mattress is made from PU foam, and the quilted mattress cover is 60% cotton and 40% polyester

• Comes in three colours – grey, white and slate

• RRP: £134.95 at time of review

• Resale value: up to around £70 at time of review

• Extras: fitted sheets (£13.99)

How easy is the basket to set up?

Thanks to easy-to-follow pictures, the Shnuggle Dreami Clever Baby Sleeper can be put together by one person and is very straightforward to assemble.

There are four cross sections that you have to screw together to make the stand. It is very simple and all the parts are included – you just need a screwdriver. When it comes to the basket, the mesh liner and mattress just need to be slotted into place. All-in-all it took our tester, Anna, about 25 minutes to get the bed ready to go.

Once the stand is set up, it takes seconds to fold, so it can be stored away without hassle when not in use.

Although Anna didn’t need to consult the instructions again during testing, she was unable to find a copy of them on the Shnuggle website. But she emailed Shnuggle for another copy and they were very quick to respond to her request. The customer service contacts are also easily located on their website.

How adjustable is it?

One of the things that is appealing about the Shnuggle Dreami Clever Baby Sleeper is the option to rock your baby when they need comforting or help getting to sleep.

The stand has two height settings – fixed at bed height or low-level rocking – and the height can be changed by removing the bassinet, rotating the metal hoops at either end of the stand and turning it over. The hoops hold the base in position so make sure that they are on the outside of the bassinet when you put it back on the stand.

Although it is very simple to make the switch from fixed to rocking, our mum felt that it was too much for her to keep changing it round, especially with a three-month-old baby who didn't settle easily. She ended up keeping it in fixed mode most of the time.

As the curved stand is foldable, it can be used when away from home too, although Anna did feel that the base and stand would be too big to fit in a packed car.

How does it look?

With no hood or fussy detailing, the Shnuggle Dreami Clever Baby Sleeper is very sleek.

Made with non-toxic polypropylene, it is a modern take on a traditional Moses baskets and comes in three colours – bright white, grey and slate. Anna felt the white version looked clean and fresh in her home and her baby very cosy inside.

While plastic may not be the obvious choice for a baby bed, our mum scored it highly for comfort. The 3D mesh liner – made from breathable cotton – and quilted mattress are soft against a newborn baby’s skin while the holes maintain airflow throughout the base.

Made from MDF and painted bright white, the stand is a stylish curve shape, which our tester felt was good quality. The only downside we found to this cot was how easily marks showed up on the white liner, but they could be removed and washed if necessary.

What is it like to use day-to-day?

One of the biggest selling points of any Moses basket is how easily you can move the bed around. Not only can you keep an eye on your baby wherever you are in your home, but you also shouldn’t need to buy a second bed for daytime naps.

The Shnuggle Dreami Clever Baby Sleeper weighs 4kg and comes with sturdy handles. Our family found it was lightweight and easy to carry up and down the stairs. The base doesn’t come with wheels, but it does fold down fairly compactly if you need to move it from room to room. You do have to carry the basket and stand separately though.

At night, Anna placed the basket next to her bed – it fit well and wasn’t too bulky in her bedroom. In fixed mode, the bassinet is adult bed height, which may be helpful for new mums suffering from back pain or recovering from a C-section.

However, she did find that, as there was no drop side, she had to get out of bed after night feeds to safely put him back into the bassinet.

There is also no incline option, which would have been very handy during testing as the baby was suffering from a cold and struggling with congestion. Thankfully the liner and base were easily cleaned when our baby’s snotty nose left its mark on the basket.

While our mum felt it was a bit too fiddly to keep switching the stand around, the smooth rocking mode is a great option for babies who need that extra comfort when going to sleep.

Anna didn’t travel with this bed but, because the stand folds down, you could also use it away from home – it would naturally be bulkier than a travel cot though.

As the bed is a fair bit smaller than bedside cribs, such as the Tutti Bambini CoZee Bedside Crib, it may not last as long as they do.

How safe is the Shnuggle Dreami Clever Baby Sleeper?

Hygienic, sturdy and breathable, this basket does all it can to provide a safe space for your baby to sleep during those first few months.

The hypoallergenic base is made from BPA-free plastic and the bed meets British Safety Standards. The minimalistic design means it can be cleaned quickly to ward off unwanted germs or remove any marks.

The ventilation holes and breathable materials also help to regulate a baby’s temperature. The quilted foam mattress is water-resistant and fits the bassinet well, and is both firm – to meet safety requirements – and cosy for newborns.

Shnuggle advises that the base should always be used with the liner and a fitted sheet.

As more conventional baskets are made from wicker or maize, they can sometimes feel a bit flimsy. But the plastic base makes this bed feel much sturdier. The handles also feel very safe in your hands when carrying the bed around.

Before letting her baby sleep in the basket, Anna gave it a good shake to make sure it felt secure. She was pleased with how stable the stand felt, which holds the bassinet in place with hoops at either end.

The simple design of this bed also means there are no zips or gaps where little fingers can get caught.

How easy is it to clean?

A very snotty baby ensured the cleanliness of the bed was put to the test and our mum was impressed with how easy it was to remove the liner and wash it.

The liner is attached with two Velcro tabs so you simply undo them, take the liner out and machine wash at 30 degrees using a mild detergent. During testing, the marks came out straight away. Shnuggle advises not to tumble dry but to reshape when damp and then iron on a low setting.

The mattress cover is also machine-washable and any marks on the plastic base can be wiped clean using warm, soapy water and a soft sponge, while the stand can be cleaned with a warm, damp cloth.

Is the Shnuggle Dreami good value for money?

At around £130, it does cost more than the average Moses basket. But while standard baskets tends to last around three to four months, depending on the size of your baby, this one could last up to six.

The bed includes a mattress, liner and stand so there’s nothing else you need to buy other than fitted sheets – and, as you’re able to move the bed around during those precious first months, you don’t need to buy an extra newborn bed for daytime naps.

This multi award-winning bed is both stylish and functional, and can be found second-hand for around £70 on eBay so, while it may feel like a lot of money to spend, you could get some of it back. For safety purposes though, do check its condition first before buying second-hand.

Final verdict?

The Shnuggle Dreami Clever Baby Sleeper has all the benefits of your standard Moses basket – moveable, lightweight and cosy – but offers so much more.

It’s both bigger and sturdier than you'd expect and very functional too, with the plastic not only making it easy to keep the basket clean but much quieter so your baby can sleep undisturbed. Isn’t that what all new parents want?

Offering a modern take on a traditional baby bed, it looks sleek and fresh and its hypoallergenic, breathable materials allow newborns to sleep safely day and night.

It received high marks in all areas and was very close to taking the top spot.

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All prices correct at time of publication