Gro Company Gro Hush review

The Gro Hush (£24.99) is interesting because while there are many different types of white noise-producing devices on the market, which promise to help your baby sleep, this is designed to be held directly onto your baby’s ear.

When my toddler was a baby I used the BabyDoze App on an old phone, which cost just a few pounds.

However as it was a mobile app I had to risk a call coming through in the middle of using it – exactly what you don’t want when putting a baby to sleep.

Hoping to be the “next must-have baby product for new and expectant mums across the globe,” the Gro Hush is looks set to battle other night-time aids like Ewan the Dream Sheep (£29.95) Summer Infant Slumber Buddy Frog (24.99) Chicco Goodnight Star (£19.99).

Click here to buy the Gro Company Gro Hush on Amazon

The Gro Hush is sold on being a “unique portable white noise baby calmer,” but does it actually calm babies?

There is no doubt that white noise can calm babies down.

But I’ve had a mixed experience with my son Rafferty. If he is already quite calm and if it is in the daytime the Gro Hush can soothe him even more.

However if he is very upset the Gro Hush doesn’t work on him. It’s set to quite a low volume so if he is crying loudly it seems he can’t hear it.

How does it work?

There are three different white noise sounds available to choose from; mother’s heartbeat, rain and waves.

The Gro Company say this is because different babies prefer different sounds, which I certainly found to be the case.

You simply turn the Gro Hush on and then press the button of whichever sound you want.

For Rafferty, I preferred the mother’s heartbeat option, as I knew how well that specifically worked with my toddler. However the rain noise and waves noise are both very relaxing.

Can you control the volume?

No you can’t. The Gro Hush has been set at 75 decibels and can’t be altered.

The volume seemed fine for my son and while I’m a fan of all Gro products and I’m sure they have set it for good reasons, I would prefer to be able to alter the volume.

Is it comfortable for your little one?

Yes, the padded cover that sits over the Gro Hush and next to your baby’s ear is definitely soft and comfortable.

However I do think it’s a shame that you need to hold it next to your baby’s ear at all times. With the BabyDoze app, I would use it at night by playing the sound near my son’s cot and let it carry on while I fell back to sleep as well.

With this, you need to actively sit with your baby and hold it next to them.

Also, at night, using it meant having to lean over his crib to get it next to his ear, which was quite uncomfortable for me.

By comparison, we also have a Ewan the Dream Sheep which is very effective a lot of the time.

Would you recommend it?

Yes, I think it's worth trying as different products work differently on different babies and I definitely believe white noise helps.

Is it value for money?

It’s more expensive than other white noise boxes but it has features which make it good value by comparison.

What do you think of the design?

As with most Gro products, it’s a sleek design that clearly had parents in mind when it was being developed.

The fact it has a protective cover is great as it means it’s harder to damage it if you are taking it out with you.

What’s in the box?

• The Gro Hush comes in a box along with a protective clear plastic case to store it in and instructions.

Do you need extra accessories?

• AAA batteries X3 - £2.20
• A screwdriver to access the battery compartment.

MadeForMums verdict?

As with all of these sorts of products, they say they are most effective if you use them as soon after birth as possible, so it would be best for new parents.

Not only is it set to a safe volume, it is also designed to be soft next to your baby’s ear and it has three different noises to use: mother’s heart-beat, rain on a tin roof and ocean waves.

However, it's not the most practical baby calmer, as you need to actively sit with your baby and the Hush next to them.