SnüzPod Studio bedside crib review

Mum friends told me that their Snüz products have lasted the test of time – passed down, in some cases, to 7 or 8 babies – so I was excited to try out the latest iteration of the bedside range. Accustomed to a full 8 hours of sleep a night, and functioning notoriously poorly without, I found the idea of a crib facilitating fourth-trimester closeness and providing reassurance for mum and baby, while reducing night-time yo-yo-ing, very appealing.

A cheaper version of the original award-winning SnüzPod 4 bedside crib (RRP £199.95), the Studio (RRP £149) is also half as heavy at 6kg, compared to the SnüzPod 4's 11.5kg-13.1kg weight, so easier to move around from room to room as required. They both have mesh side panels that make it easy to check up on your baby without disrupting their slumber, however, unlike the original design, it's not possible to lift off the Studio’s bassinet for travel use, and there’s no rocking feature.

First impressions

The crib arrived flat-packed with the components of its one-piece frame clearly laid out, meaning it wasn’t too visually overwhelming to get to grips with. I liked the white colourway, inspired by Parisian chic, and the beech wood looked solid, with a nice finish. It felt sturdy too. Although the crib seemed stylish at first, it came to feel a little cold and clinical once we began using it; I think next time we’d go for one of the warmer green ('Berlin') or burgundy ('Rome') versions.

What age is the SnüzPod Studio bedside crib suitable for?

The bedside crib is suitable to use from birth to around 6 months (or until babies can sit unaided). It dwarfed our newborn daughter but could be ideal for bigger babies and offers plenty of room for tinier tots to grow into.

How easy is it to build the SnüzPod Studio bedside crib?

I put the crib together myself when I was 9 months pregnant and patience was in short supply! Although the instructions promise a speedy assembly time of 30 minutes, it took me 90 minutes. I could have done it quicker with my partner’s help but I was determined to do it myself and also to see how easy it would be for a single parent to put together.

The 'how-to' took me a while to decipher – it would have helped if the components were labelled with the letters on the corresponding instructions. Luckily they were fairly quickly identifiable and each stage was relatively easy to follow but I had to closely study the images, re-read the instructions and keep double-checking to ensure I didn't have to deconstruct and reassemble anything and prolong the process/trigger pregnancy rage.

I did have to once when I screwed a wooden leg in the wrong way and couldn’t then screw in the next piece, and once or twice I had to guess which fittings were required. However, the crib frame was light and easily manoeuvrable during assembly and didn’t require much space. There was also a handy video guide accessible via QR code; good for more visual learners and generally useful to refer to. The pack also came with a wrench and Allen key so the only thing I needed to source was a tape measure to measure our bed.

Despite being careful not to over-tighten the screws and damage the wood, I broke one of the metal sidebars during assembly – it locked into the thread and chewed up the wood inside. I also found it confusing working out whether the 2 metal support bars were both meant to be installed on the drop-down side of the bed.

What kind of beds does the SnüzPod Studio bedside crib attach to?

The Studio has been designed to fit divan, ottoman and framed bed bases, and while it did fit our framed bed, it was awkward and fiddly to attach. The straps felt low quality and not very robust.

How firm is the SnüzPod Studio bedside crib mattress?

The mattress is firm, lightweight, breathable and springy with plenty of resistance and snap-back. It seems comfy enough, too – our daughter generally only woke every couple of hours for feeds – although she seemed to prefer the Moses basket for longer sleep stretches. This could have been because we used the Studio mainly at night and tested it while she was in her nocturnal newborn stage.

Is the SnüzPod Studio bedside crib easy to use with your baby?

The SnüzPod Studio measures L99cm x W59cm x H79cm (at maximum height), and took up more space than our Moses basket. However, it was much better for nighttime sleeping, thanks to the mesh walls which provide increased visibility and ventilation. When the sides are up, it’s easy to see your baby and reassure them that you are there. While you’re in bed, lowering the crib wall to half height to lift your baby out feels safe and fairly easy – it can also be done one-handed thanks to the quiet zip mechanism which minimises disruption during sleep time.

How portable is it?

With castor wheels that glide (and helpfully come with brakes), it’s easy to move the Studio from room to room, unless you have tight corridors like we do – in which case the crib feels a tad too large and cumbersome to shift it on the regular, as the promo video suggests.

It scuffs easily and the awkwardness of detaching and re-securing the bed straps also put me off moving it around. The quality of the straps made it hard to slacken them, meaning we didn't use the crib in standalone mode much, instead keeping it attached to our bed. Our Moses basket and stand was easier to move around the flat, although at 6kg the SnüzPod Studio is certainly lightweight enough to carry.

For me, the Studio’s claim of ‘ultimate portability’ should extend to travel but the crib doesn’t fold or collapse and has to be unscrewed and dismantled to be stored or taken on a trip.

Does the SnüzPod Studio bedside crib rock?

No, which is a shame; it would be good if they could have found a way to keep this feature in while retaining the lower price point.

Does it tilt?

The SnüzPod Studio crib does tilt but I found it a hassle to deploy this feature, as you need to get down and unscrew the legs at one end to raise them up a notch or two and create an incline. It’s then fiddly to screw them back to their original position again. I think we’d only do this if baby was really struggling with reflux, especially as the instructions’ safety advice advises parents to use the tilt feature solely when the crib is in standalone mode, and not to use it during periods of sleep – this feature seems like a faff to me.

Does the SnüzPod Studio bedside crib have any in-built storage?

No, presumably to help keep the product at an affordable price, but it seems like an oversight for a crib aimed at the urban, space-short parent, and a missed opportunity. There easily could be a shelf (like the SnüzPod 4) or side pocket storage incorporated into this simple design.

What’s in the box?

• 1 x SnüzPod Studio crib ( in 25 parts)
• 2 x attachment straps
• 1 x mattress
• Instructions
• Box of screws/fittings/tools

Can you buy any other additional accessories?

There’s a recommended SnüzPod Studio mattress protector (£15.95) and travel bag (£29).

What do you think of the packaging of the SnüzPod Studio bedside crib?

The Studio was well packaged in a sturdy cardboard box, with cardboard inserts for added protection, and minimal extra packaging (lying the mattress on top of the parts cleverly provides more protection). Most components were wrapped in recyclable brown paper which was nice to see. Only the mattress and fabric body of the cot came in plastic bags, to protect the perishable fabric components and these were made from 60% recycled plastic materials.

How does the SnüzPod Studio bedside crib rate for sustainability?

Responsibly sourced wood is used as the primary material and the wood frame and metal hardware parts can be recycled. Only the mattress, straps and cot body fabric parts came wrapped in plastic for hygiene purposes. Snüz adds that recycling also occurs in the form of reuse with SnüzPods (minus mattresses) often being used for second and third children or passed along to family and friends.

What are the repair options for the SnüzPod Studio bedside crib?

The SnüzPod Studio crib is best repaired via the supply of replacement parts; Snüz does not recommend parents attempt repairs themselves in case product safety is compromised and the 12-month warranty is invalidated. You can buy replacement parts via the parts and accessories section of snuz.co.uk, and any parts not shown on the website can be sourced via the customer service team. If a part is broken on arrival, Snüz will provide a replacement.

Is the SnüzPod Studio bedside crib worth the money?

On the whole, for £149, yes. It’s quite basic, without some of the features I’d definitely want if I shopped for a similar product again, and the quality could be better in places, but it’s still a good product that does a good job.

Where can I buy the SnüzPod Studio bedside crib?

Available at Snüz, John Lewis and Boots.

MadeForMums verdict:

The SnüzPod Studio is a simple, good value option for inner-city parents who aren’t able to shell out for multiple cribs for different rooms or floors; it's also good for single parents due to its lighter frame. Visibility, ventilation and safe-sleep-friendliness are its best features, although personally I feel it is best used in conjunction with a Moses basket. Overall I would recommend the SnüzPod Studio bedside crib, but feel that Snüz could improve on versatility, quality and transportability aspects to maximise flexibility. Yes, it may not be suitable for travelling, but if you're after that Scandi-chic look on a budget, the SnüzPod Studio bedside crib may be the one for you.