Snuza Hero MD review

The full review

The Hero MD clips onto the waistband of your baby's nappy, resting against their tummy to pick up the small movements of breathing. If it detects no movement for 15 seconds, it vibrates gently to rouse your baby; if there's still nothing five seconds later, it sounds an alarm. It also alerts you if movements become very weak or slow to fewer than eight a minute, and if it has had to rouse your baby three times, it gives a separate warning so you know.

It's a certified Class IIb medical device, and it's the example of a clip-on monitor named in The Lullaby Trust's guidance for its CONI coordinators. That isn't an endorsement (the charity doesn't recommend specific products), but it tells you this is the kind of simple, certified monitor it favours.

Simplicity is the point. There's no app, no Wi-Fi and no charging: it runs on a replaceable CR2 battery that Snuza says lasts up to about six months, and it comes with a carry case for naps away from home. Testers at Mumsnet and MadeForMums found it reliable and easy to use, with false alarms rare and, when they happened, down to the clip not being fitted properly.

The trade-offs are real, though. The alarm comes from the unit on your baby, so for naps in another room you'll need an audio monitor to hear it. Clipping it on without waking a sleeping baby takes practice, and reviewers consistently note it becomes less dependable once babies start rolling and the sensor shifts off the tummy. Amazon owners are largely positive, but a minority report false alarms.