If you've ever traveled with kids, you know it's no easy feat: the excitement of adventure is soon followed by the stress of getting kids to calm down for bed. That's why I love our Hatch Sleep Sound Machine, $69.99 at Amazon, and I pack it every time we travel to create a cozy sleep space on the go.
This compact sound machine plays everything from white noise to bird songs, plus it acts as a night light (with customizable colors) and you can program it to turn on and off as needed. It's pretty impressive and my kids and I agree it's worth the money.
But if you're looking for something cheaper, this dupe is almost as good for half the price: the Momcozy sound machine is just $33.99 at Amazon. Here's why I'm adding it to my packing list...
Why I always bring a sound machine
When it comes to traveling with kids, I set my expectations for quality sleep on the go really low. Especially when I was traveling with two under two. I don't care about perfect naps, super nutritious meals, or limited screentime. It's a free-for-all and I have embraced it. After all, you can always go back to routines and structure when you get home.
The one thing I am strict about, however, is their sleep setup because the fewer times they wake up at night, the fewer times I have to be up at night. Staying with family is easier in this sense — my parents always set up cozy places for the kids to sleep, and all I have to do is plug in their sound machine so they have the same noise to sleep to as they do at home.
Getting good sleep in hotels can be trickier. Most don't have blackout curtains and it can be hard to minimize outside noise. But our sound machine does a great job of providing the kids with a taste of their sleep space at home and allows them to feel calm enough to sleep in an unfamiliar place.
(Pro tip: if you place the sound machine near the noisiest places, like doors, it can help block out more noise.)
I've definitely noticed the difference when I've accidentally forgotten the sound machine. My kids have a harder time falling asleep and wake up more times during the night.
What can the Momcozy do?
The Momcozy allows you to choose from 34 different sounds, including 11 variations of the classic white noise that's great for newborns. White noise was a game-changer when my kids were infants and white noise has even helped me sleep better.
The Momcozy also also comes with fan sounds, lullabies, and even nature sounds, so you can choose the restful environment that works best for you.
In addition, you can choose from a variety of night light colors — I found softer shades are best for middle-of-the-night feedings or bedtime stories.
And just like the Hatch sound machine, you can create a set program. If you want bedtime sounds every night, or a light and bird sounds to wake up every morning, you can do that too.
It's all controlled by the accompanying app, which looks user-friendly (a must when struggling with travel stress.)
The only downside
The only thing I don't love about the Momcozy is that it's battery-operated and reviews have indicated that the battery life doesn't last longer than one night. That's inconvenient if you're traveling without easy access to an outlet.
You can, however, use it while it's plugged in (which is how the Hatch works), so it's not a total deal breaker.
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