Hatch Rest vs. Nanit Sound & Light: Which is Better?

If you’re reading this, you’re probably trying to decide on a great sound machine and alarm clock combo for kids. If you also need a night light or wake up light, both the Hatch Rest and Nanit Sound & Light have those features. Since we’ve been using both the Hatch Rest and the Nanit Sound and Light alarm clocks with sound machine for a while, I thought I’d share my review and help you decide what might work best for your family. Read on for my reviews of Hatch Rest and Nanit Sound & Light! I’m also including alternative sound machines below in case neither of these suits your needs.

hatch rest sound machine and nanit sound machine

Hatch Rest Review (2nd Gen version)

Price: Currently $69.99 at most retailers (but you can also find them on major sale at this overstock retailer!)

We bought the Hatch Rest (2nd Gen version) a couple of years ago when trying to figure out a good way of doing “quiet time.” You know, when a toddler stays in their room and quietly plays or reads books in lieu of a nap. The Hatch lets you set programs, so at the same time every day (or a custom schedule you set), the light and sound will go on. I had high hopes that the pink light meant my daughter would stay in her room and have a nice rest until the green light came on. It turns out that didn’t work for us but I still really like this light and white noise sound machine- here’s why!

You can turn on the light/sound either from the device or on your cell phone on the Hatch app.
You can also change the color of the light or the noise manually or on the app. There is a “lock” so that kids can’t constantly play with the colors and sounds. Otherwise it’s a quick tap on the top of the machine to change the settings.
Setting programs is easy, so currently ours goes on every evening at the same time as a pink light with white noise. It then turns itself off (just the sound) after about an hour, when our bedtime routine is done and the kids have fallen asleep. I keep the light part on for a nightlight.
During the day we use it as a nap light, so I have it set to go on with a pink light and the same white noise, and about 2 hours later the light turns green. My 3 year old knows that “pink light” means you need to be in bed.
It’s portable! It’s not tiny but you could definitely pack it for a vacation, which would be useful if it is a tool your children rely on.
There are 9 sounds to choose from, including birds chirping, white noise, a river, wind, and more.

And what I think could be improved:

It’s easy to accidentally change the color or sound by touching the top of the light
There’s no digital clock on it, so it’s hard to know what time it is if you don’t have another clock in the room
It’s not something you can change from afar. We needed to change the program settings when we were traveling, so it wouldn’t wake up our house sitter, and because we weren’t on the same wifi network I wasn’t able to change the settings.

Shop it at Target, Amazon, or Hatch’s site

Nanit Sound and Light Review

Price: Currently $99.99 at most retailers (but if you buy on the Nanit site – use code Alyssa20 for a 20% discount when you buy direct on Nanit’s site!)

Nanit (makers of my favorite baby monitor!) recently came out with their own sound machine with night light. It is a direct competitor to the Hatch Rest because it’s very similar. My son was very excited to have this light in his room, and here’s why I like it:

The light works even when it’s not plugged in, making it great for a travel sound machine (though you do have to connect to the wifi when you arrive if you want the programs to work)
There is an actual digital clock on it which is super helpful at bedtime!
You can choose from a bunch of colors and sounds, from brown noise to white noise to pink noise, etc.
The app allows you to change the color, noise, volume, and also set routines or programs that go on and off automatically every day (or when you choose)
Has cry detection, and can alert you via notification on your phone if baby is crying
Rechargeable battery (good for up to 8 hours before it needs to be charged again) so it would work for a travel sound machine
11 sounds to choose from, including white noise, nature sounds, and lullaby tunes

And what I think could be improved:

You can only turn on the programs from your phone/the app

Shop it at Target, Amazon, or Nanit’s site

FAQs about Nanit Sound and Light vs. Hatch Rest

Does the Nanit Sound and Light have a “Time-to-Rise” feature like the Hatch?

Yes, both the Nanit Sound and Light and the Hatch Rest have a “time to rise” or “okay to wake” feature. You can set custom times and colors from the app.

Can you control the sound machines without using the app or Wi-Fi?

Yes, but it’s not very easy.

Do you need a subscription to use the Hatch Rest or Nanit?

No subscription needed for either, but you do get access to advanced tools with a subscription.

Subscription details for Hatch

With Subscription: Access to an expanded library of sounds, songs, and stories, including premium content for adults and children.
Without Subscription: You get pre-loaded sound options, light colors, the ability to create customized routines, and the sunrise alarm.

Subscription details for Nanit

With Subscription: Includes sleep tracking analytics, video history, memory highlights, and advanced insights (e.g., breathing motion monitoring, though that requires special wearable gear)
Without Subscription: Features include live streaming (HD), background audio, two-way audio, temperature/humidity tracking, and real-time sound/motion alerts.

Can you use the Nanit Sound and Light without the Nanit camera?

Yes! You don’t need the Nanit camera to use the Nanit Sound and Light.

Does the Nanit or Hatch have a battery backup?

Nanit: The device has an internal rechargeable battery that can last up to 8 hours (depending on the device usage pattern).

Hatch: Rest Classic, Rest Mini, Rest 2nd Gen, Restore, and Restore 2 devices do not have an internal battery and need to be plugged in to power on. Rest+ will run for several hour on battery (perfect for naps) but might not run all night, so Hatch recommends that you keep it plugged in.

Can a toddler easily mess with the buttons or turn the sound off?

The Hatch has a lock on the underside that can disable any changes on the actual unit, which is great for little toddler hands. Similarly, Nanit has a “disable top button” option in the app so your toddler doesn’t accidentally change the settings or turn it off.

Other popular sound machines for kids

If you’re looking for a sound machine at a different price point or for travel, here are some other options that are popular with families:

Homedics Soundsleep: White noise, outdoor/cricket sounds, and waves. We had this at a recent hotel stay and LOVED it so I purchased one when we got home! The cricket/night bug noises are a really natural sound.
LectroFan Micro: Our favorite portable sound machine. It isn’t fancy but it works! It’s tiny and perfect for a travel sound machine.
myBaby Soundspa Lullaby: This machine offers a combination of sounds, including lullabies, nature sounds, and white noise. It also has a projector that displays images on the ceiling to create a soothing environment.
Skip Hop Moonlight & Melodies Nightlight Soother: This sound machine offers a variety of melodies, nature sounds, and white noise options. It features a night light with a dimmer function and projects a starry night sky on the ceiling.
Big Red Rooster Portable Baby Sound Machine: This compact sound machine is designed specifically for travel. It offers a selection of soothing sounds, including heartbeat, lullabies, and white noise, to help babies and children sleep better.
Cloud b Sleep Sheep: The Sleep Sheep is a plush toy and sound machine in one. It plays soothing sounds like white noise and lullabies and features a timer that automatically shuts off after a set amount of time.
LectroFan Kinder Sleep Sound Machine: This sound machine offers a range of white noise and fan sounds, which can help mask background noises and create a calming environment for sleep.

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