#38: The Hatch Sound Machine: Why I love it and How I Use it

Hands down, the Hatch sound machine was the registry item most widely recommended to me (and completely lives up to the hype). We have used this device ever since G came home from the hospital for every night and nap. Why use a sound machine? While these machines do not aid (primarily) in helping your little fall asleep, the purpose is to help them stay asleep (and more easily self-soothe from a nightmare or disruption). Although the saying "slept like a baby" is often used to indicate a hard and deep night's sleep, once you have a newborn you will quickly realize that is NOT an accurate characterization. Instead, a baby's slumber is filled with grunts, rousing, and occasional cries. 

An Overview 
Hatch offers four sound machines that vary in features and price (ranging from $40-$120). I opted for the Hatch Rest ($60) because the features aligned with how I wanted to utilize the device (I didn't need the clock or Alexa functionality that comes with the Rest +). So, as I speak to the features of this device, I am using my own frame of reference using the Hatch Rest specifically. If you want to compare models you can do so here: Hatch Rest - Baby Night Light Sound Machine | Hatch

Simple and minimalist is the best way to describe the look of the Hatch. While off, the device is a soft, white color with no visible buttons or lights. The device has smooth lines and resembles a cone-ish cylindrical shape that would look nice in any nursery. The buttons for the Hatch are on the bottom of the device and are out of eyesight of little ones; though, the child can easily turn on and rotate though favorite presets by touching the top of the device.

The device is linked to an app: Hatch Sleep. The app is intuitive and easy to use, can connect multiple devices (if you have them in multiple rooms in your home), and allows you to easily toggle the settings without entering your child's room. With eleven soothing sounds, ten preset nightlight colors (and an ability to choose any color you wish from a color wheel dial) you can customize your child's Hatch to fit their own unique preference. There is a timer function, if you know how long your kiddo generally naps and a "Programs" function where you can set up a range of time, you'd like the Hatch to be on and what sound/color you'd like to use: for example, I have one for "bedtime." 

How I Use It
When I first got the Hatch, I thought I would use the beautiful, mild, and low sound of birds chirping in nature. I envisioned using a fairly bright cream or green light and that newborn Genevieve would find this as serene as I did. LOL, NOPE. Instead, I found that Geneieve sleeps best with a very dim light (in red or deep purple). After doing a little research, I actually found that these colors stimulate better sleep than the lighter tones. Red creeps me out, so I use purple instead. Genevieve is not soothed by the birds chirping or even wind or waves. What does she like? The static sound of a television or the rolling dryer options. And the girl likes them LOUD. It actually took ME a while to get used to listening to them when I slept in her room or even now as I hear them through the monitor.

But they work wonders. If I use the app to turn the sound louder it actually calms her down at times when she's struggling to rest. I remember while pregnant, reading how making a loud "SHHHH" sound soothes baby, so it really isn't surprising that the television sound--loud--calms Genevieve to sleep.  Apparently, this is similar to the sound of rushing blood in mama's belly and is therefore a soothing and familiar lullaby. Usually, I have the sound situated at 24% but I will turn it up to 36% if there are loud disruptions in the house or if she is struggling to settle to sleep. 

The only program I have scheduled currently is Genevieve's "Bedtime." I set the hatch to turn on: dim purple light and television static on 24% at 6:53 pm and scheduled off at 7:53 am. Andrew likes to make fun of this weird timing, but usually we are starting to settle to rest just before 7 pm and she is always awake just before 8 am. If we go to bed earlier or wake earlier, I simply tap the device to turn it on to the correct setting and the program will kick in automatically at the preset time without me needing to adjust anything. Genevieve's nap times and durations vary, so I do not schedule them but rather tap to toggle the settings manually. 

The device allows you to set six favorites via the app. So, if you go to tap the top of the device, you are able to switch through those favorite combination light/sound settings. I set up mine intentionally. The first is her "Bedtime" setting, the second is the same light setting as her "Bedtime" but the sound is off. This allows me to quickly "turn off" the Hatch without using the app. I don't mind the light being on, but I do not want to hear that sound. My third setting is a rotation of rainbow colors without a sound. The next is lullaby music with a dim purple light. The next is a cream-colored light with forest sounds and the final is a green light with birds chirping--I will describe the purpose of these choices in the next section. 

Part of our "settle down" routine for naps and bed entail me holding Genevieve and having her tap the top of the Hatch to find the bedtime setting. She loves doing this and when we walk over to the Hatch, she will stretch her arm out to touch it and will do so a number of times before we settle on the right one. Of course, she really enjoys launching it off of the bookshelf, and so I can happily report the thing is VERY sturdy... This device has really helped Genevieve sleep through my vacuuming, the dogs' barking, the doorbell ringing, and other disruptions in the house. She might hear the disruption and stir but will most often resettle into her slumber. I will say Genevieve is not the most sound-sensitive baby, but I still believe it has helped us sustain sleep regardless of disruptors. 

Hatch in the Future
One thing I am particular about is Genevieve sleeping in her own room. We started her off in her nursery from the get-go and our bed is already overflowing with Saint Bernards, so we cannot safely add in a tiny person (seriously, some nights Andrew just sleeps on the floor next to the bed...). To establish this meant that in the newborn days I slept in the reclining glider in G's room or Andrew slept in the guest room next to the nursery. A small (temporary) price to pay for a habit I am grateful for. 

So as Genevieve gets older, I am also particular that she remains in her room until she has "permission" to leave it. I am not against snuggles in our bed as she enters the toddler years, or cuddles after a nightmare. Though those things will not evolve to a fifth body in our bed every night. I plan to use the Hatch to aid me in establishing expectations and a habit for when G can venture out of her room in the morning. 

Using my last two "favorites" (cream-colored light with forest sounds and green light with birds chirping) I will program them to turn on to signal to ​Genevieve she is able to leave her room and it is time to be up for the day. Therefore, Genevieve will know that if the Hatch is still purple with the television sound (or maybe a different combo if she wants to help choose settings as she gets older and can communicate preferences) she must remain in her room. By remaining in your room, I do not mean she has to stay in her bed with her eyes sealed shut. If she wants to get up, move around, play or read: she can do that. Because I also plan to use the same system of green light to signify leaving her room for naps as well: we will have a "quiet time" period regardless of if she falls asleep. My expectation will be that she remains in her room, occupying herself with rest or quiet activities. 

What I love about the app is I can set a program/timer for the transition, but I can also just decide it is okay for her to get up and turn on the "green light" manually without going into her room or changing the timer/program setting. This is also why I didn't want the Hatch Rest + with the time displayed on the device. I want her to respond as a toddler to the color rather than learning the time and trying to go off of that or noticing "it's not TIME for bed yet." The Hatch's colors and sounds can help us as we ease into bedtime "Oh look, the Hatch is purple and sounds like bedtime! Let's get our books and start settling down for the night." Or I can put my voice over the monitor "Genevieve, the light is green, you can come on out or keep reading if you'd like!" We can create habits and hold expectations. This is also helpful for safety, so Genevieve isn't exploring the house if we are still asleep. I am very aware that this strategy is a plan and can be subject to tweaking and changes. However, I believe intentionality, practice, and consistency will aid us in making this system work *most* of the time.

Just as I have been very mindful about how and what foods I introduce to Genevieve, having a strategy and plan are helpful. Of course, that requires patience and repeated effort, and mild tweaks of what is expected. Genevieve has learned to like salmon and to enjoy texture to her oatmeal, and I am confident that she can learn how to look to the Hatch for signals for when to rest and when she's free from her room. This is also why I have thought about how to implement the habit ahead of time. If I would have started introducing Genevieve to processed, sugary foods from the get-go, she might be a pickier eater. If I didn't try calmly and repeatedly to introduce foods she initially didn't favor, she wouldn't enjoy them now and expand her palate. I wanted to introduce her to a variety of nutritious non-processed whole foods and the time and energy it takes to prep and introduce these things has been well worth it. I feel the same about holding intentionality to this process, too. If I waited to use the "green light" routine after Genevieve was disrupting Andrew and my rest or was choosing to leave her room on her own, it would actually be harder to break the bad habit. So, starting with expectations means she knows no other way and more easily flows with the expectation. 

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So, whether you're wondering if you should add a Hatch to your registry, or little's room, or purchase one off the loved one's registry: I say do it!