A Sleep Pro’s Honest Review of The Smart Sleep Coach by Pampers
Disclaimer: I am very particular about products I endorse or recommend and rarely share (why you won't find blog posts from me typically). However, in this case, I have received a free trial to test this app as well as compensation in exchange for my honest review.
Recently I had the chance to take the Smart Sleep Coach by Pampers app for a spin and I couldn’t wait to share what I found. I’m always hesitant to try the newest thing for infant and toddler sleep since after 4 kids and thousands of clients, I feel like there are very few sleep products that can wow me. However, with Pampers, a name I know and trust, and the backing of pediatric sleep experts, like Dr. Craig Canapari, I knew I had to give this app a try.
I created an account for my youngest child, Kenzie, and took a brief 3-minute quiz that helped determine what her sleep problems are and what sort of sleep philosophies I follow. After the quiz I was able to sign up for a 7-day-trial which gave me the opportunity to really test out the app in detail.
From first glance, the Smart Sleep Coach by Pampers is really nice to look at. Using Pampers signature aqua throughout a combination of darker blues, greys, and some yellow, the fonts and graphics are easy on the eyes and navigating the app is really straightforward. The app is broken up into three main sections: Sleep Plan, Schedule, and Knowledge Center. There is a lot of helpful information in these sections but not so much that it’s overwhelming.
During my initial quiz, I answered questions about my sleep goals and the sleep method that I align with. I appreciate that there are a few different options to choose from and that the app explains some pros and cons for each. I really like that the app broke the methods down into low, medium, and high parental interaction (I’m a high interaction gal). Afterwards I received a sleep plan for Kenzie that explained what I should be aiming for with her sleep schedule as well as the steps I would need to take for independent sleep using the method that I had chosen.
Tracking my child’s sleep is an integral part of how the app works and inputting daily nap times and bedtimes helps the app to determine the ideal schedule for the next sleep period. The schedule section allows me to click on the timeline of the day and start the timer when Kenzie falls asleep and stop it at the end of the sleep period. It even asks if she fell asleep easily or with some fussing and if it’s the latter, the app guides me in the sleep method that I’ve chosen. If I forget to log a sleep period, it’s really easy to go back and add in her sleep time later and then the schedule adapts right away. I find the format to be very user-friendly but I would love to see a place to input my own notes as part of logging the times.
I also love that the Smart Sleep Coach by Pampers app gives more than just suggested schedules. The Knowledge Center is packed with easy-to-read articles that offer the science behind sleep and this is so important because sleep is an actual science (not everyone realizes that). There are articles and videos on biologically normal sleep milestones, sleep problems, sleep fundamentals, sleep coaching and more. I like how each article and video is quick and to the point. My favorite section is actually the Parent Power section of the Knowledge Center which really helps focus on the parent and the emotions and struggles that come with having a challenging sleeper. I was pleasantly surprised that the Smart Sleep Coach is placing such importance on the parent’s wellbeing since I find that lacking in a lot of the sleep advice out there.
Another great feature is that the Smart Sleep Coach sends reminders to my phone of when to put Kenzie to sleep. It’s nice to rely on a quick notification on my home screen rather than looking at my watch constantly. And more importantly, besides the FAQ’s sidebar, you can actually email the coaches at Smart Sleep Coach directly in the app to get answers to any questions you may have.
After using The Smart Sleep Coach by Pampers I can honestly say that this app is a one-stop-shop for baby (and even toddler) sleep. If you are looking for a place for evidence-based sleep information, schedule assistance, and sleep coaching, then look no further than The Smart Sleep Coach by Pampers. If you haven’t already done so, head over to the app store and start your 7-day free trial now!