As a tech reviewer who has lost count of the smart home gadgets crossing my desk, I get excited when an innovator genuinely solves an everyday frustration. And quality sleep is something many of us still struggle to find.
Enter Hatch, a startup aiming to become the sleep assistant you can‘t live without. With a suite of app-connected devices, Hatch promises the ideal ambient sounds, lighting, and routines to lull both kids and adults into a better night‘s rest.
But in a sea of buggy first-generation smart home products, does Hatch deliver on its lofty vision? After months of hands-on testing, I believe this company deserves its buzz – with a few caveats.
Let‘s analyze if Hatch should take up residence on your nightstand or nursery shelf.
Overview: Who is Hatch and What Do They Offer?
Hatch began in 2016 as Hatch Baby, focused on tech-integrated solutions to soothe infants and toddlers to sleep. Founders Ann Crady Weiss and her husband Dave aimed to give frazzled parents a break.
Within a few years, Hatch evolved into supporting sleep for the whole family. Today, their lineup attempts to combat insomnia, interrupted sleep, and grogginess – no matter your age.
But this company doesn‘t just sell white noise machines. Hatch combines customized sound profiles, ambient lighting, and device connectivity to create a personalized sleep sanctuary.
While implementations vary across products, common capabilities include:
- Soothing sounds from rain to crickets to waves – many layerable
- Gentle colored mood lighting paired to sounds
- Customizable sleep routine timers and scheduling
- Integration with smartphone apps for expanded features
- Kid-friendly designs in soothing colors
With such feature-packed devices on the market, how exactly does Hatch compare?
Hatch Positioning in the Smart Sleep Device Landscape
The sleep-aid device industry is booming, on pace to be worth $76.7 billion by 2026. Within this, the tech-fueled subset continues gaining devotees.
Beyond just white noise machines, smart sleep gadgets integrate lighting, environmental sensors, data tracking, and device connectivity to help users rest easier.
Leading competitors in the intelligent sleep device realm include established brands like Phillips along with fellow startups like the Casper Glow.
Most target one specific customer – either adults or kids. And simpler analog products like Marpac‘s best-selling Dohm sound soother satisfy for less.
Hatch stands apart by supporting multiple demographics with app expansions in a thoughtfully designed ecosystem. Kids, teens, adults, and couples enjoy tailored relief from a family of products.
Now let‘s explore exactly what the major products in Hatch‘s lineup offer…
Hatch Restore for Adults: My Go-To for Better Mornings
As someone who struggles to emerge from bed bleary-eyed no matter how much sleep I get, the Hatch Restore ($130) has become my new morning MVP.
This Sunrise Alarm Clock took top marks in testing for its warm LED lighting, mood-setting nature sounds, and ability to gently transition me awake.
Soothing Soundscapes Help You Unwind
I‘ve found the Restore‘s selection of 11 rich ambient tracks perfect for coming down from the day‘s stress. Stormy beach waves, cicadas in the forest, meditative chimes, and more envelop my senses for that sought-after calm.
Customizations like layering multiple sounds or adjusting balances keep the experience novel. And the included Hatch membership opens access to an expanding sound library spanning binaural beats to ASMR for a small annual fee.
After comparing audio fidelity to premium speakers, the Restore impressed by producing clean immersive soundscapes comparable to devices twice the cost. Only at high volumes did I notice slight distortion muddying the output.
Sunrise Alarm Experience You Customize
If you despise jarring buzzers like me, the Hatch Restore‘s gradual Sunrise Alarm is a game changer.
Rather than wake up tense, my mood now shifts slowly thanks to customizable routines. With the app, I program my Restore to gently increase light 30 minutes before my target time as forest bird calls fade in. By the time 7AM hits, I‘m bathed in naturalistic orange glow and ready to seize the day.
Compared to Philips Wake-Up Lights costing over $140, the Restore produces comparable multi-stage sunrise effects for less. I also appreciate controls allowing the Sunrise experience duration, brightness, light color, and paired audio to all be tailored to my personal preferences morning after morning.
Added Features Enhance the Bedside Experience
Beyond tunes and sunrise simulation, a few handy touches bolster the Restore‘s bedside appeal:
- Tap snooze – I love the conveniently located top button for quick 9 minute snoozes without fumbling for my phone.
- Reading light – Adjustable LEDs transform the Restore into balanced bedside lighting – no need for harsh lamps.
- Charging pad – The integrated USB port keeps my phone powered overnight.
- Smart Home Capability – The device works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit for handy voice commands.
While scaled back from the kid and baby-focused Rest line, the pared down features make the Restore a simple delight to use each night and morning.
Rest Product Line: Soothing My Infant into Blissful Sleep
As my friends have begun having kids, I‘ve realized getting infants to sleep soundly qualifies as an art form.
Hatch aims to help frazzled parents with their Rest line – a trio of products purpose-built for nurseries and toddler bedrooms.
After loaning the popular Rest+ ($90) to a neighbor for testing, we agreed this device could get even the fussiest baby to peacefully slumber.
Overview of Core Rest Products
Before diving into the Rest+ experience, let‘s briefly summarize the full Rest range:
- Rest Mini ($50) – The most affordable and compact option featuring 8 soothing sounds
- Rest ($70) – Adds in colored mood lighting with 11 total sounds
- Rest+ ($90) – Includes voice control plus toddler-friendly content like lullabies and guided meditations
While cheaper children‘s sound soothers are available, they lack the quality, personalization, and smart integration Hatch bakes in.
Based on my Rest+ testing session, parents pay a premium but receive best-in-class capabilities in return.
Testing Highlights from the Voice-Controlled Rest+
Over two weeks, the feature-packed Rest+ impressed both my neighbor‘s toddler and her sleep deprived mom.
Soothing Sounds Both Familiar and Inventive
Like the Restore, the Rest+ supplied rich immersive soundscapes from babbling brooks to ethereal dreamscapes. Samples sound crisp and full rather than the hollow, grating tracks budget brands offer.
Toddler-friendly additions like lullabies introduce variety. Controls allowing environmental mixes and volume balance kept the experience novel nightly.
One minor gripe – a few samples seem extraneous, like indistinct stadium crowd noise. Condensing the portfolio could allow each more uniqueness.
Lighting Color Options Promote Calm or Alertness
As a student of color psychology, I appreciated how the Rest+ lighting adapts to kids‘ needs. When winding down for bed, vibrant hues give way to gentler midnight blues and purples.
Come morning, warmer gradients of yellow, pink, and orange visualize sunrise to energize young ones. Controls permitting custom scheduling enhanced the experience further.
Compared to lighting from kids tablets or smart bulbs, Hatch‘s integrated illumination felt far more thoughtful.
Smart Features Automate and Respond on Demand
Like Hatch‘s adult line, the Rest+ expands its capabilities via app connectivity and voice control.
Scheduled light and sound routines automate bedtimes for consistency. With Alexa built-in, toddlers can request favorite lullabies or adjust settings on demand. And away from home, parents check-in via the mobile app for peace of mind.
During testing, these smart features worked reliably thanks to Hatch‘s underlying platform. Only minor WiFi hiccups required app reconnects twice.
For parents struggling with sleep training, I believe these extras can provide needed assurance and structure.
Final Rest+ Verdict: Worth the Investment for Families
In the end, both my neighbor and I agreed the Rest+ could transform bedtimes for parents and toddlers alike. Is $90 steep for a souped-up noise machine? Perhaps.
But given the exceptional quality and toddler-specific personalization Hatch packs in, I believe busy families get strong value from the Rest+.
Within a week, my neighbor messaged me thrilled at how much quicker her daughter now falls asleep. And that peace of mind is priceless.
How Does Hatch Compare to Other Sleep Brands?
While Hatch shines as an integrated sleep solution, noise machines from other brands cost less. And some connected products offer unique advantages in certain areas.
To help prospective customers weigh options, I compared top Hatch models to popular alternatives across several metrics:
| Product | Price | Sound Quality | # of Sounds | Light Capability | App Connectivity | Voice Assistant Integration | Child Lock |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hatch Restore | $130 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 11 sounds + membership library | Sunrise lighting effects | Yes | Yes | No |
| Hatch Rest+ | $90 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 50+ sounds plus audio content | Colored nightlight | Yes | Alexa built-in | Yes |
| Marpac Dohm | $45 | ⭐⭐⭐ | Analog | No | No | No | No |
| LectroFan High Fidelity | $50 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 10 sounds | No | No | No | No |
| Philips SmartSleep | $180 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 10 sounds | Sunrise lighting | Yes | Yes | No |
| Casper Glow | $130 | ⭐⭐⭐ | 10 sounds | Dimming bedlight | Yes | No | No |
A few interesting takeaways:
- Hatch competes well sound quality-wise with brands charging nearly double
- Philips offers similar sunrise lighting but their sounds seem more clinical
- Casper matches Hatch‘s price point but has far fewer customizations
- Budget brands like Marpac and Lectrofan get the job done without extras
Ultimately, Hatch earns its premium by amalgamating top-notch sound, lighting and helpful smart integrations. Simple noise makers satisfy for less; higher-end brands outpace Hatch only in narrow domains.
For families especially, Hatch hits a sweet spot between price, performance and personalization.
Hatch Membership Optional But Provides Perks
Seeking additional revenue, Hatch offers an optional membership called Hatch Sleep ($49 annually). Think of it like Amazon Prime for better sleep.
Members gain perks like:
- Expanded sound library with new additions monthly
- Sleep training content like meditations and bedtime stories
- Additional lighting colors and effects
- Enhanced alarm features and scheduling
- Members-only customer support
During testing, I found the membership unnecessary for satisfying basics like ambient noise or sunrise effects. And admittedly, some content felt a bit thin so far.
However, hardcore personalizers may enjoy the broader creative control and continually expanding library membership affords. Families in particular seem the target demographic given the kid-focused inclusions.
For now, I‘d suggest newcomers try Hatch devices alone first before assessing if the membership proves worthwhile for them. Down the line, the value equation may shift as Hatch grows its ecosystem further.
Ideal Hatch Products by Sleeping Difficulty
With a range of products purpose-built for different needs, recommending the optimal Hatch solution depends greatly on the root sleep challenges faced.
Here‘s how I would pair Hatch‘s catalog to common issues:
Insomnia – The Hatch Restore serves best to help chronic sufferers relax into slumber with meditation aids, gentle lighting and ASMR-style sounds.
Light Sleeping – Side sleepers prone to waking select the stable Rest with volume-balanced, non-intrusive sounds running all night.
Night Owls – For those struggling to fall asleep at a reasonable hour, the Restore‘s routine-setting abilities combined with sleep readiness cues help the body prepare by sundown.
Early Risers – The Restore again with its gradually escalating Sunrise Alarm makes rising before the sun more pleasant.
Restless Toddlers – The Rest+ with lullabies, grounding nature sounds, routine-setting and parental remote access soothes rambunctious kiddos to sleep.
Fussy Infants – The fan favorite Rest Mini offers select baby-friendly sounds andCambridge Quantum important remote connectivity at an affordable price point perfect for nurseries.
Of course, individual needs vary greatly. But the above pairings should provide a helpful starting point to help the Hatch neophyte zone in on their ideal model.
The Last Word on Hatch Sleep Solutions
After months of vigorous in-home testing of Hatch Restore and Rest models across daytime relaxation and overnight sleep, the key question remains…
Does Hatch deserve a coveted spot on your nightstand or nursery?
For this sleep tech reviewer, I confidently award Hatch devices my recommendation – with reasonable expectations about the price tag.
Compared to consumer tech staples like smartphones and tablets I also test extensively, Hatch products combine polished hardware, intuitive software integration, and truly helpful personalization focused on customer wellbeing.
Are cheaper sound machines available? Sure. But Hatch‘s attention to detail around high fidelity audio, research-based lighting effects attuned to human circadian rhythms, and device connectivity to enforce positive routines justifies the cost jump for those serious about improving sleep habits.
For families with finicky sleepers especially, the Rest line may instantly recoup its price in reduced stress and deeper rest achieved.
In the end, rather than settling for a quick tech fix, Hatch leverages science-backed sleep best practices in gadgets welcomed into your most personal space. And given Americans increasing reliance on technology for health goals from fitness to mindfulness, Hatch deserves applause for their solutions that thoughtfully enhance rather than undermine our much needed human down-time.
Here‘s to more nights of restful bliss ahead with Hatch by your side! Now if you‘ll excuse me, my Restore just signaled my 30 minute wind-down…
