September 25th, 2025
Written By: Lindsay Kuula

Before my baby was born, I was convinced that I wasn’t going to get trapped using all the “unnecessary” modern products that exist today like a video baby monitor, sound machine, diaper genie, etc,. Well, luckily all of these items were given to me at my baby shower, and three days into having a newborn, they were all in use.

One of the biggest pivots: a sound machine. I really believed that I wouldn’t need one. Hahahaha. Now, I have a toddler and the amount of hours that our sound machine(s) have on them is probably more than my Spotify wrapped. As mentioned, I was gifted a portable sound machine at my baby shower, so early I knew these could be used in a plethora of locations, like restaurants, walks, roadtrips, parks.

The first few worked just fine, but I knew there had to be one out there I loved. In fact, I tested 1/2 a dozen different portable sound machines, and one clearly stands out as my favorite. The Hatch Go has become my all-time favorite portable sound machine.

But here’s the thing, while it’s one of my favorites, it’s not perfect (what product is?) And at $40, you deserve to know exactly what you’re getting before you buy.

What Makes the Hatch Go Different?

Let’s start with what this actually is. The Hatch Go is a portable baby sound machine that connects to an app on your phone. It’s essentially the travel version of Hatch’s popular Hatch Rest nursery sound machine, but designed to clip on to items like a diaper bag, stroller, a Slumberpod, etc.

It’s beautifully and thoughtfully designed with six color options. All of these colors feel elevated and are quite muted. I have the Putty color.

Here’s what caught my attention when I first researched this:

• Multiple sound options – white noise, hush, ocean, wind, and 6 more
• Night light feature – soft glow with adjustable colors
• Rechargeable battery – claims up to 15 hours on a single charge
• Clip design – attaches to strollers, car seats, diaper bags anywhere that has something to clip on to.
• Child lock – prevents tiny fingers from changing settings
• Volume Levels – 12 total
  

So, is it worth the higher price compared to others?

The Sound Machine Debate: What Parents Should Consider

I’m going to make this brief, but before we dive into this specific portable baby sound machine, let’s address the current debate: should you even be using a sound machine with your baby?

This is one of those parenting topics where you’ll find passionate opinions on both sides. And honestly? Both camps have valid points worth considering.

The Case FOR Sound Machines

Most pediatric sleep consultants, including popular experts like Taking Cara Babies, support sound machine use, with important caveats.

The benefits:

• Mimics the womb environment
• Masks disruptive noise
• Creates a sleep association
• Helps with sleep transitions
• Supports independent sleep

The Case AGAINST Sound Machines

Sleep experts who caution against sound machines aren’t necessarily being alarmist, they have legitimate concerns.

• Risk of hearing damage
• Creates a sleep dependency
• May delay self-soothing skills
• Not addressing root causes
• Potential for misuse

What the Experts Actually Agree On

Despite the debate, there’s surprising consensus on safe sound machine use. Here’s what almost everyone—from pediatricians to sleep consultants—will agree on:

Volume matters most – Keep it at 50 decibels or lower. To put this in perspective, that’s about as loud as a quiet conversation or light rainfall.

Distance is crucial – Place the sound as far away from your baby’s head as you can. Across the room, not on the crib rail or nightstand right next to them. The farther away, the safer.

Choose the right type of sound – Not all white noise is created equal. Experts recommend:

• White noise or brown noise – Consistent, steady sounds without variation
• Nature sounds like rain or ocean waves – Rhythmic and predictable
• Avoid these: Heartbeat sounds (can be too stimulating), music (too engaging for the brain), or anything with varying volume levels

Static or mechanical noise is controversial – Some research suggests harsh static or fan sounds may be more damaging than softer, more natural white noise. When possible, choose smoother sound options.

Hatch Go Rest Product Review:

When I first unboxed the Hatch Go, my immediate thought was that it was smaller than most of the others I’ve used. While the entire width is smaller, the depth is a big thicker. It’s about the size of a hockey puck, and probably an inch and a half thick.

Sound Quality:

This mattered a lot to me and the sound on this is premium. Like all speakers, quality can be high or low. You can have speakers like that those disposable airplane headphones, or an incredible pair of noise cancelling Bose headphones. With babies, their hearing is so sensitive that early on, having quality white noise while on the go is just as important as what’s in their bedroom.

The speaker is impressive for such a small device. The white noise is robust and consistent, not tinny or crackling like cheaper options I’ve tried. It fills a hotel room effectively without needing to blast it at maximum volume.

The sound library includes:

• White noise
• Ocean
• Rain
• Water
• Wind
• Dryer
• Fan
• Rock-a-bye
• Heartbeat
• Hush

I stick with the ocean sound 90% of the time because I saw a video once on why sounds like ocean waves are a better choice than white, continuous noise. (This is highly debated, and I’m not here to tell you what type of sound you should or shouldn’t have playing.)

Volume range: This gets LOUD. I tested it with a decibel meter and the highest setting clocks in at 94db. But it also goes quiet for naps in peaceful environments. The app lets you fine-tune the volume between 12 levels, not just low-medium-high.

The consensus is that around 80-85db is where exposure can cause hearing damage. This is why there is a case to be conscious of how close you’re putting the sound machine to the baby. And because babies can sleep longer than 8 hours at a time, if the sound machine is higher than 80 decibels, there is risk involved if you’re maxing out the volume.

In order to stay under 80db, you’ll just want to keep the volume level 8 or lower. (Reminder, there are 12 volume levels).

Battery Life: Does It Really Last?

Hatch claims up to 15 hours of battery life on a single charge. For me, fully charged it lasts 14 hours.

I’ve never had this one die mid-sleep, which is my biggest concern with any battery-powered device. But, if you have access to an outlet, you can keep it plugged in and don’t have to worry about it dying.

Charging is via USB-C. It takes about 2-3 hours for a full charge.

Pro tip: Pack an extra charging cable in your diaper bag. It’s always a good idea to have an extra charging cable when you’re out and about or traveling.

Portability: How Travel-Friendly Is It Really?

The clip design is clever. It hooks onto stroller bars, car seat handles, or the outside of a diaper bag. The clip feels sturdy—I haven’t had it accidentally pop off.

Where I’ve used it:

• Clipped to the stroller for outdoor naps
• On the nightstand in hotel rooms
• In the car (clipped to the headrest) for long drives
• At restaurants (controversial, I know, but sometimes you need what you need)

Size comparison: It’s about 3.5 inches wide and 1.5 inches thick. Fits in the palm of your hand. Weighs maybe 6 ounces? Light enough that you forget it’s there.

The one design flaw: there’s no way to stand it upright on its own. You either need to clip it to something or lay it flat. Not a huge issue, but occasionally annoying.

What I Personally Love About The Hatch Go Rest

1. Design – Here’s the thing, I’m incredibly intentional about what I bring into my home. Every purchase matters to me, and I want each item to serve a purpose beyond just function. I want it to make me feel something when I look at it. Call it the Marie Kondo effect, but I genuinely believe our surroundings should bring us joy. The Hatch Go gets this. The design isn’t just thoughtful, it’s beautiful in a way that makes you actually want to have it in the space we occupy.
2. Sound – I like that it gets as loud as it does so you can place it on the other side of a room to fully drown out noise.

What I Would Change

1. Display:This isn’t exclusive to Hatch Go Rest, it’s actually for all portable sound machines. You don’t know what sound level you’re on unless you turn it all the way up (or down) and count backwards. Same comment about the sounds. You have to have the order memorized in order to know what sound it is, so you have to click through until you find the one you want. A small screen would be a great addition where you could see the sound level / sound.
2. Night Light: While I don’t use a night light, it would be a great addition (especially red light). If you’re in an unfamiliar place, stumbling around trying to reach your baby, a soft glow would help.
3. Clip: The clip is so incredibly tight, it feels like you have to use brute force to pry the two sides apart to unclip or reclip it on to something. I like that it’s not going anywhere if a baby pulls on it, but it reminds me of a house keychain you can’t get grip on to get the two sides apart.
4. Plastic: This also goes for all the others I’ve tested (other than SlumberPod’s portable sound machine), but the plastic feels cheap. When you tap on it, you get that hallow, tinny sound. It doesn’t feel heavy duty and it could break if dropped from the wrong angle or height.

Hard Launch Mom Rating: Breaking It Down

Let me evaluate this portable baby sound machine across the four factors that matter most to parents:

Price Point (Value): 5/10

At around $40, the Hatch Go sits in the high range for portable sound machines. You can find basic options for $25-30 that do the job just as well, or even better depending on what matters to you. Overall the quality is on the cheap end for the price point.

Functionality: 7/10

Overall, it does exactly what it claims: produces quality (and loud) sound, holds a charge through the night, and travels easily.

I’m docking it a few points because I feel like you have to fumble through the buttons to land on the volume or sound you want and the button pressure and feel of the click feels kind of cheap. But, I added another point back in because it is intuitive and there aren’t too many buttons to fumble through in pitch black.

Aesthetic: 9/10

Look, this matters less for a sound machine than, say, a nursery chair. But I appreciate that the Hatch Go looks modern and clean. It comes in a few color options, and it doesn’t scream “baby gear” if you care about that sort of thing.

Honestly, aesthetics shouldn’t be a deciding factor here, but the fact that it’s not an eyesore is a bonus.

Clean Factor (Safety): Unknown

This is crucial for any product I’m using near my baby. I’m still waiting to hear back from their customer support team because I cannot find anything about them using non-toxic materials for their product.

Product Review Highlights: What Other Parents Are Saying

I always dig into reviews before making a recommendation. Here’s what I found after scouring Amazon, Reddit parenting forums, and the Hatch website:

Common 5-Star Review Themes:

“Saved our vacation” – The overwhelming praise centers on how this portable baby sound machine transformed travel with babies and toddlers. Parents report significantly better sleep in hotels, Airbnbs, and at relatives’ homes.

“Battery lasts long enough” – Most parents confirm the battery life claims hold up in real-world use. Very few reports of mid-night battery death.

My take: These are all accurate. I have nothing else to add.

Common 1-Star Review Themes:

“Wish it had WiFi” – Parents want the same WiFi connectivity as the full-size Hatch Rest, allowing control from anywhere.

“Too expensive for what it is” – The price point is a common complaint, especially from parents who expected more features at $40.

“Volume could be louder” – A handful of reviews say the maximum volume isn’t loud enough for very noisy environments.

My take: The WiFi comment is interesting —I’d love that feature too. As for price, I think it’s justified if you’ll use it regularly, but I understand the hesitation. Regarding volume, it is almost bordering on the range of too loud, but perhaps some users had defective units or different expectations.

Final Thoughts

The Hatch Go is a great sound machine. It’s better than most and functions exactly like it says it will. It’s a no frills portable sound machine that looks elevated clipped onto your stroller. If you care about how all of your products look and make you feel, this is going to be your best bet. But there are a few others out there you might want to consider if you’re still on the fence. I’ll be posting a blog in the next few months on the SlumberPod portable sound machine, the Momcozy Portable Sound Machine and the Yogasleep portable sound machine. Plus, I’m currently doing a side by side comparison of them all. Stay tuned!

Disclosure: This is a review blog which may get compensated for the products reviewed by the companies who produce them. All of the products are tested thoroughly and I only endorse products I believe in. I am an independent blogger and the reviews are done based on my own opinions.