Baby soother projectors are a wonderful tool to help soothe and comfort your baby, especially during bedtime. These devices often combine light projections with calming sounds, creating a tranquil environment for your little one.
This article will review the best baby soother projectors, focusing on features like sound quality, projection images, and user-friendliness. Ideal for creating a peaceful sleep setting, these projectors are a must-have for new parents.
- Varying lengths of auto shut-off
- Volume control
- Voice sensor
- Removable light unit
- Strap for crib attachment
- Heartbeat sound option
- Detachable mini-nightlight
- Adjustable light & sound settings
- Subdued lights
- Hand drum design
- Has volume control
- Two timer options
- Three lighting options
- Has a sound timer
- Modern control system
- Comes with batteries & screwdriver
- Removable light & sound unit
- Washable unit
- Three stages for growing kids
- Babysafe mirror
- Includes cute animal mobile
- Cry sensor can be turned off
- 10 volume levels
- Removable light unit
- 20 minutes music runtime
- Two-in-one projection mobile
- Multifarious animals featured
- Remote controlled
- 7 removable films
- 3 timer settings
Review Methodology: At Mom Loves Best, we go to great lengths to ensure that our articles, especially those concerning your baby’s comfort and wellbeing like baby soother projectors, are trustworthy and reliable. We use hands-on testing and rigorous assessment to evaluate every product from a parent’s perspective. Our review methodology includes quantitative performance measures, comparative analysis, and real-world experience. We focus on key decision-making factors such as design, ease-of-use, effectiveness, and safety. We reveal what sets the top products apart from the rest, and provide compelling, evidence-based reasons for our recommendations. Trust us to help you make an informed decision for your little one.
The Best Baby Soother Projectors of 2024
Here are our favorite baby soother projectors on the market.
V-Tech Baby Critters Soothing Starlight Hippo
Best Battery-Powered Baby Soother Projector
The V-Tech Baby Critters Soothing Starlight Hippo lands firmly between plush and non-plush. The main body is firm plastic without hard edges or corners, and the head and limbs are firmly stuffed fabric.
Voice activation means the hippo will turn on if your little one cries in the night, and you can select between a 10-, 20-, or 30-minute light and sound duration. There is also a volume control to ensure the hippo does not wake the rest of the family.
The light display has static stars, arranged in spirals which cycle through three colors. This provides some gentle light, in multiple directions, without it becoming overly stimulating.
As the hippo is soft and light, it is easy to take along with you to family, daycare, or days out.
Pros
- Varying lengths of auto shut-off.
- Volume control.
- Voice sensor.
Cons
- Doesn’t affix to crib, so you’ll have to set it somewhere else like a dresser.
Product Specs
Age range | Birth and older |
Sounds | 100+ nature sounds, tunes, and phrases |
Lights | Static stars in three colors |
Power | 2 x AA batteries |
Our Ratings
User Experience
Bubzi Co Soothing Sleep Elephant
Best Plush Baby Soother Projector
This cute and cuddly elephant has a removable light and sound unit. That means you can throw the body into the washer if it becomes a little grubby or if your little one spits up some milk.
A small, soft, Velcro strap makes it easy to affix the elephant to your crib or to take it with you attached to the stroller.
The only small inconvenience is the position of the light unit. As the unit is set directly into the elephant’s belly, if you want the lights to project onto the ceiling, you have to attach the projector facing upward on the crib rail. That means your baby will be looking at the rear surface of their new stuffy friend.
Pros
- Removable light unit for safe washing.
- Strap for crib attachment.
- Heartbeat option.
Cons
- Odd projection angle.
Product Specs
Age range | Birth and older |
Sounds | Heartbeat, nature sounds, and 10 songs |
Lights | Static stars in 3 colors |
Power | 3 x AAA batteries |
Our Ratings
Personal Perspective
Infanto Musical Soother Night Projector
Best Non-Plush Baby Soother Projector
This cute and cheerful fox-shaped night light from Infanto is sure to give a pop of color to the nursery, and that’s before it even lights up.
Three tail panels fan out and pass slowly in front of each other, giving a gentle impression of movement without being overly stimulating. Meanwhile, the small fox cub that nestles in front of the adult can be removed and acts as a portable, independent nightlight.
None of the five songs the fox plays were familiar to us, but they were all pleasant, delicate musical pieces that were an excellent soothing choice for bedtime.
You can use the projector with either light alone, sounds alone, or a combination of the two. Whichever combination you choose, the projector will run for 20 minutes before turning itself off.
Pros
- Detachable mini-nightlight.
- Adjustable light and sound settings.
- Subdued lights.
Cons
- Not voice-activated.
Product Specs
Age range | Birth to 36 months |
Sounds | 5 songs, 3 white noise sounds |
Lights | Stars in three colors with gentle movement |
Power | 4 x AA batteries |
Our Ratings
Community Feedback
Tumama Multifunctional Baby Sleep Soother
Best Soother Projector for All Ages
The styling of Tumama baby sleep soother will work just as well in an older child’s room as it will in a baby’s nursery. A large, white “eggshell” shape emits four colorful hues with adjustable audio volume. Most of its features mean it will also entertain not only the babies but those babies at heart.
You can choose between a 30- or 60-minute timer but what I personally like about this soother machine is that it promotes early developmental motor skills. Equipped with a recorder, it repeats what your child says which can be used as an interactive play alternative and not merely a soothing machine.
Pros
- Hand drum design.
- Has volume control.
- Two timer options.
- Can be used as a talking toy.
Cons
- Battery-operated.
Product Specs
Age range | Birth and older |
Sounds | 4 music types |
Lights | Stars in different colors |
Power | 3 x 1.5V AA batteries |
Our Ratings
First-Hand Impression
Fisher-Price SmartConnect Deluxe Soother Projector
Best Smart Baby Soother Projector
This baby soother projector from Fisher-Price has a traditional style look with a modern control system.
There are three light modes — you can use each one alone or in combination with the others. Stars and moons of different colors can be projected upward, soft white animals can be projected outward, and a soft amber night light mode makes the base gently glow.
For sound, you can choose between music, nature sounds, or white noise, and both the lights and sounds can be set on a timer of your choice of duration or left on all night.
The one point that it fails on is that your phone must be within Bluetooth connectivity range to make adjustments to the settings. You can still use the light without your phone, but you cannot make changes to the lights or sounds from a distance.
Pros
- Three lighting options.
- Back-lit buttons on the control panel for easier use.
- It works as a projector and light.
Cons
- Cannot change settings if the phone is out of range.
- No battery power option.
Product Specs
Age range | Birth and older |
Sounds | Three lullabies, three nature noises, white noise |
Lights | Multicolor, static stars, pale white animals, glowing amber nightlight base. |
Power | Power cord |
Our Ratings
User Experience
Bubzi Co Portable Woodland Owl Soother Projector
Best Portable Baby Soother Projector
You can choose between 10 songs, a heartbeat, or a bird song, and each one will repeat, on a loop, for 30 minutes before shutting off.
The light unit projects stars up onto the ceiling, cycling through three colors and multiple color combinations. This provides more interest than the projection of a basic mono-color star pattern but is not so stimulating it will keep your baby excited and awake.
The downside is that the owl must lay on its back to project lights onto the ceiling. You’ll have to attach it to the upper crib rail, which means your child will be looking at the owl’s back.
Also, we found the velcro strap a little short for some crib rails, while on others, it did not hold the owl firmly in place, causing it to drop down and face the floor.
Pros
- Comes with batteries and a screwdriver.
- Removable light and sound unit.
- Washable.
Cons
- Short Velcro strap.
- Odd projection angle.
Product Specs
Age range | Birth amd older |
Sounds | Heartbeat, bird song, and 10 tunes |
Lights | Static stars that cycle through three colors |
Power | 3 x AAA batteries |
Our Ratings
Personal Perspective
Infantino Musical Projector Soother
Best Versatile Baby Soother Projector
This option from Infantino combines a traditional crib mobile and a soother projector that transforms into a table-top, toddler-friendly projecting night light.
We loved the idea of this three-stage baby soother projector, and it does deliver in most areas; however, there are a few points that let it down.
First, the fittings only allow it to be fitted to a crib where the top rail is 2.5 inches deep or smaller. If you have a deeper top rail, you cannot use it as a mobile.
Second, some babies may find the mobile animals too interesting, causing them to stay awake longer than they otherwise might. If this is an issue for you, the animals can be detached. There is also a built-in baby-safe mirror, which, again, might prove to be too much fun.
Finally, you cannot use the mobile and the projector at the same time.
Pros
- Three stages for growing kids, so they don’t outgrow this quickly.
- Babysafe mirror.
- Cute mobile animals.
Cons
- Could be overstimulating.
- Won’t fit all cribs.
Product Specs
Age range | Birth and older |
Sounds | Six tunes, four nature sounds |
Lights | Static stars in 3 colors |
Power | 3 x AAA batteries |
Our Ratings
Community Feedback
Roccababy Sound-Activated Soother Projector
Best Sound-Activated Baby Soother Projector
The jury is still out on whether to choose a baby soother projector with a sound sensor. Some users and their babies seem to adore them, while others find that having the soother turn on in response to a baby’s cries causes more disruption.
This particular sound-activated baby soother projector is a popular choice because you can change the settings to work with only the lights, just the sounds, both lights, and sounds together, or with both lights and sounds turned off.
Some users had issues with the brightness, volume, or lack of volume of the lights and the volume levels. However, we found those were all down to personal preference or circumstance, such as wanting to drown out traffic noise.
Pros
- Cry sensor can be turned off.
- 10 volume levels.
- Removable light unit.
Cons
- Falls over.
- It’s pretty large at 10 inches tall.
- Fixed 30-minute timer.
Product Specs
Age range | Birth and older |
Sounds | 10 tunes and 10 sounds, including womb and heartbeat |
Lights | Static stars that cycle through five colors |
Power | 3 x AAA batteries |
Our Ratings
First-Hand Impression
Fisher-Price Precious Planet 2-in-1 Projection Mobile
Best Remote-Controlled Baby Soother Projector
This Fisher-Price projector has an excellent parent-controlled feature that allows your child to slowly unwind using the remote control without having to disturb your little one. What’s great is that there are three soothing options to calm your child. You may use the melodies alone which simultaneously play for 20 minutes, or you may accompany the music with rotating adorable animal friends, better yet you may use all three- music, motion, and projection.
The only downside with this set is that the mobile requires four D batteries whilst the remote control uses two triple A batteries.
Pros
- 20 minutes music runtime.
- Two-in-one projection mobile.
- Multifarious animals featured.
Cons
- Uses several batteries.
- No choice of what music to play.
- Music is mandatory on each 3 settings.
Product Specs
Age range | Birth and older |
Sounds | Three tunes, three nature noises |
Lights | Soft light show |
Power | 4 x D batteries |
Our Ratings
User Experience
One Fire Baby Sleep Projector
Best Budget Baby Soother Projector
This adorable little bunny comes with seven different rotatable films with ten bright lighting effects.
To recharge, simply remove the light unit, plug in the USB cable, and attach the other end to a charging block. The cable is included with the rabbit, but the block is not. A full battery charge takes around 5 hours and will last between 6 and 8 hours.
You can use lights or sounds or both. The timer can be set to turn this little sleeping buddy off after 30, 60, or 90 minutes.
Our one word of caution is that as this is a new product, we can’t tell how well it works long-term.
Pros
- Easy access using the remote control.
- Includes 7 removable films.
- Three timer settings.
Cons
- Battery life of 6 to 8 hours.
- Others find the bluetooth functionality inappropriate for baby nursery because of the annoying voices while attempting to connect.
Product Specs
Age range | Birth and older |
Sounds | Depending on your preference as it must be connected with Bluetooth |
Lights | 6 rotatable films in 10 colors |
Power | 3000mAh lithium battery |
Our Ratings
Personal Perspective
Product | Best | Age range | Sounds | Lights | Power |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
V-Tech Baby Critters Starlight | Battery-Powered | Birth & older | 100 tunes | Static stars in 3 colors | 2 x AA batteries |
Bubzi Co Soothing Sleep Elephant | Plush | Birth & older | 10 songs | Static stars in 3 colors | 3 x AAA batteries |
Infanto Musical Soother Projector | Non-Plush | Birth to 36 months | 5 songs | Stars in 3 colors | 4 x AA batteries |
Tumama Multifunctional Soother | For All Ages | Birth & older | 4 music types | Stars in 4 colors | 3 x AA batteries |
Fisher-Price SmartConnect | Smart Projector | Birth & older | 3 tunes | Multicolor, static stars, pale white animals | Power cord |
Bubzi Co Woodland Owl Soother | Portable | Birth and older | 10 tunes | Static stars that cycle through 3 colors | 3 x AAA batteries |
Infantino Musical Projector | Versatile | Birth & older | 6 tunes | Static stars in 3 colors | 3 x AAA batteries |
Roccababy Sound Soother | Sound-Activated | Birth & older | 10 tunes | Static stars that cycle through 5 colors | 3 x AAA batteries |
Fisher-Price Precious Planet | Remote-Controlled | Birth & older | 6 tunes | Soft light show | 4 x D batteries |
One Fire Baby Sleep Projector | Budget Pick | Birth & older | Depends on your preference | 6 rotatable films in 10 colors | 3000mAh lithium battery |
What Are Baby Soother Projectors?
A baby soother projector displays lights and images on the walls and/or the ceiling of a room. Some baby soother projectors also play music or sounds.
Benefits of Using Baby Soother Projectors
There are several benefits to using one of these projectors, including:
- It can provide a low level of light for nighttime feeds and diaper changes. That helps you reduce the chances of overstimulating your child by turning on a light.
- The relaxing environment that a baby’s soother projector creates can help babies who struggle to transition from waking to sleeping.
- Some babies and children become distressed if they wake up to a different environment than the one they fell asleep in. A baby soother projector creates and recreates the same feeling to the room, no matter when your child wakes (1).
- If you turn this projector on when you put your child down in their crib when they are awake but drowsy, it may help soothe them into sleep.
How to Choose the Best Baby Soother Projector
There are several factors to consider when choosing a soother projector for your baby.
The Joy Of Sleep
Baby soother projectors can help your child settle down and transition to sleep without relying on another person to be there. This is an essential skill for your child to master, and anything that helps them achieve this milestone is good.
However, while some children respond well and are helped by soother projectors, others are excited or disturbed by them, making such units counterproductive.
Unfortunately, there’s no way to tell which side of the fence your child falls on unless you try one, but the ten options above are great products that will give you a fighting chance.