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Light-and-sound projectors

Plush and tabletop soothers with sound, light, or a ceiling projection.

Round glowing light-and-sound soother projecting stars on a nursery wall from a dresserProjectors
  • 21models tracked
  • $16 to $89price range
  • 2–22sounds

Light-and-sound projectors by budget

The 17 light-and-sound projectors with a published list price, split into thirds by price. A to Z within each lane. Price isn't a quality rating.

Budget-friendlyUnder $304
Mid-range$30 to $436
Splurge$43 and up7

All 21 light-and-sound projectors

Must have:
Filters
Price
Must have
Brand
✓ maker says yes ✕ maker says no ? not published
CompareWorks without an appNight lightTimer
Angelcare Mushroom Stars Projector2 soundsPortableNo coin or button cellsNight lightTimer –2?✓✓
Baby Einstein Sea Dreams Seahorse Plush SootherPortableNo coin or button cellsNight lightTimer $17.99–?✓✓
Bright Starts Hug-a-bye Baby Musical Light Up Soft Toy, ElephantPortableNo coin or button cellsNight light $16.99–?✓?
Cloud b CloudBox Storyteller16 soundsPortableNo coin or button cellsWorks without an appNight light $89.9916✓✓?
Cloud b Dream BuddiesPortableNo coin or button cellsNight lightTimer $29.99–?✓✓
Cloud b Tranquil Turtle Rechargeable4 soundsPortableNo coin or button cellsWorks without an appNight light $59.994✓✓?
Cloud b Tranquil Whale Family4 soundsPortableNo coin or button cellsWorks without an appNight lightTimer $64.994✓✓✓
Cloud b Tranquil Whale Rechargeable4 soundsNo coin or button cellsNight lightTimer $59.994?✓✓
Fisher-Price Soothe 'n Snuggle KoalaNo coin or button cellsWorks without an appNight lightTimer $42.99–✓✓✓
Fisher-Price Soothe 'n Snuggle OtterNo coin or button cellsNight lightTimer $42.99–?✓✓
Fisher-Price Soothe 'n Snuggle Purple MonkeyNo coin or button cellsWorks without an appNight light ––✓✓?
Homedics SoundSpa Lullaby with Sounds & Projection6 soundsNo coin or button cellsWorks without an appNight light $34.996✓✓?
Ingenuity Pock-a-Bye Baby Soother and Bluetooth Speaker13 soundsPortableNo coin or button cellsWorks without an appTimer $24.9913✓✕✓
Ingenuity Serenity Glow Portable SootherPortableNo coin or button cells ––???
Pillowfort Rainbow Kids' Projection LightPortableNo coin or button cellsNight lightTimer ––?✓✓
Pure Enrichment PureBaby Hanging Koala Sound Machine12 soundsPortableNo coin or button cellsWorks without an appNight lightTimer $29.9912✓✓✓
Pure Enrichment PureBaby Sound Sleepers Sound Machine and Star Projector - Elephant (PEPROJ-E)13 soundsPortableNo coin or button cellsWorks without an appNight lightTimer $29.9913✓✓✓
Pure Enrichment PureBaby Sound Sleepers Sound Machine and Star Projector - Polar Bear13 soundsPortableNo coin or button cellsWorks without an appNight lightTimer $29.9913✓✓✓
Pure Enrichment PureBaby Sound Sleepers Sound Machine and Star Projector - Unicorn (PEPROJ-U)13 soundsPortableNo coin or button cellsWorks without an appNight lightTimer $29.9913✓✓✓
Tiny Love Meadow Days Sound 'n Sleep Projector Soother22 soundsPortableNo coin or button cellsWorks without an appNight lightTimer $54.9922✓✓✓
Yogasleep Soundscene Sound Machine with Light Projector20 soundsNo coin or button cellsWorks without an appNight lightTimer $27.9920✓✓✓

Light-and-sound projectors by the numbers

The 21 we compare, from each maker's published specs. Ranges, not ratings.

  • Sounds2 to 22; the middle half 4 to 13 (13 of 21 publish it)
  • Price$16.99 to $89.99; the middle half $29.99 to $54.99 (17 of 21 publish it)

How common each feature is

  • Night light19 of 20 that list it
  • Projector13 of 20 that list it

What these list

Feature, per makerProducts
Timer15 of 21
Night light19 of 21
Projector13 of 21
Portable15 of 21
Rechargeable or battery17 of 21
Max volume published3 of 21

Max volume, as the makers publish it:

ProductMax volume
Pure Enrichment PureBaby Sound Sleepers Sound Machine and Star Projector - Elephant (PEPROJ-E)68 dB
Pure Enrichment PureBaby Sound Sleepers Sound Machine and Star Projector - Unicorn (PEPROJ-U)68 dB
Pure Enrichment PureBaby Sound Sleepers Sound Machine and Star Projector - Polar Bear68 dB

Shortlist: 2 models, each highest or lowest on one spec

Ranked on the maker's published numbers only. Not a safety or quality rating.

Sounds vs price

Each dot is one of the 12 light-and-sound projectors with both specs published; further right is more sounds, lower is cheaper. Numbered dots are the shortlist.

$40$60$80 more sounds & cheaper than most 4121620 Sounds Ingenuity Pock-a-Bye Baby Soother and Bluetooth Speaker: 13, $24.99Pock-a-Bye Baby Soother and Bluetooth SpeakerYogasleep Soundscene Sound Machine with Light Projector: 20, $27.99Soundscene Sound Machine with Light ProjectorPureBaby Sound Sleepers Elephant: 13, $29.99aPureBaby Sound Sleepers Unicorn: 13, $29.99bPureBaby Sound Sleepers Polar Bear: 13, $29.99cPureBaby Hanging Koala Sound Machine: 12, $29.99PureBaby Hanging Koala Sound MachineHomedics SoundSpa Lullaby with Sounds & Projection: 6, $34.99SoundSpa Lullaby with Sounds & ProjectionCloud b Tranquil Turtle Rechargeable: 4, $59.99Tranquil Turtle RechargeableCloud b Tranquil Whale Rechargeable: 4, $59.99Tranquil Whale RechargeableCloud b Tranquil Whale Family: 4, $64.99Tranquil Whale FamilyCloud b CloudBox Storyteller: 16, $89.99CloudBox StorytellerTiny Love Meadow Days Sound 'n Sleep Projector Soother: 22, $54.991Meadow Days Sound 'n Sleep Projector Soother
Hover, tap or Tab to a dot to see the product. Exact numbers are in the table below.
  1. 1Tiny Love Meadow Days Sound 'n Sleep Projector SootherMost sounds
  2. 2Bright Starts Hug-a-bye Baby Musical Light Up Soft Toy, ElephantLowest price · not on the chart: no published sounds
All 12 on the chart, cheapest first
  1. Ingenuity Pock-a-Bye Baby Soother and Bluetooth Speaker13 · $24.99
  2. Yogasleep Soundscene Sound Machine with Light Projector20 · $27.99
  3. PureBaby Sound Sleepers Elephant13 · $29.99
  4. PureBaby Sound Sleepers Unicorn13 · $29.99
  5. PureBaby Sound Sleepers Polar Bear13 · $29.99
  6. PureBaby Hanging Koala Sound Machine12 · $29.99
  7. Homedics SoundSpa Lullaby with Sounds & Projection6 · $34.99
  8. Tiny Love Meadow Days Sound 'n Sleep Projector Soother22 · $54.99
  9. Cloud b Tranquil Turtle Rechargeable4 · $59.99
  10. Cloud b Tranquil Whale Rechargeable4 · $59.99
  11. Cloud b Tranquil Whale Family4 · $64.99
  12. Cloud b CloudBox Storyteller16 · $89.99

Too close to label: a PureBaby Sound Sleepers Elephantb PureBaby Sound Sleepers Unicornc PureBaby Sound Sleepers Polar Bear

What to look for in light-and-sound projectors

The range across every sleep aid here, with the typical middle half shaded and the shortlist marked.

Sounds

The number of built-in sounds the maker lists.

Meadow Days Sound 'n Sleep Projector Soother
2middle 1322

Typical: 4 to 13. 13 of 21 list it. Most sounds: Meadow Days Sound 'n Sleep Projector Soother.

Price

What it lists for at the maker or a major store. Sales move this often.

Hug-a-bye Baby Musical Light Up Soft Toy, Elephant
$16.99middle $29.99$89.99

Typical: $29.99 to $54.99. 17 of 21 list it. Lowest price: Hug-a-bye Baby Musical Light Up Soft Toy, Elephant.

Ask the meadow

Questions about light-and-sound projectors

Answers come from each maker's published specs. Safety and health questions link to the agency or medical source.

What is the most affordable soother?

The Bright Starts Hug-a-bye Baby Musical Light Up Soft Toy, Elephant at $16.99 list price, of the 21 we track.

How loud should a sound machine be?

Safe sleep: see the AAP's guide to safe sleep and NICHD Safe to Sleep. Check the label and the maker's instructions, and ask your pediatrician about your child.

Still wondering? Write to us at hello@cribpicks.com and we'll look it up.

Most-compared pairs

Side-by-side specs for the closest rivals in this category.

Not quite right? Other types

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