I never knew what sleep deprivation really felt like until I became a new mom. Sleeping in two-to-three-hour stretches for months on end really takes a toll. In the search for a high-tech solution, I came across the Snoo Smart Sleeper. It's a so-called "smart" crib that can soothe your baby to sleep with the push of a button. But at $1,160, it doesn't come cheap, which is why I didn't even consider buying it when my daughter was born.



But companies like Activision, Hulu, Qualcomm and Snap have begun to offer the Snoo as a parental benefit. The hope is that well-rested parents will lead to better employee retention. By the time I got a review unit, my baby was too old, since it's only built for babies up to six months old. So I asked a friend with a newborn to put it to the test to see if it really works. After a few weeks of trying it out on her son, Hugo, she was hooked. "He's definitely gotten more sleep in the Snoo," said Liz Curley. "It feels like an extra set of helping hands."

Liz Curley and her son Hugo. CNBC | Jeniece Pettitt

The happiest (and safest) baby on the block

The Snoo is the brainchild of pediatrician Dr. Harvey Karp, who's a bit of a celebrity among new parents. His book "Happiest Baby on the Block" has been a bestseller since 2002 and the corresponding DVD is the top-selling parenting video of all time. He made the swaddle popular and created soothing techniques for colicky babies that actually work. My husband and I were a complete disaster the night we got home from the hospital with our daughter. His video and soothing techniques saved our lives.

Dr. Harvey Karp is a famed pediatrician and creator of the Snoo. CNBC | Andrew Evers

After about 40 years as a pediatrician and helping parents sleep, Dr. Karp decided to create a crib that had all of his soothing techniques built into it. He joined forces with Yves Behar, whose industrial design firm worked with companies like Samsung, Jawbone and Soda Stream, to create the Snoo. The bassinet uses sensors and artificial intelligence to respond to a baby's cries. It rocks and plays white noise, adjusting the levels based on how loud the crying is. Parents can control it with an app that alerts them if the infant is inconsolable. It also straps the baby in with a specially designed swaddle so it can't roll on to its side or stomach, lowering the risk of sudden infant death syndrome.

The Snoo has won awards for its sleek design. CNBC | Andrew Evers