Hatch Rest Plus is a popular sound machine and night light that helps create the ideal sleep environment. Many find it useful for blocking disruptive noises, soothing fussy babies, and lulling both kids and adults to sleep. While the Hatch Rest Plus app offers convenient control from your smartphone, you can still use the device’s core functions manually from the top panel.
Setting up Hatch Rest Plus without the app
Out of the box, the Hatch Rest Plus is ready to use even without the app. Here are the steps to get started:
- Plug in the Hatch Rest Plus using the included power adapter.
- Tap the power button on the top panel to turn it on. The light and sound icons will illuminate.
- Tap the light bulb icon to cycle through the different color and brightness options. There are 7 colors, including a rainbow mode, as well as a dimmed “nightlight” setting.
- Tap the sound wave icon to change between the 10 different soothing sounds. Options range from white noise to rain and ocean sounds.
And that’s it! Without the app, the Hatch Rest Plus will remember your last used color and sound setting even when powered off. You can continue tapping the icons to manually adjust the lighting and audio as needed.
Controlling the volume
To control the volume of the Hatch Rest Plus sounds without the app, use the + and – buttons flanking the power button. Each press raises or lowers the volume one increment. An LED light next to the volume buttons indicates the current sound level. Here are some volume guidelines:
- Low volume (1 LED lit) – Appropriate for soft background sounds in a quiet space
- Medium volume (2 LEDs lit) – Provides ambient noise for medium rooms
- High volume (3 LEDs lit) – Drowns out disruptive noises by booming the sound
Keep in mind the volume levels when using the Hatch Rest Plus in a nursery so as not to startle or disturb the baby. Consider also lowering the volume if leaving the device on throughout the night.
Putting the Hatch Rest Plus into toddler mode
Once your infant becomes a toddler, you may want to switch the Hatch Rest Plus into toddler mode for safety. This prevents little fingers from constantly changing the settings by locking the buttons on top.
To enable toddler mode without the app:
- Press and hold the power button for 3 seconds until the light icons start cycling colors.
- Quickly tap the power button once more. The icons will stop changing color to indicate toddler mode is now active.
In toddler mode, the power button remains unlocked so you can still turn the Hatch Rest Plus off. But the light, sound, and volume buttons will not respond to taps until you deactivate toddler mode. To do so, simply repeat the process above – press and hold the power button for 3 seconds until the cycling colors appear, then tap the power button once more.
Restarting and resetting the Hatch Rest Plus
Like any electronic device, you may need to restart or reset the Hatch Rest Plus if it stops responding or has other issues. Here are some troubleshooting steps to try:
Restarting the Hatch Rest Plus
If the Hatch Rest Plus freezes or does not respond to button taps, restart it by:
- Press and hold the power button for 10+ seconds until the light turns off.
- Release the power button and wait a few moments as the device reboots.
- Press the power button again to turn it back on – this completes the restart process.
Resetting the Hatch Rest Plus
Resetting the Hatch Rest Plus clears out any saved settings and returns it to factory default mode. You may want to reset if having pairing issues or switching between different Hatch devices and apps. To reset:
- Make sure the Hatch Rest Plus is powered on.
- Locate the slim reset button on the bottom rim of the device.
- Use a paperclip to press and hold the reset button until the status light blinks.
- Once the light blinks, release the reset button.
- The Hatch Rest Plus will now be restored to original out-of-box settings.
Connecting Hatch Rest Plus to WiFi without the app
Without the Hatch app, you cannot set up the WiFi connection required for the Hatch Rest Plus to access additional features like custom programs, sleep tracking, and remote access. However, if you know the WiFi password, you can still connect it manually using your smartphone.
To connect Hatch Rest Plus to WiFi without the app:
- Make sure the device is powered on and in setup mode with the status light blinking.
- On your smartphone, go to WiFi settings and select the Hatch-XXXX network.
- Open your web browser and navigate to http://192.168.0.100
- You will see the Hatch WiFi setup page. Select your WiFi network and enter the password.
- Click submit and wait for the connection process to complete.
- Once successfully connected, reconnect your phone to your regular WiFi.
The Hatch Rest Plus will now remember this WiFi network. But without the app, you won’t have access to the full range of app-enabled features. The device will continue operating in manual mode.
Playing Hatch Rest Plus sounds on an external speaker
The built-in speaker on the Hatch Rest Plus is designed to provide relaxing sounds for your nursery or bedroom. But you may want to play Hatch sounds on a larger external speaker for use in other rooms. This is easy to do with the auxiliary audio jack.
To connect an external speaker to the Hatch Rest Plus:
- Turn on the Hatch Rest Plus and select your desired sound, like white noise or rain.
- Locate the auxiliary audio jack on the back of the device.
- Plug in a 3.5 mm audio cable between the Hatch audio jack and your external speaker auxiliary input.
- Power on the connected speaker.
- You should now hear the Hatch sounds playing from the external speaker.
- Use the Hatch Rest Plus buttons to change volume and sounds as desired.
This allows you to play Hatch nature sounds anywhere you want, like in a living room or office. Just ensure the Rest Plus remains powered on and connected to the speaker. The larger external speaker can provide wider sound projection.
Powering the Hatch Rest Plus
The Hatch Rest Plus comes with an AC power adapter that plugs into a wall outlet. This provides continuous power so the Hatch can operate whenever needed. Here are some power management tips:
- Use only the included Hatch power adapter to avoid any device issues.
- Plug directly into a wall outlet rather than a power strip which may cut power.
- Make sure the outlet is not controlled by a wall switch which could inadvertently turn off the Hatch.
- Do not use any extension cords which could reduce power delivery.
- Periodically inspect the power adapter for damage to avoid electrical issues.
- Coil up any excess cord to prevent tangling or tripping hazards.
The Hatch Rest Plus does not contain any internal batteries. Removing AC power will turn off the device completely. Make sure it is plugged in for continuous operation.
Conclusion
While the Hatch Baby Rest Plus app provides added convenience, this sound machine and night light can still be used manually right out of the box. The key is learning how to control the basic light and sound settings using the buttons on top of the device. With some practice, you’ll be able to customize the lighting colors, change between the soothing natural sounds, and set the perfect volume for your needs.
