The Best Bassinets for a Good Night's Sleep
Searching for baby’s first bed? Many parents opt for the convenience of a bedside bassinet during the first few months. The best bassinets keep your little one within arms reach for midnight feeds and comforting cuddles. Most importantly, bassinets offer a designated sleep space for newborns and young infants, making them one of the safest options out there. New guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend parents sleep in the same room—but never in the same bed—as baby for at least six months to reduce the risk of SIDS. Since many bedrooms can’t accomodate an adult bed and a full-size crib, bassinets are a great option for tight spaces.
A word to the wise: Bassinets can be used from birth, but infants may outgrow them quickly. Read the manufacturer’s age and weight restrictions to determine how long baby can use each particular product. According to the AAP, it’s also important to check that a crib or bassinet has a wide sturdy base so that it won’t collapse if you trip over it in the night.
Today’s bassinets come complete with handy features you won’t find in your average crib from built-in white noise and vibration modes to the ability to rock, swivel and even fold for unbeatable portability. Of course, a simple model without these added bells and whistles does the job equally well. Ready to start your search? Here, we’ve rounded up the best bassinets out there so you and baby can sleep easy.
4moms MamaRoo Sleep Bassinet
Let’s kick off our list of the best bassinets with this Best of Baby award-winning model from 4moms. The MamaRoo smart bassinet offers tons of great features at a price point that’s lower than other similar options. First off, it has five unique modes that replicate the natural bounce and sway motions parents use to calm baby. A built-in sound machine offers four soothing white-noise tracks to lull your little one off to sleep. And it’s bluetooth-enabled, meaning you can adjust the speed and sound settings on the app without leaving bed—genius! The best part? It’s reliably safe thanks to the flat, firm mattress.
What we love:
- Adjustable height
- Five motions and speeds
- Built-in white noise machine
- Bluetooth-enabled
What to consider:
- Assembly required
- May creak after frequent use
- Some customers report issues with the MamaRoo app
Buy it: $450, 4moms.com
Happiest Baby SNOO Smart Sleeper
Can you put a price on sleep? If not, the SNOO may be the best bassinet for you. Created by baby sleep expert Dr. Harvey Karp, it automatically responds to fussiness with noise and movement that simulates the womb, calming most cries in under a minute—and alerts you if more attention is needed. Yes, it’s expensive but it may help your little one get an extra one to two hours of sleep. Plus, the secure-swaddling technique used with the bassinet prevents baby from rolling onto their stomach while snoozing. Not willing to part with so much cash? The SNOO is also available to rent for $159 per month. Pro tip: Happiest Baby sometimes runs promotional sales on this cult-favorite product, so keep your eyes peeled, and you might just grab a bargain.
What we love:
- Five soothing sound and motion modes
- Breathable mesh walls for healthy air flow
- Built-in swaddle keeps baby in a safe sleep position
- Automatically responds to baby’s fussing
What to consider:
- Expensive option
- Soothing motion may not work for all infants
- Weighs 38 lbs.
Buy it: Happiest Baby SNOO Smart Sleeper, $1,695, HappiestBaby.com
Chicco LullaGo Anywhere Portable Bassinet
Here’s a travel-friendly option to consider: The Chicco LullaGo. This small bassinet is portable and compact, and can be used by infants up to 20 pounds. It’s the lightest option we’ve seen so far, plus it has a space-saving footprint, meaning it’ll squeeze into cramped spots. Oh, and thanks to the machine-washable fabric, it’ll hold up no matter what happens on the road. All that for $100? Bargain!
What we love:
- Weighs 12 lbs.
- Water-resistant mattress
- Folds flat for storage
- Removable bassinet fabric is machine washable
What to consider:
- Assembly required
- Simple, no frills model
Buy it: $100, buybuyBABY.com
BabyBjörn Baby Cradle
This sleek bassinet may look minimalist, but its innovative design lets you rock baby to sleep with your hand or foot—and even transfers baby’s movements into gentle swaying. It’s compact too—weighing in at just 13 lbs.—meaning you can move it around the house as needed. You can easily keep an eye on baby without hovering, thanks to the airy mesh fabric, which also happens to be machine-washable.
What we love:
- Weighs 13 lbs.
- Folds away for easy storage
- Sturdy anti-slip feet
- Mesh fabric, mattress and cover are machine-washable
What to consider:
- Sits low to the ground
- Mattress sheets sold separately
Buy it: $350, BabyBjorn.com
HALO BassiNest Swivel Sleeper Essentia
You want to be able to quickly soothe your crying baby in the middle of the night, and if you can do that without getting up from bed, even better. This bassinet hovers right next to your bedside and features mesh see-through walls and a collapsible side wall for easy access. Plus, it’s the only bassinet that rotates 360 degrees, which is a huge bonus for caregivers with limited mobility. Looking for even more cool features? Shell out a little extra for the luxe model that boasts soothing sounds, a nursing timer, a nightlight and a floor light for parents.
What we love:
- Affordable price point
- Adjustable height
- Only bassinet with a 360-degree swivel
- Lowering wall for easy access to baby
What to consider:
- Assembly required
- Weighs just under 33 lbs.
- It’s quite large and may not be suitable for smaller spaces
Buy it: $200, Target.com
Graco Sense2Snooze Bassinet with Cry Detection Technology
The best bassinets are safe, comfortable and convenient—and Graco’s Sense2Snooze model checks every box. Equipped with cry-detection technology, the smart bassinet hears baby fussing and responds with soothing sounds and gentle vibration to send them back to the land of nod. Save baby’s favorite speed and sound or adjust the settings as needed using the light-up control panel. Bonus features include mesh sidewalls, a retractable canopy and easily maneuverable wheels.
What we love:
- Mesh sidewalls
- Cry-detection technology
- Wheels make it easy to move around the house
- Three motion speeds, two vibration settings and multiple soundtrack options
What to consider:
- Assembly required
- Some customers stated that the vibration setting is too loud
Buy it: $320, buybuyBABY.com
Delta Children Simmons Kids By the Bed Twin City Sleeper
Searching for the best bassinet for twins? Take a peek at this bedside sleeper for siblings. It’s designed with two separate sections so your littles can safely sleep side by side—because we know twins love to be together. We also love the fact that it has mesh sides, so your kiddos can see you (and each other) at times when they need a little comfort. If you don’t need the additional room, this also comes as a single-child sleeper.
What we love:
- Mesh sidewalls
- Five height settings
- Roomy storage pockets
- Safely accommodates two infants
- Mattress and fitted sheet included
What to consider:
- Assembly required
- Once it’s assembled, it may be difficult to maneuver through doors
Buy it: $222, buybuyBABY.com
Silver Cross Slumber Travel Crib
Searching for the best portable bassinet to bring on overnight trips? Check out this clever model by Silver Cross. The three-in-one product can be used as a newborn bassinet, an infant crib and a playard for tots that weigh up to 50 pounds. Wow! As your little one grows, simply unzip the bassinet and expand the mattress to fit the base of the crib. It’s feather light and pops up in seconds with a simple shake-open set up. Plus, it comes conveniently packed in a travel case, complete with shoulder strap, so it’s easy to transport on-the-go. With so many awesome features, it’s no surprise that this product is a former Best of Baby award-winner.
What we love:
- Easy set-up
- Weighs under 16 lbs.
- Can be used as a bassinet, crib and playard
- Zippered side panel for easy night time access
What to consider:
- When used in crib mode, baby will be very low to the ground
Buy it: $300, Nordstrom.com
UppaBaby Bassinet Stand
Already have an UPPABaby (one of our favorite travel systems), complete with the cradle component? Then this sleek and sturdy stand—in gray or white—is a no-brainer, transforming the carriage bed into a snug and secure at-home bassinet with a safety-checked lock-in system and easy folding for stashability.
What we love:
- Folds away for easy storage
- One-step open and close design
What to consider:
- Only compatible with UppaBaby bassinets (2015 models onward)
Buy it: $160, buybuyBABY.com
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