The 8 Best Bedside Bassinets for Newborn Babies

Getting ready for baby’s arrival? From nursery gliders and carriers to baby bouncers and white noise machines, the long list of “must-have” baby gear can be overwhelming. One item you do need? A safe sleep space for baby. While a crib is a good long-term investment, a bedside bassinet is a convenient option for the newborn stage. The best bedside bassinets keep baby safely ensconced in their own sleep zone, but still within arm’s reach for nighttime feeds and comfort. Plus, unlike a large crib, bedside sleepers have a small footprint and special features, which make them the best choice for room-sharing.

Eager to learn more? Keep reading to discover everything you need to know about bedside bassinets—plus, browse our picks of the best options to keep baby safely snoozing at your side.

What is a Bedside Bassinet?

A bedside bassinet is a small enclosed sleep space for infants. Unlike a bedside sleeper, which has one open side that attaches to a bed, a bassinet is a standalone piece of furniture. Some bedside bassinets are designed with a base that slots underneath your bed or a swivel feature that allows you to keep baby at eye-level. Other options feature drop-down panels or lowering sidewalls that make it easier to remove baby for nighttime feeding sessions.

Are Bedside Bassinets Safe?

“Bedside bassinets are safe as long as they meet Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) regulations,” says Alexis Phillips-Walker, DO, a pediatrician at Memorial Hermann Medical Group Pediatrics in Atascocita, Texas. Bassinets and bedside sleepers are subject to strict safety standards. Per the CPSC, they must have:

• A limit on the paint and surface coating
• Fabric-sided enclosed openings to prevent entrapment and suffocation hazards
• A minimum height on lowered side wall
• Compliance with fundamental safety requirements for sleep environments, such as protection against unintentional folding, no small parts or sharp edges

Bedside bassinets vs. bedside sleepers

It’s important to note that bedside sleepers with side walls that can be opened or lowered should be used with caution. Jillian Thistel, a certified pediatric sleep consultant and founder of Twinkling Stars Pediatric Sleep Consulting in Ontario, Canada, says there are specific safety hazards associated with this type of product. These include, but aren’t limited to, the potential for baby to get trapped between the gap of the sleeper and the bed, the possibility of falls and the risk of suffocation. If parents choose to use a bedside sleeper, Thistel recommends taking the following precautions to reduce the risks outlined above:

• Check that the product meets CPSC safety standards
• Follow assembly instructions to the letter
• Adhere to height and weight guidelines for use
• Do not use loose bedding—blankets, pillows, toys or crib bumpers—in baby’s sleep space
• For traditional bedside sleepers, keep the drop-down wall in an upright position when it’s attached to your bed

On the other hand, a fully enclosed bedside bassinet is a safer bet, but it still gives you easy access to baby. However, if your bedside bassinet has a drop-down panel, Thistel advises that it remains fully up when baby is sleeping for safety reasons.

How Long Can Baby Sleep in a Bassinet?

Bedside bassinets can be used from birth, but infants may outgrow them quickly. According to Philips, it’s best to transition baby to a crib once they’ve started to roll over, surpassed the weight limit or start to physically outgrow the bassinet. All children are different, but infants typically begin to roll over at the four-month mark Thistel also advises parents to check the height and weight recommendations on each specific bassinet to determine how long their child can use it for.

Benefits of a Bedside Bassinet

The main benefit of a bedside bassinet is that it enables room-sharing. Guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend that parents sleep in the same room—but never in the same bed or on the same surface—as baby for at least six months. Room-sharing makes it easier for parents to feed, comfort and monitor baby—and, according to Philips, it actually reduces the risk of SIDS by up to 50 percent. Bedside bassinets facilitate room-sharing, as they don’t take up much room and are easy to maneuver in tight spaces.

The Best Bedside Bassinets

Now that you’ve got the basics, here are the best bedside bassinets that are safe and convenient.

How We Chose the Best Bedside Bassinets

We get it—creating a safe sleep environment for baby can be overwhelming. To help you find the best bedside bassinet for your little one, we browsed dozens of options from leading baby brands and trusted online retailers, so you don’t have to spend hours scrolling. We considered a list of criteria when sourcing products, including ease of use, quality and durability, size, value, style and, of course, safety. We also read user reviews to get the lowdown on how these bassinets have worked for real families, and didn’t consider anything with less than an average four-star rating.

To make sure we’re highlighting bedside bassinets that are safe, we chatted with a pediatrician and a pediatric sleep consultant to understand essential features and safety considerations to keep top of mind as you shop. We also followed the safety recommendations of the AAP and looked for certifications and seals of approval from key organizations, like the CPSC or Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA). What’s more, some of these bassinets were reviewed by our team of independent product testers, providing additional insight for our roundup.

Interested in learning more about our editorial process? Read about how our team develops and reviews all articles here.

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.