Bleary-eyed and desperate for some shut-eye? New parents—we feel your pain. The first few weeks and months with a newborn are utterly exhausting, and sleep can elude you. Bouncing, rocking and singing offer tried-and-true tactics to help baby feel calm, safe and sleepy. But all of that jiggling and shushing can be tiresome after hours of caring for an infant; you just want baby to get some rest—so that you can relax too. That’s where a smart bassinet comes in to save the day (and night).
Just like standard cribs and traditional bassinets, smart bassinets offer a safe sleep space for infants. But these nifty contraptions go one step further with built-in tools to help baby get to sleep (and, more importantly) stay asleep. Keep reading to discover everything you need to know about smart bassinets and cribs—plus, browse our picks of the best options for every need and budget.
Smart bassinets and smart cribs are safe, secure sleep environments for babies—but they also soothe infants with a range of motions and sounds. The best smart bassinets are designed with technology that senses baby’s cries and responds with gentle movements and white noise. Smart cribs and bassinets range in price and capabilities, but many are bluetooth-compatible and can be controlled remotely via a phone app. Some newer models are also equipped with built-in baby monitors to eliminate the need for multiple devices.
Choosing the right sleep space for your baby is a big decision. Before you commit to a smart bassinet, here are a few key factors to consider.
- Budget: A smart bassinet or smart crib is great—but along with all the bells and whistles comes a pretty hefty price tag. While standard bassinets start at around $100, some smart models can set you back more than $1000. Remember that a bassinet is smaller than a crib, and your little one will outgrow it sooner. Moreover, keep in mind that you may also need to budget for additional accessories, like a crib mattress or, in some cases, a specific swaddle. Put off by the cost? Don’t despair—some smart bassinet and smart crib brands offer rental services; this route may be more affordable than purchasing a smart bassinet or crib outright.
- Motion features: Rocking, bouncing and vibrations are the key selling point for most people when it comes to smart bassinets and cribs. High-end options automatically respond to baby stirring in their sleep with gentle motions that help baby get back to sleep. Other, more affordable, bassinets respond to manual triggers via app controls or by pressing a button on a control panel. While repetitive motion works wonders for some infants, there are no guarantees and no one-size-fits-all sleep solution.
- Sound options: Soothing sounds—like shushing, white noise and lullabies—can help calm a fussy baby. Background music works as it blocks out distractions and reminds baby of ambient noise in the womb. Although most smart cribs offer some sort of soundtrack, it’s best to look for bluetooth-enabled models with a timer setting, so you can control how long each tune plays with the touch of a button.
- Longevity: Again, infants outgrow bassinets quickly—typically sometime between the three and six-month marks. (And if they’re showing signs of rolling over or sitting up, you’ll probably want to upgrade them even sooner.) If you’re a first-time parent, you can probably keep and use the same bassinet for future siblings. But if you’re not planning to add to your brood anytime soon, a smart bassinet may not be worth the investment.
Have you weighed your options and decided to go for a smart bassinet? Here are eight top-rated models—from the coveted SNOO bassinet to cheaper SNOO alternatives, that still offer innovative features.
Overall best smart bassinet
- Automatically responds to baby’s cries
- Five levels of sound and motion
- Accessories included: three sleep sacks, a crib sheet and a mattress
- High price point
- May not pick up on quiet whimpers and minor sleep disturbances
The SNOO Smart Sleeper is the Rolls-Royce of the bassinet world. Designed by pediatrician Harvey Karp, this safe space promises to help baby sleep an extra one to two hours per night. (And when you’re a sleep-deprived new parent, an hour or two means everything.) The SNOO automatically reacts to sleep disturbances with white noise and a gentle swaying motion. Better yet, the reactive system changes its cadence and pace of motion to match your little one’s cries. Plus, a built-in swaddle emulates the snug feeling of the womb and keeps your infant safely snoozing on their back. Want to track your little one’s sleep cycle? The SNOO app provides a daily sleep report alongside expert tips. Granted, it’s expensive, but this best-selling bassinet goes on sale a couple of times a year—so keep your eyes peeled for major discounts. Plus, it’s the first device of it’s kind to receive De Novo classification from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its ability to keep sleeping babies safely on their backs. Safe and effective? Sounds like a winner to us—which is why it was awarded the top spot in our Best of The Bump roundup of the very best bassinets.
Dimensions: 35.75" (L) x 19" (W) x 31" (H) | Weight: 38 lbs. | Age range: 0 to 6 months | Capacity: 25 lbs.
"I would recommend this bassinet because getting sleep as a new parent is so important! The bassinet helps me have peace of mind and the app functions help me analyze when my baby is waking and when they need extra soothing."
Best self-rocking smart bassinet
- Five motion modes
- Four white noise tracks
- Bluetooth enabled
- Accessories sold separately
Next up is another smart bassinet that was highlighted in our Best of The Bump award series: The 4moms mamaRoo. This bassinet has five motion speeds—car ride, kangaroo, wave, tree swing and rock-a-bye—some of which mimic a parent’s calming touch. It also has four soothing white noise tracks that can be set on a timer or controlled remotely via the 4moms app. Other features like mesh sides for added visibility and adjustable height settings, make this a practical pick for room-sharing with baby.
Dimensions: 34" (L) x 24" (W) x 34.5 to 39" (H) | Weight: 30 lbs. | Age range: 0 to 12 months | Capacity: 25 lbs.
"The smart feature I liked the most was that you can use the 4moms app to sync with the bassinet—and then 'Find Your Roo'—meaning you hold the phone while you rock your baby and then the app tells you which bassinet motion is the closest to it, and what speed. It's very easy to change what motion on the bassinet you want, and it transitions pretty seamlessly."
Best affordable Snoo alternative
- Cry-detection technology
- Affordable price point
- Three motion speeds, two vibrations settings and 20 songs and sounds
- Some parents say that it has a loud motor
- 20 pound weight capacity
Looking for a SNOO alternative? Try the Sense2Snooze Bassinet by Graco. It’s equipped with cry-detection technology, meaning a built-in microphone picks up on baby’s cries and automatically responds with a variety of soothing sounds and motions. It offers three motion speeds and two vibration settings—plus soothing songs, nature sounds and white noise. Better yet, you can save your little one’s favorite settings to help them drift back to sleep in the blink of an eye. Aside from the smart features, this bassinet has plenty of benefits: Mesh sides allow for airflow while a reversible canopy blocks out the early morning light and built-in wheels let you move the bassinet from room to room.
Dimensions: 26" (L) x 19" (W) x 41" (H) | Weight: 21.94 lbs. | Age range: 0 to 12 months | Capacity: 20 lbs.
Best smart convertible crib
- Comes with a mattress and two fitted sheets
- Converts from bassinet to full-size crib
- Senses sleep disturbances and automatically soothes baby before they wake
- High price point
- Heavier than other smart cribs
- WiFi required for the Cradlewise app
Unwilling to invest in a smart bassinet you’ll only use for a short space of time? We hear you, as does the team at Cradlewise. This innovative device converts from a bassinet to a crib, meaning you can use it for up to 24 months. But that’s not even the best part: This all-in-one smart crib has a built-in video monitor that senses when baby is about to wake and automatically responds with gentle bouncing and calming music. And if your little one needs some one-on-one attention, you’ll receive a notification on the app. Want to keep an eye on your little one while they nap? Use your smartphone to monitor anytime. You can also gain insight into baby’s rest cycle with the app’s sleep tracking tool. Oh, and did we mention that it’s Greenguard Gold certified, meaning it’s free from over 10,000 harmful chemicals? With so many great features is it any wonder this smart crib received an honorable mention in our Best of Baby awards?
Dimensions: 40" (L) x 25" (W) x 42" (H) | Weight: 88.2 lbs. | Age range: 0 to 24 months | Capacity: 33 lbs.
Best affordable smart bassinet
- Motion activated night light
- Affordable price point
- Three levels of vibrations and soothing sound track
- No rocking motion
- Some parents say that the mattress is too thin
Here’s another affordable option with plenty of smart features: The Fisher-Price Luminate Bassinet. The built-in Smart Sensing System detects baby's cries and sends an alert to your smartphone. Using the app you can activate music and vibrations to help send them back to their sweet dreams, without getting out of bed. For times when only mom or dad will do, a motion-activated floor and crib light illuminates your path and casts a soft glow for nighttime check-ins. Soothe baby with a custom white noise soundtrack or click start on the 20-minute “Ready, Settle, Sleep” playlist. All this for under $200? Bargain.
Dimensions: 20.87" (L) x 33" (W) x 38" (H) | Weight: 28.36 lbs. | Age range: 0 to 12 months | Capacity: 20 lbs.
Best bedside smart bassinet
- Rotates 360 degrees
- Calming sounds and vibrations
- Updated base is super-lightweight
- Battery operated
- Manual controls
Next up on our list of the best smart bassinets is this bedside sleeper by HALO. It’s the only bassinet with a 360-degree swivel to give you easy access to your newborn at all times. Plus, the bedside wall can be lowered, making it easier for breastfeeding moms and parents with limited mobility to care for baby from bed. Aside from this, the bassinet is equipped with an amber nightlight, a library of four sounds and two vibration levels to keep baby calm and relaxed. Simply press a button on the side of the bassinet to activate these features, which automatically shut-off once the soothing cycle is complete.
Dimensions: 32.25" (L) x 22.25" (W) x 13" (H) | Weight: 23.2 lbs. | Age range: 0 to 9 months | Capacity: 20 lbs.
Best portable smart bassinet
- Music and vibration modes
- Mesh side panels for visibility and ventilation
- Adjustable height, built-in wheels and handbrake
- Manual control panel
- Not Bluetooth enabled
- It cannot be disassembled for storage
Searching for a smart bassinet with a small footprint? The bedside sleeper by Chicco is the one for you. It’s compact and portable with three modes of use as a bedside bassinet, portable sleep space and changing table. The bassinet can be conveniently positioned over the bed to keep baby close during the night. It has a built-in nightlight and a user-friendly interface that lets you turn on comforting vibrations and six soothing melodies at the touch of a button. BONUS: Get $75 off any order of $299 or more on Chicco with the exclusive code BUMP2024.
Dimensions: 28" (L) x 28" (W) x 24 to 33.5" (H) | Weight: 33 lbs. | Age range: 0 to 9 months | Capacity: 20 lbs.
Best stationary smart bassinet
- Dual-mode nightlight
- Adjustable motion speeds
- Connects to Amazon Alexa and Google Home for hands-free control
- Lower weight limit than other smart bassinets and cribs
The best smart bassinets and cribs help you to soothe baby hands-free. That’s why we’re big fans of this clever option by TruBliss. Designed with an ambient nightlight, auto-glide movements with adjustable speed settings and a catalog of soothing sounds, this bassinet helps calm baby and lull them back to sleep. The best part? It connects to Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices, meaning you can adjust the sound, light and motion settings with voice commands. Alternatively, you can control the bassinet using the Smart Life app on your smartphone. Plus, the solid wood base gives a mid-century modern vibe that won’t clash with your decor, and it comes with a padded foam crib mattress to boot.
Dimensions: 35.43" (L) x 22.04" (W) x 24 to 31.88" (H) | Weight: 28.26 lbs. | Age range: 0 to 5 months | Capacity: 18 lbs.
We get it—parenting requires a lot of gear, and it can be hard to find the best fit for your family. To streamline your decision-making process, our goal is to do the bulk of the research for you, so you don’t have to spend hours scrolling through online retailers. We do this by considering a list of criteria when sourcing smart bassinets, including sound effects, motion features, adaptability, value and, last but definitely not least, safety. This way you can count on getting the best bang for your buck, while also having a safe sleep space that will meet your and your child’s needs.
To decide which smart cribs and bassinets are the best options on the market, we leverage our familiarity with leading baby brands to make sure items are from reliable manufacturers. We read user reviews to get the low-down on how these products work for families, and typically don’t consider anything with less than an average four-star rating. And since many of us are also parents, we rely on our writers’ and editors’ experience using these products with their own families.
To make sure we’re highlighting products that are safe and effective, we followed the safe sleep recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics and looked for certifications and seals of approval from key organizations.
Interested in learning more about our editorial process? Read about how our team develops and reviews all articles here.
Plus, more from The Bump:
U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA Roundup: March 31, 2023, March 2023
Healthy Children (AAP), How to Keep Your Sleeping Baby Safe: AAP Policy Explained, September 8, 2023
Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial process.
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