8 Best Smart Bassinets and Cribs
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.
In this article:
What is a smart bassinet?
Things to consider when buying a smart bassinet
The best smart bassinets
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.
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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 bassinets and cribs 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
SNOO Smart Sleeper Bassinet
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 of Baby award-winning bassinet goes on sale a couple of times a year—so keep your eyes peeled for major discounts.
Specifications: 35.75" length x 19" width x 31" height
What we love:
- Automatically responds to baby’s cries
- Five levels of sound and motion
- Unlimited access to sleep consultants
- SNOO sleep logs provide insights into baby’s sleep patterns
- Accessories included: three sleep sacks, a crib sheet and a mattress
What to consider:
- High price point
- May not pick up on quiet whimpers and minor sleep disturbances
Buy it: $1,695, HappiestBaby.com; Rent it: $159 per month, HappiestBaby.com
4moms mamaRoo Sleep Bassinet
Next up is another Best of Baby award-winning smart bassinet: 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.
Specifications: 34" length x 24" width x 39" height
What we love:
- Five motion modes
- Four white noise tracks
- Bluetooth enabled
- Adjustable height
What to consider:
- Accessories sold separately
Buy it: $450, 4moms.com
Graco Sense2Snooze Bassinet with Cry Detection Technology
The Sense2Snooze by Graco is an affordable SNOO alternative, equipped with cry-detection technology. 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.
Specifications: 26" length x 19" width x 41" height
What we love:
- Cry-detection technology
- Affordable price point
- Three motion speeds and two vibrations settings
- Wide variety of white noise options (10 songs and 10 sounds)
- Built-in wheels for portability
- Mesh sides and reversible canopy
What to consider:
- Some customers report that it has a loud motor
- 20 pound weight capacity
Buy it: $319.99, GracoBaby.com
Cradlewise Smart Crib
Unwilling to invest in a smart bassinet baby will 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. Bonus: You can also gain insight into baby’s rest cycle with the app’s sleep tracking tool.
Specifications: 40" length x 25" width x 42" height
What we love:
- First smart crib with a built-in video monitor
- Senses sleep disturbances and automatically soothes baby
- Super-quiet bouncing motion
- Crib learns baby’s sleep schedule
- Crib mattress included
- Greenguard Gold certified
What to consider:
- WiFi required for the Cradlewise app
- High price point
Buy it: Starting at $1,399, Cradlewise.com
TruBliss Evi Smart Bassinet
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 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.
Specifications: 31.88" height x 22.04" width x 35.43" depth
What we love:
- Connects to Amazon Alexa and Google Home for hands-free control
- Dual-mode nightlight
- Adjustable motion speeds
What to consider:
- Recommended for ages 0 to 5 months
Buy it: $400, Target.com
Chicco Close To You 3-in-1 Bedside Bassinet
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 sleeper, portable bassinet and changing table. The bassinet can be conveniently positioned over the bed to keep baby close during the night. Plus, the user-friendly interface lets you turn on comforting vibrations and play soothing melodies at the touch of a button.
Specifications: 33.5" length x 28" width x 46" height
What we love:
- Designed with music and vibration modes
- Built-in nightlight
- Converts from a bedside sleeper to a portable bassinet and changing table
- Mesh side panels for visibility and ventilation
- Adjustable height settings
What to consider:
- Manual control panel
- Not Bluetooth enabled
- It cannot be disassembled for storage
Buy it: $330, buybuyBABY.com
Fisher-Price Luminate Bassinet
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. 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.
Specifications: 20.87" length x 33" width x 38" height
What we love:
- Three levels of vibrations
- Automatic shut-off timer
- Motion activated night light
- Affordable price point
What to consider:
- No rocking motion
- Some customers report that the mattress is too thin
Buy it: $235, Walmart.com
HALO Bassinest Soothing Swivel Sleeper 3.0
Last 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 soothing sounds and vibrations to keep baby calm and relaxed.
Specifications: 32.25" length x 22.25" width x 13" height
What we love:
- Rotates 360 degrees
- Calming sounds and vibrations
- Amber nightlight
- Updated base is super-lightweight
What to consider:
- Battery operated
Buy it: $300, Graco.com
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