Best Bassinets for Newborns

reviewed mark Medically Reviewed by Micah Resnick, M.D., F.A.A.P.  | January 12, 2024
best baby bassinets

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends parents and infants sleep in the same room — not the same bed — for at least the first 6 months of baby's life in order to reduce the risk of SIDS. A newborn bassinet is a comfortable and convenient way to keep baby in your room during these early months without taking up quite as much space as a standard crib. 

"I love it when parents use a bassinet for their baby in the first months of life," says Emily Scott, M.D., a pediatric hospitalist at Riley Children’s Health in Indianapolis, Indiana. "This makes it easier for them to have their baby sleep in their room."

How long does baby sleep in a bassinet?

If you're planning on using a bassinet, you should have it ready to go as soon as your baby comes home from the hospital. Though not a necessity — a newborn can go straight into a crib — many parents find bassinets incredibly helpful in the early days due to their convenience and portability, says Michele Pedulla, D.N.P., a pediatric nurse practitioner and associate professor at Regis College.

Having baby by your bedside can help facilitate late-night feedings, bedtime bonding and nighttime comforting. And if you're recovering from a C-section, you may also find that the lower height of a bassinet makes it easier to lift baby in and out — with a standard crib, there are higher sides to lean over.

One important thing to keep in mind, though: While the AAP recommends room sharing for 6 to 12 months, most babies grow out of bassinets by the time they are 3 or 4 months old, sometimes sooner.

“The rule of thumb is, when the infant is active and starting to roll over, it would be wise to have the infant sleep in the crib,” says Pedulla. Additionally, most bassinets have clear weight limits, which can also put an end to your baby’s time in the bassinet — even before she can roll over. Once baby has reached this milestone or the weight limit — whichever comes first — she should be transferred to a crib.

Bassinets, mini cribs and playards: What’s the difference?

You may have heard that all three work for newborn sleep. But which one — or ones — should you invest in? The answer might be different for different families.

Bassinets, mini cribs and playards can all come in handy for new parents who want to keep their baby close by.

  • Bassinet: Think of a baby bassinet as an upgrade to the old-fashioned baby cradle. Since bassinets tend to be small and lightweight, they're really only suitable for very young babies. Some have collapsible bases that make them easy to stash away when not in use.
  • Mini crib: Ideal for small nurseries or to keep in the master bedroom, mini cribs have narrower mattresses than standard cribs, so larger babies may outgrow them more quickly. Some mini cribs fold flat, making them a popular choice to keep at Grandma's house. The weight limit for mini cribs is often higher than bassinets, so they might be a better longer-term solution for room sharing after 3 months. 
  • Playard: Once called playpens, these mesh-sided spaces work for baby's naps, overnight sleep or simply playing in a contained space (like a hotel room that isn't baby-proofed). Playards usually fold into a compact tower, so they're fairly easy to travel with, especially if you're driving. (They may be a bit bulky for air travel, however.) Depending on which playard you choose, you might also get additional bells and whistles such as a bassinet attachment, a changing station, night light and diaper caddy.

Note that you should always check the weight limit on any item you're using (a bassinet may have an especially low one), and mini cribs and playards need to be retired if your child is nimble enough to climb out on her own, even if she hasn't reached the height limit.

Types of bassinets

Though your parents and their parents didn’t have many choices in terms of bassinets — they were pretty standard standalone items until recently — today, there are a wide range of options to choose from: 

  • Traditional bedside bassinets: These bassinets are freestanding and typically larger pieces of furniture that you can place next to your bed or tuck somewhere convenient in the room. Some are as basic as can be — just an encased flat mattress — while others have extras like storage baskets.
  • Bedside sleepers: These bassinets are meant to nestle right up to your bed (but do not attach to it), making it easier to reach for baby in the middle of the night.
  • Travel bassinets: These bassinets are typically more lightweight and often collapse for enhanced portability. They are great for moving around the house, plus can be used for travel. Some of these bassinets even convert to playards for longevity.
  • Smart bassinets: This type of bassinet is relatively new-to-market, but parents love the added functionality — these products have added features, like automated rocking, built-in sound machines, vibrations and more. Just be cautious with rocking bassinets — experts warn that once babies are able to move around a little, their shifting weight plus the rocking might tilt them enough to trap them on one side of the bassinet. 

How to choose the right bassinet

Whether you want a sleek pod or a traditional look, bassinets come in many different styles — but some features are non-negotiable.

"Babies need to sleep alone in their own sleeping space with four sides around them," says Dr. Scott. "We want to be sure that the sides of the bassinet aren't made of a soft, plush material that the baby could suffocate against. Mesh sides, which are firmer and allow air to circulate, are okay to use."

Safety features for bassinets are very similar to the ones for cribs — and any bassinets sold in the U.S. must meet strict safety requirements set forth by Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in order to get a Children’s Product Certificate (CPC). In general, bassinets should have a firm mattress and a tight-fitting mattress sheet. Infants should always be put to sleep on their back without any extra toys, stuffed animals, blankets or bumper pads in the bassinet.

Beyond these must-have safety features, there are some extras that make some bassinets preferable to cribs, including:

  • Side pockets or lower storage space
  • Base that can slide under a bed to save space
  • Adjustable height
  • Folding mechanism 
  • Lockable wheels so it can be transported from one room to another 
  • Vibration feature, white noise or music

And FYI: If you're inheriting a hand-me-down bassinet from a friend or relative, be sure that it's compliant with current safe sleep standards, that you have all required parts and check that the item hasn't been part of a recall. (Use the CPSC database.)

How we made our picks for the best bassinet

To narrow in on the best bassinet, we poured through the comments from users of the What to Expect Community to see what their favorite bassinets are, then compared them against the above guidelines. We also polled our editors on the models they’ve tried and loved with their own kids to round out this list of the best baby bassinets available today.

Why Trust Us?

What to Expect is the world’s most trusted pregnancy and parenting brand for a reason. Our product recommendations are based on expert parent insight, advice from medical professionals and feedback from the millions of parents and parents-to-be in our community. Our editors adhere to the highest research and reporting standards and our team of vetted OB/GYNs, pediatricians and other health professionals ensure our recommended products are safe and effective for you and your baby.

Best Baby Bassinet

Halo Bassinest Swivel Sleeper 3.0

Best Bassinets - Halo Bassinest Swivel Sleeper 3.0
Pros
  • Base slides under bed
  • detachable bed
  • 360-degree swivel
Cons
  • Heavier than some other models
Why We
Love it
Community
Reviews
Why We Love It

This sleeper has a 360-degree swivel feature, which allows you to gently move the bassinet to the side without disrupting the baby's snoozefest. The height can be adjusted, and the four-point base tucks out of the way under the bed, saving space in small bedrooms. The walls are 100 percent mesh so that you can easily see your baby through them. Also good: The side closest to you can be lowered, so you can easily bring baby towards you for soothing or feeding late at night.

The latest version (featured here) improves on its predecessors in two main ways. First, the bed is detachable, making it far more portable so that you can take it into your living room or office. Second, the updated base is 30 percent lighter, but just as sturdy.

Weight: 22.6 pounds for full bassinet, 9.5 pounds for detachable bed by itself

Dimensions: 45 x 44.5 inches at minimum height, 45 x 44.5 inches at maximum height

Community Reviews
  • Loved the Halo with our first and am excited to use it again with this little guy. It was so nice being able to swivel her out of the way without disturbing her in the middle of the night. It is very sturdy and I like the simplicity of it.

Best Travel Baby Bassinet

Chicco LullaGo Nest Portable Bassinet

Best Bassinets - Chicco LullaGo Nest Portable Bassinet
Buying Options
Pros
  • Lightweight
  • easy to put together
Cons
  • Large size may not be ideal for small bedrooms
Why We
Love it
Community
Reviews
Why We Love It

Need a consistent sleep spot for home or travel? This mesh-sided bassinet, which weighs just 17 pounds and has snap-on legs, can be set up in seconds, making it a prime pick for family vacations or overnight trips to Grandma’s house. (Plus, it also won a 2019 What to Expect Award.)

Some perks: The mattress pad and other fabric pieces can be removed and thrown in the washing machine. The canopy has an overhead toy bar to help entertain your little one, and there are storage pockets for extra pacifiers, a burp cloth or other items that might go missing in the night. Parents say it’s easy to assemble and transport, although some say that the foldable mattress doesn’t always lie totally flat. 

Weight: 17 pounds

Dimensions: 35 x 21.5 x 44.25 inches

Community Reviews
  • I have the Chicco LullaGo bassinet and love it. It's good for home and will be good over the holidays when we travel to see family.

Best Rocking Baby Bassinet

BabyBjörn Baby Cradle

best baby bassinet - BabyBjörn Cradle
Buying Options
Pros
  • Minimalist design
  • rocking capabilities
Cons
  • More expensive than other bassinets
Why We
Love it
Community
Reviews
Why We Love It

This modern, minimalist bassinet gently sways to your baby’s own movements to help soothe fussing, though you can also rock it yourself when you need to. The oval-shaped basket is made of breathable mesh that guarantees plenty of air flow. It weighs just 13 pounds, so it's easy to move between rooms, and the mattress, cover and mesh fabric on the sides are machine-washable — a real win for parents with babies who have reflux issues.

The bassinet's elegant profile and metal-and-wood legs elevate it above many other bassinets in the looks department, which may help justify the higher price tag. Just remember that its smaller size means you’ll get less use out of it than a standard crib.

Weight: 13 pounds

Dimensions: 23 x 31 x 26 inches

Community Reviews
  • I'm a FTM and am going with the BabyBjorn cradle/bassinet. It gets great reviews, has high safety features, no chemicals and is super lightweight so you can easily move it room-to-room if needed!

Best Portable Baby Bassinet

Lotus Bassinet Kit and Travel Crib

Best Bassinets - Lotus Bassinet Kit and Travel Crib
Buying Options
Pros
  • Compact
  • lightweight
  • transforms into a playard
Cons
  • Expensive
Why We
Love it
Community
Reviews
Why We Love It

Though an investment, you may find the Lotus Bassinet is a worthy one because of its longevity. Set it up as a bassinet when you first bring baby home from the hospital; once baby outgrows it, you don’t have to retire it completely — it can transform it into a playard that can be used for naps, playtime or travel. This bundle also comes with a handy backpack to help you easily transport the bassinet.

The Lotus Bassinet weighs just 13 pounds and is incredibly easy to collapse into a nice, compact rectangle for storage or transport. When packed up, it even has backpack straps to make carrying a breeze and free up your hands for something else. 

Weight: 13 pounds

Dimensions: 50 x 31 x 26 inches

Community Reviews
  • We used this with our first! She slept in it for the first year of her life, and it was great to travel with since she was already comfortable with it. It packs up into a small backpack and you can check it right through at the airport. It's great and I can't wait to use it again for this baby!” 

Best Smart Bassinet

4moms MamaRoo Sleep Bassinet

Best Bassinets - 4moms MamaRoo Sleep Bassinet
Pros
  • Added features like rocking
  • sound and timer
  • adjustable heights
Cons
  • Bulkier than some other options
  • sides don’t collapse
Why We
Love it
Community
Reviews
Why We Love It

Fans of the mamaRoo swing will flip for this product — it’s essentially the beloved swing in a flat, safe-for-sleep design. You’ll get all the same functionality, including the five different rocking settings (wave, kangaroo, etc.), variable speeds and built-in white noise settings meant to soothe a fussy baby.

However, even if you set the handy timer, the bassinet times out at the four-hour mark, which can be disruptive to delicate sleepers. Luckily, it’s easy to set the bassinet back in motion using a Bluetooth-enabled device (like your smartphone) or by reaching over and toggling the easy-to-operate touch screen. 

Though heavier and less portable than other bassinets, this model has modern lines, a crisp white color profile and breathable mesh sides that keeps it looking nice and sleek.

Weight: 30 pounds

Dimensions: 34 x 24 x 34.5 inches

Community Reviews
  • We got it as a group gift and I'm so thankful we received it. The motion is not too intense and I like the built in white noise.