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Best Bassinet

When our first born arrived, my mother-in-law dropped off an old bassinet from the early 80's, the one my husband slept in as a baby. It was a big wicker basket lined with an old yellowed cotton sheet, with a 1-inch thick vinyl covered mattress with a big gap between the sides of the bassinet and its edge. It was up on folding wooden legs with plastic spinner wheels. It tipped easily, the legs accidentally folded if they bumped something (or if you kicked them a bit), there was little to no air circulation for the baby, and the mattress was ill fitted. Not to mention it was nearly impossible to find the right size sheet! 

Needless to say, I kindly declined using the dated bassinet for overnight sleeps. Instead we put it in the dining room so we'd only use it while we were within reach and could keep a close eye on our baby. Mom was a little offended that I didn't want to use it ("it was good enough for him! He turned out OK!"), but then caved and bought us a new one for overnight use. The newer one was dramatically better: safer, more comfortable, more versatile, lighter weight, and overall had a smaller footprint. It's on our list!

 

 

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Baby Bassinet 2018

 

  • If it has mesh walls: Bassinets aren’t as big as cribs -- there isn’t as much room for your baby to spread out or roll around. If your baby manages to roll on its side and you don’t have mesh walls on your bassinet, breathing is going to be much trickier. And if you have mesh walls in the summer, air will flow through the bassinet, making it much cooler for your baby.
  • A mattress that is thin and hard: Parents like to surround their newborns with softness, but when it comes to a bassinet mattress, harder is better. Firmer, thinner mattresses have been shown to cut down on the risk of SIDS (source). Don’t worry about babies not being comfortable while sleeping on thin mattresses -- they’ll be just fine.
  • The weight limit: Make sure your baby meets the weight limit of the bassinet you’re looking at. If you are still pregnant, you may want to hold off on a bassinet that only allows for 15 pounds if you have a condition that may lead to having a heavy baby, like gestational diabetes (source). If you have a 10-pound baby at delivery, it won’t be long before that baby meets the 15-pound weight limit.
  • How portable you want it to be: Bassinets are more portable than cribs, but there are some that are better than others when it comes to moving them around. If your bassinet has wheels, it will be even easier to move from room to room. Having a lock on bassinets with wheels is necessary, so it won’t roll away when you want it to remain in place.
  • How easy it is to find sheets to fit it: Many cribs used standard-sized sheets, but it can be harder to find a sheet that fits your bassinet properly, especially if it is an odd shape. Make sure you have more than one sheet for it, just as you would with crib sheets. That will help you handle any accidental leaks or spit up incidents your baby has.
  • If the mattress is made of non-toxic material: Mattresses can be made of potentially harmful materials like toluene and formaldehyde. If you are worried about what your baby’s surroundings could be doing to its health, you should look for non-toxic options for bassinets.
  • Does it have the extras you want: You can find bassinets that play music, vibrate to soothe your baby or have an attached mobile to keep your baby interested. Not all of them have these extras, so you’ll have to decide if you’re willing to pay extra for them if you want them.
  • Whether you want it to rock: Rocking bassinets can be handy because if you have a colicky baby, they may help you both get some peace and quiet since rocking can be soothing. If you opt to get a bassinet that rocks, you should make sure it has a good lock on it so it can remain level when you want it to.

 

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Bassinet Reviews

 

 

When your newborn baby is born, you don’t want them far from you. In fact, safety standards say that it is best for newborns to share a room with their parents for up to six months after births.  It is not as reasonable to put a full-size crib in the room so that is where a bassinet comes into play. Not only are they more compact, some are portable and can be used in the intern.

 

There are many different things to look for when you are choosing a bassinet to best choose your needs. Here are the top things to look for:

  • SAFETY STANDARDS – This should be the first concern when looking for any baby equipment. Some of the safety standards include required side height requirements to prevent falls, slats are not too wide so that babies cannot get trapped, latches and locks are tested to prevent the mechanisms from folding and so on. Make sure you do your homework in ensuring you buy a safe bassinet beforehand.
  • MESH WALLS – The safest material for walls a bassinet is a mesh. It allows for greater breathability as well as increasing the visibility of the baby to the caregiver.
  • FIRM, THIN MATTRESS – While most parents will complain that the mattress is too thin, this is a misconception. Guidelines are in place in help reduce SIDS and ASTM standards state that the safest mattress for a bassinet “must be less than an inch thick and the mattress should be firm”.

 

  • STYLE – There are several styles of bassinets including portable, stationary, those with a cradle feature, those that play music, and many more. Think of the features and style that matter most to you before making your final decision.

 

  • LIMITS – A bassinet has its limits. It is not meant to be a permanent solution for sleeping but for the beginning of the baby’s life. Each bassinet will have a weight and age limit but these will also depend on the milestones of your child. Many bassinets say to stop using when your child can sit up. Please read the safety instructions and choose which is best for you. Also, never leave a child in a bassinet past these milestones.

 

  • BEDDING – There is really no standard size when it comes to a bassinet so that means that there is no standard bassinet sheet size. While most bassinets will come with a sheet, you will want to have an extra for those little accidents that will occur – and trust me – they WILL happen.

 

  • MATTRESS – The bassinet mattress is very important. It should be very firm with very little give and little to no gaps between the mattress and the sides of the bassinet. There should be no dips, bends or flexibility in the mattress itself.

 

  • PERSONAL STYLE – There are hundreds of styles of bassinets available in a variety of colors. Some have frills while others are more basic. There are bassinets available in wild, bright colors or pastels while some in just your basic colors or simple prints. Some bassinets have canopies or skirts; some are wooden while some are metal and some are flexible. The right model for your personal style is out there – you just have to look for it.

 

  • ABILITY TO CLEAN – Babies are messy. It is important to know what materials on a bassinet are cleanable, how to clean them, how hard it is to take them apart/put them back together and so on. If you cannot access or clean them, it may not be worth having them if they only look nice for the first five minutes that you have them.

 

  • OTHER FEATURES TO CONSIDER – While some bassinets are straight forward models, some other models may come with other bells and whistles. Make sure that you consider all of your options.
  • Toys – Some bassinets come with toys, mirrors and such that hang from the side or from the canopy. While some of the toys detach, some are stationary and come not be detached. While extras sound like that are always a bonus, you must consider several things. You should never leave loose toys in a bassinet when a baby is sleeping as they pose a suffocation hazard. Do the items stay out of the way? Can I take them out of the way when the baby is sleeping?
  • Sounds and Motion – These are great features to help soothe your little one to sleep. Some models have lullabies, womb sounds, and soothing sounds while the vibration modes can help rock them into a peaceful contentment.

Once you put all of these things together, you are sure to find the perfect bassinet that is right for you – and your baby!

 

 

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Best Baby Bassinet

 

Bassinets have come a long way since the 80's. Some are still quite bad, most are "OK" and only a small number are really excellent. We found some of the best rated bassinets, got a group of 8 moms together to review them, and rank ordered the best bassinets we found. They are below.

 

1. HALO Bassinet Swivel Sleeper Bassinet, Premiere. This bassinet is at the top of our list, but it's also the most expensive. It really does it all: bassinet, co-sleeper, adjustable base to fit all bed heights, nightlight, sleep sounds, soothing vibrations, feeding timer, rotates and swivels to bring you closer to your baby, has mesh ventilating sides, and has excellent build quality. In our testing, we all really loved this bassinet. It looks great, feels very sturdy, and adjusted to a great height for both our tall bed and our living room sofa! One mom commented about how great it was after a C-section so she could lie down on the couch or bed and it would adjust to fit both perfectly, and she didn't need to get up in order to access the baby. The sidewall lowers down to make your baby lie down right at the same level as you. And it doesn't take a C-section for mom to want to relax a bit after birthing a baby! We loved how the feet fit right under the side of our bed or sofa. The CJ Foundation certified this bassinet as the safest alternative to bed-sharing for reducing SIDS risk. The only negative we found was the comfort level of the mattress, which is somewhat thin relative to some of the competition. However, we do note that firm mattresses are recommended for newborn babies to reduce the risk of SIDS. We also had a hard time getting the bed perfectly level, but got it figured out after a few minutes of adjustment. The Premiere version is usually about $250, but there's a less expensive Essentia version for a bit less, but it doesn't include the music, timer, vibrations, nightlight, or nature sounds. Most people will be satisfied with the Essentia unless you have a real need for the fancy features. Looking for something cheaper? Check out #3.

 

2. BabyBjorn Gentle Rocking Cradle. In our opinion, and in the opinions of our mom and dad testers, this is the most beautiful and stylish bassinet on the list. This is a great looking bassinet that's like a sleek new piece of furniture for your home. It doesn't operate like a co-sleeper (like the Halo or Arm's Reach), and it doesn't have a lot of bells and whistles like music, vibrations, motorized rocking, or anything fancy like that. Instead, BabyBjorn made something a bit more natural. It has a lightweight suspension system that rocks itself in response to your baby's motion (and you can rock it too!). It has great mesh breathable sides, is lightweight, and uses only safe and tested materials. In our tests, we found that the height is nice and low and it fits snugly right up to the side of a normal-height adult bed, with the legs sliding right underneath without any issues. The mattress is also very comfy and supportive, and we like how the surround is made with fabric only so there are no bars or anything to bump up against. And the breathable mesh lets you see through to easily see your baby. So what are the negatives? Well, we think it is a bit basic to be selling for nearly $300. And we like BabyBjorn's dedication to using safe materials, but the board that supports the mattress is made of MDF (just like most others), and the mattress is made of polyurethane. So some believe their safety claims are a bit exaggerated. That being said, this is a beautiful, safe, lightweight, comfortable, but very expensive bassinet! Goes for usually just under $300. Looking for something a bit less pricey? Check out #3 for a great alternative.

 

3. Chicco Lullago Bassinet Travel Crib. This is marketed as a travel crib, but it's basically a lightweight and easy to transport bassinet. It comes with a big bag that can be slung over your shoulder and thrown into the trunk for an easy road trip, or under the plane for a farther journey. When we received it, we were impressed with how lightweight and airy the bassinet was. It uses high quality lightweight materials, and the fabric was soft and easy to wipe clean; it is also removable for machine washing, by the way, which is brilliant. We liked the mesh windows on each side to provide both airflow and a vantage point for parents wanting to peek in on baby. Assembly was a snap, literally: you simply unfold the basket, snap the legs on, and you're good to go. The mattress is similar to the Baby Bjorn, but a tiny bit thinner, so not quite as comfy. But definitely more than what's expected for a lightweight travel bassinet. On carpet the bassinet was stable and sturdy. On hardwood flooring, the anti-slip feet helped a bit, though it was still easy to bump around a bit, but definitely not "tipsy" in either case. Comparing to the Baby Bjorn, it feels and looks less elegant, which makes sense given that it's about a third the price! The basket is about the same size as the Baby Bjorn, and the overall comfort factor is about the same. Of course, it's not as stylish and doesn't feel as high quality as the Bjorn, but it's definitely great overall. In our testing, we also liked how the bassinet kinda hangs down on the bottom, which means that when baby kicks or wiggles it sways side-to-side a bit. You can also reach over from bed and push gently on the bottom to give it a little sway and calm a fussy baby. Not sure whether that was intentional on Chicco's part, but it works! A little larger than we expected, coming in at around 3 feet long, making it a nice sized travel bassinet. Cons? Well that part about the bottom swaying a bit might not be for you: if you have a wiggly sleeper, it might move a bit more than you'd like. Also, the mattress quality and comfort leave a little something to be desired, and the sheet that comes with it is thin and rough, and not waterproof. We did, however, find replacement sheets that fit the Chicco Lullago here at Amazon, and this waterproof liner fits nicely too. Overall, this is an excellent deal for a highly functional and practical bassinet that is superb for traveling, especially at a price point usually under $100.    

 

4. Graco Dream Suite Bassinet. This is an adorable option that has a much better price point than most of the above options (around $120). It also has some pretty unique features. The first thing to mention is that this bassinet doubles as a changing table. It has a very unique system: you grab the handle on the side, give it a squeeze, and flip the entire upper bassinet over to reveal a changing table. This is a really awesome feature, much more convenient than trying to change a diaper in a bassinet. Also much neater than doing it on your bed, which is what we resorted to as new parents! The changing table side is good for up to 30 pound babies, which means until around 20 months of age. That means it's going to out-last the bassinet part, which is good for up to 15 pounds or so. In our testing, we found the flip feature awesome, though we were a little disappointed that it took 2 hands to really get the bassinet to flip over. That's good if you have a curious older sibling, but a bit frustrating that you need to put baby down to flip to the changer side. I needed to use 2 hands, though my stronger-handed husband could do it easily with one hand. I'm not the strongest mom in the world, so you might have better luck doing it one-handed! Outside of that, this is an excellent bassinet. It uses soft and easy to clean materials, is sturdy and well built, has a convenient storage area on the bottom (which we used for a changing pad, diapers and wipes), and uses locking wheels for convenience and mobility. The mattress is as firm as you'd expect for a newborn. It does have 2 soothing vibration settings, and a canopy with cute stars ("boy" version) or flowers ("girl" version) hanging down. We also liked the mesh sides for breathability, easy wipe-clean fabric, and the safety and reliability of the Graco brand. In the package, it came with a single sheet, and assembly took about 10 minutes. Overall, an excellent option!

 

5. Summer Infant Bentwood Bassinet with Motion. This is an awesome and super comfortable bassinet with a lot of great features. It is not quite as versatile as the HALO, mostly because it does not feature the great drop-side feature. But it is about the same height as our testing bed, and is really cute and well built, and the bent wood is a nice stylish addition. The big advantage of this bassinet is it has the typical music and vibrations, but also a slow and silent rocking motion (with adjustable speed) that you can turn on to lull your baby to sleep. We tried it out with one of our reviewers' 4-month old baby and within 3 minutes he was sound asleep. That was convincing! There is also a nice adjustable canopy, a huge lower storage basket, and it has a nice sleek design with a small footprint. In fact, the primary negative about this bassinet is exactly that: it is a bit small and two of our reviewers' babies couldn't fit comfortably in it - one was 5 months, and the other was about 4 months old. They were relatively tall for their age, but it did seem like babies grow out of this unit quickly compared to the other ones on our list. Note that it is rated up to 15 pounds, but if your baby is tall and skinny they'll grow out of it before then. Also note that this thing goes through batteries somewhat quickly - it takes 4 C size batteries and one of our reviewers noted having to change them after about 2 months of use. I guess this is not entirely surprising given the motorized motion feature. We think that even with these small negatives (size is a bit small, and battery use), this is an excellent bassinet that is well deserving of this spot on our list! Goes for about $140-150 on Amazon.

 

6. Arm's Reach Concepts Cambria CoSleeper Bassinet. Looking for a co-sleeper? This will be your best bet, though it's somewhat hard to find. Sharing a bed with a newborn is such a beautiful intimate experience for mom and a newborn baby. But due to SIDS and suffocation risk, many pediatricians do not recommend it. Instead, some bassinets are specifically designed to make co-sleeping safer by putting the baby right up next to mom, but in its own little bassinet. The HALO (#1, above) is a great example of that, but quite a bit more expensive than this unit. Co-sleepers are generally more expensive than traditional bassinets, but moms love them especially if they have undergone a C-section and need to restrict their movement. This bassinet is basically a no-frills co-sleeper with some great basic features. It has a lot of mesh on the sides to help breathability, a thin and firm mattress (like it's supposed to), and we found it very easy to raise and lower the co-sleeper side. Basically, when you want to feed you can push down the side to access your baby, and pull it back up when you're finished. There are adjustable legs to fit shorter or taller beds, and a great strap you can put under your mattress to hold it close (you can also lock the wheels). There's also a nice storage basket on the bottom. Overall, this is an excellent no-frills bassinet with a co-sleeper option that works quite well. It's a bit on the higher end in terms of price, we found it for about $180, but once in a while it's out of stock and difficult to find.

 

7. Ingenuity Fold-away Rocking Bassinet. This is somewhere between a travel playard and a bassinet, and it struggles a bit at either of those tasks. Suitable for travel, this bassinet does fold up quite nicely into a cube that's about 22" x 23" and about 9" thick. Small enough to fit into a large suitcase, but there is no travel bag to help that situation. The folding functionality is great for smaller rooms and apartments where every inch counts, as this will slide under a bed or into a closet very readily. As a bassinet, it works pretty well. It has a reasonably soft mattress, breathable mesh sides for ventilation, soft-touch fabrics and padding over bars, and a cute style. The mattress is softer and thicker than most other options. The rocking feature is nice, allowing you to reach over (like from bed) and rock your baby gently to sleep. So the folding and portability aspects are great, and overall it's a well-built bassinet that looks quite nice and has a great rocking feature. But there were also some cons that we noticed in our testing. First, the bassinet itself is very deep, almost like a cross between a bassinet and a travel crib. It's a bit too deep for an easy reach-in while lying in bed, but not deep enough to support a baby learning to crawl or pull to stand. So that bedside convenience aspect is definitely lacking. Second, there is no storage basket underneath, and no sheet is included and there appear to be no sheets available online for it. So that's a bit odd, though we do not that the mattress can be washed, and some bassinet sheets do fit (though not perfectly). So overall, this is a decent bassinet, though it does have some definite drawbacks. But for only about $80, you might be able to over-look the drawbacks!  

 

8. Kolkraft Cuddle 'n Care 2-in-1 Bassinet. Classic styling, reasonably priced, with a lot of great features, definitely a good choice. This bassinet supports babies from newborn (and premie, as low as 3 pounds) up to 15 pounds. It has great styling, bringing back that ruffled vintage look, accented by ribbon and a cute (non-functional) mobile overhead. And the features are quite unique: it includes an incline insert that you can use to prop up a baby with reflux or colic. It's removable quite easily, for use as a regular (flat) bassinet. Has a great retractable shade that's nice and quiet to adjust, a large basket underneath, and it has contoured legs that allow you to rock it gently side to side. Hiding beneath the legs are wheels that you can use to roll it around, or you can put it on the wheels so it simple can't rock. It's an easy adjustment, basically pulling a plastic sleeve down over the wheels when you want to use the rocking motion. In our testing, we found that having the rocking feature was a great for a bed-side setup. If your gentle rocking and voice aren't enough, it also includes some quiet music, nature sounds, soothing vibration, and a little night-light. Comes with a fitted sheet, and you won't need an extra sheet or pad for the incline attachment. Downfalls? Being picky, the feet are a bit large and bump up against a bed that they can't scoot under (like an un-raised bed, or a bed with a solid side frame). Overall, an excellent option that is slowly creeping up our annual list! Usually under $100.

 

9. Delta Sweet Beginnings Bassinet. This is a classic bassinet with some simple modern features. It looks like a beautiful traditional style bassinet with a subtle falling leaf design on a ruffled dust skirt, a quilted inner liner, and an adjustable canopy. It really looks quite nice and brings back memories of classic bassinet designs. It comes with a firm but decently comfortable mattress, soothing music, a nightlight, and smooth caster wheels to help you move it around. This is a really basic bassinet, and the reviewers loved it. The only downside was some reviewers thought the mattress was a bit too thin. We're seeing a trend here - all of the bassinets we reviewed had at least one reviewer mention this same issue. Some moms reported finding thicker replacement mattresses online, but most were happy with the one that came with it. We should mention that Delta recommends never using a mattress greater than 1" thick for babies to reduce the risk of SIDS. The storage basket on the bottom is a nice touch, though we thought it was a bit flimsy. For about $55 online at Amazon, we thought this was an excellent deal. Not as many features or as stylish as others, but still a winner. Note that they also make a rocking version which is very well reviewed, for about $110.

 

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