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The 10 Best Baby Bassinets to Buy in 2021

A guide to pick the best bassinet for your baby, features, buyers guide, FAQ, best options on the market, where to buy, pros and cons, most bought and more
best baby bassinets

Things to Consider Before Buying a Bassinet

Bed-sharing x Room sharing

There are two main sleeping arrangements: co-sleeping or bed-sharing and room sharing. Co-sleeping consists of sleeping with your baby on the same bed, and it’s the choice of many parents, not only for making the night breastfeedings easier but also because one of the best things ins the world is sleeping close to your baby.

Unfortunately, the best sleeping arrangement isn’t the safest one. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) strongly discourages putting your newborn on the same bed you sleep, once it increases the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), which unfortunately makes bed sharing an unsafe choice for newborn babies.

Instead, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends Room Sharing, which is putting your baby to sleep in the same room as you, preferably next to your bed, on the mother’s side. This arrangement provides proximity and also makes nighttime breastfeeding easier for the mother.

For this arrangement, bassinets are the best and safest option.

It’s important to say that not all families will adjust to co-sleeping or room-sharing, which’s okay. The most important thing is finding the best sleeping arrangement for your family.

Portability

Being able to access your little one at any time is very important and calming. Even when they’re not on your chest, being around you will bring both comfort and tranquility, so picking a bassinet that will not only allow you to keep your baby close anywhere you go can be a great thing when it comes to quality time for both parents and baby.

The important things for this kind of bassinet are easy assembling; foldable; wheels so it’s easy to move around and transport to other locations in family events, days out, a vacation trip, and other situations that would make taking the little one along the way complicated.

Storage

This feature has to be considered from two perspectives, first: how easily parents will be able to put out the bassinet aside and second, how much storage space the bassinet has for the baby’s goods.

Being able to save space in the house is something especially important if you live in a small house, apartment or simply have a lot of stuff in the same place you keep the baby’s bassinet, a feature to be well considered.

If the bassinet you choose offers pockets and places to put the baby’s toys and items that you need to have in hand to care for the little one easily, it not only makes life easier but also dismisses the necessity of having tons of boxes and bags to store those items.

Rocking

Rocking is one of the best ways to soothe your baby. Having your bassinet able to rock the little one to sleep is very helpful, and some parents may want their bassinet with this feature.

Remember that different bassinets will vary on intensity and level of rocking from each other, so you may want to try the best rocking to put your baby to sleep.

Mattress

The ideal bassinet mattress is thin and firm. Many parents believe a soft mattress is the best option for the little one’s comfort, that is a dangerous mistake!

A hard mattress probably won’t be as comfortable, but it’s certainly the safest choice. It will prevent your baby from suffocation and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

So when buying your bassinet, be sure to pick a model with a first mattress, but be sure not to be so thin to the point that it is uncomfortable to the baby.

Mesh walls

A safe bassinet will be the one that allows the baby to sleep with their face against the wall and still breathe, a very important feature to prevent accidental suffocation when your baby starts wiggling around the mattress.

Many bassinets have breathable mesh walls, but this is not enough. You must be sure that the mesh goes all the way, so your baby won’t accidentally end up with their face against some material that won’t allow the little one to breathe easily.

Other features

Besides the most common features we’ve seen in this topic, some brands offer bassinets with other features, such as white noise, wheels and toy bars, other details that may help you soothe your little one, and also keep them entertained while you do your chores or attend to your other children.

Best 10 Baby Bassinets

Best Overall

Baby Delight Beside Me Dreamer Bassinet & Bedside Sleeper

Description

This bassinet is our team’s favorite due to its many features that make the parent’s lives easier, but also for being a high-quality product. It’s a tool-free set up that you can take all over your house, providing easy access to your baby at all times.

It also doubles as a co-sleeping aid that reduces the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) during nighttime by having your baby at arms reach, which helps give them a better sleep by being able to smell you, without the risks of having the baby in your bed.

Unlike many bassinets, this one has an easy conversion system from bassinet to bedside and has straps that secure it tightly to your bed, so if you are a restless sleeper, it can prevent you from accidentally knocking the sleeper away from the bed.

It also has a six levels height adjustment to fit all top of the shelf mattresses, although it could run into trouble with custom made tall beds, it only means you’d have to move a tiny bit more to pull the baby out of the sleeper while you remain on the bed.

Since this is such a well designed and sturdy made product, it can hold up to 40 lbs, meaning you will use it for much longer as your baby grows, which sets this as one of the best baby bassinets and apart from most competitors similar products.

Baby Delight Beside Me Dreamer Bassinet & Bedside Sleeper

What We Like

  • Quick and easy conversion
  • All mesh sides
  • 6 levels of height adjustment
  • Straps to secure close to your bed
  • Supports up to 40lbs of weight

What We Don't Like

  • Not travel friendly
  • Doesn’t have wheels
Check Price on Amazon

Best Budget

Dream On Me Karley Bassinet

Description

This is a great value bassinet, meaning it’s not the best out of our list, but it’s a great option if your budget is tight and you don’t want to spend a lot of money on something that will last for only a few months.

This bassinet is very easy to assemble and disassemble, so if you’re those parents that like to travel and spend the day out, this one is a very interesting option.

Another good feature is the nice canopy with a zipper—a must-have to protect your baby from mosquitoes, the sun, and other outside inconveniences.

However, it does have a couple of problems. For example, it is not a full mesh walled bassinet, and it’s smaller than most bassinets in order to be more portable, so if you have a big baby, it will not last long before you have to buy a mini crib or maybe even a traditional crib. However, a smaller baby should be more than safe and happy in this lovely bassinet.

Another suggestion is that if you fancy family vacations, it could be a great idea to have this bassinet to go and another model, a bigger one and less portable, to stay at your home that will last for longer. That would be a great arrangement to maximum comfort for parents and your little one.

Dream On Me Karley Bassinet

What We Like

  • Zipper canopy
  • Firm and sturdy
  • Comes prepared to use
  • Good height to reach from bed
  • Lightweight

What We Don't Like

  • Thin mattress
  • Not full mesh walls
  • Doesn’t support over 25 lbs
Check Price on Amazon

Best High-End

Fisher-Price Soothing Motions Bassinet

Description

If you like techy things that make you feel like Batman, this is the bassinet for you! It’s got all kinds of gadgets: 2 different nightlights, ceiling projector, mobile, vibration mode, songs and sounds, all kinds of ways to help your infant get a good night of sleep, and yourself, of course.

However, all these resources also come with some cons, like more chances to break them when taking it for a trip, something not working as it used to and batteries. Lots and lots of C-type batteries to get all its features going.

Another con is that the rocking motion is described as being not so gentle, and the vibration setting as not strong enough by a lot of costumers, but in the end, you’re the only one who can see if it’s good for your baby.

Taking all the gimmicks aside, this is still a solid bassinet, with all mesh sides, a large sleeping pad, and can hold up to 40 pounds, which is all great considering babies grow super fast, and it should be useful for a longer time. It also takes advantage of its size by having a good compartment to keep handy and tidy all the baby essentials you may need.

This is a very good bassinet that is easy to use and comes with a lot of gadgets to help your little one sleep easier. If you enjoy amenities on a solid product, it should be a must buy.

Fisher-Price Soothing Motions Bassinet

What We Like

  • Easy to assemble
  • Great nightlight
  • Nature sounds
  • Ceiling projector
  • Vibration setting

What We Don't Like

  • Not the most smooth motion
  • Requires C-type batteries
  • No full stop lock
Check Price on Amazon

Best Features

Graco Pack n' Play Reversible Napper and Changer Playard

Description

Although this one is not exactly a bassinet per se, it does have a removable bassinet feature that fits inside this greats pack ‘n play, but not just that, it also has also a removable seater to secure the baby by not allowing them to roll over while providing a very accessible place to change them.

This is definitively a complete option to grow with your baby and make your money worth more, so let’s breakdown this all in one for you:

Firstly you will use this as a bassinet, your baby will be safe to nap there, and all the space below will double as a nice compartment to keep all kinds of baby essentials in one place, like diapers, wet wipes, and sorts of things.

As your baby grows out of a bassinet, you will use this as a normal pack ‘n play for them to be active in a safe environment close to you without having to constantly supervision them.

Its walls are made entirely of breathable mesh with padded bars to safely hold your baby, and there is this one bottom system to easily disassemble the whole thing to store or take along with you.

Its bassinet mode fits on a good height to be safe for your infant and high enough to be easier for you to remove them from the bassinet.

Overall it is a great quality product that will be useful for a year or more as it fits the different needs of your little one’s development. This is amazing because it saves so much money in the long run, and there aren’t any drawbacks.

Graco Pack n' Play Reversible Napper and Changer Playard

What We Like

  • Portable
  • Easy to assemble and fold
  • Has most of the recommended features
  • Can be used as a Playard
  • Light and easy to store

What We Don't Like

  • Can’t be used with a different mattress pad
  • Bassinet only holds up to 15 pounds
Check Price on Amazon

Best for Co-sleeping

HALO BassiNest Swivel Sleeper

Description

This one is great for mothers that had to go through a c-section and can’t really move that well due to the surgery, but want their baby as close as possible to them, without the involved risks of co-sleeping.

It can adapt to most of the shelf beds, even the tallest ones, and is sturdy enough to be used in the daytime period away from the bed.

It has all breathable mesh sides, so you know even the most restless sleeping baby can’t choke on anything while napping.

Since it turns on all directions, it will fit most space arrangements, and with a sidewall that lowers, it ensures maximum comfort to keep your baby close to you at all times.

This bassinet also has pretty good size, so it should last most babies some month’s time of use, and it has a nice side pocket to store a few diapers on the go, something most parents appreciate.

Its legs are kinda long to make sure the bassinet will be firm, so that means you could trip on them until you get used to their size, but they are also strong and well made, so it won’t turn over the bassinet or the baby and not cause any product damage at all.

Definitely a great product to use during the night time and allow the baby to feel safe while sleeping next to their parents, which is very important to the development of the child.

HALO BassiNest Swivel Sleeper

What We Like

  • Adjustable height
  • Can turn 360º
  • Fits closely on your bedside
  • Easy to clean

What We Don't Like

  • Supports only up to 20 lbs
  • No wheels to move to other rooms
Check Price on Amazon

MiClassic 2in1 Stationary & Rock Portable Bassinet

Description

Simple and reliable, that’s the name of the game for this product. If you’re looking for a more practical bassinet that you’ll be able to take along with your baby, this is the one.

This bassinet, even though simple, has many strong points, which can make it the best option for parents that need portability and like to give lots of space for their baby.

Sometimes simple is better, less moving parts, less strain on the product, more reliable, and bigger longevity for this bassinet that you can easily reuse for another baby if that’s what you have planned.

The MiClassic lives up to its name. It has a classical design although being made of modern materials, it is easy to assemble by boasting a one second (!) open and fold system, and it also has an easy to use rocking mode to help you lullaby your baby to a great night of sleep.

For a relatively small price, you will have a great bassinet that accommodates comfortably, even big babies for months on end. It also comes with a practical carry bag that brings the portable portion of the title home. As a matter of fact, it brings it all over your home and outside.

MiClassic 2in1 Stationary & Rock Portable Bassinet

What We Like

  • Switches between rocking and stationary
  • Big bassinet, will last for a while
  • Easy to transport or store.
  • Easy to assemble
  • Mesh sides
  • Affordable

What We Don't Like

  • Finding sheets can be hard
  • The metal is exposed enough so the baby may hit their head
Check Price on Amazon

Arm's Reach Mini 2-in-1 Co-Sleeper Bassinet

Description

This robust and sturdy co-sleeper is all about efficiency in space management.

Even being relatively small in size, this classic model option allows parents to effectively use all its size due to the many side pockets and the entire under-bed space as storage for the many diapers, bottles, comforters, and whatever else you may need right there, close to your baby.

Made by a company that’s been in the market for over 2 decades, you know they care about safety. This feature is expressed in the straps to hold the bassinet tightly next to your bed and the full walled breathable mesh.

You also shouldn’t have problems to find sheets for the pad, plus it comes with a carry bag to transport the whole bassinet with ease anywhere you go.

Being efficient in space is important. However, it comes with a price, in this case, a smaller bassinet, which means your baby will grow quickly out of it, especially if you have a larger sized little one.

Being a parent is knowing that your infant will grow out of everything you buy for them very quickly, especially in the first years of life, so it is kind of part of the deal.

If you have a smaller house and need to use every space, you get this should be the right bassinet for your needs.

Arm's Reach Mini 2-in-1 Co-Sleeper Bassinet

What We Like

  • Portable
  • Side pockets and bottom compartment for storage
  • Can be attached to the bed
  • Light and sturdy at the same time
  • Adjustable height

What We Don't Like

  • Not that easy to assemble
  • A little expensive
Check Price on Amazon

Mika Micky Bedside Sleeper

Description

Having easy access to your baby is one of the most important things in the middle of the night. This bassinet offers the closest sleep arrangement to the “shared bed,” making nursing during the night much easier and less likely to fully wake up the baby, which can be the big difference between getting back to sleep and a sleepless night.

Definitely, a must-have for breastfeeding moms for 0 to 6 months old babies, that have to wake up all night to a breastfeeding session. This bassinet makes possible nursing with barely having to move to access the baby.

Although it is one the best options for night bedside sleeping, it isn’t the greatest bassinet for daytime because it doesn’t have all mesh sidewalls, so a busy parent would have to constantly keep watching their baby throughout the day.

For these reasons, we would recommend getting this as a bedside sleeper and another more portable and simpler bassinet to keep your baby close to you all of the time.

Since it is a big bassinet with a strong and sturdy build, it is a great one that will make the need for a crib to take longer than normally would.

Babies grow super fast, and most things you buy for them will be outgrown in best a few month’s worths of time. Getting the most use out of a product will make your money worth more in the long run.

Mika Micky Bedside Sleeper

What We Like

  • Adapts to most beds
  • Portable
  • Easy access to baby while in bed
  • Stable mattress
  • Has 7 different levels
  • Changes from bassinet to sleeper

What We Don't Like

  • Packing could be smaller
  • Thin padding
  • The mesh doesn’t go all the way down on one side
Check Price on Amazon

BABYBJORN Cradle

Description

This one has a simple and sturdy, well-made design with a stylish and classical look that will be safe, useful, and look good on any home.

It is made with a low height, and a basket made entirely of mesh so you can comfortably sit next to it and keep a close watch on your baby while you gently rock them to sleep.

It doesn’t have any bars or moving parts next to where your baby stays so that even the most restless babies will be entirely safe from trapping their hands or feet, giving you peace of mind knowing they are safe.

It is a very lightweight bassinet, so even women that had a C-section won’t have problems moving this to anywhere in their homes, and it has a spacious internal size to accommodate even larger babies comfortably. However, it doesn’t hold much weight, so some big babies will outgrow this product faster than usual.

You can also buy a nice canopy to fit snuggly the bassinet and protect your baby from well-meaning house cats and not so well-meaning mosquitoes, especially if you like to step outside to get some sun and fresh air on your back yard with your little one alongside for the adventure.

Overall it is an amazing product to use for daytime parenting and also pretty good to keep bedside for when you need to sleep and rest, knowing your baby will be comfortable and safely next to you.

BABYBJORN Cradle

What We Like

  • Safe and sturdy
  • Easy to use
  • Rocks your baby gently and easily

What We Don't Like

  • Small-sized
  • Only up to 18 pounds
Check Price on Amazon

Chicco LullaGo Anywhere Portable Bassinet

Description

Last, but not least. It is very practical and portable, but for that, it has its downsides. The design is well built and sturdy, the legs are strong and don’t take much space, all fabrics are removable and machine washable, it comes with a strong carry bag, and it folds to a relatively small size. Therefore it is a very good portable bassinet.

This product is peculiar because everything great about it causes a small problem. The fold is right down in the middle, which ensures its very small portable size when folded. However, because of the middle fold, restless babies may get to an uncomfortable sleeping position.

All the fabrics are easily washed in a machine, which is great but is so because they are not fully made from a breathable mesh, which is bad because your baby could have a hard time breathing if they move around too much during the night.

Therefore this product would fit better to use as a travel bassinet for a family vacation or to go to grandparents or friends houses where you can keep a close watch of your little to make sure they are safe while napping and will be safer than putting them on a normal bed or couch.

Overall it is a good product, but you need to know how to make the best possible use of it.

Chicco LullaGo Anywhere Portable Bassinet

What We Like

  • Portable
  • Large-sized
  • Sturdy construction
  • Easy to set up
  • Machine washable

What We Don't Like

  • Has a gap in the middle of the bed
  • Not full mesh sides
  • Non-removable mattress pad covers
Check Price on Amazon

FAQ

What is the difference between Bassinets x Cribs?

Even though they have pretty much the same function, bassinets and cribs aren’t the same. There are a couple of differences between the two of them that will directly interfere with your night interactions with the baby, which can be determinant in the quality of your sleep and

If you still have doubts about the practical difference between bassinets and cribs, don’t worry, here’s an explanation of each of them:

Tradicional Cribs are much like a bed with safety bars and are a very good option for toddlers; they are big and likely to be used for the first two or three years of the child’s life.

They also are usually made of wood, which makes them more sturdy and firm than bassinets, which is a great thing if you have pets or other children that may want to climb to see the new baby.

However, for being almost the size of a bed, cribs need some space and usually are placed in the nursery, which is not always close enough to the parent’s room, which can bring some difficulties in adjustment and routine.

Bassinets, on the other hand, are very much like small cribs, designed specifically for newborn babies to be used until they’re around 6 months old.

The main difference between bassinets and cribs is that bassinets will be used for less time, but are the best option if you want to keep your baby close to you so you can care for them in the middle of the night without having to get up from the bed, once they need much less space.

They also offer a huge variety of features that goes from rocking and pockets to white noise. But the most convenient would be that most bassinets are pretty easy to move around and carry, which can turn to be a lifesaver to parents who want to spend a day out of doing things in some other room.

How long can you put a baby in a bassinet?

That will depend much on the bassinet model you pick for your baby and how fast your baby will grow. Most bassinets can be used until the baby is around six months old, but this can change depending on how much weight the bassinet can stands, along with the baby’s capacity of standing and how tall they’ll become.

If you want a bassinet that will last for a longer time, prefer the ones that can stand more weight and have more internal space, the best bassinets on the market can be found in our list right above.

Does a bassinet need a mattress?

Most bassinets will already come with the mattress pad ideal to them, apart from the one required by your chosen bassinet, you will NOT need to put a mattress on your bassinet.

As mentioned in the “Things to Consider Before Buying a Bassinet” section, to ensure your baby’s safety, the surface where they sleep must be firm and flat, so no need to put another layer over the bassinet’s pad.

If your bassinet model doesn’t come with a mattress, you may want to look for the one that is specific to the model. This is very important to guarantee a safe environment for your baby’s sleep.

Can a baby sleep in a bassinet overnight?

Yes, they can! In fact, bassinets are designed to provide a good night’s sleep for parents who want their baby close to them without putting their child at risk by putting them on the same bed.

Can a newborn go straight into a crib?

The simple answer to this question is yes, they can. But before deciding to put your newborn straight on the crib, there are a few things you must know to make this environment safe for the baby.

To prevent accidents or a tragedy by Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), the crib must be clean of pillows, stuffed animals, blankets, and even those beautiful crib kits that, unfortunately, offer a risk of suffocation. It’s also important to measure the distance between the bars, to ensure the baby doesn’t roll while sleeping and accidentally stuck their head between them.

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