The 10 Best Bassinets
Special Honors
Harriet Bee Wishes Oval Bassinet Equipped with everything your baby needs for the first few months of sleep, this bassinet comes with crisp white bedding with a wide ribbon belt tied into a large bow. It features an elegant, floor-length pleated skirt and a generously sized, adjustable canopy. Its hooded caster wheels can be locked into place easily, and you can just flip them up to make it rock like a cradle. Beneath it is a handy storage basket where you can stow your feeding and diapering essentials. It also comes with a foam pad, a fitted sheet, and a quilted liner. The metal frame is easy to put together, and the fabric is simple to attach as well as unzip for washing. wayfair.com
Editor's Notes
April 01, 2020:
Our list saw a lot of turnover in this update, as we work to focus on models that are tried and true, practical, and safe, in a variety of designs and styles, so you’re sure to find just the right one for your child and your bedroom decor. The newly added Graco Sense2Snooze goes straight to the top spot, as it has a lot to offer, including patented technology that uses a built-in microphone to detect baby’s cries. It responds in turn with head-to-toe soothing motion, two possible speeds of vibrations, white noise, and lullabies. You can choose one or any combination of these that you find works for your child. It offers a user-friendly control panel on the side and comes in your choice of neutral color combinations.
We also added the BabyBjorn Cradle into one of the top spots. It too is capable of lulling your little one to sleep with soft motions. Its impressive spring suspension system ensures it’ll rock freely, without getting stuck. For a high-end model with plenty of its own bells and whistles, look to the Happiest Baby Snoo. As a tired, sleep-deprived parent, you may have heard of its creator, Dr. Harvey Karp. He’s a child sleep expert and the author of the bestselling “The Happiest Baby on the Block,” which has been a lifesaving book for new parents far and wide.
If you’ve got your eye on a portable solution that’s easy to take to grandma’s or on trips, look to the Graco Pack 'n Play, a sturdy, tried-and-true solution that no new parent should be without. The model we feature comes with a newborn seat that can be attached or set on the floor by itself, and it conveniently converts into a diaper changing pad. Just remove the mattress and you’ve got a safe playard for older babies and toddlers. A similar enough model, although a tad smaller, is the Arm’s Reach 3-in-1. It’s equipped with a removable mattress, and the entire thing folds up easily for travel and storage.
If you have twins, the Delta Children Simmons Grey Tweed likely provides a nice sleep solution for you. It keeps the babies right next to each other, while the entire bassinet fits nicely next to your bed. The sides are mesh so you can see right into it, and the kids are only separated from each other by a mesh panel, so they can see each other easily. The Delta Children Play Time Jungle, from the same manufacturer, brings a touch of elegance to the room, thanks to its flowing, gathered skirt, and your baby will be entertained with the hanging plush bears, which you can attach and remove at will.
You can rest assured all of the models on our list comply with standards set forth by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) and have passed muster with new parents who want nothing but the safest, highest-quality products for their precious little ones. For safety’s sake, always put your baby to sleep on his or her back, and discontinue using a bassinet once your little one learns to roll around and sit upright. At that point, it can be replaced with a crib.
Choosing A Baby's Bassinet
If you want the freedom to set your baby at different heights, get a model that is adjustable.
Most families will only use a bassinet for a few months out of an entire lifetime, but those few months are some of the most precious times of all. Choosing a bassinet means helping to keep your newborn baby safe, warm, and comfortable during those first precious months of life. It is, in other words, no small decision.
The first consideration to make with this and any other baby product is safety. Most bassinets from trusted brand names should be safe, but never take that for granted. We've taken the time to research every item on our list to ensure it meets the most stringent safety requirements. If you choose to go with one that hasn't made our list, definitely take the time to research it thoroughly for any potential safety issues.
Next, you need to consider the how much space you have for a bassinet. Even if you see a charming model you simply love, if it's too large for your bedroom or nursery, you can't make that your choice. Ideally, you can find a bassinet that will allow easy access from both sides, or else that can be safely and easily moved about when needed. Many wheeled bassinets can perform this function.
Also consider the ideal bassinet height for your home and furniture. Some parents insist that their baby's bassinet rests squarely on the floor, while others are fine with an elevated unit so long as it has a sturdy frame. If you want the freedom to set your baby at different heights, get a model that is adjustable.
From the actual bassinet height, move to the ideal height of the sides of the unit. A bassinet with higher walls can safely house a child for longer, but might also make retrieving the baby a bit more difficult, something no parent wants to deal with during a 2 AM feeding or diaper change. Take in account how long you will use the bassinet when weighing this feature.
If you travel frequently, consider one of the several fine collapsible bassinets available. What these units lack in looks they make up for in utility, and the practical parent may well opt for using a portable bassinet full time. If it keeps your kid safe and sound, then looks don't much matter in the bigger picture.
Then of course there are aesthetics to be discussed. As noted, this temporary item is indeed used during a formative period in the family's life, so if a charming bassinet with carved wood and myriad design elements is important to you, treat yourself and your child to an elegant bassinet. Just know that before long the child is headed for a crib.
A Few Words On Bassinet Safety
There is one, and only one, safe place for a bassinet to be placed, and that is on the ground. No matter how stable and secure any other place in your home (or daycare center) might seem, never put a bassinet that has a child inside it anywhere but the ground. Anything from a broken table leg to a rambunctious dog can knock a bassinet off a piece of furniture, potentially resulting in a horrible injury to a very small person.
Anything from a broken table leg to a rambunctious dog can knock a bassinet off a piece of furniture, potentially resulting in a horrible injury to a very small person.
Also make sure to consider your own safety around a bassinet. Adults become accustomed to patterns and habits. If you place a bassinet in what was formerly a walking area next to your bed, you may well forget about it in the middle of the night and stumble or even fall over when you trip over the unit. Consider placing a nightlight near the bassinet if the light won't bother your slumbering infant, or even place reflective tape around the piece so you can see it better without adding additional light to the room. And of course when possible simply place the bassinet where it is not likely to be in anyone's way.
As is always recommended with an infant's crib, a baby's bassinet should be empty of any and all items that are not snugly wrapped around the child's body. This means no stuffed animals, no loose blankets, and no toys present while the child sleeps. These and other items can present a major hazard for choking or suffocation.
When It's Time To Move Out Of The Bassinet
According to most pediatricians and the advice of the American Academy of Pediatrics, most children transition out of a bassinet and into a crib sometime between their third and sixth month, with few children still in these smaller sleeping accommodations after that.
If a baby looks like he or she is cramped by the size of the bassinet, the little one probably feels that way, too.
There is no right or wrong time to transition your child out of a bassinet, per say, but there are some signals you can watch for that will help inform your decision. The clearest marker is a child who is able to or nearly able to roll over. Once a child can turn himself or herself over, they must be taken out of the bassinet. A baby that can move the much is at an increased risk of falling out of a shallower bassinet and for potential suffocation.
Also simply observe your child's size and movements. If a baby looks like he or she is cramped by the size of the bassinet, the little one probably feels that way, too. If an infant's head and/or feet regularly contact the sides of the bassinet, it is likely time to move them out. Likewise watch for changes in a child's sleeping patterns: if a young one begins to wake up more frequently and more suddenly from naps or nighttime slumber, it might be because they are banging into the sides of the bassinet and waking themselves inadvertently. (These changes in sleep habits also come from myriad other causes, however, so this consideration need not be the only one included in your bassinet to crib transition decision.)