The 6 Best Vibrating Bassinets

Editor's Notes

February 18, 2020:

Coming on board today are three reliable models, all of which provide plenty of control that allows you to customize the vibrations, sound, and gentle light they provide. The Graco Sense2Snooze provides plenty of options to do the trick, including head-to-toe calming motions, dimmable lighting, white noise, 10 lullabies, and 10 soothing sounds. It’s thoughtfully designed with bottom storage pockets and wheels that make it a cinch to move around your home, as needed.

The Happiest Baby Snoo is designed to mimic the environment your baby experienced in the womb, and it was created by sleep expert Dr. Harvey Karp. (As a tired new parent, you might be getting some help right now from his bestselling book, “The Happiest Baby on the Block.”) This “smart sleeper” can detect fussing and automatically respond to it with its soothing sounds and vibrations.

For a traditional bassinet with a ruffled skirt, look to the Delta Children Play Time Jungle. In addition to the attractive design, it’s equipped with variable speed vibrations, calming sounds, music, and a nightlight to help lull your little one to sleep. Just give it a gentle push to activate the handy rocking feature. It comes with two small plush bears that can be hung from the canopy to capture your baby’s attention, and features a storage area on the bottom. Stock up on batteries, as many users comment on how quickly it tends to go through them.

Leaving the list are some options that tend not to lie completely flat. All of the choices on our list are compliant with standards set forth by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, babies should be put to sleep on their backs, on a firm surface in a crib or bassinet that uses a tight-fitting bedsheet. No matter which model you go with, be sure to follow the setup and usage directions carefully, including the age and weight guidelines.

For more reliable baby sleep options, check out our list of best bedside cribs, which create a safe and accessible place for your infant to spend the night, right next to your bed.

September 12, 2019:

Like a good baby swing, a vibrating bassinet can help infants fall asleep more quickly and stay asleep longer. Some even come with mobiles to give baby something interesting to look at when she's not asleep.

A bassinet can be a charming piece of baby equipment, but you shouldn't use the one you inherited from your parents or found in an antique store. Modern bassinets on the market are required to meet certain safety standards, such as those published by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, to prevent injury or asphyxiation. This standard defines requirements for stability, moving elements, padding, firm components, and the spacing between the mattress pad and sides, among other things.

To further enhance the safety of your infant, make sure to use the product according to manufacturer instructions and some common sense. For example, mesh sides are preferable because they allow baby to breathe should she sleep with her face against the side of the bassinet. In addition, you should not use additional padding or pillows beyond the (typically fairly thin) mattress pad that comes with the product. Also avoid large, heavy blankets. There should be minimal space between the mattress pad and the sides so that baby cannot lodge herself in the gap. And, as with cribs, always place your baby on her back to sleep, rather than her tummy.

Bassinets are almost as varied as the babies that sleep in them. Our selections include a wide range of products--from some that look like a piece of furniture in your bedroom to others that fold down for easy travel, so you should be able to find one that meets your needs. In this update, we evaluated items based on quality, ease of use, and value. Among other updates, we added the SwaddleMe By Your Side Sleeper in one of our top slots. It will appeal to parents who want to share their bed with their newborn, and it is conscientiously designed to prevent risks associated with co-sleeping.