13 Best Baby Bassinets for Safer Slumber, Even If They Struggle With Sleep

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When it comes to your little one, you simply can’t put a price on sleep — and if you’re on the hunt for the best baby bassinet, you have come to the right place. From deciding if you even need a bassinet to understanding the different types, we have you covered. Yes, there are a lot of bassinet options out there — travel cribs, bedside sleepers, convertible cribs, and even smart bassinets that integrate technology into sleep. We did the legwork for you and combed through all the different retailers, and spoke directly to parents and manufacturers in order to find the very best bassinet in every category.

Why You Need a Baby Bassinet

Bassinets are generally the first place your baby will sleep when they get home. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says that bassinets placed in the bedroom with the parents are the safest option for babies, making the bassinets the best and most accessible sleeping option for your little one.

It’s important to note that bassinets with solid sides should not be used once babies can roll around, as they then pose a suffocation hazard. According to the AAP, the bedding should be firm enough that babies should not leave an indent on the surface and be free of all extra bedding such as pillows or bumpers — a simple swaddle for newborns, or warm pajamas for babies, will suffice.

There are also stylish, sturdy options for alternatives to crib sleeping. Moms love having a bassinet at home that can be easily moved from room to room during the day. This way, moms can keep an eye on their little one while they go about their business in the rest of the house.

What to Consider

Buy a New Baby Bassinet

Of course, it’s crucial to practice safety when bringing home a bassinet. Stay away from second-hand versions because you don’t want to risk bringing home a bassinet that might already have damage (it might not always be obvious) or that might have been recalled. It’s impossible to know what’s been altered, incorrectly assembled, or spilled on if you purchase the item from a previous owner.

You need to make sure your bassinet follows the Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) guidelines and that you follow the AAP's guidelines on safe sleep. (Just a few of the guidelines: Your baby should be in your room for at least the first 6 months — no extraneous bedding or toys — and always place babies on their back to sleep.)

Know When to Move On

Once your baby can sit up straight or has the ability to roll over, it’s time to transition them to a crib. This can take up to 6 months, but you can make the transition sooner if your baby has already hit those two developmental milestones. Many babies are rolling as early as 3 months, which means you might not get as much mileage out of the bassinet as you were hoping. But trust us: They are a worthy investment for those earliest, most sleep-deprived days. A baby bassinet is close by, it’s a smaller object to clean, and some of them are so fancy that they basically put your kid to sleep for you.

It’s About You

As easy as it is to get totally obsessed with your baby’s needs, it’s important to not lose sight of your own as well. Think about what you’ll really need from your bassinet: Will the noise of the rocking mechanism irritate you? Do you want it as a portable resting spot for baby when you’re moving through different rooms of the home? Is the bassinet going to provide a decor element for the nursery?

These are all legitimate questions to ask yourself. Jot down a list of needs because there's a lot out there, and you don't want to take home the wrong choice because you're not sure what you want.

How We Selected

Every bassinet on our list has been thoroughly researched by our editorial team. We looked at popular models in each category to make sure they fit within the safer sleep guidelines created by the CPSC and AAP and then determined which were the best-reviewed and most talked about. We developed a cross-comparison strategy to determine the best baby bassinets worth buying today.

Maybe it’s your first child, maybe you just had a C-section, or maybe you just really want to sleep close to your baby because that’s the best decision for you. Whatever your situation, consider this swivel, see-through sleeper that’ll make you feel like nothing comes between you and your little one. It actually swivels on top of your mattress thanks to the adjustable height. It also has built in sound and vibrations to keep baby comfortable, safe, and soothed. For under $300, it's a real steal.

It's not co-sleeping, which is a major no-no according to the AAP, but it's as close as you can get safely. (Fellow hovering parents, unite!) Plus, it's truly a breeze to put together, which is saying a lot. The parenting editor at Best Products has put more than a few of them together to gift them for baby showers.

Our tester loved that the bassinet comes up and over the bed, specifically so that she could lay next to baby when her husband wasn’t home. It made her feel more comfortable to catch a few minutes of rest herself.

Pro tip: If you put it together and add a bow, you'll look like a dang hero rolling up to that baby shower.

This gender-neutral bassinet is simple in style, but it’s complex in its advanced technology: It allows you to calm baby down as you take care of things around the home or kick back with some Netflix.

How exactly does it work? It lulls your little one back to sleep with gentle rocking motions. It’s not the hard sway of the cradles of the past. Instead, it’s more like what they would get if they were, say, in their magical car seat. It’s the barest back and forth, and babies love it. It’s not automated, instead, it has a rocking spring base that allows parents to mimic the sway they’d use if they were holding them.

The bassinet is super light, so you can bring it with you from room to room. Plus, it responds to your baby’s motions, so it’ll start rocking your baby when they start fussing. We love the soft, meshy sides that are smooth and won’t get baby’s tiny toes or fingers trapped.

The Newton mattress is one of the newer crib mattresses on the market, and I was excited to get their bassinet, which has its own Newton mattress, in the hands of a tester. The mattress is designed to be completely breathable, hopefully making it safer for babies in the event they roll over. The Newton bassinet and bedside sleeper's sides are just as breathable, if not more so, than the other materials on the list.

It has a solid wooden base, with eight different height positions, a drop-down side for bedside sleeping, and it comes with the mattress and an organic cotton bassinet sheet.

Our tester loved both the look of the bassinet, how dead simple it was to assemble, and they really loved the ability to drop the side of the sleeper down so they could scooch up to it, and as they said, “drop out a boob without moving very far at all.” As someone who chest/breastfed her babies for eons, I appreciate this feature a lot.

You may not associate bassinets with the Gap, but Delta Children paired with the mega-popular clothing company known for chic and affordable basics, and designed a bassinet that is both attractive and budget-friendly. The Baby Gap Whisper bassinet is a solid bedside option with legs positioned to slide under the bed, bringing baby close. It's made of aluminum and a nylon-poly exterior, and comes with straps that make it easy to move or carry from place to place. The drop-down front of the bassinet allows the parent or caregiver to access the baby easily from the bed without needing to get up, and it's surprisingly easy to use.

One thing I wasn't the biggest fan of is the assembly. This is a nitpicky critique, but getting the legs on this bassinet was the hardest of any I've assembled. It also had more screws than any other bassinet on this list. That being said, when it is built, it feels really solid and stable.

This isn't a true bassinet so much as it's a mini adjustable crib. This mini crib has an optional extension kit that turns a small, round mini crib into a smaller full-size crib. This Stokke Sleepi Mini system is perfect for families that might need a smaller crib when the time comes.

It's made of durable, sustainable hardwood, including the canopy rod. The wheels on the Sleepi are locking, so you don't need to worry about it shifting if you bump it in the middle of the night. Our tester said that it was the perfect fit for her small, Brooklyn apartment, fitting nicely between her bed and the wall. She also loved how solid and durable the materials are, and the fact that it has a 7-year warranty was also a big draw.

The sleek, Scandinavian style is alluring to many fashionable parents, and has made this bassinet a stand-out. Although — let’s be real — once you have kids, whatever aesthetic you once had becomes a place where toys have taken over, and they may or may not be coated in a slick of unknown substances.

The Guava Lotus bassinet is a dream for both parents with limited space and for parents who appreciate multi-functionality. That's because the bassinet is a part of the Lotus travel crib system, which is a killer play yard set that we love. The whole thing sets up like a dream, using the frame of the travel crib as the base, the machine-washable bassinet piece sits on top at a convenient height for parents. It's suitable for babies up to 18 pounds, and parents we spoke with said that as far as bassinet systems go, it's really hard to beat how easy this one is.

This bassinet is wild. It is a convertible bassinet and crib combo that has an app-based monitor on a wooden halo over the top. It also senses your baby's sleep patterns and levels, and if it detects wakefulness it will bounce your baby gently, just as you would if you were holding them. It also plays music that soothes them back to sleep.

Our tester really liked the Cradlewise, telling us that she loves “that the design is modern,” especially its lovely wood accents. She said, “The sleek design makes it optimal for transitioning use as a bedside bassinet right through a normal doorway into a nursery to use as a crib without having to disassemble anything.”

She does note that while the app is easy and useful and that the monitor gives her peace of mind, it can be a bit off-putting, saying that "the app personifies the product and it tells me that the Cradlewise ‘misses my baby,’” and that “a big part of it is missing,” which some parents may love and others may not.

When you’re traveling with a little one, you need a bassinet that is sturdy, solid, and also stowable: This soothing model from maker Maxi Cosi also happens to be very stylish. Available in muted grays and tans, the understated look of the compact travel cot suits the highest of sartorial standards. Made with a breathable mesh exterior, faux bois ridge, and uniquely molded aluminum legs, this bassinet will have your baby getting all their zzz’s. The carrying case and collapsibility make the whole thing a cinch.

I love that this travel cot is truly designed for disassembly and reassembly. I can take it down in less than 3 minutes, and I can assemble it in the same amount of time. There are no screws involved whatsoever, and the big basket on the bottom can hold oh-so-much stuff. It's such an impressive bassinet.

Despite how it may seem, a bassinet doesn't have to cost a ton of money in order to be effective. The Ingenuity is the best baby bassinet for your wallet, and it also has some neat features, such as generous added storage, night light, and soothing music. The included mattress is dense, perfect for newborns, and the included sheet washes like a dream.

The Ingenuity converts to a crib as well, so if you’re looking for a baby bassinet to have at your in-laws’ or parents’, this might be a real winner. The wheels on the bottom make it easy to move from room to room, though I do wish the wheels locked a bit more easily. Also, the brakes took some pressure to lock on the model I saw — but that's pretty small potatoes when you step back and examine the value.

The hottest nightclub for babies is Fisher-Price soothing motions bassinet. It's so awesome that it completely knocks babies out. It has sounds and lights, but they're gentle and designed to help your baby relax and fall into dreamland.

It has soothing vibrations, very chill music, a projectable light show, and soft mood lighting in the form of a gentle nightlight. In this bassinet, your baby is cooler than you are, and they're also sleeping, which is also something you are likely not doing much of if you have a baby in a bassinet.

You’ve never met a bassinet like the Snoo. Invented by the famed “Baby Whisperer” Dr. Harvey Karp, the Snoo claims to be the first super-safe bassinet that'll get your baby to stop crying and develop healthy sleep patterns. With swaddle straps that prevent your little one from rolling over, the Snoo is super intuitive and acts as a first responder to your fussy baby by rocking them back to sleep and playing comforting white noise.

Simply put, parents are obsessed with this product. The safety, combined with the soothing movement and white noise, is apparently magic. Yes, it’s a $1,500 bassinet, but it’s cheaper than a fancy phone. If you can swing it, it might just save your bacon. I used this bassinet, and it’s life-changing. The swaddle really holds and comforts your baby, and when they start to fuss? It jumps into action with motion and sound to relax and calm your baby. Once you’ve used this bassinet, you couldn’t dream of your life without it.

And just recently, Dr. Karp has designed a transition noise machine, the Snoobie, which works to bridge your baby from the Snoo to the crib by providing continuity of sound and comfort.

This 4Moms mamaRoo bassinet is one of the highest-tech bassinets on the market. It has five separate motions, five speeds, and four sounds. Plus, it can operate on a timer. It's powered by Bluetooth, enabling parents to choose the best combination that works for their baby. The smooth mesh sides and firm surface make it safe for the littlest ones.

Imagine your baby starts to fuss, but it’s hours before they should wake. All you do is open an app on your phone, turn on some sound and a little sway, and boom — your baby is back in dreamland. At least that’s the goal. It’s a lofty one, but darn it, aim high, Momma.

Our tester did note that the crib mattress is firmer than other bassinet mattresses but that it didn't seem to make a difference to her babies at all. Though, she does wish they made it in twin size now that her oldest is in a big boy bed and escaping all the time. (Can adults get a rocking bed, too?)

This cool blue and gray, dual-canopy bassinet is perfect for the family that wants to set up on the beach, at a campsite, or in the backyard. The protective canopy offers total coverage, and the mesh lining will keep air flowing in while keeping the bugs out. It's also so easy to pack for an adventure because it folds up and completely flattens for easy transportation.

The zipped sides are easy to maneuver one-handed, so if you’re juggling baby while trying to open up their sleeping area, it’s absolutely doable. Or if you’re holding your 3-year-old and need to shove your baby’s pacifier back in their face at the same time, you’re good to go. Parents love that this bassinet really keeps your baby’s space clean. The mesh is so fine that it prevents most dirt and dust from getting caught, keeping your baby as safe and clean as can be.

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