A Safe Spot For Your Newborn To Sleep

We carefully reviewed this article in April 2023 and added the babyGap Whisper Bedside Bassinet. We stand by our picks tested vetted by the Good Housekeeping Institute.

When the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) announced that the safest place to have your infant sleep for the first six months is in the same room as you, but in their own bedding-free space, manufacturers got to work producing a greater number of bedside baby bassinets. There's now a robust range, from smart bassinets that "listen" for your baby's cries and react to them to simple, fuss-free bassinets with breathable mesh sides.

Bassinets are good for nursing moms and help a mom who is recovering from a C-section by making it easier to reach the baby. They're also nice from a space-saving perspective because they're smaller than a full crib. Having your baby close saves you some time and sanity.

At the Good Housekeeping Institute we test every kind of baby gear from nursery gliders and high chairs to convertible cribs and changing tables. Over the past two years our parenting experts have reviewed 20 baby bassinets. For many, we've timed the assembly, tried the electronics if applicable and checked for sturdiness on hard floors and on carpet. Whenever possible, we've sent bassinets to consumer homes for their feedback, and we've collected hours of sleep data tied to bassinets. Testing is ongoing as new bassinets — and new versions of existing bassinets — continue to come out in 2023.

Our top picks:

Scroll to the bottom of our list for shopping tips and more on why you can trust Good Housekeeping. And if you are looking for more options, read our full review of the Happiest Baby SNOO Smart Sleeper which the Food and Drug Administration has approved as the first baby sleep product to keep babies on their backs while they sleep.