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16 hours.
That’s how much sleep a newborn needs according to the experts.
9 hours during the day and 9 hours at night. Could you imagine?
Of course, we know that the stars don’t always align, and outside of an ideal world baby doesn’t always find it easy to settle.
Plus, as a new mom, you want your baby close and safe even when they’re getting in that much-needed kip.
When baby sleeps, mama sleeps and a bedside bassinet is an excellent option for helping you both rest easy.
From bassinets for newborns to a bassinet that rocks (and even one that rolls), we’ve gathered the 10 best bassinets of 2024 as chosen by our community of mamas.
Let’s dive straight in!
In this article: 📝
- What is the purpose of a bassinet?
- Bassinet vs crib: which is better for newborn?
- Do you need a bassinet?
- How big should a bassinet be?
- How much should I spend on a bassinet?
- What is the best bassinet on the market?
- Best bedside bassinet
- Best bassinet for newborn
- Best bassinet that rocks
- Best portable bassinet for baby
- Best bassinet for small spaces
- Best affordable bassinet
- Best Moses basket bassinet
- Best twin bassinet
- Best bassinet stroller
- How do you get a newborn to sleep in a bassinet?
- Why won’t my baby sleep in her bassinet?
- Do you put anything in a bassinet?
- When to switch baby from bassinet to crib
- Are bassinets worth it?
What is the purpose of a bassinet?
So what exactly is a baby bassinet?
Basically, a bassinet is a cradle-style infant bed specially designed for newborns and young babies between 0 to 6 months to sleep safely and within reach of mama.
Smaller than a crib, bassinets are often placed next to the bed so you can easily access your newborn any time of the night.
As for the coveted daytime napping, many bassinets are mobile so you can encourage shuteye anywhere you need.
Bassinet vs crib: which is better for newborn?
Both bassinets and cribs are sleep-safe options for infants but there are significant differences, namely portability, longevity, and size.
Weighing the pros and cons of both is the best way of understanding which infant bed you need most.
Let’s look at these one by one:
Portability:
If you need easy mobility, a bassinet is best.
Their small size is designed for moving newborns from one part of the house to another, and beyond ‒ handy for any follow-up trips to the doctor
Cribs are built to last, which is great for the budget but makes them quite difficult to move.
Speaking of sturdy.
Size:
Bassinets stand out for their compact size, making the transition from womb to bed a little smoother for your newborn.
And while this allows you to keep your baby by your bedside, all cute and safe, it also means bassinets have a timeline of about 4 months.
Their small size is not typically made for a baby bigger than 15lbs which is usually when the crib comes in.
Cribs are sturdy and designed to endure… a lot.
Their high enclosures are made to keep baby well-protected until they reach three (and those exciting climbing years).
Great in the long run, but not ideal for the first few months of baby’s life.
Cost:
As you can imagine, bassinets are more affordable in the short term but cribs are definitely the better investment.
Convertible cribs are even better again, as they can easily transform into a toddler bed when the time comes.
If you are on a tighter budget just after baby arrives, bassinets are an excellent option while you hunt for something more long-term.
Safety
While cribs are the stellar choice for stability, bassinets are best for reducing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) when co-sleeping.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends both cribs and bassinets as suitable safe sleep environments to prevent SIDS.
It comes down to the best fit for your room and your budget.
Do you need a bassinet?
The key benefit of a bassinet is its portability.
This lightweight sleeper is far more mobile than a crib — all the better for parents constantly on the go.
A bassinet may also be the better option if you’ve had a c-section, thanks to their taller structure.
Unlike cribs, the base of a bassinet is usually level with the average adult waistline which makes it far easier for a recuperating mom to lay their little one down.
How big should a bassinet be?
Most baby’s bassinets are around 30-33” long and 15-18” wide, although there are some, like baby bassinets for twins, with different measurements.
Regardless of how much more space your baby bassinet has left, once your baby starts rolling over, or if they exceed the manufacturer’s recommended capacity, it’s important to switch them to a crib, for safety.
How much should I spend on a bassinet?
Bassinets range from around $60 to over $1,500, but it’s up to you how much you spend.
The average baby’s bassinet costs about $200, depending on what sort of bassinet you’re after.
What is the best bassinet on the market?
Well, our Peanut mamas have spoken, and, while it’s the priciest addition to our best baby bassinets list, the SNOO Smart Sleeper Baby Bassinet is definitely top of the tots:
1. SNOO Smart Sleeper Baby Bassinet
Talk about bells and whistles!
The SNOO Smart Sleeper Baby Bassinet soothes your baby to sleep by rocking and playing white noise, logging their sleep so you can keep track.
But what makes this the best baby bassinet, according to our Peanut mamas, is that it automatically detects when baby cries, responding by increasing the rocking and white noise to help ease them back into their baby slumber.
Plus, it’s designed to protect against baby rolling, so you can rest assured knowing that your baby is sleeping on their back, soundly and safely.
Truly a baby’s bassinet for the 21st century!
Colors: White
Dimensions: 35.83” x 18.9” x 32.28”
Suitable for: Up to 25lbs
Price: $1,695.00
Best bedside bassinet
2. Baby Delight Bassinet ‒ Bedside
Looking for the best co-sleeper bassinet, best bassinet for breastfeeding, or the best bassinet for c-section recovery?
The Baby Delight bassinet has a drop side, so you can easily co-sleep with your little one and nurse without having to get out of bed.
Easy to assemble with adjustable height, it’s suitable for pretty much every bed, and it’s lightweight, too, so you can move it to different rooms if you prefer.
Colors: Flax, charcoal tweed, driftwood gray, peony pink, organic oat, pebble gray
Dimensions: 37” x 22.5” x 30.75”
Suitable for: Up to 20lbs
Price: $199.99
Best bassinet for newborn
3. Cloud Baby Bassinet for Newborns
Another excellent co-sleeper bassinet, the Cloud Baby bassinet has lockable wheels so you can easily slide baby to another part of the room.
Our Peanut mamas also love the built-in mobile, which plays soothing lullabies to help baby drift off.
Colors: Beige
Dimensions: 35.04” x 28.35” x 39.5”
Suitable for: Up to 20lbs
Price: $299.99
Best bassinet that rocks
4. BABYBJORN Bassinet Rocker
Want to send your little one off with a gentle sway?
Save your aching arms with the BABYBJORN bassinet rocker ‒ you can choose to either rock baby yourself or have the rocking baby bassinet use baby’s small movement to rock itself.
And what makes this the best rocking bassinet is that the bassinet fabric and waterproof crib mattress cover are machine-washable for easy cleaning.
Colors: White
Dimensions: 31” x 23” x 26”
Suitable for: Up to 17lbs
Price: $349.99
Best portable bassinet for baby
5. HALO Innovations® BassiNest Flex Sleeper
What makes this the best portable bassinet?
It’s lightweight, easy to transport in its carrying bag, and it’s easy to assemble ‒ all while providing a safe place for your little dreamer to nod off.
Colors: Heather weave
Dimensions: 39.5” x 28.5” x 42”
Suitable for: Up to 20lbs
Price: $99.99
Best bassinet for small spaces
6. Simmons Kids By The Bed City Sleeper Baby’s Bassinet
This is easily one of the best bassinets for small spaces, according to our Peanut moms.
It’s super compact ‒ one of the smallest on our list ‒ but also height-adjustable with storage for burp cloths, toys, and pacifiers, while baby sleeps soundly.
Colors: Gray tweed
Dimensions: 31” x 19.5” x 41.5”
Suitable for: Up to 15lbs
Price: $129.99
Best affordable bassinet
7. Delta Children Deluxe Sweet Beginnings Bedside Baby Bassinet
If you want a more budget-friendly baby’s bassinet, Delta delivers.
Not only is it an affordable bassinet, but it also has a built-in nightlight that plays lullabies and white noise, along with storage underneath the bassinet.
Colors: Falling leaves
Dimensions: 45” x 17” x 33”
*Suitable for: Up to 15lbs
Price: $59.99
Best Moses basket bassinet
8. Tadpoles Moses Basket Bassinet & Bedding Set
After a bassinet basket to suit baby’s nautical-themed nursery?
Then you’ll love the Tadpoles Moses basket bassinet.
Made with woven palm leaves, it’s a more eco-friendly option for a baby’s bassinet, too.
Colors: Light Blue
Dimensions: 32” x 12” x 9”
Suitable for: Up to 15lbs
Price: $119.99
Best twin bassinet
9. HALO BassiNest Twin Bassinet
Blessed with two beautiful babies?
Our Peanut mamas of multiples have chosen the HALO Bassinet Twin Sleeper as the best bassinet for twins.
With a built-in nightlight, vibration, lullabies, and white noise, you can even use it for co-sleeping.
Colors: Dove gray tweed, nautical net, pebble, sand circles, herringbone, morning mist
Dimensions: 35” x 21.8” x 11.4”
Suitable for: Up to 55lbs
Price: $468.99
Best bassinet stroller
10. INFANS 2-in-1 Baby Bassinet Stroller
Want more bang for your buck?
Our Peanut moms love this combo 2-in-1 baby’s bassinet stroller ‒ use it as an outward- or inward-facing stroller and a bassinet stroller.
It’s ideal for a growing baby, suitable for newborns to 3 years old.
Colors: Black, gray, pink
Dimensions: 37’’ x 18’’ x 39’’
Suitable for: Up to 50lbs
Price: $169.99
How do you get a newborn to sleep in a bassinet?
Here are a few tips and tricks our Peanut mamas have used to get their newborns to settle in their baby bassinets:
- It takes time ‒ some babies don’t sleep in their bassinet on the first try, but keep at it!
- Put on some soothing white noise ‒ not for too long, though.
- Start baby’s bedtime routine a little earlier, creating a calm atmosphere for them to sleep.
- Check baby’s diaper and temperature, and make sure they’re burped ‒ these can all be uncomfortable so can make sleep more difficult for baby.
- Check when baby had their last feeding ‒ no one likes going to bed hungry!
- Try making the room darker ‒ some Peanut mamas swear by this, as it mimics their environment in the womb, but others say it makes their babies reliant on the dark to sleep, which can be tricky when sleep training.
- Try a baby massage to soothe and relax baby.
How long does a baby sleep in a bassinet?
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends moving baby from their bassinet to a crib by the time they’re 6 months old.
At 6 months old, baby may be starting to roll over, so you may find you need to avoid swaddling at this point, too.
Why won’t my baby sleep in her bassinet?
Some babies are more reluctant to sleep in their baby bassinet at times ‒ and there are a few reasons why this might be:
- Baby’s hungry ‒ how long has it been since their last feeding? Could they be cluster feeding or going through a growth spurt?
- Baby has trapped wind ‒ try burping baby or getting their legs moving up by their stomach to relieve gas.
- Baby’s got a dirty diaper ‒ if they’re wet, they may be uncomfortable, so getting to sleep might be trickier.
- Baby’s too hot or cold ‒ keeping them between 68-72°F is ideal. More on baby temperatures here.
- Baby’s over-stimulated ‒ if a lot has been going on during the day, getting baby down for a nap might take longer than usual. Try a bedtime routine to soothe and calm them ready for bed.
A lot is going on for your little one ‒ everything’s new ‒ so they may not be down with your routine just yet.
Give it time, mama.
Do you put anything in a bassinet?
Sparsity is key for a safe baby’s bassinet ‒ avoid blankets, bumpers, cuddly toys, and pillows.
Anything other than a hard bassinet mattress and a mattress sheet isn’t necessary, and can actually be dangerous for baby, increasing the risk of suffocation or SIDS.
Do bassinets need a mattress?
Yes, most baby’s bassinets need a mattress for baby to sleep on ‒ in part, to make clean-up easier, but also to make it more comfortable for baby.
Do you put a sheet in a bassinet?
Yes, sheets are recommended for a baby’s bassinet, as some mattresses are waterproof, so they can be hot and sticky for baby to lie on.
However, sheets are only recommended for the mattress, and they must be tight-fitting ‒ not used as a blanket for baby, as they pose a suffocation risk.
When to switch baby from bassinet to crib
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends switching from a bassinet to a crib when baby starts to roll over ‒ between 4-6 months.
Just make sure there’s no chance baby can tip over in their bassinet or crib by the time they’re rolling over.
The bassinet manufacturer’s recommendations for bassinet capacity is your best guidance here, so make sure that you’re not exceeding their weight capacity.
Are bassinets worth it?
According to most of our Peanut mamas, yes, baby bassinets are a worthwhile investment.
They’re ideal for easily moving baby from one room to another in the first few months, so you’re always nearby.
Got any more questions for our community of moms about baby’s bassinets?
Feel free to ask them on Peanut!