Best bassinets

The Halo BassiNest adjusts to almost any bed height, and swivels and rotates 360 degrees to give you easy access to your newborn so you can safely co-sleep (or allow your baby to sleep solo safely). Parents also love the mesh sides that give you a great view of your baby from afar. 

This 3.0 version has a cool new superpower, too: You can lift off the "basket" where your baby sleeps and use it as a portable bassinet that's safe for naps or overtime sleep, keeping your baby close to you wherever you are. Like other versions of the BassiNest, you can lower one side of the 3.0 when it's time to attend to your baby's needs, and the set comes with a waterproof mattress with a fitted sheet.

Heads up

Some parents say the mattress is hard. The base on the BassiNest 3.0 has been redesigned to be lighter than the previous version, but at 22.6 pounds it's still difficult to move the BassiNest from room to room. 

Parents say

"I love that it's got an adjustable height that matches my bed which is pretty high, 25 inches. Love all the features. Definitely worth the money."

"I'm so happy I bought this bassinet! I love that it sits level with my bed and I can easily reach my baby and check on him. It's worth every penny."

"I did the Halo BassiNest with our son and plan to use it again this time around. I'd recommend it. We just did the base model, no extras. I didn't feel the need for anything else and we never missed it."

Specs

• 47 x 47 x 44.5 inches at full height
• 22.6 pounds
• Height adjusts to fit beds from 23.5 to 30 inches
• Comes with fitted sheet
• Recommended up to 5 months or 20 pounds; discontinue use when your baby shows signs of rolling over or pushing up on hands and knees

Billed as a more affordable alternative to the popular (and pricey) Snoo bassinet, the mamaRoo has five unique automatic motions and speeds to help soothe your baby to sleep. Use the control panel on the bassinet, or make the adjustments from your phone with the corresponding app. Only the bassinet basket moves, not the base itself, so it doesn't pose the same potential tip-over risk as a conventional rocking bassinet. 

Heads up

Many experts recommend avoiding moving cribs, both because they introduce more potential safety hazards than stationary cribs, and because a baby who gets used to being rocked to sleep may be harder to put to sleep when you move them into a crib or play yard. 

Parents say

"My brother & sister in law just got one for their new baby and they've had a really positive experience with it so far."

"We went with the 4moms bassinet that has multiple movement options"

Specs

• 34 x 24 x 39 (at full height; remove leg extenders for 34.4-inch height)
• 30 pounds
• Comes with fitted sheet
• Discontinue use when baby can push up on hands and knees or reaches 25 pounds in weight

The LullaGo is a lightweight, space-saving, convenient sleeping and napping place for your newborn. Sturdy legs snap on for easy assembly, and see-through mesh sides let you see your baby as they rest. This bassinet folds flat and fits tidily into a carrying case for easy travel, and it comes with a fitted sheet. The LullaGo is Greenguard Gold-certified for low chemical emissions, and perhaps best of all: its fabrics easily zip off and can go right in the washing machine. 

Heads up

This is a simple bassinet with no bells and whistles (no music, motion, lights, or sounds). And some parents say the mattress is too thin.

Parents say

"I got this product to use in my living room as a napper. Since I live in a split-level, I didn't want to have to lug the bassinet in my bedroom downstairs at naptime, and I wanted to have my baby on the same level as me during the day. It's a great, simple product. It's compact, and the fabric is nice quality and seems easy to clean."

"My husband and I love this bassinet for our newborn. We wanted a portable bassinet, but one that was sturdy enough for nightly use in our room until we transition to a crib. This bassinet provided the perfect solution. It's holding up well after two months of daily use."

"This thing is awesome! We had planned to use a crib in our son's room but realized quickly that for the first month or two we really need him close. We have a very small bedroom and most bassinets wouldn't fit. This one does, and it's perfect for travelling."

Specs

• 30 x 18 x 28 inches unfolded; 28.15 x 18.5 x 5.5 inches folded
• 12 pounds
• Comes with fitted sheet
• Discontinue use when baby can push up on hands and knees or reaches 20 pounds in weight

First, we love that this portable bassinet can be opened and closed in seconds. It has mesh sides for premium airflow and weighs only 19 pounds. The mattress is made of cozy foam and has a removable, machine-washable cover and pad. Though it's no-frills (no sounds, lights, or vibration), the MiClassic bassinet does have convenient storage pockets to hold necessities like diapers and wipes.

Heads up

This stationary bassinet can be converted to a rocker. But you may be better off not using the rocker mode, since it can make the bassinet less stable; the brand recommends using the rocking mode only for supervised soothing, not for sleep. Also: A fitted sheet isn't included, but the brand recommends only using MiClassic fitted sheets to ensure that the mattress stays level. 

Parents say

"It's the perfect size and height for my bedside and it folds up very easily for travel."

"We've used it as our exclusive bassinet for 6 months and it's fantastic. Our baby is comfortable, and the rocking feet were great for when he needed extra soothing. The mesh sides are fantastic – they give great visibility, and are nice and breathable in warm months. We've taken it on a number of trips, and I love that he's always in the same bed no matter where we are."

Specs

• 37.4 x 23.8 x 28 inches unfolded
• 19 pounds
• Discontinue use when baby can push up on hands and knees or reaches 33 pounds

This sweet sleeper is aimed at providing a more affordable alternative to ultra-pricey soothing-motion bassinets. Graco's model has a built-in microphone that detects your baby's cries and responds by automatically adjusting the bassinet's head-to-toe motion, vibration, speed, and relaxing sounds to help lull her back to sleep, cycling through several different sequences in an attempt to find the one that restores peace and quiet. It also has a reversible canopy to block light plus built-in wheels so you can move the bassinet with ease. 

Heads up

Graco also offers a slightly less expensive motion bassinet without cry detection technology. Some parents expressed confusion over which product they ended up getting, so pay attention before buying or putting on your registry. Some experts don't recommend rocking bassinets; note that the Sense2Snooze's instructions state to never leave your baby unattended when the bassinet's in motion.

Parents say

"We ended up buying the Graco Sense2Snooze without cry detection and we LOVE it. So does baby."

Specs

• 26 x 19 x 41 inches
• Comes with washable mattress cover 
• Discontinue use when baby can push up on hands and knees or reaches 20 pounds

Portable sleep spaces have gotten quite elaborate in recent years, with price tags to match; travel cribs sell for upwards of $200 or even $300. In contrast, though they're usually reasonably priced, many so-called portable playards with bassinets are far too heavy and bulky to even consider taking them on the road. The Dream on Me Traveler, though, scores on both points: It's both inexpensive and light (15.5 pounds). It also sets up in seconds: unfold it like an umbrella stroller, snap on the legs, and you're all set. If you're looking for a bassinet that's as easy to take to a hotel or Grandma's as it is to use in your own bedroom, this is the one. Parents also say that it's larger and sturdier than competitors, even pricier ones.

Heads up

This bassinet sits a bit low, which can make picking up your baby or putting her down more difficult if you have a bad back or have had a c-section. It also doesn't come with its own fitted sheet, and Dream On Me doesn't sell a dedicated sheet. The company recommends buying a sheet that fits a 20 x 33-inch mattress (many bassinet sheets are sold to fit up to a 20 x 34-inch mattress pad). 

Parents say

"I recommend the Dream on Me Traveler. Super light and easy to travel with."

"Our bedroom was quite small and I didn't want our baby to sleep in a different room for the first few months. So we bought a Dream On Me Karley. And my mom ended up gifting me a Dream On Me Traveler! She had peeked over my shoulder when I was searching! LOL! So we ended up with two. Both are wonderfully convenient and baby sleeps almost all through the night in them. So happy!"

"I can't say enough about the Dream On Me Traveler bassinet. It is super roomy and well built. I am so happy with it. We have traveled quite a bit with our little fella and the Traveler has been a godsend. Easy to assemble and fold up too."

Specs

• 37 x 22.75 x 27 inches unfolded; 32 x 12 x 21.5 inches folded
• 15.5 pounds
• Does not come with fitted sheet
• Discontinue use when baby can push up on hands and knees or reaches 25 pounds or 3 months

Nosy pets and pesty bugs don't have a chance against the Karley's double canopy, which zips up all the way around when you want your baby covered. You can pull it back halfway or completely when you want a better view of your baby, but if there are elements or creatures to keep at bay, the Karley is aces. It weighs just over 12 pounds (about the same as a lightweight umbrella stroller), and folds up into a compact package that's supremely easy to throw into the car trunk or keep in a closet between sleeps. The storage underneath the bassinet is handy, too, when you want to keep extra diapers or jammies nearby. 

Heads up

Some say the included mattress could be cushier. Dream on Me doesn't sell sheets for the Karley and recommends parents buy sheets to fit its 31.5 x 15.5 x 1-inch mattress, such as this fitted sheet from Pupiki (16 x 34 is a standard size for fitted bassinet sheets).

Parents say

"We considered Karley and Traveler bassinets, both from Dream On Me. In the end, the full canopy feature of the Karley Bassinet decided for us and we bought it. No regrets! Our baby daughter sleeps like an angel in it and we caught up on some much-needed shuteye too!"

"I have the blue Dream on Me Karley. I love it! Cute, sturdy, not heavy and easy to use. I also like that I can zip the top to keep the fricken cat out of it."

"We also have the Dream On Me Karley Bassinet and I liked it a lot for my last baby. Super easy to move around and the zip shut canopy will definitely come in handy with a 'helpful' 2-year-old around."

Specs

• 33 x 19.5 x 37 inches unfolded; 32 x 19.5 x 6 folded
• 12.4 pounds
• Does not come with fitted sheet
• Discontinue use when baby can push up on hands and knees or reaches 25 pounds or 3 months