The Best Bassinets to Keep Your Baby Close at Night

Pros:

• 100% breathable, washable mattress
• Height-adjustable and zip-down side
• Large sleep space

Cons:

• Expensive
• Large footprint + doesn’t slide under a bed
• A bit low for taller parents

As a huge fan of Newton’s breathable crib mattress (I really love it), I was thrilled when the brand released a bassinet several years ago and couldn’t wait to try it. Based on brand reputation and looks alone, I loved it right out of the box, and I’m happy to report that I loved it even more after actually using it. Many Babylist parents agree; it’s one of the most registered-for bassinets in the Babylist Shop.

Most parents tell me that the first—and most important—thing that drew them to the Newton bassinet is its mattress. I agree, as it’s also what I love most about it. Just like their popular crib mattress, this mini version is 100% breathable, washable and lightweight. This matters because anxiety over baby’s sleep is pretty common among new parents (raises hand…)—and anything that can help manage that is something I’m always here for. “The peace of mind with the mattress being fully breathable is awesome,” one parent told us in our Best Baby Products survey.

The other feature I like about this bassinet is the size of the sleep space. It’s big—”bigger than most bassinets,” according to another parent we spoke with—which means you’ll be able to use it longer than many other bassinets on the market. That matters, even more so since the Newton is on the pricier side as compared to other stationary bassinets. It’s also sturdy and timelessly styled, making it a good investment if you plan on having more than one child.

I found the adjustments on the Newton useful and easy to use. There are eight adjustable settings so you can find the height that works best for you, although note that even the highest setting is still rather low if you’re on the taller side. (I’m 5’10” for reference.) And while I didn’t use it much, I do like the zip-down infant access opening if you’re planning to use the bassinet as a bedside sleeper for easy access to your little one. (According to Newton, the bassinet is designed for beds 19.5 inches to 25 inches tall. If your bed is taller than this range, you can still use the bassinet, it will just be a bit lower than your bed). Parents also like that it’s fairly lightweight and easy to move around the house, although note that it doesn’t have wheels.

Because of the larger sleep space, the Newton has a bigger footprint than some other comparable bassinets. The base doesn’t slide under your bed and takes up a decent amount of real estate, even in a larger bedroom or nursery. But the tradeoff is there are no splayed legs to trip over, a common parent complaint about many “space-saving” bassinet styles. The other con parents note about this bassinet is that the zip-down side is made from fabric, not mesh. While this is not a safety concern (the bassinet is approved by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission), parents wish the bassinet had four mesh sides instead of just three.

Real Parent Reviews

“LOVE this bassinet! The peace of mind from the breathable mattress is such a blessing…This is light and can be moved well to different parts of the house as needed. It also is great by the bed. One side can be lowered just like they did for our baby in the hospital bassinet. Love the see-through sides as well. We got the breathable crib mattress from Newton too. Highly recommend both.” —Abigail

“The Newton is sturdy and spacious. The ability to reach in and attend to the baby without having to get out of bed is a major plus. Also, the easy-to-clean aspect of this bassinet makes unexpected accidents so simple to deal with and restore cleanliness to our baby’s sleep space. The best part of all is the peace of mind that comes with a breathable mattress. Our baby is a side sleeper so this is a HUGE bonus for first-time parents like us.” — Sara L.

“I don’t know what possessed me to spend $300 on this extremely basic baby bassinet, but here we are. Luckily, baby sleeps well and enjoys her bassinet! Seeing as she is a little wiggly girl, there have been times where we have woken up to find her with her face smashed into the side of the bassinet. That’s the moment when I thank Newton for making such a breathable sleeping area for my LO. One star comes off for the removable mattress cover. Be careful putting it back on after you wash it, the mesh on the back is fragile and the mattress edges can snag and tear that mesh easily.” — Sydney

Additional Specs

Pros:

• Fully customizable for height, position and swivel
• 2-in-1 design converts to portable nest
• One side lowers for easy access to baby

Cons:

• Splayed legs easy to trip over
• Large footprint; heavy
• Base won’t slide under a low or platform bed
• Tilts easily

Multi-function baby gear is always a win in my book. The Halo BassiNest pulls double duty as a safe place for your little one to sleep and a portable spot for them to chill around your home thanks to the removable bassinet. It’s also a popular choice among Babylist parents, with 20% naming it as their favorite bassinet in our Best Baby Products survey.

Customization and versatility are why the BassiNest has remained a parent favorite for so long. It features a 360-degree swivel, an adjustable stand for beds up to 30 inches and a retractable side wall. “It makes tending to our baby during the night so easy,” one parent told us. This adjustability is especially useful if you’re sore post-delivery. One parent called it a “must-have” for C-section parents or anyone else struggling with core strength postpartum. “The drop side was a lifesaver,” she said.

The removable bassinet feature on the BassiNest is a recent addition and, in my eyes, a thoughtful one. The bassinet portion pops off the stand for a portable—and safe—nest for baby to relax in around the house. Just note that the portable nest isn’t for sleeping when it’s detached from the BassiNest base.

While the BassiNest is designed to tuck under a bed to both save space and bring baby close, there are two caveats to know if you’re considering it. The first is that due to the angle of the legs, the base won’t slide under beds that are lower to the ground. (Halo states it fits best on bed frames that are at least 4.5 inches high.) The other is the splayed leg design. While one set of legs may slide under your bed, the other set will stick out quite a bit—and they’re really easy to trip over if you’re not careful.

Some parents also note that the bassinet tilts easily, especially with older or heavier babies. While I’ve never experienced this firsthand, I have seen it mentioned in many reviews and know a friend who experienced it. It’s often a slight tilt, and usually happens when the bassinet is swiveled outward and not centered on its base, but it is something to be aware of.

Real Parent Reviews

“I am so incredibly pleased with the quality of this bassinet! The features are well thought out and are built to endure those long nights at home with a newborn. I ended up having an unplanned c-section and this bassinet was a game-changer! I was able to comfortably and easily lift my newborn to nurse during the night. The bassinet feels stable and sturdy. The mesh walls allow for increased airflow and create further visibility—easing my new mom anxieties as I could easily see my baby at night. The best part about this bassinet is that the mattress comes with a liner. It’s so easy to throw in the washer and dries so quickly (it does need to be air dried).” — Lauren

“This Halo [bassinet] is simply amazing. It’s a lot bigger than I had anticipated, but in a good way. My newborn was sleeping in a normal old hand-me-down bassinet and it was so small and cramped. This Halo bed is so roomy and works really well. It’s sturdy, very well made, and I love the fact that the height is adjustable.” — Rich

“The only nice things about this product are the swivel feature and that the front bar comes down. Other than that I would not recommend this at all. I am using this with our newborn (8 lbs) who is nowhere near the 20-pound weight limit. The bassinet is not level unless it is in a certain position so he rolls toward either side. The base is extremely bulky and heavy. Yes you can swivel the top to get out of bed, but then you have to maneuver around the legs.” — Helene

Additional Specs

Pros:

• Beautiful design
• Adjusts up and down and sideways
• Breathable mesh sides

Cons:

• Large footprint
• No drop-down side
• Mattress pad cover not sold separately; need to contact Customer Care for replacement

A bassinet is about safety, but it’s also about aesthetics. And there’s something about the look and style of the Iora that makes it stand out from the crowd. Combined with impressive functionality and adjustability, it’s an option I frequently recommend to parents looking for a safe and beautiful spot for their baby to sleep. This Classic Oat color is a Babylist exclusive, so you’ll only find it here.

The Iora slides both up and down and side to side, so you can find the perfect fit for your bed’s height (and you). It also makes it easy to slide the bassinet close to you in bed for quick access to your little one. While not the largest sleep space of the bassinets on our list, it’s still on the bigger side, so you’ll get many months of use out of it before your baby outgrows it.

While certainly not the lightest option, the Iora does fold down flat for travel, a feature you don’t often see in full-size, adjustable bassinets. We also love the ample storage down below and the breathable mesh sides.

There are a few obvious cons to the Iora, including its larger footprint, lack of a drop-down side and price. But one of the less obvious quirks is the mattress pad cover. You can’t purchase one directly via the brand’s website; instead, you need to contact their Customer Care directly. And the brand recommends against using an aftermarket sheet from another manufacturer since it hasn’t been safety tested by Maxi-Cosi.

Real Parent Reviews

“This bassinet is absolutely amazing! It looks sleek and stylish in our bedroom and our baby loves it. He has been sleeping through the night since 9 weeks so the mattress must be comfortable:) Super easy to travel with as well. Highly recommend this one!!” —Elle

“A modern and chic alternative to a classic bassinet. I love that it adjusts and the see-through mesh sides too. It’s all super sturdy!” —LK

“Stylish, spacious and awesome quality. Bigger than most bassinets, but perfect for growing baby. Only downfall is I can’t find sheets on the website to protect the mattress.” —Danielle

Additional Specs

Pros:

• Budget-friendly
• Standalone or bedside sleeper mode
• Almost all fabrics made from recycled water bottles

Cons:

• Small sleep space
• No storage

Many parents don’t want to spend a lot of money on something their baby will outgrow in just a few months. And while there are many more affordable bassinet options on the market, many of them are hard to put together, offer zero adjustability or aren’t very sturdy. This Delta x babyGap pick performs well in all of those categories and then some, all for under $150, making it my pick for the best affordable bassinet option.

The Whisper can be used as either a standalone bassinet or as a bedside sleeper with the drop-down side, an impressive option considering the bassinet’s price point. There’s breathable mesh on three sides and storage pockets on two for smaller items. (There isn’t any storage underneath, though, which some parents dislike.) It’s also height-adjustable, which many bassinets at the price point are not. And it includes a waterproof mattress pad and fitted sheet, so you don’t have to search for or purchase those separately.

One more interesting thing to note: all of the fabric, minus the fitted sheet, is made from recycled water bottles. Keep in mind that the sleep space in the Whisper is the smallest of all of the bassinets on our list, measuring about 28 inches long, but I wouldn’t call it small—especially considering the average newborn is about 19-20 inches long.

Real Parent Reviews

“This bassinet is STUNNING! It is an excellent and easy-to-use bassinet and my newborn sleeps fantastic in it. We love the Delta X Gap collection; it looks sleek and modern next to our bed. It was easy to assemble and I feel safe having my baby in it to sleep. It is sturdy, aesthetic, and comfortable.” — Danny

“I decided to purchase this bassinet based off the beautiful pink color but am leaving this great review because of the quality of the product! It is such great quality and easy to put together. 10/10 recommend it!” — Rebecca

“Easy to put together but the highest level is still very below [the] waist resulting in lots of bending. We have a standard-height bed and likely would not be able to use the cosleeper option if we wanted. The “grey stripes” is more of a greenish grey which works for us but others might not like.” — Candace

Additional Specs

Pros:

• Automatically responds to cries with motion and sound
• Developed by a pediatrician
• Rental option if you don’t want to buy

Cons:

• Very expensive
• Some think it makes babies reliant on motion for sleep
• Built-in swaddle can limit movement and development if used for too long

As a baby gear expert, the product I get asked about the most is far and away the Snoo. “Is the Snoo worth it?” and “Should I register for the Snoo?” are questions I field all the time from expecting parents. My answer? It depends.

Created by Dr. Harvey Karp, a pediatrician, author of The Happiest Baby on the Block and creator of The 5 S’s, the Snoo is a smart bassinet that automatically responds to your baby’s cries with gradual motion and sound. It features a built-in swaddle to keep baby safely on their back, and the bassinet’s movements and sounds are designed to imitate the womb and add a few hours of sleep to your baby’s night.

Opinions on the Snoo are decidedly mixed. Many parents absolutely swear by it. “The Snoo was a game changer,” one mom told us. “It’s the absolute best,” said another. “We were able to get much-needed sleep, and our newborn loved the motion and comfort it provided. We also loved the safety aspects.”

Others, however, aren’t as obsessed. “It’s so expensive and just didn’t work for us,” said one parent in our Best Baby Products survey. “Our baby hated it so much. He hated to be swaddled and that’s the only way you can use it…[and] when he would cry and the Snoo would speed up [and] it would scare him.” Sheehan, the pediatric sleep consultant we spoke to for this guide, doesn’t recommend it to her clients. “It trains babies to require motion, and is often hard for them to be weaned from,” she says. And some pediatricians and physical and occupational therapists recommend either using it only for a short time period or skipping it altogether because it limits babies’ movements and may lead to developmental issues.

Like so many baby products, I tell expecting parents that whether or not they should register for the Snoo comes down to personal preferences. It’s by far my favorite smart bassinet, and when used as directed can be a very good option for many families. But it’s expensive, has a short usage window and there’s no way to know ahead of time how your baby will respond to it. Two alternative options are to purchase a Certified Pre-Loved Snoo that has undergone a refresh and reconditioning process for about 25% off. There’s also a rental option for $159 per month (one-month minimum rental commitment), which works out to around five dollars a day.

Real Parent Reviews

“If there was ever a house fire, the Snoo is the first item I would grab (after family members, obvi). My baby has been sleeping in 10-12 hours stretches since she was 9 weeks old. We bought it used, we are the 3rd owners and it still works great. I’m saving it so everyone I love can borrow it!” —Alex M.

“Got this when my baby was 7 weeks old after deciding it was time to try anything to get some sleep. She only wanted to be held to sleep and I was so sleep-deprived I decided to get this. Thank god I did! Baby girl has been sleeping through the night in this and I am getting some much-needed rest!” —Carla T.

“It’s so expensive and just didn’t work for us. I think it could be really awesome if your baby loves and becomes accustomed to the Snoo sack, but our baby just hated it.” —Jane

“First, the pros: The Snoo is a beautiful piece of furniture and a well-made bassinet. It functioned without issues. Shipping and return were easy and smooth. The monthly rental cost was reasonable. However, it didn’t do much for our baby’s sleep, and we returned it shortly after the two-month mark. Every baby is different, and unlike my first baby, this second one absolutely hated being swaddled with his arms down. He fought it with his entire being, and had fitful days and nights of sleep as a result. He also hated the higher levels of motion. I really wished you could manually limit the motion and sound on the Snoo itself without the app. But there’s no way to do that. We transitioned to a different swaddle (the Swaddle Up) and crib early at 8 weeks just to see how he’d do. He immediately began sleeping 6-8 hour stretches, instead of 3-4 hours with the Snoo. We don’t regret trying the Snoo at all. It just didn’t work for our baby.” —Tomoko

Additional Specs

Pros:

• Lightweight
• Folds quickly and compactly into included tote
• Budget-friendly

Cons:

• Smaller sleep space
• Extra sheets can be tough to find

Sometimes less is more. The LullaGo Anywhere is a sleek, simple bassinet that truly lives up to its “go anywhere” name. It’s perfect for travel because it’s lightweight (just about 12 pounds) and breaks down compactly into an included tote. (Better news: it takes only seconds to set back up again.) And it’s just as great to use at home, too. “It is literally so easy to move and maneuver,” one mom told us. “We live in a small house and loved how compact and portable it was,” said another.

The bassinet comes with a fitted sheet, so you won’t need to purchase one separately. The sleep space is on the smaller side but still roomy enough for most babies for at least a few months. Since there’s no bottom shelf, there isn’t a ton of storage, but there is a mesh pocket on the side where you can stash a few smaller items.

One more small quirk worth mentioning: to pack up this bassinet, the mattress folds in half, creating a small ridge right down the middle. Your baby likely won’t notice it, but some parents worry about the comfort.

Keep in mind that the LullaGo doesn’t have wheels. If you’re looking for a rolling bassinet (and space isn’t an issue), Chicco’s Close To You 3-in-1 Bedside Bassinet is a solid choice.

Real Parent Reviews

“Simple. Lightweight. He sleeps better in this than the expensive one!” — John H.

“This bassinet saved us those first newborn months. Because it was lightweight and easy to assemble/disassemble, it allowed us to move it from room to room and figure out the right setup for us. Love that the fabric covering is machine washable and that it is both GREENGUARD Gold and JPMA certified.” — DCCA

“For the price, I think this is a great bassinet. My daughter sleeps safely and comfortably. I was tempted to get the Halo Swivel, but this has worked perfectly so I’m glad we were able to save a bit on an item that our baby won’t even use for that long. It felt extremely safe, most importantly, so I would recommend.” — Clarasmom

“Super easy to put together and spacious for a newborn without taking up a huge amount of space. He seems comfy enough laying in it and it’s a great height to get in and out of, even from bed. The docked star is for its true dimensions. The mattress is a non-standard size and they say to only use their sheets and covers. The problem? They’re often out of stock (I’ve never seen the IN stock).” — Greg B.

Additional Specs