Your baby has to sleep somewhere and with so many options out there it can feel overwhelming. Let us help you narrow down your choices of bedside bassinet.
Since sleeping with your baby in room is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) for the first 6 to 12 months of your newborn’s life, having a smaller footprint bassinet is a great option for the first 3 to 5 months depending on the particular manufacturer's specification and when baby begins to push themselves up independently.
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Bedside bassinets can provide a great middle ground if you’d like to have your baby in the room, but not in the bed.
If you’re curious about cosleeping/ bedsharing please read here for a more in-depth explanation of the risks and benefits.
I cannot recommend products advertised as in-bed co-sleepers, like the Dock a Tot and Snuggle Me Organic, or inclined loungers, for safe nighttime sleep due to the risk of suffocation. These are not considered safe sleep surfaces without an awake and alert adult present.
For that reason, I’m a big fan of the bedside bassinet to provide a safe sleep surface that keeps your baby nearby on their own sleep surface.
I’ve rounded up my choices for the top 5 best bedside bassinets.
These can be placed next to the bed or elsewhere in the chosen sleep space. I’ve selected several that have the option to drop down on the side for a co-sleeping experience while allowing your baby to stay in their own safe sleep space, as recommended by the AAP.
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One benefit of having your baby next to your bed is an easier middle-of-the-night feeding transition. However you feed your baby, having them nearby makes for a less disruptive process.
If you are breastfeeding at the breast, a drop-down bassinet can make it quicker to achieve a side-lying feeding position, a popular feeding position for late-night feeding.
If you are recovering from a cesarean birth, side railings that drop down can feel better on your healing body by putting less strain on your abdominal and back muscles.
Other top considerations when choosing a bedside bassinet are the features that come with it.
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Having breathable mesh sides is an important feature to seek out for safety reasons. If your little one rolls into the side, having mesh there to allow for unobstructed breathing is crucial.
I’m also particularly fond of additional storage. You can never have too much storage space in my opinion so choosing one that has a lower shelf and/or side pockets is a big plus in my book.
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Extra storage space is great for keeping a pajama or onesie change nearby for blowouts and leaks that are bound to happen. Keeping diapers and wipes at hand is also helpful, particularly if you don’t have a changing surface nearby.
If your baby takes a pacifier, you can keep extras tucked away as needed. I’d also suggest sticking a protein bar or other snack as well as an extra water bottle in there for your own needs. Recovering from birth, breastfeeding, and exhaustion are all aided by being hydrated and nourished.
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Another major consideration is the size and portability of the bassinet. For apartment dwellers, you may wish to find a smaller bassinet or one that folds up easily when not in use.
Some even come on wheels so you can change the location of the bassinet as needed. To be stable, however, they often do have a larger base area to prevent tipping.
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Some bassinets come with extra features to help soothe your baby or make late nights easier on parents. Features like vibration, white noise, and night lights are extras that you may or may not wish to add on.
When searching for the right items for your baby, consider a few things. How long will you use the product and how often?
For something like a bassinet, you’ll be using it several times daily but only for a short period of time. You want to find something that fits your budget, lifestyle, and available space, and comes with high safety ratings.
Beaba Shnuggle
$399.00
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The Beaba Shnuggle comes in at my top pick for design. This beautiful and modern bassinet has the bonus feature of converting to a crib with a conversion kit (additional purchase of $200).
Other features that make this bassinet stand out are the full drop down side, and the waterproof mattress that comes included.
Pros:
- Beautiful Modern Design
- Can convert into a crib
- Full drop down side
- Waterproof mattress included
Cons:
- Price tag is the highest on the list at $399
- The crib conversion kit in not included, but can be purchased in addition for $200 extra
Venice Child California Dreaming
$270.00
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The Venice Child California Dreaming comes in at a close second for design. It has simple, Scandinavian design features while still having functionality.
The mesh sides drop down, roomy underneath storage, and adjustable height makes this bassinet a top contender.
An extra highlight of the Venice Child bassinet is that it can fold down compact for under bed storage or travel, coming in at 22 pounds.
Pros:
- Simple yet sleek Scandinavian design
- Mesh sides
- Full drop down sides
- Roomy storage
- Adjustable height
- Folds for storage or travel
Cons:
- None
Maxi Cosi Iora
$270.00
Image Source: maxicosi.com
The Maxi Cosi Iora features a minimalist design with fantastic underneath storage. With a variety of color options, and mesh sides the highlight of this bassinet is that it folds up for storage and travel.
One feature missing is the drop-down side, but that may not be a need for every parent. This option weighs 24 pounds, a consideration if you choose to travel with it.
Pros:
- Minimalist design
- Underneath storage
- Lots of color options
- Mesh sides
- Folds for storage or travel
- Lightweight for travel
Cons:
- No drop down sides
Halo Bassinest Premiere
$240.00
Image Source: halosleep.com
The Halo Bassinest Premiere has the most bells and whistles of our selections. The Halo Bassinest comes in a variety of models, with various features and price points.
This model is my middle-of-the-road top pick from their choices and the one that I had for my own son.
Stand-out design features are vibration soothing buttons, sound options, and a nightlight.
What this bassinet lacks in storage space, it has side pockets, it makes up for in the features and the swivel capabilities.
Please note that the Halo Bassinest is heavy and is not easy to move around the room.
Pros:
- Variety of models
- Vibration soothing buttons
- Sound options
- Nightlight
- Swivel capabilities
Cons:
- Lacks storage space
- Heavy, not ideal for travel
Baby Delight Beside Me
$200.00
Image Source: babydelight.com
The Baby Delight Beside Me comes in at the lowest price point on our list of top 5.
It has mesh, fold-down sides, and side storage pockets.
This model does not have storage underneath, but has plenty of space if you’d like to get creative and place your own storage basket under the bassinet.
The height can be adjusted to 6 different heights.
Pros:
- Price is nice
- Mesh sides
- Fold-down sides
- Side storage pockets
- Adjustable height
Cons:
- No storage underneath
By: Erin Pasquet
Birth and Postpartum Doula
Childbirth Educator
Certified Lactation Counselor
Pre/Post Natal Yoga Teacher
