The 8 Best Bedside Bassinets for Newborn Babies
Getting ready for baby’s arrival? From nursery gliders and carriers to baby bouncers and white noise machines, the long list of “must-have” baby gear can be overwhelming. One item you do need? A safe sleep space for baby. While a crib is a good long-term investment, a bedside bassinet is a convenient option for the newborn stage. The best bedside bassinets keep baby safely ensconced in their own sleep zone, but still within arm’s reach for nighttime feeds and comfort. Plus, unlike a large crib, bedside sleepers have a small footprint and special features, which make them the best choice for room-sharing.
Eager to learn more? Keep reading to discover everything you need to know about bedside bassinets—plus, browse our picks of the best options to keep baby safely snoozing at your side.
A bedside bassinet is a small enclosed sleep space for infants. Unlike a bedside sleeper, which has one open side that attaches to a bed, a bassinet is a standalone piece of furniture. Some bedside bassinets are designed with a base that slots underneath your bed or a swivel feature that allows you to keep baby at eye-level. Other options feature drop-down panels or lowering sidewalls that make it easier to remove baby for nighttime feeding sessions.
“Bedside bassinets are safe as long as they meet Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) regulations,” says Alexis Phillips-Walker, DO, a pediatrician at Memorial Hermann Medical Group Pediatrics in Atascocita, Texas. Bassinets and bedside sleepers are subject to strict safety standards. Per the CPSC, they must have:
- A limit on the paint and surface coating
- Fabric-sided enclosed openings to prevent entrapment and suffocation hazards
- A minimum height on lowered side wall
- Compliance with fundamental safety requirements for sleep environments, such as protection against unintentional folding, no small parts or sharp edges
Bedside bassinets vs. bedside sleepers
It’s important to note that bedside sleepers with side walls that can be opened or lowered should be used with caution. Jillian Thistel, a certified pediatric sleep consultant and founder of Twinkling Stars Pediatric Sleep Consulting in Ontario, Canada, says there are specific safety hazards associated with this type of product. These include, but aren’t limited to, the potential for baby to get trapped between the gap of the sleeper and the bed, the possibility of falls and the risk of suffocation. If parents choose to use a bedside sleeper, Thistel recommends taking the following precautions to reduce the risks outlined above:
- Check that the product meets CPSC safety standards
- Follow assembly instructions to the letter
- Adhere to height and weight guidelines for use
- Do not use loose bedding—blankets, pillows, toys or crib bumpers—in baby’s sleep space
- For traditional bedside sleepers, keep the drop-down wall in an upright position when it’s attached to your bed
On the other hand, a fully enclosed bedside bassinet is a safer bet, but it still gives you easy access to baby. However, if your bedside bassinet has a drop-down panel, Thistel advises that it remains fully up when baby is sleeping for safety reasons.
Bedside bassinets can be used from birth, but infants may outgrow them quickly. According to Philips, it’s best to transition baby to a crib once they’ve started to roll over, surpassed the weight limit or start to physically outgrow the bassinet. All children are different, but infants typically begin to roll over at the four-month mark Thistel also advises parents to check the height and weight recommendations on each specific bassinet to determine how long their child can use it for.
The main benefit of a bedside bassinet is that it enables room-sharing. Guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend that parents sleep in the same room—but never in the same bed or on the same surface—as baby for at least six months. Room-sharing makes it easier for parents to feed, comfort and monitor baby—and, according to Philips, it actually reduces the risk of SIDS by up to 50 percent. Bedside bassinets facilitate room-sharing, as they don’t take up much room and are easy to maneuver in tight spaces.
Now that you’ve got the basics, here are the best bedside bassinets that are safe and convenient.
Overall best bedside bassinet
- Extremely sturdy, according to our product tester
- Lightweight style with wheels for easy mobility
- Spacious storage basket
- Not compatible with platform beds
- Our product tester said it wasn’t as stylish as other options on the market
- Assembly required
First up on our list is this standout bedside bassinet which earned a spot in our Best of The Bump roundup. The clever design offers maximum visibility—so you can always keep a close eye on baby—and has a detachable side for easy access to your little love. Plus, it features adjustable, built-in leg extensions and four wheels; this way, it can meet your changing needs throughout the day. Our product tester, the mom of a one-month-old, echoed this, telling us “although it is designed to be next to your bed, this bassinet is very light and on wheels so you could take it throughout the house if needed.” She also praised it for its effectiveness, saying “my baby had no issues falling asleep in this bassinet! He has plenty of room and is very easily accessible.” What’s more, the bedside bassinet has a spacious storage basket, where you can keep essentials like diapers, wipes, swaddles or even breastfeeding gear.
Dimensions: 34" (L) x 20" (W) x 34.5" (H) | Weight: 26 lbs. | Weight capacity: 45 lbs. | Age rating: Up to 5 months
“The bassinet is roomy for my baby and the sides allow me to see him without standing over the bassinet. My favorite feature is probably having the storage underneath. This was very convenient so I didn’t need to walk from his nursery to our room in the middle of the night.”
Best bedside bassinet with a removable base
- Rotates 360 degrees
- Removable bassinet
- Breathable mesh walls
- CPSC compliant
- Our product tester mentioned it was bulkier than other options
- Assembly required
Next on our list of the best bedside bassinets is the Halo BassiNest Swivel Sleeper 3.0. The updated version has the same great features as the original, like mesh sides for visibility and airflow, a lowering wall that can be pushed down for quick access to baby and a 360-degree swivel function. But, there’s one key difference: The new and improved version has a detachable bassinet. This means you can easily transport it from room to room, so your little one can safely nap in peace anywhere and everywhere. What’s more, it features a slimmer silhouette with a base that’s over 30 percent lighter, but is just as sturdy as the original and easily slots underneath a bed. Looking for a bassinet with smart features? Halo also offers a luxe model, which boasts a nightlight, white noise and soothing vibration.
Dimensions: 34" (L) x 42.5" (H) | Weight: 22.6 lbs. | Weight capacity: 20 lbs. | Age rating: Up to 5 months
“I love how easy it is to swivel closer and away from my bed to keep baby close.” - Laura
Best bedside bassinet with swaying motion
- Manual swaying motion
- Nine adjustable height settings
- Base fits under the bed
- CPSC compliant
- Difficult to source replacement mattress pads
- Assembly required
Gentle motion—like rocking or swaying—can help soothe infants back to sleep. But bouncing baby in your arms is hard work, especially when you’re coming off the back of a few sleepless nights. Fortunately, Graco’s DreamMore Bedside Bassinet is here to help. Designed with a manual sway motion, this bassinet has a built-in handle that lets you control the speed and rhythm of movement. Better yet, the height can be adjusted so that it rests over your bed and the bassinet rests on gliding legs that allow you to pull baby even closer. It also has breathable mesh walls and the bassinet is portable to boot.
Dimensions: 29.3" (L) x 46.3" (H) | Weight: 32.7 lbs. | Weight capacity: 20 lbs. | Age rating: N/A
Best bedside bassinet and changing table
- Plays music and vibrates
- Swivels over the bed
- Doubles as a changing table
- CPSC compliant
- Crib sheets sold separately
- Assembly required
Bassinets have a limited shelf life, as baby will quickly outgrow their first sleep space. But you’ll get your money's worth with this pick by Chicco, as it can be used as a bedside bassinet and a changing table for infants weighing up to 35 pounds. This practical option has swivel wheels, mesh side panels and a range of height adjustment, which all allow baby to be as close as possible while still in their own sleep space. It glides over the bed and has a hand brake to prevent the bassinet from rolling. Plus, soothing melodies and vibrations provide a restful, cozy environment. Time for a diaper change? Simply flip the mattress over to the waterproof changing pad and lower the bassinet walls for easy access while in use as a changing station. Genius!
Dimensions: 33.5" (L) x 28" (W) x 46" (H) | Weight: 33 lbs. | Weight capacity: 20 lbs. (bassinet); 35 lbs. (changing table) | Age rating: N/A
Best bedside bassinet for small spaces
- Narrow footprint; folds compactly
- Four adjustable heights and three sliding positions
- Comes with a travel bag
- JPMA-certified
- Our product tester said it requires two people to move it
- Assembly required
This versatile co-sleeper bassinet has a narrow footprint and adjusts to four different height positions to meet your little one’s changing needs. If baby wakes up in the middle of the night, simply glide them closer to you, thanks to this style’s three slide positions. Our product tester, the mom of a 3-month-old, was a fan of this bedside bassinet’s effectiveness. She told us that her infant falls asleep quickly in it, and that “it’s a good height to set him down and pick him up.” What’s more, she loved how, despite the compact size, her little one had “plenty of room to stretch and get comfortable.” Bonus: It folds up and comes with a travel bag for straightforward portability.
Dimensions: 38.5" (L) x 26" (W) x 36" (H) | Weight: 24 lbs. | Weight capacity: 20 lbs. | Age rating: Up to 5 months
“It’s very easy to put the sides up and down from the bassinet for the co-sleeping function… the sliding [feature] when in bed is also very useful—especially because I have it right next to me.”
Best breathable bedside bassinet
- 100-night free trial
- All of the fabric is washable—including the crib mattress
- It can be used as a bedside sleeper or a standalone bassinet
- Newton doesn’t sell spare crib sheets for this bassinet
- Assembly required
Newton makes the best crib mattresses in the game, but did you know the brand makes nursery furniture too? This bassinet doubles as a bedside sleeper, and utilizes the same patented Wovenaire technology as Newton’s award-winning mattress. The firm sleep-surface is completely washable from cover to core, and promotes healthy air-circulation. It has eight adjustable height settings and a sturdy beechwood base.
Dimensions: 41.5" (L) x 22" (W) x 31.8" (H) | Weight: 22 lbs. | Weight capacity: N/A | Age rating: Up to 6 months
Best affordable bedside bassinet
- Five adjustable height settings
- Z-shaped frame slides under bed
- CPSC compliant
- Low weight capacity
- Wheels don’t roll over carpet
- Assembly required
Next up on our list of the best bedside bassinets is this option by Simmons Kids. The Z-shaped frame has wheels that make it easy to slide the base under your bed, plus the height is adjustable so you can keep baby at eye level. Mesh panels improve airflow, and large pockets at either end are the perfect place to store binkies and muslin cloths. And at under $130, it’s an affordable option to boot.
Dimensions: 31" (L) x 19.5" (W) x 41.5" (H) | Weight: 19.2 lbs. | Weight capacity: 15 lbs. | Age rating: Up to 5 months
Best 2-in-1 bedside bassinet
- Drop-down panel for quick access
- Eight adjustable height settings
- CPSC compliant
- Difficult to source replacement crib sheets
- Assembly required
Looking for a versatile option? This model by Skip Hop can be used as a bedside sleeper or as a standalone bassinet. In bedside mode, security straps attach it to the bed and a sliding door panel gives parents easy access to baby. In bassinet mode, baby is safely confined in a separate sleep space, but mesh sides ensure that you can see them at all times. It also has adjustable height options and lockable wheels on the base make it easy to move around the house.
Dimensions: 34.1 " (L) x 25.8" (H) | Weight: 24 lbs. | Weight capacity: 20 lbs. | Age rating: Up to 5 months
We get it—creating a safe sleep environment for baby can be overwhelming. To help you find the best bedside bassinet for your little one, we browsed dozens of options from leading baby brands and trusted online retailers, so you don’t have to spend hours scrolling. We considered a list of criteria when sourcing products, including ease of use, quality and durability, size, value, style and, of course, safety. We also read user reviews to get the lowdown on how these bassinets have worked for real families, and didn’t consider anything with less than an average four-star rating.
To make sure we’re highlighting bedside bassinets that are safe, we chatted with a pediatrician and a pediatric sleep consultant to understand essential features and safety considerations to keep top of mind as you shop. We also followed the safety recommendations of the AAP and looked for certifications and seals of approval from key organizations, like the CPSC or Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA). What’s more, some of these bassinets were reviewed by our team of independent product testers, providing additional insight for our roundup.
Interested in learning more about our editorial process? Read about how our team develops and reviews all articles here.
Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.
Plus, more from The Bump:
Alexis Phillips-Walker, DO, is a pediatrician at Memorial Hermann Medical Group Pediatrics in Atascocita, Texas. She earned her medical degree at Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Athens.
Jillian Thistel, is a certified pediatric sleep consultant in the Greater Toronto Area in Ontario, Canada. She is a member of the Association of Professional Sleep Consultants and founder of Twinkling Stars Pediatric Sleep Consulting.
Consumer Product Safety Commission, Bassinets and Cradles Business Guidance & Small Entity Compliance Guide
Consumer Product Safety Commission, Bedside Sleepers Business Guidance & Small Entity Compliance Guide
American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Pediatrics Updates Safe Sleep Recommendations: Back is Best, June 21, 2022
Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial process.
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