9 Best Rocking Bassinet, 2 in 1 Lightweight Help Get Your Baby to Sleep

9 Best Rocking Bassinet, 2 in 1 Lightweight Help Get Your Baby to Sleep

Keeping baby close, especially during sleep, is something that’s often on the mind of many new parents. A bassinet is a great option—they’re loved for their convenience and for their safety. The American Academy of Pediatrics safe sleep guidelines recommend keeping baby’s sleep area in the same room where you sleep for at least the first six months.

A bassinet is a sleeping space that is smaller than a crib and designed for newborns and younger babies. Bassinets are typically placed next to your bed to give you easy access to your baby throughout the night, and many are mobile so your baby can nap near you during the day.

Even though it may not feel like it at 2 a.m., your newborn sleeps the majority of the day — about 16 hours, in fact. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that for at least the first 6 months of baby’s life (and ideally the first year), infants should sleep in the same room as their parents, but not in the same bed.

A newborn bassinet is a comfortable and convenient way to keep baby in your room in the early months without taking up quite as much space as a standard crib. 

“I love it when parents use a bassinet for their baby in the first months of life,” says Emily Scott, M.D., a pediatric hospitalist at Riley Children’s Health in Indianapolis, Indiana. “This makes it easier for them to have their baby sleep in their room.”

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How long does baby sleep in a bassinet?

Newborn bassinets can be incredibly helpful in the early days of your baby’s life. The biggest benefit? Having baby by your bedside can help facilitate late-night feedings, bedtime bonding and nighttime comforting. And if you’re recovering from a C-section, you may also find that the lower height of a bassinet makes it easier to lift baby in and out — with a standard crib, there are higher sides to lean over.

One important thing to keep in mind, though: While the AAP recommends room sharing for 6 to 12 months, most babies grow out of bassinets by the time they are 3 or 4 months old, or whenever they can roll over on their own. Once they have reached this milestone, they should be transferred to a crib.

If you’re planning on using a bassinet, you should have it ready to go as soon your baby comes home from the hospital. You’ll likely use a bassinet for the first 3 or 4 months, or until the baby can roll over or push up on her hands. Because bassinets are shallower than cribs, a baby who has reached those milestones could flip over and tumble out.

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Bassinets, mini cribs, and Playards: What’s the difference?

You may have heard that all three of these items work for newborn sleep. But which one — or ones — should you invest in? The answer might be different for different families.

Bassinets, mini cribs, and Playards can all come in handy for new parents who want to keep their baby close by.

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Bassinet: 

Think of a baby bassinet as an upgrade to the old-fashioned baby cradle. Since bassinets tend to be small and lightweight, they’re really only suitable for very young babies. Some have collapsible bases that make them easy to stash away when not in use.

Mini crib: 

Ideal for small nurseries or to keep in the master bedroom, mini cribs have narrower mattresses than standard cribs, so larger babies may outgrow them more quickly. Some mini cribs fold flat, making them a popular choice to keep at Grandma’s house. The weight limit for mini cribs is often higher than bassinets, so they might be a better longer-term solution for room sharing after 3 months.

Playard: 

Once called playpens, these mesh-sided spaces work for baby’s naps, overnight sleep or simply playing in a contained space (like in a hotel room that isn’t baby-proofed). Playards usually fold into a compact tower, so they’re fairly easy to travel with, especially if you’re driving. (They may be a bit bulky for air travel, however.) Depending on which Playard you choose, you might also get additional bells and whistles such as a bassinet attachment, music/vibration feature, a changing station, nightlight, and diaper caddy.

Note that you should always check the weight limit on any item you’re using (a bassinet may have an especially low one), and mini cribs and players need to be retired if your child is nimble enough to climb out on her own, even if she hasn’t reached the height limit.

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What is the best bassinet for newborns?

Whether you want a sleek pod or a traditional look, bassinets come in many different styles — but some features are non-negotiable.

“Babies need to sleep alone in their own sleeping space with four sides around them,” says Dr. Scott. “We want to be sure that the sides of the bassinet aren’t made of a soft, plush material that the baby could suffocate against. Mesh sides, which are firmer and allow air to circulate, are okay to use.”

If you’re inheriting a hand-me-down bassinet from a friend or relative, be sure that it’s compliant with current safe sleep standards, that you have all required parts and check that the item hasn’t been part of a recall.

Must-have baby bassinet features:

• Firm, flat mattress
• Tight-fitting sheet
• Four-sided sleeping area that’s made of mesh or another material that isn’t overly thick or padded
• Locking mechanism if the bassinet can rock

Helpful extra baby bassinet features:

• Side pockets or lower storage space
• The base that can slide under a bed to save space
• Adjustable height
• The side that can be raised and lowered 
• Folding mechanism 
• Lockable wheels so it can be transported from one room to another 
• Vibration feature, music player, or overhead mobile

Ready to invest in your own newborn bassinet? Here are the best baby bassinets.

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1. Space Saving + Easily Accessible

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The Scoop

• Swivels and adjusts
• Space-saving—base slides right under the bed
• One side wall retracts for easy access

What Our Experts Think

Just like Goldilocks and the Three Bears, this sleeper gets bedside positioning just right thanks to the 360-degree swivel and adjustable stand. Better yet, the base tucks under your bed, so it doesn’t take up a ton of floorspace. Parents love the retractable wall that lowers to provide easy access to baby, which is helpful during recovery from birth and for nighttime nursing sessions. And the sheer mesh sides provide more visibility and breathability, which equals more peace of mind for parents. If you want the closeness of co-sleeping with extra safety, this is a great choice.

What’s Worth Considering

The downside to being so sturdy…is that it’s heavy. It’s not the ideal choice if you’ll need to move it from room to room. It’s also a high price point for a piece of gear you’ll only use during the newborn stage.

What Babylist Parents Say

“The best. I had two c-sections. This had just come out when I had my second, and the difference is huge—being able to stay completely seated to get the baby out to nurse gave a much-needed break to my healing wound. Total game changer as far as I’m concerned.” -Catherine K.

Additional Specs

Child Guidelines

Under 20 lbs. (stop using when baby shows signs of rolling over)

Safe Way to Co-Sleep

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The Scoop

• Safest way to co-sleep
• Can be used as a freestanding bassinet or a bedside sleeper
• Lots of storage

What Our Experts Think

As the name implies, this sleeper keeps your baby in arm’s reach—consider it your bed’s side-car. While it can be used as a freestanding bassinet (with four breathable sides), the differentiator here is that one side drops down and securely attaches to your bed, making it simple to scoop up your little one for feedings. There’s storage space underneath for diapers, wipes and extra swaddles. And parents love the ease of moving it from room to room thanks to the built-in wheels. Plus, it packs compactly for travel.

What’s Worth Considering

This co-sleeper is designed for beds starting at 24” (measuring from the floor to the top of your mattress). If your bed is higher, then you’ll need to purchase a separate leg extension kit.

What Babylist Parents Say

“BEST thing we bought! It made middle-of-the night breastfeeding so much easier, but still kept them safe. They were also easy to transition to the crib because the cosleeper didn’t hug them the way the other types of bassinets do.” -J.C.

Additional Specs

Child Guidelines

0-5 months or until baby is able to push up on its own

2. Portable + Affordable

The Scoop

• Simple, straightforward and well-priced
• Lightweight and ultra portable
• Breathable mesh sides

What Our Experts Think

You don’t always need a lot of bells and whistles when it comes to great baby gear. The Lullago is a sleek, simple bassinet that’s great for home and travel. It folds up so compactly that you can actually carry it on your shoulder in the included tote. And did we mention a sleep-deprived parent can set it up in seconds? Done and done.

What’s Worth Considering

To pack up this bassinet, the mattress folds in half. Your baby probably won’t notice the small ridge in the middle when the mattress lays flat, but some parents worry about the comfort. It also doesn’t come with sheets (but changing pad covers work well!).

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What Babylist Parents Say

“Used this until our son was 5 months old in our bedroom. Also great when we traveled, easy to break down and transport. Absolutely a must-have.” -Hilary

Additional Specs

Child Guidelines

Birth to 20 lbs, or when infant begins to push up on hands and knees

3. High-Tech Luxury

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The Scoop

• Responds to baby’s cries with movement and sound
• Developed by a pediatrician
• Expensive

What Our Experts Think

Parents clearly can do it all…but why not have a little help when it comes to getting your baby the best possible sleep? Dr. Harvey Karp (the brains behind The Happiest Baby on the Block book and video series) developed this automated bassinet with a built-in swaddle that responds to your baby’s cries. The Snoo monitors and soothes with just the right amount of white noise and gentle rocking motion to promote great sleep and turn midnight meltdowns around.

What’s Worth Considering

There’s no getting around the fact that the Snoo is really expensive. If you don’t want to invest—there’s now a rental option. At $118 per month (less than $4/day) and only a one-month minimum rental commitment, that’s a sleep solution we can definitely get behind.

What Babylist Parents Say

“Love my Snoo. My daughter is six months, and she is still in it. I love that it has the wean function, and it will shut off if baby needs you. The Snoo was a godsend to me, it helped my daughter get the sleep she needed.” -Ashley

Additional Specs

Child Guidelines

From birth to about 6 months or when your baby can get up on hands and knees, or until a maximum weight of 25 lbs

4. Ready to Add a Bassinet to Your Registry?

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With Babylist, you can add any item from any store onto ONE registry. Start your registry today and get a Hello Baby Box full of free (amazing!) goodies.

Goes the Distance

The Scoop

• Bassinet, changing table and playard all in one
• Great price point
• Useful from day one through toddlerhood

What Our Experts Think

Pack ‘n Plays have been around for a long time, and for good reason. They’re the perfect spot to sleep and play well into toddlerhood. Many parents set up one up in their room to keep their baby close before transitioning to a crib (look for Graco models that include a bassinet, often called a napper) then continue to use it for travel, a safe spot to play and more. This one includes a convenient diaper-changing station.

What’s Worth Considering

Pack ‘n Plays are great for travel, since they’re easy to fold and store in the carrying case. Just note that some models are pretty heavy, and make sure you stock up on the right size sheets!

What Babylist Parents Say

“It’s affordable, and we’ll be able to use when she outgrows the bassinet feature. I didn’t want to spend money on something only to get a few months of use. This is practical and it travels well.” -Sarah

Additional Specs

Child Guidelines

Changing table and bassinet designed for babies under 15 lbs and unable to push up on hands and knees. The playard is for children under 35” tall, who are unable to climb out.

Best Bargain

The Scoop

• Affordable
• Packed with great features like motion, mobile and lights

What Our Experts Think

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This bassinet is packed with features and comes in at a fraction of the price of other comparable sleep solutions on the market. From gentle motion (either powered by you or your baby) and a mesmerizing mobile to lights, sounds and even vibrations, there’s something to soothe even the most stubborn of sleepers. Parents also love the mesh sides for air flow and easy viewing and the built-in nightlight.

What’s Worth Considering Some parents comment that the mattress is on the thinner side.

What Babylist Parents Say

“LOVED this bassinet. It had a gentle vibrate setting we used frequently to get our little one to sleep. Plus it has built-in music/white noise and a soft night light that I could activate in the middle of the night when I got her out to feed.” -J.W.

Additional Specs

Child Guidelines:

For use with a child who is unable to push up on hands and knees or pull up. Maximum weight recommendation is 20 lbs

5. Responds to Baby’s Cry – Rocking Bassinet

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The Scoop

• Detects baby’s cry and automatically adjusts motion setting
• Canopy helps block light
• Built-in storage

What Our Experts Think

Graco is the latest baby brand to dive into the responsive bassinet trend. This one uses something called Cry Detection Technology to automatically respond with motion to help soothe your little one back to sleep if it detects crying. The bassinet has several different motion speeds as well as vibration, lights, white noise, music and built-in storage at the base to stowe things like pacifiers, diapers or wipes. There are also wheels if you need to move the bassinet around your house or apartment.

What’s Worth Considering

Some parents say the bassinet felt small for them and their baby outgrew it fairly quickly. Others mentioned that it didn’t always detect baby’s cries unless they were quite loud.

What Babylist Parents Say

“The Sense2Snooze is easy to put together, easy to use and really quiet. The motion worked really well to soothe my baby to sleep.” -Marnie

Additional Specs

Child Guidelines

Infants up to 20 lbs (stop using when baby shows signs of rolling over)

6. Perfect for Minimalists – Rocking Bassinet

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The Scoop

• Clean, modern look
• Light and easy to move from room to room
• Expensive but heirloom quality

What Our Experts Think

Hello, beautiful. If (gorgeous) minimalism is your thing, then this meeting of form and function is definitely worth the investment. Featuring a gentle rocking movement that’s generated by you or your little one, this bassinet is also light and compact, making it easy to move from room to room. Parents love the breathable mesh sides, and the fact that everything—from the fabric and mattress cover down to the mattress itself—is completely machine washable.

What’s Worth Considering

The Cradle is definitely an investment, but if you’re planning on having a large family or passing this along to others, it’s certainly durable (and timeless) enough to justify the spend.

What Babylist Parents Say

“It’s a beautiful bassinet, I love the wood finish and the overall minimalistic design. It was also extremely easy to put together. When going on an overnight with my newborn, I opted to take this bassinet over the Pack ‘n Play. Well worth the cost!” -Hannah

Additional Specs

Child Guidelines:

Ages 0 to 6 mos., maximum weight 18 lbs, or until your baby can sit up, kneel or stand unaided

8. Bassinets to Watch

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4moms, one of our favorite baby brands and maker of the popular swing + bouncer hybrid mamaRoo, recently released a bassinet. The mamaRoo sleep bassinet combines a firm, flat sleep surface with five unique motions that help to soothe your little one to sleep throughout the night.

9. Bliss Evi Smart Bassinet With Smart Technology – Rocking Bassinet

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Pros: Wireless connectivity; added features like rocking and soundCons: More expensive than some other optionsWhy We Love It

If you’re looking for something that does it all — rocks, plays music and serves as a safe sleeper — you’ll likely have to pay a pretty penny for it. But this bassinet could be the one for you. Stylish and simple in appearance (read: it’ll work with any bedroom decor), it’s surprisingly high tech. It connects to Amazon Alexa and Google Home, so you can easily adjust it. Better yet? It’s not a headache to build.

Weight limit: Birth to 30 pounds, or when baby begins to show signs of rolling over

Dimensions: 35.5 x 22.5 x 33.5 inches

Best Travel Baby Bassinet

9. Chicco LullaGo Primo Portable Bassinet – Rocking Bassinet

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Pros: Lightweight; easy to put together

Cons: Bigger than some other models and may not be ideal for small bedroomsWhy We Love It

Want a consistent sleep spot for home or travel? This mesh-sided bassinet, which weighs just 17 pounds and has snap-on legs, can be set up in seconds, making it a prime pick for family vacations or overnight trips to Grandma’s house. (Plus, it also won a 2019 What to Expect Award.)

The mattress is made from memory foam, and the pad and other fabric pieces can be removed and thrown in the washing machine. The canopy has an overhead toy bar to help entertain your little one, and there are storage pockets for extra pacifiers, a burp cloth or other items that might go missing in the night. It’s suitable for babies weighing up to 20 pounds, and it measures approximately 35 inches long and 22 inches wide.

Weight limit: Birth to 20 pounds, or when baby begins to show signs of rolling over

Weight: 17 pounds

Dimensions: 35 x 21.5 x 44.25 inches

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Are rocking bassinets safe? – Rocking Bassinet

If you want your baby nearby, keep the crib or bassinet close to your bed. Cradles, which are less popular than bassinets, should rock gently. (Those with a pronounced rocking motion can cause an infant to roll against a side, posing a suffocation hazard.)

Can a baby sleep in a rocking bassinet? – Rocking Bassinet

A safe, snug infant sleeper or baby bassinet rocker should never be inclined because letting babies sleep with their head elevated, the American Academy of Pediatrics notes, can lead to accidental suffocation and strangulation. … “Products that have a reclined position are not a safe position for sleep.

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How long can a baby stay in a bassinet? – Rocking Bassinet

For 4 to 5 months parents have been asking forever: “How long can a baby sleep in a bassinet?” Well, to be honest, it’s not an exact science! Generally, bassinet manufacturers recommend that you allow your newborn baby to sleep in a bassinet for their first 4 to 5 months.

What is better a cradle or bassinet? – Rocking Bassinet

When it comes to cradle versus bassinet, the bassinet is a safer option, but as cradles and bassinets are more associated with SIDs due to the loose bedding that is common, cribs are considered to be safer than the other two.

Is there a bassinet that rocks itself? – Rocking Bassinet

SNOO is a responsive baby bassinet that boosts a baby’s sleep by combining gentle rocking with soothing white noise and snug, safe swaddling.

Rocking Bassinets – The Bottom Line

If you’ve taken it this far and read this guide faithfully, you’re better equipped than 99% of parents to choose a good rocking bassinet.

You know what to look for and what to stay away from. And you have specific recommendations on hand.
MiClassic All Mesh 2in1 Stationery & Rock Bassinet One-Second Fold Travel Crib Portable Newborn Baby (Crystal)…

However, if you’re not picking up a bassinet today, I must “warn” you that our choices change, and this guide may look different in a month or two.
So, bookmark this page for future reference, and we’ve got you covered.
If you want to continue reading, click here to return to the table listing my top picks.

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Last update on 2022-01-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API