In Depth Baby Product Reviews Led by a Pediatrician
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Is a bassinet on your list of dream baby gear? We've bought and tested the top 13 bassinets to find the best in the bunch. We put each contender through a comprehensive testing process, evaluating performance on metrics such as breathability, ease of use, sleep surface quality, and eco-health. We found that each bassinet may appeal to a different family, depending on your needs and priorities. We can help you narrow down the options to make the best decision for your baby.
Once your little one grows out of their bassinet, you'll want to kit your nursery with staples. Between our review of baby cribs and our favorite crib mattress, we can help you find the right duo for your needs and budget. Don't forget to add the best baby monitor to keep an eye on your baby. We've tested these products and more baby gear to fill your nursery with essentials.
Editor's Note: This bassinet review was updated on April 16, 2024. The update included the removal of a discontinued Graco bassinet.
high-grade, low-voc polyurethane foam, and is covered with polyurethane coated polyester fabric on the top and polyester fabric on the bottom. The integrated mattress base is made of rigid polyethylene plastic. We do not add chemical flame retardants.
The Arm's Reach Clear-Vue Co-Sleeper creates a safer co-sleeping environment that puts your baby at “Arm's Reach” while you stay cozy in bed. This soft-sided mesh surround product is breathable and has the best sleeping surface in the review. We like that the lining is machine washable and that it has wheels that allow easy transport from room to room. This co-sleeper is an excellent choice for parents who want to sleep with their baby nearby in a safer way than in-bed sleeping.
This option isn't great for travel, and it can be hard to take down to move. If travel is your game, the Baby Delight Beside Me Dreamer and the Lotus Bassinet are both easier to move or break down/set up. However, the Clear-Vue Co-Sleeper is an economical product with impressive test results, and we think any family looking for a basic co-sleeper to keep little ones close all night will enjoy it.
5 Months Discontinue Use When Infant:
Pushes Up On Hands And Knees
Discontinue As An Attachable Baby Bed When Infant:
Rolls Over Or Pulls Up To A Kneeling, Sitting Or Standing Position
Product Care
Wipe Down
Bassinet Mattress Height Above Floor
3"-27" Adult Mattress Height
10"-31"
The babybay Bedside Sleeper is a high-quality, thoughtfully designed bedside-style co-sleeper with a minimalistic look. It can attach to your bed and offers some height adjustability for a “just right” fit with a sleeping area for the baby that is easy to access while in bed. The babybay Classic Comfort Mattress Pad with Cotton Cover comes with the bundle and fits the sleeper frame nicely, but there are many mattress options to choose from. Instead of fabric sides, this bassinet has wooden slates and feels very similar to a traditional crib. Overall, the babybay is a sturdy and durable sleep space for babies, and it is stylish enough to work with any decor.
As one of the most expensive in the competition, this bassinet may not appeal to families with tight budgets. If you need something more budget-friendly, the Arm's Reach Clear-Vue Co-Sleeper is less expensive and has bump-friendly cloth mesh sides. The babybay is also heavy, and you likely won't want to move it from room to room, especially if stairs are involved. The Arm's Reach is more portable with wheels and is easier to break down if required. But we think the babybay is a standout heirloom-style option that will be well-loved and used through the long haul to welcome new members of the family for years to come.
36.9"H x 45.3"L (base) 33.8" (bassinet) x 21.8"W (bassinet)
Assembled Weight
33 lbs
Age/Height/Weight Limit
5 Months or 20 lbs Discontinue Use When Infant:
Pushes Up On Hands And Knees, Pulls Up, Rolls Over, Sit Unassisted, Can Move Out Of The Security Of The Walled Sleep Area
Product Care
Sheet: Machine Wash
Base and Mattress: Spot Clean
Bassinet Mattress Height Above Floor
26.5"-33"
The HALO BassiNest Essentia is a great niche option for postpartum moms. It features a unique swiveling sleep surface that allows you to move the Essensia directly over or away from the bed for the best access or convenience. The side rails also dip down, making it easier for a bed-sitting mom to reach her baby. It features breathable mesh sides and natural swaying to help provide comfort and a soothing movement for little ones. It is a well-constructed option with high-quality materials and a sturdy base to keep it in place.
The HALO is significantly heavier than other options in this review and is not designed to move from room to room, so if you need something somewhat portable, you should look elsewhere. Also, the base is large and can stick out depending on its location and your bed type. This design means you need to use caution to avoid tripping when you move around it. The Baby Delight Beside Me Dreamer might be better for tighter space or those worried about tripping. Despite The HALO's weight and size, we believe this is an excellent choice for anyone who wants to keep their baby within reach while staying in bed, particularly after Cesarean or late-night feedings.
The HALO BassiNest Essentia has been discontinued and replaced by the BassiNest 3.0. The 3.0 has some features from the Essentia, such as the swivel for closeness, lowering walls, and the ability to adjust the height; plus, it's been redesigned to be a 2-in-1 system that transforms from a bedside sleeper to a portable lounger. It also has a sleeker silhouette and a 30% lighter base. We are now linking to the BassiNest 3.0 and hope to test it soon.
5 Months or 20 lbs Discontinue Use When Infant:
Pushes Up On Hands And Knees
Product Care
Machine Wash
Bassinet Mattress Height Above Floor
14" - 19" Adult Mattress Height
18.5"-24"
The Baby Delight Beside Me Dreamer is a semi-portable, lightweight bassinet you can use as a co-sleeper or standalone product. Attach it to the side of a parent's bed for quick nursing or soothing in the middle of the night without getting out of bed, or you can move it to other locations to use as a napping sleeper when you want to keep an eye on your little one during the day. This product is quick to set up, comes with a cover you can machine wash and dry and is relatively budget-friendly compared to the competition.
Depending on your bed's style or height, this option may not work as a co-sleeper, and we experienced side-to-side flexing when the unit was a standalone bassinet. The HALO BassiNest Essentia is a sturdier option if you have concerns. Overall, we think this is a good choice for families looking for a closer nighttime connection to their baby and want to use it as a stand-alone option.
6 Months or 18 lbs Discontinue Use When Infant:
Pushes Up On Hands And Knees
Product Care
Machine Wash
Bassinet Mattress Height Above Floor
15.4"
The BabyBjorn Cradle is a free-standing wood-framed sleeper that uses high-quality materials, including full mesh sidewalls giving it 360-degree breathability. The Cradle is lightweight and is easily moveable by lifting and carrying the whole thing, though this method is not as easy as wheeled options. Nonetheless, it can work for parents who plan to keep their baby nearby in almost every room. Machine-washable components also give BabyBjorn an upper hand in ease of use and make any major blowout or throw-up easy to clean.
The Bjorn Cradle may not be the best choice for those on a limited budget, particularly considering its shorter lifespan. The Arm's Reach Clear-Vue Co-Sleeper is less expensive and scored higher overall than the BabyBjorn. However, we feel parents searching for a stylish, free-standing product will like the BabyBjorn and gain peace of mind with the 360-degree breathable mesh. There is also an accessory BabyBjorn Canopy for Cradle if you want something fancier or added shading and coziness for tiny sleepers.
18 lbs Discontinue Use When Infant:
Pushes Up On Hands And Knees
Product Care
Machine Wash
Bassinet Mattress Height Above Floor
17.9"
The Lotus Bassinet can be purchased as an accessory to the Guava's Crib-to-Bassinet Conversion Kit or as a bundle purchase with Guava's Lotus Travel Crib. Whichever way you choose, the bassinet only functions if you already have the Lotus Travel Crib frame, raising the overall cost. We appreciate the full mesh sides for maximum breathability and low VOC and the lack of flame retardant used in this option. It is also one of the few we've seen with a rocking feature that clicks onto the travel crib's legs. The Lotus is light enough to move around your home and folds into a small bundle perfect for traveling. This option is a versatile package that can work from newborn to toddlerhood and double as a travel crib.
You must have the travel crib to use the bassinet feature; you can not buy the two separately. It is convenient to have the entire bundle; however, if you already own a travel crib or have your sights set on something different, this is probably not the best option. If you want an inexpensive bassinet that doubles as a travel crib, then the Graco Pack 'n Play On the Go Bassinet could meet both needs, even if it doesn't do either particularly well. Nonetheless, the Lotus is a high-quality choice with thoughtful details that matter for health.
The UPPAbaby Bassinet and Stand is a unique option that converts from a stroller attachment to an at-home sleep solution. It goes from the stroller to the sleeping area by removing it from the stroller frame and clicking it into the UPPAbaby Stand. While this multi-tasking option might feel like a no-brainer for those who own the Vista Stroller, we have reservations about a few design choices. Because it is intended for strolling outdoors, it understandably includes fabric sides to limit wind exposure and other weather hazards from reaching the baby while outdoors. As a result, the sidewalls aren't as breathable as the competition, nor are they designed specifically with in-home, regular, overnight use in mind.
We are hesitant to use the UPPAbaby, as the design has much in common with items identified as potential SIDS risks (i.e., crib bumpers). While fine for strolling use with continued supervision, UPPAbaby's attempt to increase the versatility by selling a compatible in-home stand fails, in our humble opinion, to consider adequate breathability in the side materials. The potential for impaired breathability makes this option notably disappointing for us, and we do not recommend it for use as a regular at-home sleep location.
The UPPAbaby is collapsible which could make it easier to travel with.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Not Recommended
Co-sleeping in Parent's Bed
BabyGearLab does not recommend using ANY “in bed” co-sleeping device or accessory designed for use in/on the parent's bed. Studies show co-sleeping is unsafe. For safe sleep, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) strongly recommends that babies be placed on their back, in their own sleep space, on a firm, tight-fitting mattress with only a fitted sheet and no other bedding or items included in the sleeping area. These items include, but are not limited to, pillows, blankets, crib bumpers, sleep positioners, stuffed animals, toys, etc. In our opinion, and the opinion of sleep experts, the DockATot and other sleep devices designed for use in a parent's bed for co-sleeping carry certain dangers, and we do not recommend them.
Safe Sleep Guidelines for Babies
The American Academy of Pediatrics has updated its safe sleep guidelines, and this is your best source of safe sleep information.
Notice the above “How it Works” depiction from the DockATot website does not explicitly discuss sleeping. However, multiple pages on the site explain safe sleeping and co-sleeping using the DockATot, indicating it is a product designed for in-bed co-sleeping with an adult.
Credit: DockATot
We Don't Recommend the DockATot Co-sleeper
One example of an “in-bed” style of co-sleeper is the DockATot. It is for use within the parent's bed or around the house as a “monitored” sleep device for your baby. This product's intended purpose is somewhat vague, depending on which part of the company website you read and how much effort you put into determining the product's intended use. DockATot appears to be a device for sleeping with your little one in the same bed, as outlined in the company's message on co-sleeping. This arrangement is potentially as dangerous as sleeping with your baby without the DockATot, something not recommended by the AAP. It can increase the risk of SIDS and other potential injuries or complications. The DockaTot website even states, “The American Academy of Pediatrics has determined that the safest place for a baby to sleep during the first year of life is in a crib, bassinet or play yard in the parents' bedroom.” From rolling over onto your baby or bedding/pillows falling over the baby's face, there are multiple dangers involved with having a baby sleep in your bed.
DockaTot recently updated its website and removed some of the vague and conflicting statements that used to appear there. While this clarifies the product's intended uses, it is now even more concerning because it is now clearly marketed as a safer alternative to sleeping with a baby in your bed with no additional device. Using this product in your bed, with or without bedding and pillows, will conflict with the safety standards outlined by the AAP, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), and the FDA. We suspect the majority of parents , considering the DockATot, are not aware of this strict recommendation.
In 2022, the CSPS went even further by issuing DockATot a Notice of Violation concerning the Dockatot Deluxe+, identifying it as not suitable for sleeping, and reported that…
CPSC has notified DockATot that it cannot import, distribute, or sell any DockATot Deluxe+ made after June 23, 2022
In our opinion, in-bed co-sleepers and the DockATot specifically are NOT safe sleeping options for babies if the adults are asleep or could potentially fall asleep while supervising.
Compare Products
Access to a great co-sleeper or bassinet, like the HALO Bassinest Essentia, can make the early days of parenthood easier.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
How We Test Bassinets
We completed research and measurements for this category in-house at BabyGearLab and tested the sleepers with infants in real life. Our review goes in-depth to parse out the materials and examine the overall eco and baby health considerations for each option. We measure mattress thicknesses, assess stability, and carefully inspect each product for quality construction. We even performed EMF testing for the smart sleeper. Our tests examine every feature and functionality to select the top options available. We consider how easy they are to use, how well they incorporate into bedside sleeping, how portable they are, and more.
Why Trust GearLab
Our analysis of the best bassinets was completed by experienced moms, dads, and caregivers. Leading the product selection process and guiding our testing metrics is BabyGearLab founder and board-rtceified pediatrician, Dr. Juliet Spurrier. As a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and mother of two, Dr. Spurrier is highly conscious and knowledgeable of best infant sleep practices. Senior Review Analyst and father of 7, Bob Wofford, did the hands-on work for this review, measuring, weighing, and researching each product individually and comparing the results. Senior Review Editor Wendy Schmitz is a mother of 2 and has brought a scientific product analysis perspective to the BabyGearLab team since 2014. She has evaluated thousands of baby products, including the best travel cribs, crib mattresses, and bassinets.
How to Pick the Best Bassinet
A bassinet can make life easier and sleep more restful. It is hard to measure how valuable many parents find this kind of gear to give them peace of mind and make nighttime feeding less arduous. But finding the right one for your needs and situation might be more complicated than you think. Asking yourself some key questions can help you narrow the field to the perfect product.
How Will You Use It?
Determining how you plan to use your bassinet or bedside sleeper is the first place to start. Are you looking for something to keep close at hand for nighttime feeding, or do you want a stand-alone bassinet for in-room sleeping? Having your little one within arm's reach of your bed can help you feed and change little ones with less disruption, but it could feel too close for your sleep style, and a free-standing bassinet is more your style.
Does It Need To Be Portable?
Some parents want a bassinet right next to their bed; that is the only place they plan to use it. Finding a larger or more substantial bassinet might be the ticket for those who want something less portable. Alternatively, many parents might want the convenience of moving their baby's sleep space from room to room to allow for frequent rests and napping while remaining close by. Determining if you want a bassinet you can move from one space to another, be it room or home, will swiftly narrow your options down.
How Much Can You Spend?
Budget is a concern for any gear, but gear with shorter lifespans can be a tricky proposition. Because a safe sleep space is so important, especially in the first year, we recommend spending what your budget will allow and avoiding compromises. However, there is no need to buy something fancier than what you need, and we don't think you should choose the most expensive option simply because you assume this makes it the best or the safest. Once you narrow the options down to a few, you can use your budget to help make the final choice.
The Cradle has a sleek and unencumbered design that would look great with any decor.
Analysis and Test Results
Babies sleep a lot, and they also wake up frequently for feedings and diaper changes. Modern-day parents have several options for sleeping arrangements for babies, and more parents are choosing products that keep little ones in the same room with them or within reach. This type of product gives you easy access to keep an eye on your baby and meet their needs with less disruption to your sleep and theirs. If having your baby nearby for bonding or easier nighttime feedings sounds appealing, then finding a free-standing bassinet or co-sleeper that attaches to your bed may be just the ticket to regularly attaining a better night's sleep.
The Arm's Reach Clear-Vue Co-Sleeper and the babybay Bedside Sleeper are the top-ranked co-sleeping bassinets that attach to the parent's bed for secure night time accessibility.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Can you survive babyhood without buying this type of gear? Of course. However, it is a safe and convenient way to keep your baby close for peace of mind, bonding, and better sleep for you both. This gear provides a compact, safe, and secure environment while meeting your grander goals.
Keep reading to see what we learned about the products in this review from our extensive testing process and which products we feel would be a much-appreciated addition to your life.
What's the Best Value?
While the price of a quality product can be high, from personal experience, we believe alternative sleeping products can be invaluable if they increase sleep for you or your baby. The product that offers the most for the price is the Baby Delight Beside Me Dreamer. It provides a versatile sleeper that can function as a standalone bed, a travel crib, or a play yard. It is easy to use and has a longer lifespan than some competitors.
Overall, the Baby Delight is a delight to use.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Ease of Use
When testing ease of use, we consider each product's features and functionality and the impact these things have on daily use. Many options earned similar scores in this metric but had different strong suits. This metric includes multiple factors, so you know what exactly we considered when evaluating each item.
Accessibility
Accessibility is our measure of how much work goes into retrieving a baby. Is it possible to get the baby in and out of the sleeping area while in bed? Or is it best done from a standing position? Some options are designed for use while you remain lying down. Others are free-standing and require either sitting up or getting out of bed.
The HALO Bassinest Essentia is a unique side sleeper that can swivel over the bed for superior access to your bad bedside.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
The HALO BassiNest Essentia earned the best results for this test with a swiveling sleep area, adjustable height, and a sidewall that dips down effortlessly to reach in to pick up your baby or offer comfort. The babybay Bedside Sleeper also offers excellent accessibility by attaching directly to the side of your bed and being height adjustable. It has no sidewalls to contend with but still offers a separate sleep surface for your baby. The Baby Delight has a drop-side on the parent bedside of the crib for easier accessibility to the baby. All have a sidewall with a lower height that allows you to easily reach over the side to comfort little ones without getting up. The free-standing Graco Pack 'n Play on the Go and the Chicco Lullago are the hardest options to get your baby into and out of. These typically have higher sides than many beds, and you need to stand up to safely retrieve or replace your little one from the sleeping surface.
The Lotus bassinet is an attachment accessory for the Lotus Travel Criband is therefore very portable.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Portability/Mobility
There are two components to a product's mobility. First is how easy it is to move from room to room, allowing you to always have a safe surface to keep your infant nearby. The Arm's Reach Clear-Vue Co-Sleeper is top scoring for portability thanks to its lightweight and smooth-rolling wheels. The second portability feature is how well it travels outside your home to another location. Because this type of product is not typically viewed as a travel product, only a few options in this review were suitable for travel. Most of these were crossover options that are travel cribs by design that happen to have bassinet kits included. Examples include the Lotus and the Graco Pack 'n Play on the Go. The Baby Delight doesn't offer wheels or a cool carry bag, but it is lightweight enough to move around the house, and you can easily disassemble it into a reasonably flat package if you plan to travel by car.
The 4moms Breeze bassinet is the largest option in the review (left) while the BabyBjorn Cradle is one of the lighter choices with a much smaller footprint.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Any product with a wood frame or substantial base is not suitable for travel and possibly not good for room-to-room movement on a regular basis. Examples include the BabyBjorn Cradle, HALO BassiNest Essentia, and the Snoo Smart Sleeper. Some of these are also a hassle to move from room to room. Most heavy or oversized products are best used in a single location.
The floor of the babybay sleep area can be moved up or down for better accessibility to the baby from the parent's bed.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Additional Features
Some of the bassinets in this review come with additional features that increase convenience or versatility. While none of the options lost favor for not offering extra gadgets beyond a safe sleep zone, added features can simplify life and increase ease of use. Examples of these features include height adjustability, wheels, travel crib conversions, flexible sidewalls, soothing vibrations, lullabies, or sounds. The top-performing products often have hinged or removable sides (not to be confused with old-school crib drop sides) that make them co-sleepers and height adjustability like the Baby Delight. However, extra bells and whistles are not necessary to outperform the competition. The HALO BassiNest Essentia has a moving sidewall that significantly increases its convenience. The lower scoring Delta Children Deluxe Sweet Beginnings has a soothing center with vibrations and sounds that can act as a sound machine for babies.
Cleaning
Only a handful of the products in our tests are machine washable, and only a few were hand washable. For most, you cannot remove the fabric from the frame, and they are wipe or spot clean only. When housing a baby who may explode from either end, we think you will appreciate the convenience of removable fabric. The Snoo Smart Sleeper has a machine washable lining and mattress sheets (which is a big deal), and the material on the Baby Bjorn Cradle, UPPAbaby, and the Lotus are also machine washable. The outside cover and sheet on the Baby Delight are machine washable and dryable, making it one of the few with a quick turnaround time for cleaning. Cleaning sheets, covers, or other parts of a sleeping area is essential when dealing with a tiny person who can make big messes. Seriously, how do they make such big messes?
Some of the award-winning products in our review. All of these sleepers offer superior breathability and functionality.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Breathability
To assess breathability, we considered the sidewalls that surround the sleeping area. Can a baby breathe through the material? Are there any components that could potentially impair the baby's breathing? Is there a design feature that might allow a baby to scoot into a position that inhibits their breathing ability? To enhance breathability, most of the products have mesh sides with varying sections of solid fabric panels. Mesh is one of the most breathable materials, depending on the weave's tightness, and the more mesh in a design, the higher the score for breathability. Breathability is also highly dependent on the location and thickness of the fabric panels found in mesh/fabric designs. Options with wooden slats are an alternative option and are also very breathable. Be sure to choose a product without a solid fabric surround. These can mimic crib bumpers, a product the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has advised you don't use to avoid potential SIDS risks.
The babybay Bedside Sleeper and the Snoo Smart Sleeper are some of the group's high scorers. The babybay has a wooden slat design similar to a traditional crib and offers excellent breathability due to the open spaces and lack of fabric that could cover a baby's nose and mouth. The Snoo has sidewalls that are 100% mesh, and the attached swaddle sack keeps the baby in the center of the mattress and on their back, eliminating any risk of the baby's face getting pressed up against the mesh fabric. The BabyBjorn Cradle, Baby Delight, HALO BassiNest Essentia, and the Fisher-Price Soothing Motions have breathable mesh and minimal stretches of solid material.
The UPPAbaby has a cushioned fabric liner on the inside and a canvas cover on the outside that limits breathability. We believe that this design is suitable for strolling to protect baby from the elements, but it is not optimal for unmonitored overnight sleeping because baby's ability to breath could be severely impacted should their nose and mouth become pressed against the side.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
The Delta Children Deluxe Sweet Beginnings is an option we don't care for, as it has fabric ruffles that fall over the side of the bassinet, similar to a crib bumper, and is one of the least breathable options. The UPPAbaby offers some of the worst breathability, in our opinion, with a padded inner liner and canvas-covered exterior sidewalls that could severely impair a baby's ability to breathe.
The Snoo sleep surface is one of the best in the group.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Sleep Surface
A good safe sleep surface is one of the key metrics in our scoring process. We examine the functionality of the mattress by looking at mattress compression, how well it fits in the frame, and overall stability. This metric also flags any potential safety issues related to the mattress's design or sleep area.
The Snoo Smart Sleeper and Arm's Reach Clear-Vue Co-Sleeper are tied for the high score for sleeping surface. The HALO BassiNest Essentia and Baby Delight Beside Me Dreamer also earned above-average ratings, albeit slightly lower. Both have suitable sleeping surfaces with limited compression and minimal movement within the frame. The Lotus and the Fisher-Price Soothing Motions earned some of the lowest scores for this metric due to compression and fit problems during testing.
We were impressed with the quality of the materials used to construct the HALO and the apparent attention to detail in the manufacturing process.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Quality
Not all competitors are created equal. There is quite a range of quality with variable materials and construction methods. Some products have a clear quality advantage over others and could be a much more attractive addition to your home. Others are sub-par and feel on par with a child's toy rather than a peaceful sleeping space.
The highest scoring options for this metric are the babybay Bedside Sleeper, the Snoo Smart Sleeper, and the HALO Bassinest Essentia, all of which will withstand long-term use through multiple children. The sturdy construction of these products and the close attention to detail make them easier to use and more pleasant to look at. There are very few design elements that we would change about these sleepers, and all three stand out in the crowd of options we tested.
While some parents might like the style of the Delta, it uses lower end materials that result in a flimsy rickety product that does not feel sturdy.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
The Delta Children Deluxe Sweet is anything but deluxe. It earned one of the lowest scores for quality with a design reminiscent of a child's toy for a doll, not a sturdy sleeping bed for a real baby. We believe this product has a flimsy frame with tiny wheels, and it has a significant amount of flex and movement when you push on the top rails.
Given the amount of time your baby will be breathing deeply in their bed, the kinds of materials surrounding them are very important. The BabyBjorn Cradle uses mostly healthier materials, but the use of MDF under the mattress gives us pause.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Eco-health
To assess eco-health, we consider each product's listed materials and how easy it is to determine the manufacturing process. We place greater importance on materials that directly contact babies, such as mattresses or sidewalls. For some brands, determining the materials is easy, as they offer a transparent look at their products and provide information on which, if any, chemicals they use. Unfortunately, not all manufacturers are transparent about this information. Finding information for some of the products proved difficult, and for many, we had to resort to emailing the company to ensure the accuracy of the information. Very few of them responded.
If a company uses organic materials, has a chemical-free product, or has any certifications, they usually like to bang their drum loud enough for the world to hear to let you know about it. In other words, if the information is accurate and accessible, it will likely be very easy to find. If a company does not provide transparency about the manufacturing process or materials, we assume that they only meet required safety standards and omitted any additional eco-benefits.
None of the options in this review performed that well for eco-health, primarily because they all use some form of polyurethane foam in their sleep surface. Despite the claim that some are low VOC, hypoallergenic, GreenGuard Certified, or Oeko-Tex® certified, they are all similar. We feel that many descriptors are primarily an attempt to “green-wash” a product and make parents feel warm and fuzzy about their purchase. In reality, many of these terms mean virtually nothing, as many descriptors have no industry-agreed-upon definition.
Smelly Surfaces?
If your new purchase has a “new” or offensive smell, we highly encourage letting it off-gas in a well-ventilated area for several days or until the smell subsides before using it. While a lack of odor does not mean it is no longer emitting VOCs, it does decrease exposure to some of the initial, stronger emissions.
babybay Bedside Sleeper earned one of the highest scores for eco-health. This result is primarily thanks to their Oeko-Tex® certification, use of organic cotton, beechwood, and non-toxic materials, and the fact that they offer (purchase separately) a completely natural mattress with no polyurethane (though we bought the Classic mattress, which is polyurethane foam). We like that this sleeper doesn't include toxic glues, cheap fillers, plastics, or other harmful chemicals, and all the materials have Oeko-Tex Standard 100 Class 1 certification. The Lotus is another top scorer as it tests low for VOC and is free of PVC, lead, phthalates, formaldehyde, and heavy metals (Cadmium, Arsenic, Mercury, etc.).
The Summer Infant has a mesh bottom, but the fabric side walls remind us of crib bumpers which are discouraged by the American Academy of Pediatrics as a potential SIDs risk.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Several lower-ranking products include the Graco Pack 'n Play On The Go, Fisher-Price Soothing Motions, and Chicco Lullago. These manufacturers offer little or no information concerning what their products contain, but they all have a polyurethane mattress that potentially contains chemical flame retardants.
EMF and the SNoo
The Snoo works with WiFi and your smart device, so it emits EMF. While the EMF we recorded during testing is on the lower side, it is still more than competing bassinets (which produce none) and is something we think parents should consider before committing to the Snoo. If your little one struggles to reach deep sleep and needs more or constant soothing, this EMF level could feel acceptable compared to either getting less sleep or non-restorative sleep. Overall, we prefer to limit or avoid exposing little ones to EMF whenever possible, and we wish the Snoo included an EMF-free functionality. Keep in mind that even though the EMF level is lower, it is higher by the power button, and your little one is experiencing exposure to EMF elsewhere in your home. It potentially has an accumulative effect over time.
Many of the most popular bassinet options were chosen as part of this extensive hands-on review.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Conclusion
With so many bedside sleepers and standalone bassinets to choose from, it can be frustrating to determine which product will be best for you and your newborn. You might even be wondering what features or functionality are really important. Ultimately, your choice should prioritize your sleeping goals and parenting style. Available sleepers range from bedside co-sleepers to free-standing or travel crib conversions, and each style has pros and cons. We've included a variety of potential bassinets thoughtfully selected to help you find the best fit for your lifestyle and budget. And if you're ready for a standard-size crib, check out our favorites in our best baby crib review and pair your choice with the best crib mattress.
