The best bassinets for co-sleeping safely with your baby

The Halo BassiNest Swivel Sleeper 3.0 is so beloved that it won Best Bassinet in the 2022 Best of BabyCenter Awards. The main selling point of this innovative bassinet is simple: It's the closest you can get to your baby while maintaining a safe separate sleep space. You can raise or lower the Halo BassiNest 3.0 to almost any bed height, and rotate the bassinet part 360 degrees. This means you can pull the BassiNest right next to your bed, then swivel the bassinet arm so your baby's as close as you like. 

"The swivel is great to push the bassinet out [of the way] to easily get [myself] out of bed…or push the baby away a bit during the newborn stage [when] they make the most loud and gremlin-like noises," says Tika Fender, BabyCenter's Art Director. Lisafé Carreon, Senior Product Manager at BabyCenter agrees that rotating the bassinet is a key feature: "Our room isn’t spacious so being able to hop in and out of bed and swivel her to the side was super helpful! Especially during the recovery period."

Lisafé also loved that the mesh sides gave her a clear view of her baby. Like other versions of the BassiNest, you can lower one side of the 3.0 when it's time to attend to your baby's needs. "The collapsing wall is fantastic to have quick access for midnight belly rubs," Tika says, adding that she could easily hold the collapsing wall down with a forearm, leaving her with two hands free to tend to her baby. 

And unlike with previous iterations of Halo’s BassiNest, you can remove the "basket" where your baby sleeps and take it with you on trips or move it to another room. (This, of course, must be done when your baby is out of the bassinet.) 

Heads up

The base on the BassiNest 3.0 has been redesigned to be lighter than the previous version, but it is still heavy at 22.6 pounds. 

Parents say

"I love that it's got an adjustable height that matches my bed which is pretty high, 25 inches. Love all the features. Definitely worth the money."

"I'm so happy I bought this bassinet! I love that it sits level with my bed and I can easily reach my baby and check on him. It's worth every penny."

"I did the Halo BassiNest with our son and plan to use it again this time around. I'd recommend it. We just did the base model, no extras. I didn't feel the need for anything else and we never missed it."

“I used the swivel feature so much in the first 3 months. I could bring my baby close to me and easily move him out of the way if I need to get out of bed.”

Specs

• Dimensions: 34 x 34 x 36-42.5 inches

• Weight: 22.6 pounds

• Size/development range: Recommended up to 5 months or 20 pounds; discontinue use when your baby shows signs of rolling over or pushing up on hands and knees

Billed as a more affordable alternative to the Snoo (which we do not recommend, as it requires you to restrain your baby, against AAP guidance), the MamaRoo Sleep has five different motions and speeds that may help soothe your baby to sleep. The motions combine different up-and-down and side-to-side movements, which parents can toggle between until they find one that their baby likes. The MamaRoo Sleep plays four soothing sounds for added comfort.

The functions are easy to operate, either using the control panel on the bassinet or the corresponding app on your phone. 

Only the bassinet basket moves, not the base itself, so it doesn't pose the same potential tip-over risk as a conventional rocking bassinet. The AAP doesn't advise against using rocking bassinets, but does warn parents that bassinets should have a wide and stable base. 

Heads up

The bassinet runs sounds and motions up to for four hours before shutting off, but you can set a timer to shut off the features sooner.

Parents say

"My brother & sister in law just got one for their new baby and they've had a really positive experience with it so far."

"My second son seems to like it! I wish i had this with my first son that’s why i decided to get it this time! The only cons i would say is that i wish it had a vibrate function and after 4 hours it auto shuts off and you have to restart it."

Specs

• Dimensions: 34 x 24 x 24.4-39 inches

• Weight: 30 pounds

• Size/development range: Discontinue use when baby can push up on hands and knees or reaches 25 pounds in weight

The Chicco LullaGo Anywhere is a space-saving bassinet that, as the name suggests, can go anywhere. Simply take off the legs, fold the whole bassinet flat, and fit it into its included carrying case. Because the bassinet only weighs 12 pounds, parents find it easy to carry while traveling or simply move it from room to room. 

"It is very light and sturdy for a travel bassinet,” says Melissa Bykofsky, Everyday Health's Executive Editor, Editorial Strategy & Growth.  "[My son] slept great in there and we were able to easily move it into the living room during the day when we wanted to do naps out there or just put him down.” Other parents agree with Melissa, adding that the bassinet doesn't shimmy when parents walk past it. 

It's nicely priced, too: "My goal was to buy the cheapest functional one on the market," says Melissa. The LullaGo is Greenguard Gold-certified for low chemical emissions, and perhaps best of all, its fabrics easily zip off and can go right in the washing machine. 

Heads up

This is a simple bassinet with no bells and whistles. 

Parents say

"I got this product to use in my living room as a napper. Since I live in a split-level, I didn't want to have to lug the bassinet in my bedroom downstairs at naptime, and I wanted to have my baby on the same level as me during the day. It's a great, simple product. It's compact, and the fabric is nice quality and seems easy to clean."

"My husband and I love this bassinet for our newborn. We wanted a portable bassinet, but one that was sturdy enough for nightly use in our room until we transition to a crib. This bassinet provided the perfect solution. It's holding up well after two months of daily use."

"This thing is awesome! We had planned to use a crib in our son's room but realized quickly that for the first month or two we really need him close. We have a very small bedroom and most bassinets wouldn't fit. This one does, and it's perfect for travelling."

Specs

• Dimensions: 30 x 18 x 28 inches

• Weight: 12 pounds

• Size/development range: Discontinue use when baby can push up on hands and knees or reaches 20 pounds in weight

Priced from $60 to $90 at many retailers, the Karley is a fraction of the price compared to bassinets like the Halo BassiNest or the MamaRoo Sleep at $220 and $450, respectively. Yet it performs very respectfully for a value product. It weighs just over 12 pounds (about the same as a lightweight umbrella stroller), so it's easy to bring it from room to room. It also folds into a compact package that's supremely easy to throw into the car trunk or keep in a closet between sleeps. The Karley also has storage underneath the bassinet, a feature not found on most bassinets that’s helpful during middle-of-the-night changes. 

But parents' favorite feature of the Karley is the double canopy. It zips up all the way around when you want to shield your baby from insects, the sun, or distractions outside their sleeping space. You can pull the cover back halfway or completely to give you a better view of your baby. 

Heads up

Some say the included mattress could be cushier. 

Parents say

"We considered Karley and Traveler bassinets, both from Dream On Me. In the end, the full canopy feature of the Karley Bassinet decided for us and we bought it. No regrets! Our baby daughter sleeps like an angel in it and we caught up on some much-needed shuteye too!"

"I have the blue Dream on Me Karley. I love it! Cute, sturdy, not heavy and easy to use. I also like that I can zip the top to keep the fricken cat out of it."

"We also have the Dream On Me Karley Bassinet and I liked it a lot for my last baby. Super easy to move around and the zip shut canopy will definitely come in handy with a 'helpful' 2-year-old around."

Specs

• Dimensions: 33 x 19.5 x 37 inches

• Weight: 12.4 pounds

• Size/development range: Discontinue use when baby can push up on hands and knees or reaches 25 pounds or 3 months