Best Bassinets of 2025

Muratore and her testing team evaluated 27 bassinets across three categories in the Consumer Reports test lab. In their assessments, Consumer Reports testers looked at a few factors.

• Ease of assembly: How many pieces and steps does it take to assemble the bassinet? 
• Convenience: Is it easy to lift and carry the bassinet around your home? Is there a shelf or pockets for diaper storage? We also looked at cleaning and upkeep, such as whether a bassinet sheet is included, and if the bassinet fabric itself is machine-washable.
• Design: We checked the breathability of the side walls, whether the frame height is adjustable, how easy it is to access your baby, and how travel-ready or packable the bassinet is.
• Features: Does the bassinet offer motion, sound, or automated soothing features? For bassinets that with sound features, we looked at how loud the music or sounds get, because loud noise—even white noise—can be harmful to a baby’s ears. And because every baby is different—and soothed by different sounds, movements, and comfort methods—our evaluators don’t test how different soothing features work, but our bassinet reviews can help parents compare which features are available. 
• Safety: CR testers made sure that each bassinet met federal safety guidelines. Among other assessments, we used an inclinometer to ensure that the sleeping surface never reached an incline of 10 degrees or greater, which can be dangerous to a baby’s airflow. We also checked the firmness of the sleeping surface and looked for materials that promote airflow in the baby’s sleep environment, such as mesh panels.

Traditional bassinets are intended to be used as a safe and convenient sleeping space for baby and to encourage room sharing. These classic bassinets may have helpful features, like manual rocking, storage, or wheels, but don’t have the electronic bells and whistles found in the Smart and Soothing bassinets category. 

So-called “smart” bassinets come with automated soothing features, such as sounds or movements that respond to your baby’s needs. While this type of bassinet may not be the right choice for every family, because the added technology can add significantly to a bassinet’s price tag, some parents appreciate the potentially helpful features of a smart bassinet. 

In our tests, we found that these portable bassinets folded or disassembled easily, making them good for frequent travelers. Families who don’t travel as often may value them just as well. Caregivers who want to move the bassinet from one room to another will appreciate a travel bassinet’s lightweight nature and ability to fold into a more manageable shape for carrying or storage.

What Features Should You Keep in Mind When Buying a Bassinet?
According to Muratore, you’ll want to consider the stability of a bassinet before you purchase one. If it’s set up at a store, she says, push down on the sides, as if you were a toddler attempting to reach into it, and see if it begins to tip. This is obviously a particular concern if you have other children or rowdy pets in the home.

You’ll also want to think about where you’ll be parking your bassinet, and whether there are any design features that may conflict with your desired placement. “With the Halo, the base is enormous, and if I’m a sleep-deprived parent and I have to get out of bed, I might well trip because the legs are splayed out,” Muratore says. “To me, it would be a tripping hazard.” 

Consider the adjustability of the bassinet height, especially if you intend to keep the bassinet right beside your bed. Some platform beds, for example, are quite low, so you’ll want to compare how high your mattress is against the base height of the bassinet. You’ll also want to think about whether you’ll use it at your bedside, and how easy (or not) it is to reach your baby from bed. “Some bassinets let you unzip or fold down the wall section, making it easier to reach the baby,” says Muratore, “though many parents find that the lowered side isn’t necessary, and can manage without.” It’s really personal preference. 

The AAP recommends using a bassinet, crib, or portable play yard to provide a safe sleeping environment for your baby. Make sure to also follow these safe sleep guidelines when using a bassinet.

• Always place your baby down on their back in their own sleeping space, with no other people or pets.
• Babies should sleep on a firm, flat—not inclined—surface. Inclines of 10 degrees or greater can restrict your baby’s airflow.
• Use only a fitted sheet in your baby’s sleeping space. 
• Keep toys, blankets, bumpers, pillows or nursing pillows, baby loungers, sleep positioners, and other items out of the bassinet. These items can potentially suffocate your baby. (Bumpers, in fact, are banned under the Safe Sleep for Babies Act.)
• Do not use weighted sleep sacks.
• If your baby falls asleep in a car seat, a stroller, a swing, or an infant carrier, you should move them to a firm sleep surface on their back as soon as possible.
• If you decide to use the white noise or sound features available on some of the bassinets we reviewed, use the lowest possible setting for a brief time, and if possible, position your baby’s head on the opposite side of the bassinet from where the speaker is placed.

In-bed sleepers are like an infant lounger or a Moses basket that you place on an adult bed. Consumer Reports has found links between them and infant deaths. The AAP also doesn’t recommend sharing your bed with your baby, because doing so is associated with sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). 

Babies should be moved out of their bassinet and into a crib by the time they’ve reached the product’s weight limit, which is typically 20 pounds, or once they’re rolling over or showing signs of pushing up on their hands and knees, which tends to be between 3 and 6 months of age. They should then use a larger sleeping space with a firm, flat mattress, like a crib or play yard.