Bassinets are not just “mini cribs.” These oval shaped beds are specifically meant for newborns up to four months of age. Unlike a crib, bassinets are designed with mobility in mind and are smaller so that parents are able to keep their new babies in the same room with them for the recommended amount of time.
If you’re looking at these small beds and wondering, “are bassinets safe for newborns?” The answer is–yes (as long they are used correctly)! Just like there are baby crib safety standards parents need to follow, there are also bassinet safety guidelines to know.
Keep reading to learn more about bassinet safety standards, as well as have your bassinet safety questions answered so that you are able to keep baby sleeping safely for longer!
Baby Sleeping in Bassinet Safety Tips
Regardless of where your little one sleeps, there are a few safe sleep guidelines to always keep in mind. Be sure you are educated on the safe sleep recommendations set by the American Academy of Pediatrics to reduce the risk of SIDS. They include:
- Always place baby to sleep on back
- Use a firm mattress with tight fitting sheets
- No toys, stuffed animals, or loose blankets in the sleeping area for the first year
- Consider room sharing for the first 6-12 months
- Maintain the ideal temperature for a baby's room (between 68 degrees to 72 degrees fahrenheit or 20 degrees to 22.2 degrees celsius)
Beyond that, there are specific bassinet safety standards that parents need to be aware of. They include:
Knowing the age/weight limit and not exceeding it
For example, the BassiNest® Essentia Swivel Sleeper is only intended to be used by babies up to 5 months or 20 pounds. The majority of bassinets fall within that range of 15-20 pounds or 4-6 months. Once your little one hits these limits or starts to show signs of pulling up/crawling, it is time to move them to a crib. Learn more about that process on our blog “How to Transition from Bassinet to Crib?”
Always choose mesh walls
Mesh-walled bassinets–as opposed to cloth ones—offer a clearer visual of your baby and allows for airflow if your little one manages to roll and end up with their face pressed against the side. Fortunately, thanks to now-mandated bassinet safety standards, most modern bassinets feature mesh.
Lock wheels
Portability is a huge bonus of bassinets, but for your little one’s safety, always lock the wheels whenever they are in it!
Don’t move the bassinet with the baby inside
On that same note of portability, unless it is also designed to be a carrier, once your little one is in the bassinet, it needs to stay put!
While these are great general bassinet safety tips, parents often have more specific safety questions we hope to answer below.
Are Vibrating Bassinets Safe for Newborns?
This one of the most commonly asked questions, and it’s a good one! If you’re wondering “is vibration bad for babies?” or “is a vibrating bassinet safe for baby?”, the answer is yes!
All the research shows that not only are vibrating bassinets in line with bassinet safety standards, but there can actually be benefits to it! When using a bassinet like the BassiNest® Soothing Swivel Sleeper 3.0, here are some benefits parents might expect:
- Fall asleep faster
- Stay asleep longer
- Go back to sleep more easily if startled awake (vibrations are thought to remind babies of the womb and as a result, provide comfort)
- Provides necessary stimulus to “remind” baby’s brain to breath (sometimes newborns suffer from sleep apnea as their brains are still developing)
- Calm their bellies
For these reasons alone, it’s worth it to consider using a crib with this feature. It is completely safe as long as all other safe sleep practices are followed.
Are Bassinet Inserts Safe?
Some bassinets allow you to purchase an insert specifically designed for new babies. The BassiNest® Newborn Insert was made to help newborns transition from the comforting security of the womb to sleeping independently in a bassinet. These are completely safe as long as parents continue to practice other bassinet safety standards and safe sleep guidelines, such as always laying baby down on their back.
Can a Bassinet Mattress Be Too Hard?
Compared to even crib mattresses, a bassinet mattress can feel hard and thin. If you’re worried that the bassinet mattress is too hard or thin for your little one, don’t be!
There’s a reason bassinet mattresses are made the way they are, and it all boils down to safety. If your little one’s mattress is too thick and/or soft, it increases the risk of suffocation because they’re head may sink into the padding.
Even if you know it’s safe, parents still tend to stress about their baby’s comfort which leads many to asking, “how can I make my bassinet mattress more comfortable?” While it is not safe to add traditional comfort items like blankets or stuffed animals, there are different things parents can try to make sure their little one is comfy and snug.
Room temperature
One of the easiest ways to make sure a baby is comfortable is to adjust the temperature of the room they are sleeping in. You want it to be just right, and being too hot or too cold can make it difficult for your little one to fall asleep. Most parents find the “just right” spot to be between 68-72°, which is also the recommended temperature by the AAP.
Swaddles
After 9 months sleeping cuddled in a warm place, many newborns find it challenging to sleep on their own. Using a swaddle can definitely help with that! A swaddle is a blanket designed to be wrapped securely around a baby so that they are unable to wriggle out. For many little ones, this mimics the feeling of the womb and provides the comfort they need to sleep in a bassinet on their own.
Choosing a quality bassinet
Even if a bassinet is manufactured safely, it might not be as comfortable for your little one as a bassinet mattress made from high-quality materials, such as 100% cotton or organic cotton.
As you bring home your little bundle of joy, you’ll want to keep them close, especially while they are asleep! A bassinet is a great–and perfectly safe–way to do just that!