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Essential Guide to Picking the Right Bassinet for Your Baby

Essential Guide to Picking the Right Bassinet for Your Baby

Choosing the right bassinet can ensure your newborn is sleeping safely while offering you peace of mind. In this guide, we’ll break down the essential considerations and features to look for when selecting a bassinet, ensuring you find the best option for your family's needs.

Why purchase a bassinet?

Bassinets offer several key benefits, including convenience, safety, and portability, making them an excellent choice for the first months after your baby's birth. They help to keep your baby close and make it easy to soothe them throughout the night, especially during postpartum recovery.

Convenience

Bassinets provide easy access to your baby, which is particularly helpful for frequent feedings and soothing. With them at arm’s reach, parents can minimize the disruption of getting up and moving around, making it easier to manage sleepless nights.

Safety

The safest bassinets are designed specifically for newborns and adhere to the latest safety standards. Standards to look for include: a firm mattress, non-toxic materials, and designs that minimize suffocation risks, as advised by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Bassinets with breathable mesh sides (like the HALO BassiNest®) contribute to better airflow and let you see your baby without getting out of bed. Features like lockable casters and sturdy stands enhance stability.

For more detailed information on creating a safe sleep environment for your newborn in a bassinet, read our newborn bassinet safety tips.

Portability

One of the major advantages of certain bassinets is their portability. Lightweight bassinets can be easily moved from room to room. This flexibility ensures that your baby can always be nearby, sleeping comfortably and safely.

 

Types of Bassinets

Selecting the right type of bassinet can depend on your lifestyle, living space, and how you plan to use it during your baby’s early months. Different types of bassinets offer unique features that cater to varying needs.

Featuring HALO BassiNest Swivel Sleeper 3.0

 

Freestanding Bassinets

Freestanding bassinets showcase the classic basket design—they are what most people imagine when thinking of a bassinet. These self-contained units stand on their own legs and come in various shapes and sizes. They may include mesh sides for improved airflow and visibility, locking wheels to ensure stability, and adjustable height options for convenient positioning next to your bed for easier nighttime access. Freestanding bassinets are a versatile and popular choice for newborn sleep.

Bedside Bassinets

Bedside bassinets are designed to be placed next to your bed, providing safe and easy access to your baby throughout the night. The HALO BassiNest® is the only bassinet on the market that swivels over your mattress for extra close sleep while your baby is safe in their own sleep space. This is ideal for breastfeeding moms or moms recovering from a C-section. Bedside bassinets often feature adjustable height settings to align with your mattress and may have a lowering side to make it easier to access your baby, like the HALO BassiNest® 3.0 Swivel Sleeper.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) supports the use of bassinets for room-sharing, which has been shown to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) by as much as 50% and facilitate better sleep for both babies and parents.

Travel Cribs with Bassinets

Travel cribs with bassinets offer a convenient solution if your family travels frequently or needs a portable option for sleepovers. These products combine the portability of a travel crib with the comfort of a detachable bassinet, making them an excellent choice for on-the-go use. Typically, they fold easily and are compact enough to fit in a car or be checked on a flight. This ensures your baby has a familiar and (more importantly) safe place to sleep, regardless of the destination. The CPSC has guidelines to ensure these travel cribs meet safety standards.

 

 

What to Look for in a Bassinet?

 

Flat, Firm Sleep Surface

When selecting a bassinet, one of the most critical factors to consider is the quality of the sleep surface. It should be flat and firm to support your baby’s developing spine and reduce the risk of SIDS. A firm mattress ensures that your baby won’t sink into the material, which can pose a risk of suffocation and disrupt healthy sleep posture. 

Recent updates to safety standards also require that any infant sleep product that does not already adhere to an existing CPSC sleep standard must be tested to confirm that the sleep surface angle is 10 degrees or lower.

Breathability

Breathability in a bassinet is essential for maintaining a comfortable sleeping temperature and ensuring adequate air circulation around your baby. Look for bassinets that feature mesh or other perforated materials as side walls. These materials allow air to flow freely inside the bassinet, reducing the risk of overheating and providing a clear view of your baby from any angle. Good airflow helps regulate your baby's body temperature during sleep and promotes healthy breathing.

Supportive Mattress

Choose a bassinet with a supportive mattress that fits snugly—without gaps that could trap your baby’s arms or legs. The HALO BassiNest® Breathable Mattress is a fully breathable, washable, and hypoallergenic mattress pad designed for ultimate comfort and safety during your baby's first months in their bassinet.

Portability/Mobility

Portability is an important factor if you need to move the bassinet between rooms or take it with you on trips. Opt for lightweight designs that are easy to carry. The HALO BassiNest® Flex Portable Bassinet features a foldable design that assembles quickly and stores compactly, perfect for travel and moving around the house. The BassiNest® LuxeBassiNest® 3.0, and BassiNest® 3.0S all have a detachable nest, creating a safe lounging space for your baby anywhere in your home.

Featuring HALO BassiNest Swivel Sleeper Luxe

 

How to Decide Which Bassinet is Right for Your Family

Many new parents ask, "Which bassinet should I buy?" To find the right one, it's essential to assess your family's specific needs, lifestyle, and budget. Here's a guide to help you navigate the options and make an informed decision that best suits your family's needs.

How Will You Use It?

Think about the primary use of the bassinet. If you need a basic bassinet to move around the house, a freestanding bassinet may be all you require. If you want easy access for nighttime feedings and comforting, a swiveling bedside bassinet might be ideal. If you travel often, a portable bassinet that's easy to set up and break down could be the best option. 

Also, consider how frequently you will need to move the bassinet, as this will influence the type of bassinet you choose. Are wheels a must-have? Do you need a detachable nest? How light does it need to be?

If mobility is a key factor, look for bassinets with features that support easy movement, such as wheels or lightweight designs. Wheels should have a reliable locking mechanism to keep the bassinet stable when in use. Lightweight bassinets are particularly useful for moving between rooms or traveling.

How Much Space Do You Have?

Consider the space available in your home and the bassinet's footprint to ensure it fits well. Make sure the bassinet's size is appropriate for the room it will be placed in and that it will fit in your vehicle for travel. Checking the bassinet's dimensions and weight specifications before purchasing can help avoid future issues with space or mobility.

What is Your Budget?

Set a clear budget before beginning your search. Bassinets vary in price, often influenced by their features and build quality. Consider the cost versus usage and look for the best value within your budget range.

Does the Bassinet Comply With Safety Standards?

Safety should never be compromised. A sturdy bassinet construction is crucial to prevent tipping or collapse. Ensure that the bassinet complies with the safety guidelines established by the CPSC.

Additionally, look for products certified by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA). The JPMA Certification Seal indicates that the bassinet has undergone rigorous testing at an independent, CPSC-accredited laboratory. It confirms compliance with all applicable federal and state regulations, adherence to the voluntary American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard, and fulfillment of other major retailer requirements. HALO offers some of the best bassinets for babies, which are JPMA-certified.

Do you want additional features?

When choosing a bassinet, consider additional features that enhance comfort, convenience, and functionality:

  • Vibrations. A bassinet that softly vibrates can help soothe your baby to sleep, mimicking the calming movements experienced in the womb.
  • White noise.Built-in white noise machines can calm fussy babies and mask household noises, promoting undisturbed sleep.
  • Storage solutions. Bassinets with storage pockets or shelves are practical for keeping baby essentials like diapers, wipes, and clothes within easy reach. BassiNest® Luxe features a convenient diaper caddy to hold essentials.
  • Waterproof and easy-to-clean mattress covers. These covers simplify maintenance and ensure the sleeping area remains hygienic, protecting the mattress from spills and accidents.

In summary, selecting the right bassinet is crucial for the safety and comfort of your newborn. We hope this guide has equipped you with the knowledge to make an informed decision that suits your family's needs. As you embark on this exciting new chapter, remember that choosing the right bassinet can significantly enhance your baby's early days and your own peace of mind.

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