Best Bedside Sleeper Bassinets

Buying guide for Best bedside sleepers

Many parents love the convenience and closeness that comes with co-sleeping, but most experts agree that babies are safest when they have their own space to sleep in. Bedside sleepers (sometimes referred to as "co-sleepers" but this is a registered trademark of one brand) offer you the best of both worlds – your baby's close at hand when she needs feeding, changing, or soothing in the night, but you don't need to worry about the risks that come with conventional co-sleeping.

You want your baby to be safe and comfortable, so choosing the best bedside sleeper is important. It can be tough, however, to decide which one will fit the needs of you and your new child.

At BestReviews, we do extensive research and testing to help you find your ideal items. What's more, since we want to avoid all chance of bias, we never accept free gear from manufacturers. Read on for our full guide to bedside sleepers so you can find the right one in which your baby will sleep safe and sound.

To decrease the risk of SIDS, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that your baby sleeps in the same room as you for at least the first six months of his life.

Types of bedside sleepers

In-bed co-sleeping bassinets

In-bed sleepers are designed to sit on top of your mattress and are either sturdy with a metal frame or soft like a "nest" with foam sides. According to Dr. Aimee Ketchum, BestReviews Baby and Child expert, the American Academy of Pediatrics says that there is not enough research to determine if these are safe. Since co-sleeping is not recommended, Dr. Ketchum does not recommend in-bed co-sleeper bassinets.

Bedside co-sleeping bassinets

Bedside bassinets have three sides (or one side that can fold down completely) and attach securely to a standard bed. This means your baby essentially has her own annex off your bed, so you can see and touch her while she remains in her own space.

Pros:

• Bedside bassinets generally allow you to nurse or bottle feed your baby while she's still safely in her own space, meaning you don't have to get up for feeds.

• There's much less chance of your blankets making their way over to a bedside sleeper.

• Since they don't take up any room in your bed, you have plenty of space to sleep as normal when using a bedside bassinet.
   

Cons:

• Not all bedside sleepers are compatible with all beds.

Considerations for selecting a co-sleeper bassinet

Adjustability

Bedside co-sleeping bassinets should be easily adjustable to match the height of your bed. If the height doesn't match, the bassinet is unsafe to use, as any gaps pose a suffocation risk.

Look for models that are easy to adjust and can be set to a wide range of heights to suit both lower-than-average and higher-than-average beds.

Portability

Some co-sleeping bassinets are extremely portable, which is useful when you're traveling, visiting family, or simply need a safe spot to put your baby down around the house.

You can find some bedside models where the bassinet part lifts off the frame, which means you can easily take it downstairs or into another room to keep an eye on your little one while he naps.

Portability may not be a big issue for you if you have a travel crib for when you go away and an alternative sleeping spot for when you're out of the bedroom.

For some parents, however, portability and versatility are key, as having one multipurpose item rather than three single-purpose items saves both money and space.

Size

The size of the bedside sleeper you choose will ultimately dictate how long your baby can stay in it.

While infants shouldn't sleep in bassinets once they're old enough to roll over and sit up on their own, if you happen to have a tall baby and a small sleeping bassinet, she'll grow out if it long before she reaches this stage.

We advise you to opt for a larger bassinet if possible. You may only get a few months of use out of a very small sleeper, which makes it hardly worth the purchase price.

Ventilation

Some bassinets feature mesh on all four sides.

Adequate ventilation not only helps prevent your baby from overheating, it also means she'll still be able to breathe easily if she rolls and ends up with her face pressed against the side of the bassinet. Of course, the latter isn't going to be an issue until your little one is able to roll over, at which point she should be moved out of the bassinet.

While ventilation on all sides isn't essential, it's a feature you should consider, especially if you live in a warm climate.

Bedside bassinet prices

For such small bundles, babies don't come cheap. Here we'll examine how much you'll need to spend on a co-sleeping bassinet for your little one.

Foam nest-style bedside sleepers

These cost between around $50 for basic models and up to $200 for high-end options.

In-bed sleepers with solid frames

These tend to cost between $40 and $60.

Bedside sleeper bassinets

These start at around $100, with high-end models costing as much as $250 to $300.

Tips for safe co-sleeping

• Only buy a sleeper that meets relevant safety standards. We recommend a model that holds the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) seal of approval.

• Keep your baby in his bassinet. It's tempting to bring your baby into your bed and fall back asleep when he wakes you for nighttime feeds, but the point of a bedside bassinet is to increase safety by giving him his own space. After you've attended to your little one, place him back in his bassinet.

• Make sure the mattress fits well. Any gaps between the mattress and the wall of your baby's bassinet pose a suffocation risk. If the mattress doesn't fit right, get a new mattress or return the bassinet.

• Always keep your blankets away from the bassinet. Make sure the bassinet is positioned away from blankets. If you want to position an in-bed bassinet between you and your partner, you may need to use two separate comforters rather than one large one.

• Follow any usage instructions to the letter. These instructions should ensure safe use of the sleeper. If using a bedside bassinet, be certain to attach it to your bed exactly as instructed.

According to the AAP, to avoid the risk of suffocation, you should never put your baby to sleep with blankets, pillows, soft toys, or other loose items in his bed. If he gets cold at night, use a wearable blanket or simply put more clothes on him.

FAQ

Q. When will my baby grow out of her co-sleeper bassinet?

A. Depending on the size of your chosen co-sleeping bassinet, the size of your baby, and how quickly she reaches her developmental milestones, your little one will likely grow out of her bassinet between three and six months of age. Once your baby can sit up and roll over on her own, she'll be safer in a full-sized crib. However, you may need to move her from her co-sleeping bassinet sooner if she gets too large to fit in it comfortably.

Q. Are co-sleeper bassinets easy to clean?

A. Babies are known for their effusions of bodily fluids, which is why we recommend a co-sleeping bassinet that's easy to clean. Any covers or fabric parts should be machine washable or, at the very least, easy to wipe down.

Q. How should I position my baby in his co-sleeper when I put him down to sleep?

A. To decrease the risk of SIDS, experts recommend that you always put your baby down to sleep on his back, never on his front or his side.