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Newborns sleep up to 17 hours a day, and where that sleep happens matters enormously. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends room-sharing for at least the first six months to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome, and a bassinet is the most practical way to do it. With dozens of models at wildly different price points, narrowing the field requires real data.
Consumer Reports tested 27 bassinets across three categories on safety, ease of assembly, design, convenience, and soothing features to find the 12 that rank highest.
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Priced at $270, the Maxi-Cosi Iora earned a score of 89 out of 100, the highest in Consumer Reports' entire bassinet test. Both vertical and horizontal adjustment are available, so the bassinet can slide closer to the bed or match a wide range of mattress heights. CR's lead tester Joan Muratore put the result plainly. The Iora is simple, sturdy, and safe, with no performance or design flaws found during testing.
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At $96, the Baby Delight Beside Me Doze Deluxe is Consumer Reports' value pick in the travel bassinet category, earning a score of 84. Lightweight construction and a fold-down wall allow it to shift between standalone and bedside configurations. CR placed it second overall among travel bassinets in lab testing.
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Foldable and travel-ready, the Chicco LullaGo Anywhere is priced at $97 and scored 82 in Consumer Reports' travel bassinet tests. The bassinet folds flat, includes a carry bag, and qualifies as a portable sleep space for home use or travel. Among travel bassinets, CR found it among the strongest options for families who move the bassinet between rooms.
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Credit: Newton Baby
Scoring 81 in Consumer Reports' travel category tests, the Newton Baby Bassinet & Bedside Sleeper retails for $300. Newton's design centers on breathability, with a mesh-based sleep surface. CR's safety assessments include an inclinometer check to confirm the sleep surface never reaches an incline of 10 degrees or greater, a standard this model passed.
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Built around breathable mesh sidewalls and a lightweight frame, the BabyBjorn Baby Cradle costs $350 and earned a score of 76 in Consumer Reports' traditional bassinet category. Its build means it could fit in the travel category as well, according to CR, which noted it has "category-spanning versatility." Consumer Reports testers praised its gentle manual rocking motion.
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With a score of 76 — matching the BabyBjorn at the top of the traditional category — the Halo BassiNest Swivel Sleeper 3.0 is priced at $220. Consumer Reports' testing covers safety, convenience, and design, and this model performed well across those criteria. CR's lead tester Joan Muratore noted the base has a wide footprint, flagging it as a potential tripping hazard for sleep-deprived parents in a dark bedroom.
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Credit: Delta Children
For $140, the Delta Children Bondi Beechwood scored 73 in Consumer Reports' traditional bassinet tests. Safety testing confirmed the sleeping surface meets federal guidelines for firmness and incline, with mesh side panels present at the height where a baby's face rests. Consumer Reports evaluates all traditional bassinets for convenience, including ease of cleaning and whether a sheet is included.
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Matching the Delta Children's score, the Ronbei Bedside Bassinet is also priced at $140 and scored 73 in Consumer Reports' traditional category tests. Consumer Reports tests all traditional bassinets for stability, with testers pushing down on the sides to simulate a toddler reaching in. At that price, the Ronbei is among the most affordable traditional options CR currently rates.
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The top-scoring model in Consumer Reports' smart and soothing bassinet category, the Chicco LullaGlide Plus 3-in-1 is priced at $220 and earned a score of 75. Its electronic console activates a gliding motion, and the bassinet detaches from the stand to become a portable sleep space. Consumer Reports found the sound feature reached 56 decibels at maximum volume in lab tests. That reading is above the 50-decibel limit the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends for sound machines near infants.
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Rated 71 in Consumer Reports' smart bassinet tests, the UPPAbaby Soma Smart Bassinet retails for $600. Height is adjustable, and the bassinet includes motion and sound features. Consumer Reports assessed it on safety, design, convenience, and automated features, the same criteria applied across the smart bassinet category.
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Credit: Maxi-Cosi
Among smart bassinets, the Maxi-Cosi Starling is priced at $950 and scored 68 in Consumer Reports' category tests. The Starling includes automated cry-detection technology that responds with motion and sound. Consumer Reports' assessment of smart bassinets weighs how well soothing features are implemented alongside safety and design scores.
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Credit: Happiest Baby
The Happiest Baby SNOO retails for $1,695 — the highest price in Consumer Reports' bassinet ratings — and scored 66 in the smart category. The SNOO uses responsive rocking and white noise to settle babies when it detects restlessness. Consumer Reports notes that a rental option is available, which can reduce the cost for families who want automated soothing features without committing to the full purchase price.
