When you first bring home your new baby, getting them to sleep a few hours at a stretch each night feels like climbing Everest. The bleary-eyed days as a new parent can lead to some epic sleep deprivation, and finding ways to alleviate that challenge even a little bit can be a big win.

The Best Bedside Cribs

Making sure you have a safe sleeping environment for your baby is the best way to keep them healthy. We know — there has been so much conflicting and confusing information about how to put your baby to bed over the past few years.

Our old friends, The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) tries to clear that up. They advise that your baby should sleep in your bedroom for at least the first 6 months on a firm, flat surface (not in your bed). And, the only thing in your bassinet or crib should be a snugly fitted sheet. No bumpers, no duvets, no lovies. But how do you choose a bedside sleeper or bassinet? What’s safe? What should you look for? Don’t worry, we can help everyone choose and rest easy. (Or as easily as any new parent is able.)

What to Consider

Holy cow, there are a lot of rules, but basically it comes down to fitting within the new guidelines set by the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) that bans all in-bed co-sleepers, all incline sleepers, and any infant bassinet that is not freestanding with a base.

And they’re not doing this willy-nilly to cheese off furniture manufacturers and parents just looking for some relief. Unfortunately, these types of sleepers have led to the deaths of over 90 babies, and that is over 90 babies too many.

The ban came after the CPSC board voted 3-1 to set new rules and guidelines to regulate products designed for infant sleep — previously, this was an unregulated category. The rules now state that all products designated for infant sleeping cannot be set to incline more than 10 degrees, and they must adhere to the standards set forth by the CPSC for other child and toddler sleep products, like bassinets, bedside sleepers, play yards, and cribs. In short, that means nothing elevated, nothing that goes in the bed, nothing that doesn't have breathable sides or slats, and nothing without a base. But within this seemingly limited scope, there is actually a ton of room for style, maneuverability, size, and type.

  • Style: Bedside sleepers can be pretty dreamy in design, featuring modern colors, sleek lines, and bold choices of metal. But as you’d expect, the more modern and sleek, the higher the cost. That’s not to say that the others are duds — far from it. Even less pricey models are getting chicer every year.
  • Maneuverability: Consider where you want to have this bedside sleeper. You need to have at least 3 feet between the sleeper and the wall, so if you’re in a tight space, a bulkier sleeper won’t work. Also, if you’re going to be lugging it from room to room, you’ll want it to be pretty lightweight.
  • Type: There are three kinds of bedside cribs: the traditional bassinet style, which is great for use in small spaces and anywhere you need maximum maneuverability. Then there’s the pack and play style, which is a multiuse product, great for birth through about 3 years old. Then, the twin sleeper. It has two compartments for your babies, giving them independence, but keeping them close enough for comfort.

The bedside sleepers and bassinets on this list all fit within the CPSC rules, are highly rated, and most importantly — they're safe. Plus, they're easy to figure out at zero dark thirty whenever your baby wakes you up with a diaper blowout and you have to change the linens in the dark. Because honestly, it's going to happen several times.

Best on Space

HALO HALO BassiNest Swivel Sleeper

HALO BassiNest Swivel Sleeper

HALO HALO BassiNest Swivel Sleeper

Now 10% Off
$270 at Amazon$299 at Walmart$300 at Nordstrom
Pros
  • Adjustable to any mattress height
  • Includes soothers like lights and music
Cons
  • Heavy base
  • Labor-intensive assembly

The Halo BassiNest is a dream of a bedside crib. While it can be a pain in the butt if you accidentally hip check it (I have the bruises for proof), what piece of furniture isn't? What I love about this bedside sleeper is how adjustable it is. Whether you're in a low-to-the-ground platform bed, or a princess-style canopy, you can adjust this crib to be at the perfect height for your convenience.

It's fairly compact at 22x34 inches, with legs that tuck under the bed, and it only requires 32 inches of clearance from the wall, so if you're in a tight space, you can still keep your baby close. This bassinet is also feature-heavy, having everything from the capability of playing babbling-brook white noise to sending soft, gentle vibrations through the sleeper to hopefully lull your child to sleep.

Best Design

Maxi-Cosi Iora 2-In-1 Sleeper

Iora 2-In-1 Sleeper
Pros
  • Gorgeous design
  • Great storage
Cons
  • Not many features

If your baby starts to pull themselves up and roll over a little earlier than you expected, you'll be glad you have a deep bassinet like this one from Maxi-Cosi. Not only is it one of the chicest bedside sleepers you'll ever come across, but it's also extremely well-built, very breathable, and easy to put together. No, it doesn't have all the bells and whistles of the BassiNest — but what it does have is an extended-use period, thanks to the fact that it is a full arm deep. Having seen this one myself, I can tell you that this added depth feels so nice and so secure.

This does mean that you may have to stand up to get to your baby, but thanks to the mesh sides, you don't have to stand up to check on them, and at some point, you'll wake up and they'll be staring right at you, causing you to yelp. Again, these things just happen.

Best Budget

Dream On Me Lotus Bedside Sleeper

Lotus Bedside Sleeper

Dream On Me Lotus Bedside Sleeper

Pros
  • Mesh canopy protects against mosquitos
  • Affordable
  • Has extra storage
Cons
  • Shallow depth

If this cicada year has taught us anything, it's that bugs can and will get everywhere. (We're going to have nightmares for the next 17 years, we're sure of it.) With this affordable, portable bassinet that works as well outside as it does in your bedroom, mosquitos and other flying bugs are the least of your concerns. That's because it's equipped with a mesh canopy that covers the entire exposed area, keeping your baby free of pesky critters.

This sleeper is approximately the same size as the Halo, but it has the added benefit of having a small shelf below the sleeping area for those things you need in a hurry, like diapers, wipes, nursing pads, and instant coffee.

Best Convertible

KoolerThings 3 in 1 Baby Bassinet

3 in 1 Baby Bassinet

KoolerThings 3 in 1 Baby Bassinet

Now 26% Off
Pros
  • Completely convertible
Cons
  • On the small side

Not sure whether you need a bedside sleeper, bassinet, or crib? How about all three, just to make it easier? This multiuse model also gives you valuable storage below and comes with its own travel bag. It's a bit longer, at nearly 40 inches across, but it'll be worth it when you realize that extra inch or two makes converting it for travel that much easier.

It has a peekaboo flap that folds down for easy access to your baby when it's in bedside sleeper mode, and because of its three-position adjustability, that bed could be a low sofa if you need it to be. The whole thing weighs under 30 pounds, so carting it around the house is pretty easy, thankfully, because showers may be needed occasionally.

Best for Twins

Delta Children Simmons Kids By The Bed City Sleeper

Simmons Kids By The Bed City Sleeper

Delta Children Simmons Kids By The Bed City Sleeper

Now 18% Off
Pros
  • One of the only bedside sleepers for twins
  • Affordable
Cons
  • Bulky

This is really the only twin sleeper on the market, but Delta somehow managed to make it affordable and functional. It's as wide as you'd expect, so tight spaces may be a problem, but that's also the genius of it.

It's big enough for two newborns to sleep comfortably and safely. The mesh sides are breathable, and the construction is every bit as durable as you'd expect from the company that has specialized in high-quality affordable baby furniture for over 50 years.

Most Convenient

Graco Graco Pack and Play

Graco Pack and Play

Graco Graco Pack and Play

Pros
  • Affordable
  • Multifunctional
Cons
  • Clunky
  • Difficult to collapse

This is the bassinet I used with both of my kids. I live in New York City, and I needed it to do double duty, being both a play yard and a bassinet. I didn't have space for both, and this classic from Graco does just that. The top piece is a bassinet that is the full size of the play yard, and it pulls out easily to convert to a standard Pack and Play. I'm not going to lie — it's not the easiest to collapse and put into in its storage bag, but I did just that several times per week to go to the park or attend T-ball games. The wheels are sturdy and durable, able to trek across the uneven ground of the park, and with all the available accessories like mosquito netting and sheets designed just for the Pack and Play, it's truly an economical, convenient option.

It's durable, washable, and you'll get tons of use out of it. What more could you ask for?

Adjustable Depth

Ingenuity Dream & Grow Bedside Bassinet

Dream & Grow Bedside Bassinet

Ingenuity Dream & Grow Bedside Bassinet

Pros
  • Plays music
  • Affordable
Cons
  • A little light

If you want your baby close by, even after they figure out how to sit up, then you need a seriously deep bassinet. This is it. You can adjust this one from a newborn-appropriate depth to that of a traditional crib, and it'll keep the same 27x41 inch footprint.

It's designed to keep your baby safe and close the entire first year of their life. And, if your baby is anything like mine, toward the end of that, they will figure out how to hoist themselves over the edge and onto your bed to get access to snacktime all on their own.