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If you have started making the nursery for your newborn, then we know that you are having a dilemma about which are the best and safest bassinets vs cribs for babies to sleep in, whether your baby will need a pillow while purchasing the bassinet or crib, and if you should go will purchasing an adjustable mattress in case you opt for a standard crib and so on, which can really be confusing and tiring as a new parent.
When making the decision it all comes to the budget, space in your home, portability of the bassinets vs cribs, and the fact which is the safest option for your infant. But when it all comes down to it, what is better between bassinets vs cribs?
According to BabyCenter.com, the average newborn will sleep up to 17 hours per day, but it’s never a steady stream of sleep, which is why it might be a good idea to keep the cribs and bassinets in your bedroom (whichever you choose).
Those late night feedings and diaper changes are no joke, and it can be very convenient to have your baby close by when he or she cries out for you. Then again, by six months old, your baby will likely be more than ready to safe sleep on their own in their own bedroom, so in a way, it makes you wonder how necessary an actual bassinet is.
Jump to a specific section
- The Main Differences Between Bassinets vs Cribs
- Bassinets
- 1. Dream On Me Karley Bassinet
- 2. Delta Children Sweet Beginnings Bassinet
- 3. Graco Dream Suite Bassinet
- 1. Carter’s by DaVinci Colby 4-in-1 Convertible Crib
- 2. Storkcraft Rosland 3-in-1 Convertible Crib
- 3. Child Craft Camden 4-in-1 Convertible Crib
- The Verdict
- FAQ’s About Bassinets and Cribs
- Bassinets vs Cribs: Final Thoughts
The Main Differences Between Bassinets vs Cribs
The main differences between bassinets vs cribs are:
- Bassinets are more lightweight and mobile, whereas cribs are static and heavier.
- Bassinets are good to be used from 0-6 months, whereas cribs are to be used until your little one becomes toddler or fits in it.
- Bassinets can be used for traveling, whereas cribs cannot
If the whole point is to be able to have your baby near you for safety and convenience, there are always playards with infant inserts that can be used for more than one purpose, rather than purchasing a bassinet that your baby will grow out of in a few months’ time.
If you are worried about the product safety of a playard, you should know they are tested separately in order to meet the safety standards, so it’s a perfectly safe option to go to if you want to have something near to your bed or something to put in the kitchen while you are cooking or doing your chores.
Of course, the bassinet, being a small space, is said to be more comfortable and familiar for newborns, especially since they just spent the previous nine or so months in an even smaller space. It’s also convenient to have a bassinet if you’re strapped for space in your home and it’s the best you can do for now to keep your infant comfortable and safe throughout the night and during naps.
Obviously, when looking at bassinets vs cribs you’re going to find the good and the bad in both options, but at the end of the day, you’re going to need to pick one. And it’s better to know all the facts beforehand, as well as some possible choices when it comes down to actually pick which portable bassinet or crib to go with.
Bassinets
When you hear the term bassinet, you probably dream up some wicker basket from thousands of years ago, but in reality, it’s a safe and secure place to allow your baby to sleep during the first few crucial months of their life, as they are made of comfortable breathable mesh and is made according to safety standards.
The smaller and cozier dimensions that most halo bassinets with sids provide will likely be the most comfortable option for your newborn right off the bat. Plus, in most cases, you can keep the bassinet at your bedside, which is a definite plus, especially for new parents who don’t want to be doing bed sharing, as the baby can get a habit of sleeping next to its parents.
For some, the choice isn’t necessarily picking between bassinets and cribs, but more so which bassinet to choose and how long to use it, since you’ll inevitably transition to a crib anyway. Even so, it can give you great peace of mind to have your new baby nearby for those middle-of-the-night cries.
Pros
- The small space is something your baby will likely feel most comfortable in to start off with.
- You can keep the bassinet near your bed for middle-of-the-night feedings and diaper changes and just to check on your baby at any time.
- Some bassinets come with vibrating, rocking, or musical features which can all help to soothe your baby in different ways.
- You can also move it around the room and, very possibly, around your home too.
- Setting up a bassinet is by far much less complicated and typically much faster than putting together a crib.
Cons
- No matter how much your baby likes it, you will eventually need to transition to a crib regardless.
- It can be a strain on the wallet to buy both a bassinet now and later, a crib for your baby’s next step.
- Getting your baby accustomed to a crib after spending months in the bassinet can be a difficult change for some.
- Some babies will, in fact, hate sleeping in a bassinet, which means that any effort spent to go with this before having a crib in the house will be for nothing.
Products
1. Dream On Me Karley Bassinet
- Set-up: It has a lightweight aluminum frame with locking casters, so locking the legs into place and moving it around your home should be a breeze.
- Special Features: The bassinet has an adjustable canopy, a storage basket underneath, and it can also gently rock your baby.
- Age/Weight Limit: It’s suitable for babies up to 25 pounds.
- Where To Buy: You can find it on Amazon or in store at Buy Buy Baby.
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2. Delta Children Sweet Beginnings Bassinet
- Set-up: The set-up of the bassinet requires just a few screws and snapping parts together, which make for a relatively easy process.
- Special Features: It has a nightlight, and soothing music you can play and the canopy is completely removable.
- Age/Weight Limit: It’s designed for babies up to 15 pounds.
- Where To Buy: You can buy it on the manufacturer’s website and on Amazon or in store at Target.
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3. Graco Dream Suite Bassinet
- Set-up: Since there are so many different features and parts, the set-up process can be a bit more cumbersome.
- Special Features: The bassinet has an extended use changer, two different vibration speeds, wheels for moving it around the room, and storage underneath.
- Age/Weight Limit: It’s recommended for babies up to 15 pounds or three months — whichever comes first.
- Where To Buy: You can purchase it on the manufacturer’s website and on Amazon or in-store at Target and Buy Buy Baby.
Cribs
For some families, cribs are a natural first choice, opposed to bassinets. This is probably because with cribs, you get the standard sleeping area that your baby will use for years and, if it’s a convertible crib, years after they’ve grown out of a crib entirely.
This will mean that you won’t have to buy new beds each step of the way and that your child can also remain in the bed they’ve grown comfortable with over the years.
In that respect, it’s a definite win-win situation. Then again, unlike bassinets, cribs will have a much lower sleeping position for your newborn, so you will be left bending over quite far to pick them up each time.
And this does eliminate the convenience of having your baby right there in your bedroom for the first few months of their life. But for some parents, making the move to crib as soon as possible is the name of the game and most babies will be just fine with this arrangement.
Pros
- Most cribs these days are convertible, which means that they can be transformed into toddler bed and then full-sized beds, so the crib will be the only thing you’ll need to buy initially.
- You won’t have to deal with what can be a stressful transition from bassinet to crib, which can be a rude awakening for some babies.
- Although some babies like the coziness of a bassinet, cribs allow for more room to roll over when the time comes and to spread out as they see fit.
- Having your baby sleep in a crib early on could help him, or her learn how to self-soothe sooner.
- It’s healthy to have sleeping time away from your baby and privacy in your bedroom and with a crib and no bassinet, that’s what you can get.
Cons
- When your baby cries in the middle of the night, you won’t have to rush out and down a hallway, but instead tend to them right near your own bed.
- Some babies prefer the small quarters of a bassinet.
- It can be bothersome to have to bend down so low to pick your baby up out of a crib when it’s on the lowest infant height setting.
- Wth bars on cribs, it is possible that your baby could get his or her foot stuck between the slats at times.
Products
1. Carter’s by DaVinci Colby 4-in-1 Convertible Crib
- Set-up: The set-up process isn’t any more strenuous than that of any other similar crib, but you will have to remember how to convert it to a toddler bed, daybed, and full-sized bed.
- Special Features: It can be used in four different ways and even has a large trundle drawer underneath.
- Age/Weight Limit: The crib can be used from infancy and on since it can be converted to different kinds of beds for your child.
- Where To Buy: You can primarily find it on Amazon.
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2. Storkcraft Rosland 3-in-1 Convertible Crib
- Set-up: As with any crib, properly setting up this one can be somewhat time-consuming, and you will need to go back to the instructions when it’s time to convert the crib.
- Special Features: It can be used as a crib, a daybed, and a toddler bed.
- Age/Weight Limit: The crib can be used from infancy to the time your child reaches the 50-pound mark.
- Where To Buy: You can find it on Amazon or in-store at Walmart.
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3. Child Craft Camden 4-in-1 Convertible Crib
- Set-up: It has standard crib instructions, but it is important to note that the toddler guard rail and full-sized bed rails are sold separately.
- Special Features: The crib can be converted to a daybed, toddler bed, and full-size bed for your child.
- Age/Weight Limit: Your child can use it from infancy and onward since it transitions to multiple bed stages.
- Where To Buy: You can find it on the manufacturer’s website and on Amazon or in store at Target.
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The Verdict
Bassinets are convenient, they save space, and they provide a comfortable and safe environment that your baby may feel most at ease with right from the start.
In some ways, however, they are not as practical as a crib. Since so many cribs are designed to have multiple mattress heights, you can be sure that your baby will be at the appropriate height for their development and when the time comes, you can even convert many cribs into toddler beds and eventually full-sized beds.
When you compare the literal years of use you’ll get with a crib to the mere months that a bassinet provides, you kind of have to go with the crib here.
Again, bassinets are certainly nice to have in your bedroom for those first few months, but you’re going to have to get used to your infant being in a crib sooner or later.
There’s no substantial reason to bounce from a bassinet to a crib. As long as you properly set up and place your baby’s crib in their bedroom within a good distance to a baby monitor and you’re always close by to check on then, they’ll be plenty safe.
FAQ’s About Bassinets and Cribs
There is just not one right answer to this question as some parents prefer teaching their babies to sleep in a crib after getting them home from the hospital, whereas others prefer to wait a few months until they are ready. It’s really up to personal preference and it’s okay whichever choice you make.
Sleeping in a bassinet is safe, however, once your baby learns how to roll and starts moving more, it’s always better to transition to a crib to prevent an accident.
There have been a lot of accidents related to bassinets and this was usually due to the additional blankets or pillows they had and with the babies sleeping on their stomach. When babies learn to roll, they can easily get trapped under pillows or covers, so it’s always best to avoid the traditional ones with extra mats or pillows, or using them when you don’t monitor your baby.
Bassinets vs Cribs: Final Thoughts
One of the most important things you can do while dreaming up your baby’s perfect nursery and figuring out the first months of their life is to choose between a bassinet vs. crib. And once you do, it’s time to choose which bassinet or crib is right for you. But both tasks aren’t the easiest thing in the world and hopefully, this has made the decision that much easier for you.
And even if you decide to go with a bassinet, you will eventually have to transition regardless, so for some families, it might be the best idea to cut out the middleman, or in this case, the bassinet. Since this is your baby (and your wallet), the choice is ultimately up to you, but you really can’t go wrong with the convenience, cost-effectiveness, safety, and longevity of a solid crib.
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