These 10 Bedside Sleepers Are the Key to Safe Co-Sleeping in Those First Few Months With Your Baby
by Bethany Braun-Silva
These bedside sleepers for babies are safe and cozy.
As you get ready to welcome your new baby into your home, you’re likely going over the list of everything you need, especially for those first few months. Diapers, feeding supplies, clothes, and a place for your baby to sleep should all top the list, but we know how challenging that last one can be.
There are so many guidelines when it comes to safe sleeping for babies, and figuring a safe place for them to sleep is very important. Since the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies share a room (not a bed) with their parents for at least the first six months, investing in a bedside sleeper or crib is your best bet.
What is a bedside sleeper?
Just like a bassinet, a bedside sleeper is a small crib, but it has a retractable side that makes it easy to access your baby from your own bed. This ensures they are close by for middle-of-the-night feedings, comforting, and diaper changes while having their own space safely resting.
Do you need a bedside sleeper?
Since the AAP is clear about its recommendations for room sharing versus co-sleeping and says that parents should never let their babies sleep in the same bed as them, having a separate sleeper in your room close to your bed without actually being on your bed is the best option.
Bedside sleepers can be used starting at birth and for up to a year. They offer many features convenient to parents, like the aforementioned retractable side, motorized rocking and soothing, soft music, and mesh sides so that you can view your baby at eye level.
What should you look for in a bedside sleeper?
A bedside sleeper requires the same safety standards as a bassinet in order to be sold. When installing, be sure to follow all the manufacturer’s instructions exactly. There shouldn’t be any space between your bed and the bedside sleeper, and they come with specific attachments to ensure that they don’t move. Also, be sure to use the bedding that the bedside sleeper recommends and that bedding from your bed doesn’t fall into the bedside sleeper, which would risk your baby getting tangled up.
Overall, a bedside sleeper is a great choice for parents to practice safe room sharing with their babies, and we found the 10 best bedside sleepers for 2021 below.
Best Overall: HALO BassiNest Swivel Sleeper
Best Affordable: Dream On Me Lotus Bedside Sleeper
Best for Small Spaces: Baby Delight Beside Me Dreamer Bassinet & Bedside Sleeper
Best Height Adjustable: Evolur Stellar Bassinet and Bed Side Sleeper
Best Transitional: Breathable Baby Mesh Mini Crib
Best Portable: Baby Joy Portable Baby Bed Side Sleeper
Best Splurge: SNOO Smart Sleeper Baby Bassinet
Best Technology: 4moms mamaRoo Sleep Bassinet
Best Lightweight: Babybjorn Cradle
Best with Storage: Arm’s Reach Clear-Vue Co-Sleeper Bassinet
RELATED: How to Pick the Best Mattress for Kids in 2021
Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
1 of 10 Image Credits: Amazon
Best Overall
HALO BassiNest Swivel Sleeper
This bedside sleeper can rotate 360 degrees for easy access to your baby from any position. One side of the sleeper can be pressed down with a bit of pressure, making it easy for moms to grab their baby for feedings in the middle of the night, and it can also be locked for added peace of mind. Reviewers on Amazon call this a “must-have item” for first-time parents.
2 of 10 Image Credits: Amazon
Best Affordable
Dream On Me Lotus Bedside Sleeper
This budget-friendly bassinet can be adjusted to four different heights and features mesh panels on either side for optimal airflow and easy viewing of your baby. It comes in five different colors and even hasa mosquito net should you need to use it outdoors.
3 of 10 Image Credits: BuyBuyBaby
Best for Small Spaces
Baby Delight Beside Me Dreamer Bassinet & Bedside Sleeper
This lightweight crib is easy to move and small enough to fit at the side of practically any bed. It can attach to your bed with the included straps and has a six-position height adjustment.
4 of 10 Image Credits: Amazon
Best Height Adjustable
Evolur Stellar Bassinet and Bed Side Sleeper
This bedside sleeper bassinet can be adjusted to five different heights and is lightweight and portable. It requires no tools for assembly and is made with hypoallergenic fabrics. One reviewer writes that it “has literally saved our sanity.”
5 of 10 Image Credits: Target
Best Transitional
Breathable Baby Mesh Mini Crib
The mattress in this crib can be dropped down to accommodate your baby for up to 24 months. The patented breathable mesh is safe for babies once they start to move around and keeps pacifiers and limbs safely inside the crib. It comes in white and gray.
6 of 10 Image Credits: Amazon
Best Portable
Baby Joy Portable Baby Bed Side Sleeper
This bedside sleeper can easily be folded down and stored in the included carrying bag. One side of the crib can be raised to help with colic, and the mattress is detachable and machine-washable.
7 of 10 Image Credits: Amazon
Best Splurge
SNOO Smart Sleeper Baby Bassinet
This bassinet is definitely a splurge, but parents on Amazon sayit’s “absolutely worth the cost” because of its ability to get babies to sleep through the night. It mimics the motion that babies feel in the womb and automatically reacts based on their cries. It also comes with an attached swaddle to prevent babies from rolling onto their stomachs.
8 of 10 Image Credits: Amazon
Best Technology
4moms mamaRoo Sleep Bassinet
This bassinet has five different movements and four ambient sounds that can be controlled via Bluetooth on the 4moms app. You can also set a timer to turn off the motion and sounds, giving you that added assurance to get some much-needed sleep yourself.
9 of 10 Image Credits: Pottery Barn Kids
Best Lightweight
Babybjörn Cradle
At just 13 pounds, this is one of the lightest bassinets on the market. Its simple design will look great in any bedroom, and it has a rocking feature that will help lull your baby to sleep night after night. It has mesh sides all around, making it safe for your baby.
10 of 10 Image Credits: Amazon
Best with Storage
Arm’s Reach Clear-Vue Co-Sleeper Bassinet
This bedside sleeper comes with ample storage, including an underneath basket and side pockets, so no need to buy extra furniture for diapers, clothes, and additional sheets. It has locking wheels so it can be moved out of the way when not in use.
