Best Bassinets: Bedside, Portable and Play Yard Picks
A bassinet is a small bed that keeps a newborn within arm's reach of yours. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends sharing a room with your baby, but not a bed, for at least the first 6 months, and says room sharing can lower the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) by as much as 50%.
The five picks below run from about $65 to $380: a light folding bassinet, two bedside models that sit at mattress height, a swivel sleeper that reaches over your bed, and a play yard with a bassinet insert.
| Best for | Pick | Price checked |
|---|---|---|
| Best bedside | HALO BassiNest Swivel Sleeper 3.0 | $249.95 |
| Best budget | Dream on Me Karley Portable Bassinet | $65.06 |
| Best bedside value | Graco DreamMore Deluxe Bedside Bassinet | $129.00 |
| Most versatile | Chicco Close to You 3-in-1 Bedside Bassinet | $379.99 |
| Best play yard with bassinet | Graco Pack 'N Play on the Go Playard with Bassinet | $79.99 |
Best Bassinets
#1 · Best bedside
HALO BassiNest Swivel Sleeper 3.0
| Weight limit | 20 lb (listing) |
|---|---|
| Bed fit | Up to 30 in tall, frame 4.5 in off floor |
| Swivel | 360 degrees |
| Access | Lowering side wall |
| Walls | Mesh |
| Model | 4792 |
The HALO BassiNest stands on a single base and swivels 360 degrees, so you can turn it over your bed for night feeds and away again to get up. A side wall lowers for easier access, which the listing points out helps after a C-section.
The walls are mesh so you can see and air can move. It fits beds up to 30 inches tall with frames at least 4.5 inches off the floor, and comes with a fitted sheet and pad. The listing gives a 20-pound limit.
The bassinet part lifts off as a "nest," but HALO says the nest is only for the floor with an awake baby you are watching, never for sleep. It was $249.95, sold by HALO and shipped by Amazon, with a 4.4 rating from about 540 reviews.
Good for
- Swivels over the bed for night feeds
- Lowering wall for easy reach
Watch Out for
- About $250
- Detachable nest is not for sleep
#2 · Best budget
Dream on Me Karley Portable Bassinet
| Weight limit | Up to 25 lb (listing) |
|---|---|
| Frame | Aluminum, folds |
| Bassinet weight | 12.4 lb |
| Mattress | 1 in pad, 30 x 15 in |
| Size | 33 x 19.5 x 37 in |
| Model | 441-GY |
The Dream On Me Karley is a light folding bassinet with the biggest review base here, about 18,500 reviews with a 4.7 rating, for $65.06 from Amazon.
Its aluminum frame weighs 12.4 pounds, sets up without tools and folds for travel, according to the listing. It comes with a 1-inch mattress pad and has a mesh canopy and a storage basket underneath. It measures 33 by 19.5 by 37 inches.
It stands on its own rather than sitting at bed height, and the listing gives a 25-pound limit. Check the manual for its developmental limits too.
Good for
- About $65, huge review base
- Light and folds for travel
Watch Out for
- Not at bed height
- Thin mattress pad
#3 · Best bedside value
Graco DreamMore Deluxe Bedside Bassinet
| Weight limit | 20 lb (listing) |
|---|---|
| Height | 23.5 to 32.5 in, 9 settings |
| Portable | Bassinet lifts off base |
| Motion | Manual sway |
| Mattress | Machine washable |
| Model | 2156185 |
The Graco DreamMore is a bedside bassinet for about half the HALO's price. Its legs slide under your bed and its height adjusts from 23.5 to 32.5 inches in nine settings, so it can sit level with your mattress.
The bassinet lifts off the base, so you can move it to another room for naps. It has a manual sway and a mattress that goes in the washing machine. The listing gives a 20-pound limit.
It was $129.00, sold by Piccolino Baby, with a 4.4 rating from about 240 reviews, the fewest of the five.
Good for
- Bedside height for about $129
- Bassinet lifts off for naps elsewhere
Watch Out for
- Smaller review base
- Third-party seller
#4 · Most versatile
Chicco Close to You 3-in-1 Bedside Bassinet
| Weight limit | 20 lb bassinet, 35 lb changer (listing) |
|---|---|
| Height | 24 to 33.5 in |
| Modes | Bedside, rolling bassinet, changer |
| Mattress | Reversible, washable cover |
| Extras | Melodies, vibration, night light |
| Sold by | Amazon |
The Chicco Close to You does three jobs: a bedside sleeper that glides over your bed, a bassinet on swivel wheels you can roll from room to room, and a changing table for children up to 35 pounds, according to the listing.
The mattress is reversible, firm and flat for sleep on one side and waterproof for changes on the other, with a zip-off cover that goes in the washer. Its height adjusts from 24 to 33.5 inches, and it has mesh panels, a brake and a diaper caddy. A module plays melodies, vibrates and lights up.
It's the priciest pick at $379.99 from Amazon, with a 4.5 rating from about 560 reviews. The bassinet itself has a 20-pound limit. Only 8 were left in stock when we checked.
Good for
- Becomes a changing table later
- Rolls between rooms with a brake
Watch Out for
- About $380
- Bulky at 33 lb
#5 · Best play yard with bassinet
Graco Pack 'N Play on the Go Playard with Bassinet
| Modes | Raised bassinet, play yard |
|---|---|
| Fold | Bassinet folds with it |
| Weight | 21.2 lb |
| Extras | Toy bar |
| Model | 2164119 |
| Sold by | Amazon |
A play yard with a bassinet insert covers two stages: a raised bassinet for the newborn months, then a floor-level play yard for napping and travel later. The Graco Pack 'n Play On the Go has the highest rating here, 4.8 from about 3,000 reviews, for $79.99 from Amazon.
The bassinet folds with the play yard, and the feet and wheels fold too, for a package Graco says is 20% more compact than its other play yards. It has a push-button fold.
The CPSC says bassinets that attach to play yards must meet the bassinet standard as well as the play yard rule. Take the toy bar off for sleep, so nothing sits over your baby, and check the manual for when to stop using the bassinet insert.
Good for
- Two stages for about $80
- Highest rating here
Watch Out for
- Lower than bed height
- Bulkier than a stand-alone bassinet
Compare the 5 Picks
| Pick | Price | Type | Weight limit | Bed height | Portable | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HALO BassiNest Swivel Sleeper 3.0 | $249.95 | Swivel bedside | 20 lb | Up to 30 in beds | No | 4.4 (540) |
| Dream on Me Karley Portable Bassinet | $65.06 | Folding stand-alone | 25 lb | No | Yes, folds | 4.7 (18,476) |
| Graco DreamMore Deluxe Bedside Bassinet | $129.00 | Bedside | 20 lb | 23.5 to 32.5 in | Lifts off base | 4.4 (236) |
| Chicco Close to You 3-in-1 Bedside Bassinet | $379.99 | Bedside and changer | 20 lb | 24 to 33.5 in | Rolls on wheels | 4.5 (559) |
| Graco Pack 'N Play on the Go Playard with Bassinet | $79.99 | Play yard insert | Check manual | No | Yes, folds | 4.8 (3,028) |
Prices and Amazon ratings (with review counts) as checked on October 17, 2026.
Bassinet Safety: Flat, Bare and Close by
Bassinets and cradles have their own federal rule, 16 CFR 1218. The CPSC says a bassinet's sleep surface must be no more than 10 degrees from flat when it's at rest, and the rule tests side height, the mattress, stability and flatness. Bassinets made or imported on or after February 21, 2026 must meet the newest version of the standard.
Safe sleep basics: the AAP says a newborn should sleep on their back in a bassinet with no incline. The CPSC's "Bare is Best" means only a fitted sheet: no pillows, blankets or bumpers. Never let your baby sleep in a product inclined more than 10 degrees, such as a swing or rocker.
The AAP recommends against bed sharing under any circumstances and says the risk of a sleep-related death while bed sharing is 5 to 10 times higher for babies under 4 months. A bedside bassinet keeps your baby close without being in your bed.
Travel Bassinets, Nests and in-Bed Sleepers
The AAP says products like in-bed sleepers, baby nests and pods, compact bassinets and travel bassinets are only safe if they meet the CPSC's June 2021 rule, which requires infant sleep products to meet the federal standard for cribs, bassinets or play yards. If a product doesn't, don't use it for sleep. HALO's own listing says the BassiNest's detachable nest is for an awake, supervised baby on the floor only.
How to Choose a Bassinet
Bedside or Stand-Alone
Not sure you need a bassinet at all? Read our bassinet vs crib comparison.
Bedside models like the HALO, Graco DreamMore and Chicco sit at mattress height so you can see and reach your baby from bed. A stand-alone bassinet like the Karley is cheaper and folds, but sits beside the bed rather than level with it.
Bed Height
Measure your mattress height before you buy. The DreamMore adjusts from 23.5 to 32.5 inches and the Chicco from 24 to 33.5 inches; the HALO fits beds up to 30 inches tall.
How Long It Lasts
Bassinets are for the first months only. Four of these list a 20 or 25-pound limit. Check the manual for any limits based on your baby's development as well, and move your baby to a crib or play yard when they reach one.
Portability
For a travel crib or play yard, see our play yards guide.
The Karley and the Pack 'n Play fold for travel. The DreamMore lifts off its base for naps in another room, and the Chicco rolls on wheels with a brake.
Bassinet Questions
How Long Can My Baby Sleep in a Bassinet?
Until they reach the weight or developmental limit in your bassinet's manual. The bassinets here list 20 or 25 pounds.
Are Vibration and Music Safe?
Soothing features don't change the basics. Your baby should still sleep on their back on a flat, bare surface. Turn features off if your manual says to, and never add padding or positioners.
Can I Use a Secondhand Bassinet?
Check the label for the model and date, search CPSC.gov for recalls and make sure nothing is missing or broken. Our article on checking baby gear for recalls walks through it.
The Bottom Line
The HALO BassiNest Swivel Sleeper is the best bedside bassinet if you want to reach your baby without getting up. The Graco DreamMore gives you bedside height for about $129, and the Dream On Me Karley is a light, folding pick for about $65. The Chicco Close to You turns into a changing table, and the Graco Pack 'n Play On the Go covers the newborn months and the play yard years. Whichever you choose, keep it flat, bare and next to your bed, not in it.