Stuck on whether you should buy a bassinet vs co-sleeper for your baby to sleep after birth?
It’s important your newborn sleeps in a safe bed that is in the same room as you for the first six months after birth.
The NHS and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) both recommend your baby sleeps in their own bed and discourages co-sleeping (and if you do to follow strict guidelines).
For this reason a bassinet or co-sleeper can be extremely useful, as they are often smaller than a crib so can fit in your bedroom alongside your existing furniture much easier.
Co-sleepers can be a good middle ground for parents who want to try co-sleeping but are wary of the safety warnings from official bodies, as they act as an extension to the actual bed.
But should you buy a co-sleeper or a bassinet? Let’s take a look!
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Bassinet vs co-sleeper quick summary
A bassinet is a standalone newborn bed. A co-sleeper, also known as a bedside crib, has a removable side that enables it to become an extension of your bed for safer co-sleeping with your baby.
A co-sleeper is a good option if you are breastfeeding or baby wakes frequently in the night as it makes it easier to reach for them.
Some bassinets come with wheels which make them a good option if you need to move the bed to different rooms throughout the day for baby’s naps. Most are lightweight in design, much more so than a crib.
It’s worth noting there are some products that can fulfil the best bits of both a bassinet and a co-sleeper – so you may not even have to choose one or the other.
Babies need to transition to a crib once they are six months old. With some bassinets or co-sleepers your baby may grow out of them before this stage, it depends on the size of the product.
Whatever you choose, a bassinet or co-sleeper is useful as your baby should sleep in the same room as you for the first six months, according to safer sleep advice from the NHS and AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics). Many bedrooms may not be big enough to fit a full-size crib alongside the parents’ bed.
Any bassinet, co-sleeper, crib or similar that you buy should meet safety standards, have a firm surface and have a mattress designed to fit the product.
Which should you choose?
Many co-sleepers also double as a bassinet as the side can be easily removed or raised depending on how you wish to use it.
For that reason it’s best to shop for something that can fulfil the needs of both a co-sleeper and a bassinet that can be moved around the home safely.
Even better, look for a 3-in-1 option that can be used as a bedside sleeper, a standalone crib and a travel crib (one that folds down and preferably includes a travel bag).
Bassinet vs co-sleeper vs crib vs Moses basket
When you’re become a parent or are waiting to become a parent there’s a whole lot of terminology that gets thrown around. It can get confusing to say the least.
Before getting on to the details of what’s best for your baby to sleep in after birth, let’s just define what we mean by all of these different things.
First of all these are all beds that are appropriate for a newborn baby from birth. Some will last longer than others however, and in some cases it can depend on what specific product you buy.
Here’s a guide to each of these baby sleep options so you’re clear on the difference between the types of baby beds:
Bassinet
A bassinet is a newborn bed that’s typically on built in wheels or a stand. It can be made from a range of materials, such as wood, plastic and fabric.
Some bassinets are made of mesh material so you can see through to your baby when laying down in your own bed next to their bed.
How long your baby can stay in the bassinet depends on the specific one you bought – some are bigger than others.
There’s even a bassinet from Maxi Cosi, that can be turned into a high chair suitable for kids up to age three!
But generally speaking a normal bassinet will last a maximum of six months, but more likely six months. This is because you’re likely to want to move your baby to a crib with ground level mattress by the time they start to roll over for safety reasons.
Co-sleeper
A co-sleeper is a baby bed that can be attached to the side of your bed as a kind of mini extension creating a safe place for your baby to sleep next to you.
It’s a way of bringing your baby into bed with you, which is super useful for things like night feeds, without actually having them in bed with you.
It is like a bassinet, but with a drop down side that allows the bed to be pushed up against your own bed and connect to it.
Some co-sleepers can also be use as a bassinet.
Generally speaking your baby will move out of a co-sleeper by around four to six months.
Moses basket
A Moses basket is very similar to a bassinet but is made from woven materials like willow or reeds.
They often come with handles – but not always – and need to be placed onto a stand. Some stands double up as a rocker while others are fixed wood frames for the Moses basket to rest in.
A Moses basket is very easy to move around from room to room. It’s lightweight and tends to be quite compact.
However your baby is likely to grow out of a Moses basket quite quickly, probably by the time they are four months old.
You may also like: Do I need a Moses basket?
Crib
A crib is a solid baby bed, typically made of wood, that may be the size of a bassinet or bigger. Babies may last in a crib from six months or into their toddler years depending on the size and design.
In the UK a crib could also be referred to as a cot (which in US terminology confusingly refers to a temporary adult bed, like a camping bed).
A cot bed is a crib that can be adapted to become a toddler bed by removing the rails once they are old enough.
What bed will last baby longest?
Of all these four newborn sleeping options the bed with the potential to last longest for a baby is a crib. That is especially the case if you buy one that’s big enough for a toddler and even better with removable railings to turn into a toddler bed.
Pros of co-sleeper
A safer alternative to having baby sleep in your bed
Baby is close for easy access for night feeds and comfort
More compact than a crib (cot)
Can be foldable so good for travelling
Cons of co-sleeper
Can be expensive
Won’t last longer than a few months after the birth
Baby needs to get used to a new bed once they have outgrown this one
Pros of bassinet
Many bassinets are smaller than a crib, fitting in your bedroom much easier
Baby can be pushed up close to the side of your bed
Light and portable so can be easily moved around the house
Some bassinets have mesh sides so you can see your baby while laying down
Cons of bassinet
Your baby will grow out of it quicker than many cribs
Added expense as you’ll also have to buy a crib
What to look for when shopping for a bassinet or co-sleeper
When shopping in the UK a bassinet, co-sleeper, crib, cot, cot bed, Moses basket or any other baby sleep product should comply with the British Standards safety guidance under BS EN 716.
In the US when shopping for the same products you should look for a bed that compiles with the safety standards of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
You can also check for CPSC product recalls here – this may be particularly useful if you are thinking of buy a crib or similar secondhand.
You can confirm whether the product complies with the standards for the country where you live by checking the manufacturers description. Always buy from a reputable seller or company to avoid knock-off products.
Avoid using a bassinet or co-sleeper that doesn’t have instructions, is missing hardware or is broken.
An update from the AAP on safe sleep for your baby from 2022 emphasised the need to make sure your baby sleeps on a flat, not inclined, surface.
“We’ve made great strides in learning what keeps infants safe during sleep but much work still needs to be done,” said Rachel Moon, professor of pediatrics at the University of Virginia School of Medicine.
“A baby’s death is tragic, heartbreaking and often preventable. If we’ve learned anything, it’s that simple is best: babies should always sleep in a crib or bassinet, on their back, without soft toys, pillows, blankets or other bedding.”
Is a co-sleeper safe?
The AAP does not specify that co-sleepers are safe, but it’s recommendations do say your baby should sleep in a bassinet or crib that adheres to CPSC standards.
So you should always double check the product you are using conforms to the industry standards of where you live.
Some co-sleepers, or bedside cribs, have the option to tilt the mattress. This is aimed at easing issues such as congestion or reflux.
But it’s worth noting the NHS and Lullaby Trust recommend your baby lies on a completely flat surface, so avoid buying on the basis of this feature.
If you cannot fit the bedside crib that you have purchased properly as outlined by the manufacturers’ guidance to the side of your bed then you should not use it.
You may also like: Tips for preventing SIDS
Are there any alternatives?
Nests, pods and in-bed sleepers are marketed as small portable places for your baby to sleep.
The NHS and AAP do not specifically deem these as safe, so it’s best to stick with a crib, cot bed or bassinet for your baby to sleep.
The Lullaby Trust says that while there is a safety standard for cot mattresses, there is no standard for pods and nests as a sleeping place for babies. As a result the charity advises you avoid them.
Final thoughts
I recommend going for a bassinet that doubles as a co-sleeper that can be easily moved to another room so you have full flexibility when it comes to where your newborn sleeps.
This way if you want to use it as a co-sleeper then you can, but it is also a handy bassinet that you can move around the house for baby’s nap time, enabling them to stay in the same room as you.
Always look for a product that conforms to the safety regulations for manufacturers of baby cribs and bassinets where you live.
If you are on a budget then you may like to skip a bassinet or co-sleeper altogether and buy a crib that will last baby longer. You should always check the product description for its weight limit to establish how long the bed be appropriate for.
If you’re shopping for baby essentials then you may also find these articles useful for getting ready for baby:
Checklist for preparing your home for baby
