If you’re here, you likely searched the web for “modern bassinet” or something along those lines.
And I get it. I know exactly what you’re looking for.
You want something stylish that stands out yet makes your parenting life easier. You want a bassinet that will be a conversation starter but practical still. You probably want a minimalistic bassinet that packs the punch of modern tech.
In a word, you want a bassinet that, if it could talk, would say, “This is how a great parent spends money.”
The problem is that the information on units like that is scarce at best and misleading at worst.
The solution is – this guide.
I took the time to search far and wide and handpick only the coolest, cutting-edge bassinet that will put you on the top-parent map among your friends. And make your day-to-day easier in the process.
Best modern bassinet – my top 5 picks
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SNOO smart bassinet
There’s zero doubt in my mind that the SNOO is the absolute king of the hill in most quality categories that matter.
If that sounds subjective, I admit that it might be. I might be subjective because this is the bassinet that changed my life.
And I swear by it.
Game-changing modern features
SNOO changed the landscape of the industry when it hit the market in 2016. It’s the brainchild of a famous pediatrician Dr. Harvey Kaarp.
You might know the man as the author of 5 S’s baby-soothing system.
The game-changing part is the zero-tolerance for SIDS risk.
It’s the only bassinet that follows the strictest guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatrics that a baby should ONLY sleep on their back for the first six months.
You can only ‘activate’ the basinet when the baby is swaddled, and the sack is clipped on.
Features:
- Automatic – sensors recognize motion and lull the baby back to sleep
- Soothing center includes motion, vibration, and sound
- Responsive – adjusts motion intensity to noise levels
- Adjustable sensitivity (app-controlled)
- Five intensity levels of motion – baseline and 1-4
- Patented swaddle – keeps the baby on their back
Why I love it
I have personal reasons to love the SNOO. It gave us our lives back when it seemed like we were going crazy with our restless son. It gave him some peace and us some much-needed shuteye.
It’s advertised as the safest baby bed ever made, and nobody is disputing the claim because SNOO‘s track record is 50+ million sleep hours without a single case of SIDS. And that was back in 2019.
Just as important for us today, it totally looks the part. The minimal lines, the elegant legs, and the wooden base will work well in pretty much any space.
It’s not only the best modern bassinet but also my top picks in many other categories like smart and luxury bassinets (links to those guides and my dedicated review are below).
Complete Snoo review | top smart bassinet picks | top luxury bassinets
BabyBjorn Cradle
This BabyBjorn will not appeal to everyone. Actually, let me put that differently – it will appeal to almost everyone until they hear the price.
The price point is not unusually high per se.
It ‘becomes’ high when you look at the tech and features other bassinets in its price range offer.
To BabyBjorn customers, that won’t matter much because it’s not about vibration or music; it’s about the unique design and the luxury aura.
Features:
- Gentle rocking and swaying motion
- Machine-washable inner mattress and mesh fabrics
- Class-1 approved fabrics (meet Oeko-Tex Standard 100)
- Mattress is easy to compress for storage
- Light frame – weighs only 12 lbs
- Maximum weight capacity of 17 lbs
Why I love it
I love the simple Scandinavian aesthetic. It’s a gorgeous contemporary bassinet with a designer’s ‘head-nod’ to the classic cradle.
It’s rustic yet modern-looking. It doesn’t do much apart from looking pretty, but that’s where its charm lies – in the simplicity.
It looks like it belongs on the cover of Architectural Digest.
You can see my complete review of the BabyBjorn here.
Mika Micky bassinet and bedside sleeper
Funny name, serious bassinet.
It’s also the one bassinet on this list that most people wouldn’t call pretty.
Having the functionality of a bedside sleeper in mind, you can’t do much design-wise, and I feel like Mika Micky stands out in its category.
Beauty aside, it’s one of THE top-rated products I ever reviewed. According to my stats, only one out of every 20 owners is not completely satisfied with the Mika Micky.
Features:
- Adjustable height – seven positions will suit most beds
- Fastening straps make it easy to attach/remove
- Side panel opens for bedside mode
- Mattress supported with a sleeping board
- Wheels are built-in (with brakes)
- Generous side pockets
Why I love it
I love the value for money proposition of Micka Micky – premium materials top-to-bottom, solid craftsmanship, and robust built.
On the design side, I love the toned-down monochromatic aesthetic.
To see my in-depth review of the Micka Micky, follow this link.
Related reads: review of Venice Child California Dreaming bassinet
Halo BassiNest series
Spot 4 is reserved for a series of bassinets or ‘BassiNest,’ as Halo calls them – starting from the bareboned Essentia Series, through Premiere to Luxe and Luxe Plus.
They all share a core idea – full rotation for easy access.
Features:
- Unique full rotation swivel
- Lowering and lockable bedside walls
- Substantial storage pockets on the sides
- Hefty, stable 4-point base
- Waterproof mattress and one fitted sheet (machine washable)
- Soothing vibration and sounds (Premier series)
Why I love it
I love how easy Halo makes the life of new mothers and, especially if recovering from a c-section (works for lazy fathers, too).
The full rotation of the Halo Series is a simple concept. It leaves you wondering how come there’s only one bassinet series that makes the most of it.
You can see my complete review of the Halo luxe here.
Chicco Close-to-You
Chicco Close-to-you is the swiss knife of bassinets. It does it all and does it well.
Bassinet? Check.
Changing table? Check.
Bedside sleeper? Check.
Bang & Olufsen speakers? Nope.
(had you for a moment there)
Features:
- Three modes – portable bassinet, changing table, and bedside sleeper
- Soothing center – music, vibration, and nightlight
- Fabrics are removable and machine washable
- Locking swivel wheels (handles double as brakes)
- Reversible mattress (quilted)
Why I love it
I love it because it’s probably the only all-in-one basinet that truly pulls it off. When I say “pulls it off,” I mean actually deliver in all modes – just as well as standalone products.
The only way for so much gray to be pleasing to the eye is to pair it with high-end materials, which is what Chicco did here.
Get the Diaper Caddy, hang it onto the base, and you’re a parenting machine.
Follow this link to read my review of the Chico Close-to-you.
What to look for in a modern bassinet
It’s a fine line we’ll try to walk here – we’re looking for style without sacrificing any of the basics.
I made sure that all the top contemporary bassinet picks are cute and trendy, yet practical…beautiful and elegant, yet functional.
Safety
A good modern bassinet will make zero safety sacrifices in the name of style. This is a complex matter that deserves a write-up of its own.
For the sake of being concise, I’ll compile a list of best practices – the DOs and DON’Ts of choosing a safe bassinet.
- Choose certified – go with a bassinet that meets or exceeds the federal safety standards as defined by the protective standards of the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA). It should be simple enough because every bassinet that meets that’s worth your money will be clear about this.
- Buy now – don’t get emotional and stay well away from family heirloom bassinets.
- Firm, flat surface – I wish I got a dime for every time I said “firm and flat.” For most first-time parents, the mattress of a bassinet will feel too firm for comfort. Good, it shouldn’t feel comfortable or soft; it’s designed to keep the little one safe. It should also fit snugly against the sides.
- Go with mesh – one of the common SIDS risk factors is poor airflow. The sides of a bassinet should be made of breathable mesh.
- Check the folds – if the bassinet you’re looking at folds down, make sure that the frame locks in place.
- Know when to move on from a bassinet – follow the weight limits to the T. Once they hit that upper limit, it’s time to move on to a crib. Once the baby can roll over, starts to push up on hands and knees, or meets the weight limit, move on.
Related reads: Top 5 vibrating bassinets | Top 5 co-sleepers | Top twin bassinets |
Soothing features
All the better modern bassinets feature some sort of a soothing station. Typically, these include vibration, soothing sounds and music, gentle movement, and night light.
The more elaborate ones (like our top pick, SNOO) will not only soothe the baby but recognize when the soothing needs to happen. That means extra few hours of sleep every night for you.
Advanced features like this are not cheap by any stretch of the imagination, but what price tag would you put on an hour of sleep?
Related reads: My 5 top-rated twin bassinet picks | Top budget bassinets (under $100 and $200)
Design and materials
Looking at our top picks, it’s fair to say that all five bassinets fall into two groups, with one outlier.
The first ‘group’ are the SNOO and Babybjorn.
They feature clean, minimal lines and make use of the Scandinavian aesthetic. They’re both minimal and rely on a wood-white fabric combo for their appeal.
The other group (MickaMicky and Chicco) boasts a busier, modern look with little concern for minimalism. Visually, these won’t be a great fit if wood dominates your space.
Finally, the Halo series lives somewhere in between.
Whatever you choose, make sure the sides are breathable, and the air flows freely.
Related reads: Best tall bassinets | Best bassinet strollers
Functionality
Functionality often clashes with minimalism. Ultimately, your space will determine how minimal you can go without getting frustrated.
There’ll be diapers, wipes, and clothes, and you’ll need handy storage when the going gets rough. If you have no storage on hand in the designated room, minimalism will have to take a back seat.
If that’s not an option for you, think in advance and find a place for your bassinet that allows you to have some sort of an organizer nearby.
Related reads: top bassinet picks for small spaces
Moving the bassinet
First of all, you should never move or carry a bassinet with the baby inside. If your circumstances call for moving the bassinet often, choose one with locking wheels.
That limits your choices because some of the fanciest bassinets out there are stationary.
See my picks for the best portable bassinets here.
Other factors
The factors we listed above are what we chose as paramount for getting a good balance between a modern eye-candy bassinet and real-life use.
There are many factors that we feel are not crucial for our analysis today. We’ll just list them as food for thought:
- Canopy
- Extra bedding/sheets
- Overhead mobile/toys
- Portability (removable from the base or not)
Outro and updates
If there’s a guide that lives a dynamic life, it’s this one. The market is a-changin’, and we do our best to keep up.
For you, that means, even if you don’t choose your next bassinet today, it’s probably wise to bookmark it and come back. We’ll keep it nice and fresh for you.
To go back to the top picks table, click here.
Paul is a passionate dad who founded Upside Dad to share his parenting journey with other new parents. He graduated from Concordia University and worked as a test engineer for over a decade. Paul loves dad jokes and craft beer.
Learn more about Paul and Upside Dad here.