Bassinet Vs. Crib: Which Is Best For A Baby?

Forbes

28-05-2025

Bassinets and cribs are both safe sleep spaces for babies. They provide a firm, flat surface for the essential sleep your baby needs, which is about 16 or 17 hours per day for the average newborn, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). While bassinets are designed specifically for newborns and young infants, cribs can be used for newborns, older babies and even toddlers.
As long as your baby is small enough to safely sleep in a bassinet, determining which is best is a matter of preference, budget and space.
'Bassinets are a smaller sleep space designed specifically for newborns,' says Dr. Barbara Taylor-Cox, a pediatrician at Memorial Hermann. They're often designed to be in the parent's or caregivers' bedroom, and they can also be found on travel cribs, pack and plays and strollers. Most bassinets are only safe for babies until around 6 months.
Cribs are typically larger than bassinets, though you can purchase a smaller mini crib as well. Because they're bigger and the mattress can be lowered, cribs can be used for years, while most babies outgrow even the best bassinets within a few months. To help you determine which is best for you, here are some pros and cons of each.
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Cons
Pros
Cons
Bassinets and cribs are both safe sleep spaces for babies. However, bassinets can become an unsafe space more quickly than cribs. Many babies outgrow bassinets around four to six months, often when they reach 15 to 20 pounds or when they are able to roll over, at which point the surface becomes unsafe. When it comes to cribs, safety and use can be extended by simply lowering the mattress once your baby starts to roll or pull up. Many cribs have three mattress height settings.
'The thing to remember with both bassinets and cribs is always check the safety specifications that are on the product that you buy because there may be a little variability. Those specifications will give you the weight and length limits for mattresses,' says Taylor-Cox. It's important to make sure you use the right crib mattress size for your crib, too, since cribs and mattresses are usually sold separately.
When choosing a bassinet, be sure to choose one that provides your baby with their own sleep space. 'The bassinet should be self-contained, not a co-sleeping item or bed extender,' says Culler. Although it can be tempting to sleep with your baby, it's not considered a safe practice. 'You can lay down with your baby, you can do all that wonderful stuff, but do not fall asleep with your baby in your bed or next to you. Unfortunantely, there's always the risk of a very tired parent rolling onto their baby,' says Taylor-Cox.
Regardless of which you choose, use a tightly fitted sheet, and don't put anything else in their sleep space—no blankets, pillows, stuffies or bumpers. When you set your baby down, always put them on their back. These are all ways to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Ultimately, if you have the means to use a bassinet first for your newborn and then a crib when your baby outgrows it, that's often the best option. 'My recommendation is to use both—bassinet for the first several months and a crib thereafter,' says Culler.
If you need to squeeze a safe sleep area into a tight space, a bassinet is probably your best bet. However, if space is not a concern, you can start with a crib and skip the bassinet altogether if you want.
For newborns and very small babies, a bassinet is a good investment. 'We typically use a bassinet for newborns until about six months of age, or the rule of thumb that we use [as pediatricians] is when the baby starts to roll over, then you need to move on to a crib and get them out of the bassinet,' says Taylor-Cox.
If your baby is already nearing 15 pounds or is starting to show signs of rolling, then it might be best to skip the bassinet altogether since they'll likely outgrow it soon.
In the long run, choosing a crib will save you money since it reduces the amount of baby gear you need to buy. While bassinets are often more affordable than cribs, your baby will still eventually need a crib even if they start off in a bassinet. 'The main thing I want to add for parents is it's not time to bargain shop when it comes to cribs and/or bassinets,' says Taylor-Cox. She explained that a used crib may not be safe. It may have unseen damage and may not meet the most recent safety standards.
If you need to save money, the best way to do that is to only buy one product and make it a good crib. 'A lot of cribs can be lowered and converted to toddler beds, which is really economically feasible,' says Taylor-Cox.
If you want something small that allows you to keep your newborn in your bedroom, a bassinet is the best choice. If you're looking for a one-time purchase that your baby can sleep in well past their first birthday, opt for a crib. 'Parents should remember both bassinets and cribs are safe. If you're lucky enough to have a bassinet then we say start in the bassinet, but a bassinet isn't required like a crib is,' says Taylor-Cox.
The baby and kids gear team at Forbes Vetted has combined decades of experience in both parenting our own kids and covering parenting topics. As parents ourselves, we know how important it is to make the right decisions for our babies when it comes to major purchases like bassinets, cribs and crib mattresses.