Best Rocking Bassinet To Comfort a Fussy Baby

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Having a baby brings incredible bliss to new and expectant parents, but could also cause distress as babies require constant care and monitoring. You will most likely be woken in the middle of the night because the baby is crying. Help them calm down by placing them in a rocking bassinet before putting them to sleep.

How Can a Rocking Bassinet Help Keep Babies Calm?

As parents, you have to deal with sleepless nights figuring out a way to help your baby calm down and sleep. This could get worse during the fourth or fifth month because this is when babies start experiencing sleep regression. It is a condition where babies get trouble sleeping at night due to a growth spurt, teething, or uncomfortable sleeping position. One way you can manage this is by soothing or keeping them calm with a rocking bassinet.

The rocking motions of a bassinet help activate a baby’s calming reflex as it will remind them of the soothing sensations when still inside the womb. Although this calming reflex usually only lasts for four months in newborn babies, it can still be triggered in older babies if the parents practice putting their babies down to sleep after rocking them in a bassinet. Doing this helps the baby sleep on their own as they already expect to be put to bed after the rocking bassinet. It’s like a conditioned response.

Is a Rocking Bassinet Safe?

Yes, a rocking bassinet is safe, as long as it has a flat, firm mattress and gentle rocking function. Having the baby sleep on their back while lying down on a flat surface helps lower the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or SIDS. They are unlikely to suffocate, unlike when sleeping in an angled or reclined position. Although, check first if the rocking bassinet is CPSC-certified to ensure it is safe for infant use.

Best Rocket Bassinets of All Time

Here are some of the best rocking bassinets you can buy from Amazon:

1. [Ingenuity] Rocking Wood Bassinet

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Are you worried that your baby might feel hot and uncomfortable while lying in a bassinet? Consider buying the Ingenuity Rocking Wood Bassinet. It has a premium fabric mattress that will help your baby feel snug and comfortable while you gently rock it. In addition, it has mesh sides to keep babies cool and fresh as mesh is a loose-knitted fabric that doesn’t absorb heat and moisture. Instead, moisture passes through the small holes of mesh fabric.

2. [besrey] Rocking Cradle Bed

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As parents, your baby’s safety is your number one priority. If you want to ensure that all the baby products you buy won’t cause harm, look for rocking bassinets that are CPSC-certified. We mentioned this earlier, but we’ll do it again to highlight its importance. Having this certificate means the rocking bassinets passed the standards of CPSC, which is an independent global organization that tests and researches the potential hazards of a consumer product.

Thankfully, the besrey Rocking Cradle Bed is among the rocking bassinets that are CPSC-certified. Apart from that, it is made from toxic-free materials and has a durable steel frame for better stability. You will also love how it has short feet mode! Use this to lower the bassinet’s bed base, so you can easily reach into your baby while you’re sitting on a carpeted floor.

Read more: How To Wash Bassinet Mattress

3. [DENEST] Electric Rocking Bassinet

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Baby care is no easy feat. Apart from monitoring the baby at all times, you still have to prepare delicious and nutritious meals for them. Not to mention, there are still household chores to take care of! Consider investing in smart baby products, so you still have time to do other things at home. We recommend the DENEST Electric Rocking Bassinet as it has an automatic rocking feature, keeping your baby asleep while you cook and take care of the house. The best part is it comes with a remote control! This is so convenient as it allows you to set the timer, adjust the music volume, and modify the rocking speed, even from afar.

4. [Dream on Me] Portable Bassinet

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If there are other kids at home, it is better to choose a rocking bassinet with lockable wheels. After placing the rocking bassinet in the bedroom (living room), you may lock the wheels to prevent the kids from accidentally moving it. This way, you can rest assured the baby is safe even if you leave them alone for a while.

The lockable wheels are also convenient if you need to move the bassinet often. Separation anxiety is common in a 4-month-old baby, so you have to always bring the bassinet close to you to prevent your baby from crying. Luckily, this Portable Bassinet has locking wheels. Just like other rocking bassinets, it also has a quilted mattress pad and breathable mesh to provide the utmost comfort for babies.

5. [SNOO] Smart Sleeper Bassinet

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Most babies love to sleep on their stomachs as this position feels safer and more comfortable. However, this can increase the risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), so you have to train the baby to sleep on their back even if they cry. It would help to put them in a rocking bassinet for a while to help them calm down and sleep. We recommend the SNOO Smart Sleeper Bassinet as it responds to your baby’s cries. Once your baby starts fussing, the bassinet will rock and play a soothing sound automatically. It also comes with a downloadable smartphone app that you can use to adjust the setting of the smart sleeper bassinet, and track your baby’s daily sleep report.

The SNOO Smart Sleeper Bassinet also has a secure sack swaddle that prevents your baby from rolling on their stomach. Now, you don’t have to always keep an eye on your baby to ensure that they sleep in the right position.

6. [Badger Basket] Oval Rocking Bassinet

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Most new parents think babies should sleep on soft beddings to keep them comfortable. However, it should be the opposite. Babies need a mattress that is an inch thick, firm, and breathable as the muscles on their neck are not yet fully developed to move their heavy heads. And one wrong move on the head could lead to suffocation. So, when shopping for rocking bassinets, look for those with a thin, firm mattress pad — just like the Oval Rocking Bassinet from the Badger Basket. The mattress pad is also covered with a durable vinyl fabric, which is not only easy to clean, but also waterproof.

The Oval Rocking Bassinet has another marvelous feature! It has a large storage basket underneath for parents to keep diapers, wipes, sheets, blankets, and many other baby essentials within hand’s reach.

Read more: How Thick Should A Bassinet Mattress Be

7. [ComfyBumpy] Travel Bassinet

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Traveling with your baby can be stressful as you may have to make more frequent stops than usual, but this can also be a good learning experience for you and your child. If you are up for the challenge, start preparing all of your baby travel essentials, including a baby lounger and portable rocking bassinet! Being in a new environment can be both exciting and overwhelming for your baby, so expect your baby to fuss and cry during the trip. This is why you should have a portable rocking bassinet ready at the back of your car. We suggest purchasing the ComfyBumby Travel Bassinet as it is not only easy to assemble but also lightweight. Moreover, it comes with a carrying case for easy transport!

8. [Graco] Sense2Snooze Bassinet

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Here’s another automatic rocking bassinet on our list! The Graco Sense2Snooze Bassinet features a cry detection technology that automatically responds to your baby’s cries. You don’t have to manually change the settings as the bassinet cycles through the motion and sound settings until the baby stops crying. Although, it still has control buttons at the side to give the parents the option to change the settings themselves.

FAQ About Rocking Bassinets

• Read more: How To Paint A Rock Fireplace

  At what age can your baby start using a bassinet?

As soon as your baby is born. Although cradling the baby close to you can help them feel secure, you can’t hold him all the time. Eventually, you’ll have to take a rest and put him down for a while. You can’t put your baby on the bed with you as it could increase the risk of SIDS. It is safer to put them down on a rocking bassinet as it has a firm mattress to properly support their body.

• How long can your baby stay in a rocking bassinet?

Your baby can stay in a rocking bassinet all night long. Don’t worry, it is perfectly safe as long as they are sleeping on their back. However, your baby should eventually transition to a larger crib after six months as bassinets usually can only accommodate small, newborn babies. Other parents would start this transition as early as four months to train their babies to sleep on their own.

• Is it okay to put plushies, bumpers, and blankets in a rocking bassinet?

You are probably thinking that you should at least add some bumpers in the bassinet to protect your baby from accidentally rolling on the side. This is not advisable because bumpers, plushies, blankets, and pillows can suffocate babies and restrict the airflow inside the bassinet. You should wait until the baby is a year old for you to use a swaddle blanket or any other baby bed items in the crib.

Help Your Baby Sleep with a Rocking Bassinet!

A rocking bassinet may not be necessary, but it will surely make your life easier, especially during the first few months. Not all the time your baby will be able to sleep peacefully at night, so you need a rocking bassinet with you. The gentle rocking motions are soothing for the little ones — effective to help calm them down. You can also add a baby mobile above the bassinet as some models can play soothing music to help lull babies to sleep.

For safe and durable rocking bassinets, check out our product recommendation list above!