Smart Bassinet Buying Guide: What To Know Before You Shop

You want your newborn to be safe and comfortable at night. And let’s be honest: You’re also craving a little extra sleep. That’s why you’re considering a smart bassinet for your baby.

This innovative bed promises more than just a cozy place for your baby to rest. Its features are also designed to keep them asleep for longer. And for an exhausted parent, any product offering a few extra minutes of shut-eye is worth investigating.

But what exactly is a smart bassinet? And what features does it offer that a regular bassinet does not? We’re going to walk you through everything you need to know before you shop so you can make the best decision possible for your precious bundle of joy.

Table Of Contents

• What Is A Smart Bassinet?
• Smart Bassinet Features
• Questions To Consider Before You Shop
• Sleep Safety In A Smart Bassinet

What Is A Smart Bassinet?

A smart bassinet is a small baby bed with built-in technology. It offers various features, like soothing lullabies and gentle movements to help your baby relax and, hopefully, stay asleep longer.

Some of these beds also include night lights and sensors, making it possible to monitor your baby’s sleep from the comfort of your own bed. Those features can give you peace of mind as a new parent.

Like most bassinets, these small beds are meant for younger babies. They can be used from birth until your baby starts sitting up and rolling over. At that point, you’ll need to transition them to a different bed, such as a play yard or a traditional crib.

Benefits And Drawbacks To Consider

Smart bassinets have been a game changer for many parents, but they may not make sense for everyone. Let's look at pros and cons to help you decide if they’re right for you.

Smart Bassinet Benefits

The biggest benefit of a smart bassinet is the built-in technology. Many parents appreciate the extra help these beds give them when it comes to soothing cranky babies.

Knowing that they’ll still be rocked if you set them down allows you to take the break you need to recharge. This can be huge for your mental health.

The tracking feature is also beneficial. You’ll see how long your baby sleeps each night and notice anything interfering with their rest. This knowledge is valuable as you work to improve your baby’s sleep habits.

Portability is another plus. Depending on the model you purchase, you may be able to fold it up and bring it along on your travels. Some also come with wheels, making moving from room to room simple.

In addition, smart bassinets are usually smaller than a crib. If you plan to room share during the early months, this space-saving design may be just what you need.

The small design is also comforting for your little one. After nine months in the womb, the outside world can seem big and overwhelming. A tiny bed can help them feel more secure as they adjust.

Smart Bassinet Drawbacks

The main downside of a smart bassinet is the cost. You might get sticker shock just looking at the price tag, especially if you want a top-of-the-line model. It can set you back a couple thousand dollars.

In addition, you’ll need to think about technology compatibility. Not all bassinets work with all smartphones or tablets, so verify that the one you want will work with your devices. Otherwise, you won’t be able to use all the features.

As you’re pondering this decision, consider your personality as well. While data about your baby’s sleeping patterns can be helpful, it could also make you feel anxious. If that’s the case, this type of bassinet might not be a good fit.

Finally, keep in mind that when misused, this type of bed can negatively impact the bond between a parent and a child. You see, this bed listens for your baby’s cries. And then, it jumps into action, rocking and playing music to offer comfort.

Historically, a loving adult handled these tasks, strengthening their bond. If you overuse the bed and ignore your baby’s cries, they may learn to rely on technology instead of you.

To avoid that, provide hands-on care during the day and be mindful at night. Your baby may have a need that the bed can’t handle, like a poopy diaper or an empty tummy.

Smart Bassinet Features

Now that you know more about smart bassinets, let’s dive into some of the features these beds offer. Then, you can decide which ones are must-haves when comparing models.

Cry-Detecting Technology

Some smart bassinets incorporate microphones into their design. When your baby starts to fuss, the bed responds with some of the below features, trying to soothe them back to sleep.

Sound

Let your smart bassinet lull your baby to sleep with soothing sounds. Many of these beds come preloaded with classical music, lullabies, nature recordings, and white noise to help your little one relax.

Plus, with some models, you can connect it to your own playlists for a customized sleep experience.

Movement

Babies like to rock. The rhythmic back-and-forth motion has been used for centuries to calm and help them sleep. Now, with some smart bassinet models, you can rock your baby all night long without staying awake yourself.

The quiet motors rock the bed gently, simulating the feeling of being in your arms. And since your baby is still lying flat on their back, they won’t slump down and block their airway like they could in a swing or car seat.

Lights

At night, turning on the bright overhead light can disturb you and your baby. But it’s hard to check on them when the room is pitch black.

Thus, many smart bassinets come with night lights. They emit soft light that’s reassuring and not blinding.

Analytics

When you connect your smart bassinet to an app, you can track how long your little one sleeps each night. This can be helpful when reporting to the doctor. It’s also useful for identifying patterns.

For example, you might notice that every time the bassinet plays a particular song, it helps your baby fall asleep quickly. You can use knowledge like this to help make the bed even more comforting in the future.

Portability

Some smart bassinets are more portable than others. If this feature is important to you, check if the specific model you’re looking at folds or comes apart for easier transport.

In addition, check the weight of the bed itself. You want a model that’s light enough to move on your own.

Questions To Consider Before You Shop

If you’re ready to introduce a smart bassinet into your nursery, here are a few questions to ask yourself before taking the plunge.

What’s Your Budget?

Unfortunately, bells and whistles come with a price tag. Expect to spend between $250-$2000 on one of these beds.

Of course, the more features you want, the more you’ll have to pay. Starter models won’t have as much integrated tech.

Since it is a significant investment, you’ll want to consider your budget.

How Long Can You Use It?

As we mentioned earlier, babies outgrow bassinets fairly quickly. You’ll only get about six months of use out of them.

If you haven’t given birth yet or are planning on having more kids, buying a more expensive bed might be worthwhile.

But this purchase might not make sense if your sweet babe is already close to sitting up. They’d need to transition to a different bed before they could use this one much.

What Accessories Do You Need To Purchase?

Your bassinet needs a mattress and sheets that fit snugly. And you’ll want to use a mattress pad to make middle-of-the-night blowouts easier to clean.

While some bassinets include these accessories, others don’t. You may need to buy them separately.

Sleep Safety In A Smart Bassinet

No matter what type of bed you select for your newborn, keep these important sleep safety guidelines in mind.

• Place your baby on their back for sleeping
• Ensure their mattress is firm and flat
• Remove any blankets, pillows, or toys from the bed
• If temperatures require it, swaddle baby with a breathable blanket or use a sleep sack
• Check around the bed to make sure there’s nothing your little one could grab

This short video shows a safe sleep environment for a baby:

Give Your Baby’s Bed A Smart Upgrade

A smart bassinet can revolutionize your baby’s sleep experience. With features like soothing sounds, gentle movement, and dim lights, your little one can get the rest they need in a comfortable, safe environment.

Check out the Newton Baby Blog for more tips on helping your baby sleep through the night. And consider our products to help promote Safer, Healthier, Better Sleep™ and Play.