Are you wondering how long your baby can sleep in their bassinet? Let’s talk about how long babies can sleep in bassinets and crib timelines and transitions!
A bassinet is a great option when you want to keep your newborn baby by your side in those early newborn months.
There’s no shortage of options out there either. You can find bassinets for small spaces, motion bassinets and SNOO alternatives, and even Pack N Plays with bassinet inserts.
While a standard Pack N Play often does the trick, many parents love having a bassinet that has a few extra features for those middle of the night feedings.
So how long can a baby sleep in a bassinet? And how do you help them once it’s time to move out of their bedside sleeper?
Let’s discuss how long your baby can sleep in a bassinet and when to move them out of the bassinet and into a crib!
Want a realistic newborn sleep schedule? Download my free newborn sleep schedule to see what a day with your newborn might look like. Click here to grab it, it’ll be super helpful.
When Should I Move My Baby Out of the Bassinet?
There isn’t a set rule on how long a baby can sleep in a bassinet, but there are some different factors at play that will determine when you should transition baby into a crib.
Like everything when it comes to babies, when to move your baby out of the bassinet will depend on your specific baby.
The main factors to pay attention to are your bassinet’s size and weight limit and your baby’s physical abilities—particularly whether they can roll, push up on their hands or knees, or sit up.
For example, the beloved Halo Swivel Bassinest says it fits babies up to 5 months of age or 20 pounds.
Most babies will likely hit the physical milestones of rolling over or pushing up on their hands and knees before hitting the weight limit of 20 pounds.
Once your baby is reaching these developmental milestones, or hitting the age or weight limit set by the bassinet manufacturer, it’s time to transition out.
You can move them into their crib at this point, or put them in a Pack N Play if you want to keep them by your side.
Get Your Newborn to Sleep
Learn how to get your newborn to sleep with my Newborn Sleep Program. You’ll learn expert sleep tips for soothing your baby to sleep, getting in good routines, and slowly dropping night feeds. Learn more here.
What is the Weight Limit for Bassinets?
Many bassinets list an age and weight limit that is around 5-6 months and up to about 20 pounds.
Be sure to carefully read a bassinet’s size and age limitations before you purchase it.
You should also pay attention to how your baby looks in the bassinet once they’ve been using it for a while.
Do they appear cramped, with their head or feet touching the edges? If so, your baby is too big for the bassinet and it’s time to make a change.
Can My Baby Sleep in a Bassinet if They’re Rolling Over?
It is incredibly important to mitigate the risk of your baby falling out of their bassinet and follow safe sleep guidelines
It’s not possible to lower your baby’s bassinet like you can lower your baby’s crib. Once your baby reaches certain physical developmental milestones, the bassinet is no longer safe.
If your baby starts rolling over, pushing up on their hands or knees, or sitting up they’ve outgrown their bassinet and it’s time to transition them out of the bassinet.
Can Babies Sleep All Night in A Bassinet?
Yes! A bassinet is a great sleep space for your newborn during those first few months for night sleep or nap times.
It’s one item I recommend in my baby nursery must haves.
Many parents prefer bassinets that have a few bells and whistles such as height adjustment (can be so helpful for C-Sections), motion detection, and even built-in white noise.
Many bassinets are lightweight or on wheels and can be easily moved from one room of the house to another, making it easy for your baby to sleep in during the day and all night!
It’s perfectly safe to let your baby sleep in a bassinet all night long, as long as you’re following the abcs of safe sleep.
What Should I Do If My Baby is Too Big for the Bassinet?
Transitioning out of the bassinet sounds simple enough, but it can be tricky, especially if your little one has been using their bassinet for many months.
Babies can be pretty sensitive to changes in their bedtime routine and environment, and a crib transition is a big change.
You may think your baby hates their crib at first.
Thankfully, this too shall pass. Although the transition may cause a disruption in your baby’s sleep for a few days, I promise it’s not permanent.
I have an entire post about when to move your baby to their own room and tips for transitioning your baby to a crib for the first time. There are tons of great tips to help the transition go smoothly.
Bassinet to Crib Transition
Once your baby is ready to make the transition. the first thing you can do is make the crib a safe place for them. That means no loose bedding, loose blankets, bumper pads, sleep positioners, or soft objects are in their crib.
All of those items can be suffocation hazards. The crib should have a firm mattress, fitted sheet, and nothing else.
Should A Newborn Sleep in A Bassinet or Crib?
Having a baby can take a toll on the wallet, and maybe buying both a crib and a bassinet isn’t in your budget. That’s okay!
From an affordability standpoint, cribs make a lot of sense. They can grow with your baby for much longer than a bassinet can.
Compared to a crib, bassinets definitely have an earlier expiration date, since your baby will soon outgrow it.
It’s no surprise that many new parents are curious: can a newborn sleep in a crib?
The short answer is yes, absolutely!
There’s nothing in the new-parent rule book (spoiler alert: there isn’t one!) that says you can’t just buy one sleep surface for your baby that will last them into toddlerhood.
In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says that a play yard or crib can be completely safe and sufficient for newborn sleep. It just needs to meet the safety standards of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), which includes a flat and firm surface.
The AAP also recommends room sharing with your baby for the first six months to help reduce the risk of SIDS, which is where bassinets can really come in handy!
I’ve highlighted the pros and cons of using a bassinet vs crib in this post.
The bottom line is that your baby can sleep in a bassinet until it is no longer safe for them to do so. The age and/or weight limit is usually listed on the bassinets website for easy reference.
My goal is to help tired parents get sleep, so the whole family can thrive!
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