Best Portable Bassinet for Baby [Parent-Tested]
One of the questions we get asked the most about our travels is: but where does the baby sleep? It got asked anytime we told people we were traveling with a toddler and a baby. I think the assumption was that the toddler was in a bed but, where does the baby sleep? Well, allow us to let you in on our secret! We field tested quite a few before we found the best portable bassinet for baby travelers.
Thankfully, we had plenty of friends who let us borrow/test their travel bassinets so that we did not have to buy all of these on our list. So, we would love to give you guys a round-up of the best portable bassinet for baby travelers. Hopefully it helps you as you plan your next trip with a baby!
Are you also looking for the best travel diaper bag? Check out our post here!
Best Portable Bassinet for Baby
Traveling with an infant can be made a lot easier if you have a travel bassinet that you (and your baby) love! Check out our top choices below and find the one that fits your family’s needs.
Best All Around Travel Bassinet : Chicco LullaGo Portable Bassinet (Nest)
Our criteria for “awesome travel bassinet” includes weight, foldability, portability, and function. Bonus points if it falls on the cheaper side! The Chicco LullaGo Nest is one of the best baby travel bassinets available and let us tell you why.
First of all, it folds up easily which makes it very portable. We love the mesh sides (to keep baby safe) and the foldable half dome over the top. We even brought a blanket with us to drape over the top to give baby some added darkness. The dome is high enough that the blanket can drape easily without restricting airflow.
Another important thing to note is the price ($100-150). This bassinet falls in a lower price range without losing any important features. One thing we noticed with this travel bassinet (that we wanted you to be aware of) is its size.
The Chicco LullaGo Nest Portable Bassinet is not the best bassinet for small spaces. It is one of the largest models available, which we loved because we could use it for a longer time. However, if you will be staying in a small space you may want to consider a smaller option.
Best travel bassinet for small spaces: HALO BassiNest Flex Sleeper
This HALO BassiNest Flex is one of the best bedside bassinets available. It fits next to any bed and has an adjustable bedside wall for moms who are breastfeeding. My favorite part about this bassinet is that is accommodates babies up to 50 lbs, meaning it will last a lot longer than many of the other portable bassinets.
The HALO BassiNest Flex weighs about 15 pounds and folds flat to the size of the opening of the bassinet. It is designed for babies ages 0-12 months and can swivel 360 degrees. The legs easily slide under any couch, bed, etc. to allow for easy access to baby at all times.
I personally did not like that this bassinet did not fold up any smaller than it does. It is about 3 feet long and 1 1/2 feet wide when folded flat. Once the legs are attached, the HALO BassiNest Flex is about 42″ tall.
I have had many moms recommend this travel bassinet, hands down. They love the portability and it fits easily in the bottom of a trunk or cargo space. It also comes with a carrying bag to make travel easier.
The HALO BassiNest Flex falls in the $100 price range making it a medium-range price point for portable bassinets.
Most compact travel bassinet: Beberoad Love Baby Travel Bassinet-Folding Portable Baby Bed
For those of you looking for the most compact choice (and also the most affordable), check out the Beberoad Love Baby Travel Bassinet-Folding Portable Baby Bed. It folds down into the size of a laptop case with a convenient carrying handle on top.
The Beberoad Love Baby Travel Bassinet is a top contender for the best bassinet for small spaces and the best bassinet for an airplane because it can literally sit anywhere. In hotel rooms, we put it on top of the desk in the room. In AirBNB stays, we put it on top of chests, desks, tables, etc.
If you are a co-sleeper, the Beberoad travel bassinet would be a great safe alternative as it fits easily in a bed. I personally don’t like the idea of a baby sleeping on the floor in a place I’m not familiar with (with bugs I’m not familiar with). That should be noted with this one-it is extremely convenient, portable, and lightweight because there is not base for it to stand on.
However, the price point reflects that since it falls around $50. The Beberoad travel bassinet weighs about 6 lbs and supports babies up to 22 pounds. It is ideal for any type of travel with a newborn.
Longest lasting portable bassinet for baby: Guava Lotus Travel Crib
The Guava Lotus group of travel bassinets/play-yards has some of the most expensive baby bassinets available. As such, I did not make it number one on my list because it just isn’t an option for everyone. However, these portable bassinets and travel cribs come with amazing reviews and some seriously awesome features for parents.
The Guava Lotus Travel Crib is definitely more of a pack and play than a traditional bassinet. However, it has tons of features that make it very adaptable for a variety of needs.
First of all, the front unzips completely to the ground. This makes it extremely convenient to slide a tiny baby in without having to dangle them all the way down into a pack and play. Personally, I sat on the ground and rocked my 3 month old before laying her in the crib.
When you babies are a little older and learning to go to sleep on their own, it can be used as a traditional pack and play by keeping the front zipped.
The Guava Lotus Travel Crib is perfect for babies and toddlers (ages 0-3) which makes it the longest lasting travel crib on our list. It packs up easily just like a pack and play and even has backpack straps for easy carrying. It should be noted that it does not fold flat, it is more of a cylinder shape like a pack and play.
All of these features are wonderful but my absolute favorite is the weight. The Guava Lotus Travel Crib weighs 11 pounds. ELEVEN. For those of you who have not been lugging around a traditional pack and play for years (like we have), allow me to explain the significance of this number. A traditional pack and play weighs about 30 pounds. The Guava Lotus Travel Crib weighs, literally, 1/3 of that weight. It makes it so much more portable!!
Other great options for a baby bassinet that travel well
There are obviously a lot of great portable bassinet options out there. All of these “honorable mentions” are just that: great bassinets that do not fit into a “best of” category but are still great options!
Chicco LullaGo Portable Bassinet
The Chicco LullaGo Portable Bassinet (Anywhere) it the base model of the Chicco LullaGo Nest Portable Bassinet. The main difference between the two is the absence of the half-dome covering on the LullaGo Anywhere.
This is a smaller model, collapsible, and under $100 bassinet. It weighs only 12 pounds (compared to the nest’s weight of 16 pounds) and is more compact at 28″ long x 15″ wide (compared to the Nest which is 32″ long x 18″ wide).
Dream On Me Karley Bassinet
The Dream on Me Karley Bassinet has some cool features that some of the other bassinets do not have. For one, it has a full (mesh) dome to cover baby safely and provide some extra security. The dome also adjusts to partially cover instead of fully cover if desired. The Dream on Me Karley Bassinet is one of the larger bassinets at 33″ long and 19.5″ wide.
My favorite feature is the easy folding mechanism that allows it to fold down into one semi-flat piece. There are no legs to take apart or pieces to fold up. My second favorite feature is the storage sling underneath the bassinet. It is so useful for keeping essentials close by like diapers, wipes, swaddles, etc. This baby bassinet falls under $100 and comes in 13 different colors!
Baby Delight Snuggle Nest
The Baby Delight Snuggle Nest is THE most portable infant bassinet around. However, I personally know some moms who do not like how “soft” it is around the edges so just know that in advance and maybe check out the reviews before you buy. But, if you are looking for something that easily folds up and fits in a suitcase then you have found it! This travel bassinet is 33″ long by 14″ wide and is designed for babies 0-9 months, up to 20 pounds. So, it is a short-term option but perfect for traveling with an infant. It also costs around $50, depending on which of the 7 colors you choose, so it is a cost-effective option.
Fischer Price Soothing View Bassinet
The Fischer Price Soothing View Bassinet has a cool feature that the others do not: it rocks! It measures in at 33″ long and 22.5″ wide and weighs about 1 lb on its own. It is definitely the lightest baby bassinet on our list! It has a convenient button that allows it to collapse completely flat. It slides easily under the bed or flat in the trunk of the car.
The Soothing View Bassinet is a great choice if you need to easily move it from room to room. It is a space saver! As such, I would recommend it for babies 4 months and under.
Dream On Me Traveler Bassinet
The Dream on Me Traveler is not quite as popular as the Karley model (shown above) because it does not have the adjustable dome covering or storage compartment underneath.
However, it weighs about 10 pounds and folds up to a compact cube inside its provided carrying case. The inside of the bassinet is 33″ long by 20″ wide and can support up to 25lbs of weight. It is one of the larger, more spacious bassinets on this list and still conveniently travels!
FAQS
What do infants sleep in when traveling?
Infants can truly sleep anywhere in anything, especially if they have not learned to roll over. We have allowed ours to sleep on a king size bed surrounded by pillows, in their infant car seat (inside) because they fell asleep in the car, on the floor on a play mat, and of course in a travel bassinet. If you are actively trying to establish a schedule in the early days but still like to travel, I would highly recommend bringing a portable bassinet for baby!
Are portable bassinets safe for newborns?
Which brings us to our next question: are portable bassinets safe for newborns? Yes! They absolutely are. We actually used a portable bassinet in our house for the first 4-5 months with both of our children. Then we folded it up and put it away. It was much easier than having a full pack and play in our room in those first days.
Are foldable bassinets safe?
In general, yes, they are safe. As with any product, I would highly recommend you making sure that you field test it first before placing a baby inside. Many of the portable bassinets have click-connect bars or legs that have to lock in place in order for the bassinet to be secure. Keep that in mind!
What bassinet is best for newborn?
Honestly, newborns do not care. They would probably prefer to sleep on mama over any bassinet so whichever one you choose will be fine. I can suggest you wrapping the bassinet mattress in a fleece blanket or sheet to prevent a “swishing” noise when they kick their legs. We learned that after our first baby.
How long can you use a portable bassinet?
Portable bassinets are usually for babies 6 months or younger. Many of them are actually made specifically for newborn babies which usually only includes ages 0-3 months. Check the age/weight limit on each bassinet. If you know you are only planning to use it for a few months then you could invest in one of the more affordable options.
Can baby sleep in travel bassinet?
Baby can, and probably should, sleep in a travel bassinet. It requires a little bit of extra planning and packing on your part, but it is worth it to be able to safely leave baby in a quiet, separate room to get a good nap in.
How long can a baby sleep in a portable bassinet?
This question is two-fold: how long in minutes and how long in months. A baby can sleep in a portable bassinet for as long as they will sleep (in minutes). We used ours for overnight sleeping as well as daytime naps during those first few months. In terms of months, the general rule of thumb is as long as the baby fits in the bassinet and cannot roll over. Once babies begin to roll they will quickly learn to pull up/crawl which is NOT safe in a bassinet.
Wrap-Up: Best Portable Bassinet for Baby
Ultimately, the best portable bassinet will depend on what your family prefers. We have them categorized by size, shape, features, weight, etc. So, if you are looking for specific features you should be able to find one on our list that meets your needs! Do you have a portable bassinet that you love? Let us know! We are always looking for awesome, parent-tested products. Happy traveling!
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