Your baby has been sleeping peacefully in their bassinet since you came home from the hospital. But now that they're getting bigger, you notice they don't fit in it as well as they used to. You might start wondering, “How long can a baby sleep in a bassinet?”
After all, though you don't love the idea of mixing up their bedtime routine, you know sleep safety isn't something to mess with.
To help you answer this question with confidence, we've gathered all the information you need to know when to make the switch. But first, let's look at what a bassinet is.
Table Of Contents
- What is a bassinet?
- How long can a baby sleep in a bassinet safely?
- Why it’s important to change from a bassinet to a crib
- What to do when your baby is too big for a bassinet
What is a bassinet?
A bassinet is a small bed that many parents use for their newborn or young infant. These beds usually have a removable mattress, fitted sheet, and canopy. Some even have storage underneath, which helps keep your nursery organized.
Bassinets are lightweight and portable so you can easily move them from room to room. This comes in handy when you want to keep your baby close to your bed at night or in the same room as you while they’re taking a nap.
As a bonus, bassinets are shallower than cribs. This feature makes it easier for you to reach your baby. You won’t have to bend over as far, which can be helpful when you’re recovering from childbirth.
How long can a baby sleep in a bassinet?
Despite their benefits, bassinets are only a temporary bed for your baby. Your little one will eventually reach a point when they can't safely sleep in one anymore.
Keep in mind there's a recommended age limit for bassinet use. But some babies outgrow their bassinet before reaching that age. That’s why you should also be aware of physical signs that it’s time for a new bed. So, let’s look at the different factors to consider.
Approximate age
Though each manufacturer may have different specifications, most bassinets are meant for babies under six months old.
By the time your baby reaches this age, they'll likely be too big and active to sleep safely in a bassinet. However, even if they aren't yet meeting all the physical milestones described below, it's best to switch to a larger bed to prevent future accidents.
Physical signs it’s time to transition
In addition to the age limit, several physical signs indicate your baby has outgrown their bassinet.
When any of the following occur, it's time to start shopping for a new bed:
- Your baby can sit up without support
- They roll over in their sleep
- Their head reaches the top of the bassinet
- They try to rock the bed or use the sides to pull up
If you notice any of these milestones, it's time for a bigger bed. Otherwise, your baby could injure themselves by falling out of the bassinet.
Why it’s important to change from a bassinet to a crib
Safety
When your baby first comes home, they may get used to sleeping in a swing, a stroller, or a car seat. None of these are safe options. Plus, as they grow, these options become less and less ideal for their size and development.
A bassinet, on the other hand, is a safe and effective sleep environment for newborns up to six months. But after your little one reaches a certain age, size, or other developmental milestones, the safest sleep environment is a crib.
In a crib with the right mattress — a supportive and breathable mattress like those from Newton Baby — and no pillows, blankets, stuffed animals, or bumper pads, there’s no risk that your baby will roll over and accidentally restrict their airflow.
Sleep quality
Changing from a bassinet to a crib also helps your baby get the deepest, highest-quality sleep possible.
Even at such a young age, your newborn is very good at registering when they’re not completely stable and safe from falling.
Though they may not realize it while they’re awake, on a very deep level their little brain may “warn” them that they’re not completely stable and prevent them from experiencing the deep sleep they need to grow and develop.
To understand this experience, think about how well you sleep when you put your seat back to try and get some shut-eye on an airplane.
You may nod off for 10 to 20 minutes, but it’s unlikely that you’re going to reach the deep sleep you’ll need to feel refreshed when you wake up.
In a less-than-ideal sleep environment — like a car seat, swing, or a too-small bassinet — your baby may experience the same thing.
The best sleep for your little one comes from lying completely horizontal on a stable, supportive mattress. This is why it’s so important to switch from a bassinet to a crib when the time is right.
What to do when your baby is too big for a bassinet
Before your baby outgrows their bassinet, it's time to start thinking about their next bed. This way, you have time to research your options and purchase the larger bed that you think will work best.
You'll also have time to help your baby transition to another bed without too much disruption to their sleep schedule.
Select a larger bed.
First things first, you'll need to decide what type of bed to get for your baby.
There are several options on the market, but three of the most common are cribs, pack and plays, and mini-cribs. Let's look at each in more detail to help you choose the best one for your little one.
Crib
A crib is a traditional baby bed that your baby can use from birth until they’re ready for a toddler bed. Cribs have high sides to prevent your baby from falling out. They’re also large enough to give your little one room to stretch out.
One advantage of cribs is that you can use them for years. This is especially true if you opt for a convertible bed that turns into a toddler bed and then a daybed. You’ll get a lot of use from an Austin Convertible Crib or a similar model.
Another benefit of using a standard-size crib is that you can upgrade the mattress easily. Using a comfortable, breathable mattress, like the Newton Baby Crib Mattress, will encourage your baby to rest all night.
However, cribs aren’t a good fit for every nursery. They require a larger footprint than other bed options. And they aren’t very portable. So, if you want to continue moving your baby from one room to another, a crib might not be the best choice for you.
Pack and play
A pack and play is a type of portable crib that typically features mesh sides. Your baby can sleep in their pack and play, but that's not its only purpose.
It also gives you a portable safe place to put your baby down to play, no matter where you are. Since they fold up compactly, these beds are perfect for taking with you when you travel.
However, pack and plays aren't as sturdy as cribs, so yours might not last as long as you'd like. They also aren’t as easy to clean.
Mini-crib
Bassinets are pretty compact sleeping spaces for babies. If your nursery is small, you might want something that doesn't take up a lot of room.
If that’s you, a mini-crib could be a great choice. It’s smaller than a regular crib but large enough that your baby can stay in it until they’re about two years old. You can even transition straight to a toddler bed from this option.
And, like a crib, mini-cribs must meet extensive government regulations to ensure your baby's safety.
However, since there isn’t a single size for mini-cribs, finding a comfortable mattress or sheets can be challenging. For example, the Newton Baby Mini-Crib Mattress fits some mini-cribs, but you’ll need to check the size specifications to avoid dangerous gaps.
Choose the right crib set.
A crib set is a group of items that provides exactly what your baby needs to sleep well from the very first day that you switch them from a bassinet to a crib.
Some crib sets come with extra items such as dust ruffles, pillows, blankets, top sheet, and even bumpers. Experts warn that you should not put these items in your baby’s bed until they reach a year and a half old.
The only crib items your baby will need for a safe and healthy night’s sleep are:
- A correctly sized, hypoallergenic, breathable mattress
- An organic muslin cotton fitted crib sheet
Newton Baby mattresses and crib sheets are made with Wovenaire® and Breathe-Thru technologies for 100% breathability, comfort, washability, and safety.
Put the bed in the same room as the bassinet.
Switching from a bassinet to a crib can be a big adjustment for your baby. You can help make this transition easier by putting the new bed in the same room as the bassinet.
Eventually, when they’ve been sleeping in the new crib for a while, you can move their bed to the nursery without affecting the rest they get at night.
There may be a bit of a transition as they get used to the new room, but it won’t be as difficult as it would have been if you changed two things — their bed and their room — at the same time.
Keep safety in mind.
No matter what type of bed your baby is sleeping in, it's essential to follow safe sleep guidelines. Otherwise, you risk your baby suffocating or getting entangled.
Always put your baby to sleep on their back. Of course, they might be rolling over at night by the time they outgrow their bassinet. If they roll on their own, that's OK. But keep putting them to sleep on their back to encourage them to sleep in that position.
It's also important to never put anything loose in the bed with your baby. This includes pillows, blankets, stuffed animals, and bumper pads. These items pose a suffocation hazard and don’t belong in your baby's sleep area.
Instead of blankets, opt for a sleep sack for your little one. This wearable blanket will keep them cozy without the risk of suffocation.
When shopping for a larger bed for your baby, you’ll also want to pay attention to the mattress. It should fit snugly in the bed without any gaps along the edges. And while you may prefer a softer mattress, your baby needs a firm one. A too-soft mattress can increase the risk of SIDS.
Note: Though it costs more to buy new baby gear, the Consumer Product Safety Commission warns of using cribs or other baby equipment that don’t meet current safety standards. If the crib is more than 10 years old or has missing parts, don’t use it.
Start putting baby down for naps in the crib.
When you’ve figured out how long a baby can sleep in a bassinet and decided to make the switch to a bigger bed, start by putting your little one down for naps in the new crib (assuming, of course, that they haven’t already outgrown the bassinet).
Starting small like this puts less pressure on you and your newborn to get it right the first time. Missing a nap here and there because they can’t sleep in the new crib may have less of a negative effect on you and them than missing a full night’s sleep.
Don’t be surprised if they’re unhappy at first with the change in environment and don’t get a lot of sleep during the first few naps. Eventually, they’ll get over the “shock” of a new bed and sleep like they did before.
When this happens, you can then start to put them down in the crib at night in addition to during the day.
Provide plenty of activity during the day.
Another “trick” you can try to make the transition between bassinet and crib easier is to provide plenty of activity for your baby during the day.
This will help use up their excess energy so they won’t be as wiggly at night and will be ready to go to sleep when bedtime arrives.
When it’s time for the switch, your little one will likely be close to the stage — or at the stage — when they’re developing new motor skills. Encourage them to try rolling over, creeping around their environment, or crawling from one place to another.
Keep in mind that it doesn’t take a lot to wear your little one out, so don’t overstimulate your baby to the point that they’re exhausted during the day, sleep too much during nap time, and are wide awake at night.
Find the right bedtime for your little one.
Timing is important for helping your little one settle down to sleep at night — especially when moving from a bassinet to a crib.
That’s why it’s important that you find the right bedtime for your little one and do your best to stick to it every night.
The right time will be different for each baby but, with experience, you’ll learn to read the signs that show your little one is ready for some shut-eye.
When you’ve identified the bedtime that works for them, you’ll know better when to start getting them ready so that you put them down to sleep at the same time every night.
That brings us to the next thing you can do to make the transition from bassinet to crib easier and less stressful for you and your baby.
Create a consistent bedtime routine.
When your baby is ready for bed, you’ll know it. But, rather than waiting until they get tired and then putting them down for the night, you can actually move things along by creating a consistent bedtime routine that helps them fall asleep better.
Just as the right bedtime is different for each baby, the right bedtime routine will be different for each baby.
Yours may include:
- Feeding
- Bathing
- Reading a story
- Cuddling
It doesn’t really matter what you include as long as you’re consistent with the same routine night after night.
Once you’ve found a routine that works for you and your little one and you’ve run through it for several days, your baby will come to understand that the final step is going to sleep in their new crib.
Swaddle your baby to make them feel safe.
As we mentioned earlier in this article, you should never include extra items in your newborn’s crib — just a correctly sized, breathable mattress and a fitted sheet.
So how can you keep your baby warm at night and make them feel safe and secure? Wrap them in a swaddle or dress them in a sleep sack before putting them down for the night.
For more information about swaddles and sleep sacks, check out these articles from the Newton Baby blog:
- How To Swaddle A Baby: The Complete Guide For Parents
- Sleep Sack Vs. Swaddle: Which One Is Right For Your Baby?
Consider temperature, light, sound, and smell.
Newborns can pretty much sleep anywhere, but older babies — those around the age when it comes time to switch from a bassinet to a crib — may have a harder time drifting off at night in a less-than-ideal environment.
You can make bedtime easier by considering variables like:
- Temperature
- Light
- Sound
- Smell
Let’s address each one in turn.
Temperature
Babies can’t regulate their own body temperature as well as older children and adults, and you should never include any extra blankets or sheets in the crib until they reach 18 months.
To ensure that your little one doesn’t get too cold or too hot during the night, do your best to maintain a temperature of between 68 degrees Fahrenheit and 72 degrees Fahrenheit.
Light
Make the room as dark as possible at night so that light from outside and inside doesn’t disturb your baby’s sleep.
During the summer months, that may mean installing blackout curtains to keep as much light out as possible and installing a low-light nightlight to provide just enough illumination for you to see.
Sound
Ambient noise can also disrupt your baby’s sleep and make the transition from a bassinet to a crib more difficult.
Consider using a white noise machine to help muffle the sounds from the rest of the house and the outside world.
You can even continue to use the white noise machine when your child moves from the crib to a toddler bed and from the toddler bed to a full-size bed.
Smell
At this age, your baby probably prefers to fall asleep in your arms. But, that’s not always practical and you shouldn’t rely on that in order to get your baby to sleep at night.
To help your baby adjust to the new crib, consider sleeping with the swaddle (or sleep sack) and fitted crib sheet to give it your scent.
You can also try introducing a scent into the air that encourages sleep. Such scents include:
- Lavender
- Chamomile
- Eucalyptus
- Ginger
- Frankincense
Transition your baby out of their bassinet with ease.
How long can a baby sleep in a bassinet? Until they're about six months old or reaching developmental milestones, such as rolling over or sitting up. If your baby is ready to transition to a larger bed, the tips above can help make the process easier.
And no matter what type of bed you move your baby into, try a swaddle or sleep sack for babies to keep them warm and cozy all night long!
