The best Bedside Cribs: Reddit reviews

From 3.5 billion Reddit comments

I like to keep it Simple. We live in a Two bedroom apartment, and we used this same set up for Big sister. I was given a beautiful Bassinet with my First child and I actually didn’t even use it because this little travel Crib similar to this worked better. I didn’t have to get up and down all night, I could simply sit up/reach down and get to her, once she was asleep it made it less tempting to co-sleep (just not a safe option for me and my husband)

I’ve used a diaper genie in the past, but I’ve found a paper bag with plastic bag worked just fine, just swap it out every few days.

With my first child we where in a 1 bedroom so a changing table was a luxury that we passed on and just decided to change her where ever, the couch, the floor, the bed, we managed just fine.

The swing we Choose again, in mind for small living is a version of This swing

The clothes organizer works just fine for all her small clothes

Don’t feel bad for going super simple! Once she’s to big or unsafe for the little crib, we do have big sisters crib waiting for her. ��

I didn't end up having to bedshare so I can't comment from first hand experience, but have you considered something like a cosleeper for your bed? I know a few ladies who recommend these. You mentioned there's not much room though, so while this might mitigate the softness issue it won't do you any good if it simply doesn't fit.

You might be able to pair the cosleeper with a folding mattress on the floor in the nursery though. It'll add a degree of separation between you and baby, so that's good, but it'll keep you close and on the same level, which might work.

Cosleeping just seems dangerous. A few months ago my husband's cousin woke up to two screaming parents in the next apartment over. Apparently the wife got up for work and the husband rolled over in bed. He ended up suffocating their baby. Such a tragedy that could have been prevented.

We are planning to use something like this: Mika Micky Bedside Sleeper https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07J232RV4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_LtRMDb7DQA4PS

That was me! I didn't even notice the bed frame! We also had this cosleeper which we loved, and our baby liked slept better in it at the beginning!

SwaddleMe By Your Side Sleeper https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YBADM1O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_-P5SDbFHDY608

If your baby will sleep beside you, I would go with one of these:

https://www.amazon.com/Kidsclub-Standalone-Side-Sleeper-Replaceable-Adjustable/dp/B07PWX1T1N/ref=mp_s_a_1_9?dchild=1&keywords=arms+reach+co+sleeper+bassinet&qid=1627092693&sprefix=arms&sr=8-9

The problem I had with my first was that he just wanted to sleep on my chest, which meant I got no sleep at all. I’m hoping my second will sleep in the co-sleeper.

There are other options as well for co-sleepers. Co-sleeping without the right gear is really quite dangerous.

We used a Mika Mickey bassinet from Amazon. It's rated for 33lbs and size wise is quite a bit larger than most others. We too have a large baby and only stopped using it once my wife had recovered enough from the c section to lift him out of the crib. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07J232RV4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_XJCQ3WPDFJ2BDC3Q5ZEM?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

The only way I got any sleep was with a “bedside bassinet.” Might be worth a shot. It really helped with breastfeeding! Bassinet

I was against co-sleeping but we used this and everyone was able to get some sleep. LO was able to transition out of it around 7-8mos old.

We had the little basket for the bed from Swaddle Me / Summer Infant. I liked it because I could easily take it downstairs and plop it on the coffee table and she'd nap there during the day for the first several weeks.

amazon link!

Edit - to add link and it looks like SwaddleMe and Summer Infant are ultimately the same? Either way. Only down side is no easy to way to get an extra sheet but it does dry very fast.

You could try a bedside sleeper - it connects to the bed but isn’t in the bed. We used the Mika Mickey and loved it. It’s big too so baby can stay longer than most bassinet, my son stayed until he was 6 months then moved to crib in nursery.

this is the one I used. hopefully I linked that correctly. It has an adjustable height, can be lashed to the bed frame, and the legs are offset so you can get it right up next to the bed. I really liked it.

We wanted to avoid buying too much stuff so our registry was pretty sparse. We did end up buying a lot once she arrived and we understood better what kinds of stuff we actually needed.

SwaddleMe Sleeper which we used as a safe sleeping surface on our sofa when she was sleeping a lot in the beginning. We'd also set it down on the dining room table or a desk in the basement sometimes.

Boppy Newborn Lounger which is where we set her for playtime most of the time because she doesn't want to be on her back for very long.

Portable noise machine (you can use your phone but you'll kill your battery)

Bottle drying rack (grass one by Boon)

Some other random things that are so useful: a tablet and bluetooth headphones for the nursery, amazon echo dot which can be used to intercom across the house and to control some smart light bulbs in the nursery or track baby stuff in Hatch Baby, comfy recliner.

We coslept with our kids too. If you don't already have a cosleeper, I highly recommend it. It makes the transition to the crib/bassinet much easier later down the road. Here's a decent one on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/SwaddleMe-By-Your-Side-Sleeper/dp/B00YBADM1O/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=in+bed+cosleeper&qid=1563257168&s=gateway&sprefix=in+bed+coslee&sr=8-1

My biggest piece of advice is to just be patient. It sounds like your baby is very young, so it's normal for your sex drive to take a dive, especially if your nursing. Your hormones can take a long time to normalize, plus it sounds like your exhausted. If you don't want sex, then don't force it. Do what feels right.

If its hard finding a time because the baby is in bed, i suggest making a deliberate effort and find times outside of bedtime. Use nap time or when the baby falls asleep, sneak off to the livingroom. Or, if the baby is safe and happy, take 15 mins and knock it out while s/he is distracted.

Overall, this is a small bump in your sex life. It seems like a lot now, but take it from another mother that it really won't matter much down the road.

No this is what i used. I put a toddler rail on the one side of the bed (because my bed wasnt against the wall and i didn't have anyone to sleep on the other side) and slept with her in my bed with this.

SwaddleMe By Your Side Sleeper https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00YBADM1O/ref=cm_sw_r_u_apa_fab_bBMFFb5BYY8Q4

She used this until she outgrew it and by that point i felt safer safely co sleeping with her. If i had to do over again i would have never bought a bassinet bc she hardly used it. I only used it as a safe place to swt her down when i showered, but she slept in it maybe a handful of times. I used a pack and play more so much more. A crib was given to me for her room but again she never used it except for some naps during the day she's never slept in it at night.

Edit: wanted to add there are other by the bed co sleepers that like attach next to the bed that don't have baby actually in the bed with you if you don't want baby in the bed with you. The bedsharing saved my sanity.

I have had mixed success getting my 6 week old daughter to sleep in her bassinet so I feel you! On nights where the bassinet isn't working out, I will sleep with her in a separate bed with her in this thing:

SwaddleMe By Your Side Sleeper https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YBADM1O?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

We call it her "moses basket." I think she can tell she's close to me, so she sleeps well. I only sleep alone with her in this though, bc my husband is a heavy sleeper and moves around a lot in his sleep.

Also, on some nights, we have let her sleep in the pack n play napper. It's not technically a safe sleep space, so I can't recommend that anyone else should try that - usually we only use it for supervised naps. But she sleeps well in it, and it seems very safe to me since she can't roll over yet.

On nights where the bassinet works out, I will wait till she's in a deep sleep, then swaddle her, then put her in the bassinet. I can usually get a few three hour stretches of sleep, where she goes down easily in between after nursing. To put her in a deep sleep, I wait until she's tired and then walk around the house with her until she passes out, and then I keep walking for a few more minutes. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Good luck!

Ours was a gift about 10 years ago. I don't recall the exact model, but this one is similar:

https://www.amazon.com/SwaddleMe-By-Your-Side-Sleeper/dp/B00YBADM1O

We have this bassinet that has a canopy on it so cats can’t get in. We used it for our first and are now using it with our second. My cat has generally stayed away but it’s nice to have the peace of mind. https://www.amazon.com/Dream-Me-Karley-Bassinet-Grey/dp/B08MC3ZG7Z/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?crid=N4KIKP0L4UZ7&keywords=bassinet%2Bwith%2Bcanopy&qid=1666579909&qu=eyJxc2MiOiI1Ljc2IiwicXNhIjoiNS42MyIsInFzcCI6IjMuMDMifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=bassinet%2...

I use this one, but there are tons of options!

https://www.amazon.com/Mika-Micky-Bedside-Sleeper-Portable/dp/B07J232RV4/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?crid=2YUSU3QU0DKMM&keywords=co+sleeper&qid=1655744116&sprefix=co+sleepe%2Caps%2C187&sr=8-3

We have a pretty tall bed at 33 inches and use this one Mika Micky Bedside

The one side that opens, the mattress height is exactly in line with our bed height.

Not every baby hates the bassinet- mine prefers to sleep on me (of course) but if I put her down in deep sleep at night she will stay asleep. I have an "in bed" co-sleeper which I put a board under to be on a hard surface which has been great. I didn't have the space for a bedside bed bassinet and no partner sharing the bed so this was better than one of those.

I have 3 cats and a baby on the way. I plan on keeping the cats in a different room at night (we already do this because they wake us up) and also got this bassinet that has an optional cover that I can use during the day if the cats are around and I’m not right near it. It has very good reviews and meets safety standards and a lot of people have commented that it holds up against pets and is sturdy. Dream On Me Karley Bassinet in Cool Grey https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08MC3ZG7Z/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_884EFE1MAG831HN26RFM?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Mika Micky Baby Bassinet Bedside Sleeper Bedside Crib Easy Folding Portable Crib All mesh 2020 New,Grey https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07J232RV4/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_i_STDEN3054T970YD9J2MR?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

This is what I used for my first and I loved it.

Though I didn't do it myself, there are ways to safely (safer) co-sleep. You have to make sure your mattress is the right firmness, that you don't have blankets and pillows, and some other things (since I didn't myself, I'm not sure about the specifics.) So that's something to look into. I tried cosleeping with my second (he was a terrible sleeper), but I couldn't fall asleep with him in the bed and without my heavy blankets and such (and it didn't help him sleep anyway..)

There are also these kinds of things, so it's a bassinet that goes on the bed. That would be a good middle ground.

I had many times I breast fed in bed and it was awesome! They fall asleep and you get sleep too!!

I'd suggest something like this Though so you and your partner have a place to sleep and baby does too. Super easy to roll over, give the boob and go right back to sleep!! Limited-time deal: Baby Bassinet,RONBEI Bedside Sleeper Baby Bed Cribs,Baby Bed to Bed, Newborn Baby Crib,Adjustable Portable Bed for Infant/Baby Boy/Baby Girl (Bassinet) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XDW2LTH/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_i_dl_4KX8VV8VN4BQ5V433BX1

Cat owner here - my little guy is still in the oven cooking, so I can’t say any of this is tried and true but I have had the same fear and have bought a few things in preparation!

I have a nicer bassinet, one of the ones that moves and has music as my first choice but I also bought a Dream on Me bassinet with a zip top canopy in case the cat starts showing too much curiosity lol (I got mine on sale during Black Friday for $30 so it wasn’t too expensive to buy just for a backup plan. I’ve also seen tons of them on Facebook marketplace for about the same price so check there too)

They also have cat canopy covers for cribs that I’ve purchased. They’re mesh so it’s breathable for the baby, and you can zip them in and out as needed. My kitty isn’t a huge climber, more of a jump up on things type of guy, so I’m not worried about him ripping the fabric and more so using it to deter him from hopping into the crib if that makes sense? I did read some reviews of people with climbing kitties though who said theirs got ripped up relatively fast lol so keep that in mind

Yess! I haven’t gotten it yet so I can’t speak to it but my best friend in another state just bought it for her 7 week old and LOVES it! https://www.amazon.com/Mika-Micky-Bedside-Sleeper-Portable/dp/B07J232RV4/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?crid=3C12TIYK64XCJ&keywords=mika+micky+bedside+sleeper&qid=1643660907&sprefix=mika%2Caps%2C97&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVk...

It's the Mika Micky bedside sleeper. I love it! Rolled it all around my house in the first couple months.

This is an example of one of the ones I looked at. bassinet

They were much more expensive when I last looked.

I try to read enough reviews to really get an idea about whether the majority of users have had trouble or not, I figure you will always have people that are completely incompetent at assembling things and would rather blame the manufacture than themselves.

I had my son via c section in November and I cannot imagine the pain you're in being cut twice, you poor thing! Here is what helped us transition into the bassinet, a sound machine, I have the hatch, the night light and noise is amazing and I love it, I know not everyone loves it but it truly keeps my kid asleep. We also ended up buying one of those bedside bassinets that straps to the bed with the roll down side to make it easier for him to be close to me, here is the link, it was life changing. I also have an end table on my side of the bed with water and everything I needed at night.

Baby Bassinet,RONBEI Bedside Sleeper,Baby Bed to Bed,Babies Crib Bed, Adjustable Portable Bed for Infant/Baby Boy/Baby Girl/Newborn (Dark Grey) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B081KWSRQY/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_XP0TRWBDMYADAANFEHKS?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Also the first week is just hard, like so hard. I have an easy baby and I struggled, each week got easier and now we are 7w in, all of us are more confident and every day the pain gets better, hang in there ❤️

I LOVED THIS one for both of our daughters:

Mika Micky Bassinet

I loved how light and easily moveable it was. I ordered 3 fitted sheets for it after one night with our first where I was doing laundry at 2 am.

I'm about to sell mine, and it makes me sad. If we end up deciding to have a third, I am 100% getting this again.