Safest Bassinets

A bassinet is an oblong basket-style bed for a baby, especially a newborn, who can feel more secure in a bassinet than a crib. Bassinets are smaller and more portable than cribs. You can keep a bassinet in your bedroom, so your baby can sleep near you without sleeping in your bed, which is not safe for babies. Parents also choose bassinets because they are more decorative than cribs.

  1. Exterior Safety Features

    • The safest bassinets have wide stable bases and sturdy bottoms. If they fold or have wheels, they must have secure locking mechanisms so that they don't collapse or roll when the baby is in the bassinet.

    Interior Safety Features

    • The safest bassinets have firm mattresses or pads that fit snugly against the sides. You should not be able to place two fingers between the mattress and the sides. All surfaces need to be smooth with no protruding hardware. If your bassinet came with any soft bedding, it's necessary to remove it. According to Dr. Jodi Pike and Dr. Rachel Moon of the Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., the safest bassinets have sides made of an air-permeable material.

    Warnings

    • There are mandatory federal standards for cribs, but none for bassinets. Make sure that the bassinet you purchase has been certified for safety by the JPMA (Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association). A label on the bassinet indicates JPMA safety certification. The CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) recalls unsafe bassinets. Be cautious about hand-me-down and secondhand bassinets, especially ones that are missing parts. In most cases, even the safest bassinets become unsafe when babies weigh more than 15 pounds or are four-to-six months old and can push themselves up on their hands and knees. Some bassinets, including the Fisher-Price Zen Collection Gliding Bassinet, are safe for infants up to 25 pounds.

    ASTM

    • The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) sets safety standards. Bassinets that have been certified for safety by the JPMA are tested by an independent testing facility for compliance with specific ASTM standards.

    2. Previous:

    Next:

    • Instructions for a Graco Pack & Play
      Playpens play a big role in the lives of babies and toddlers in the first few years of life. They are helpful in supplying a sleeping area for young babies and a play area for older infants. Graco Pack and Plays are a popular choice among parents, bu
    • What to Put on a Baby's Cold Sore
      Although its not likely for a baby to get a cold sore, it does happen. Knowing how to properly treat a cold sore will shorten the amount of time you and your baby have to deal with it. What is a Cold Sore? A cold sore, sometimes ref
    • How to Lower a Munire Crib Mattress
      Crib manufactures like Munire have modifiable mattress support features that allow parents to lower or raise the mattress in the crib. Adjusting the height of the mattress is a simple process that just requires the loosening and tightening of certain