What Is a Smart Bassinet?
Things to Consider When Buying a Smart Bassinet
Budget: A smart bassinet or smart crib is great—but along with all the bells and whistles comes a pretty hefty price tag. While standard bassinets start at around $100, some smart bassinets and cribs can set you back more than $1000. Remember that a bassinet is smaller than a crib, and your little one will outgrow it sooner. Moreover, keep in mind that you may also need to budget for additional accessories, like a crib mattress or, in some cases, a specific swaddle. Put off by the cost? Don’t despair—some smart bassinet and smart crib brands offer rental services; this route may be more affordable than purchasing a smart bassinet or crib outright.
Motion features: Rocking, bouncing and vibrations are the key selling point for most people when it comes to smart bassinets and cribs. High-end options automatically respond to baby stirring in their sleep with gentle motions that help baby get back to sleep. Other, more affordable, bassinets respond to manual triggers via app controls or by pressing a button on a control panel. While repetitive motion works wonders for some infants, there are no guarantees and no one-size-fits-all sleep solution.
Sound options: Soothing sounds—like shushing, white noise and lullabies—can help calm a fussy baby. Background music works as it blocks out distractions and reminds baby of ambient noise in the womb. Although most smart cribs offer some sort of soundtrack, it’s best to look for bluetooth-enabled models with a timer setting, so you can control how long each tune plays with the touch of a button.
Longevity: Again, infants outgrow bassinets quickly—typically sometime between the three and six-month marks. (And if they’re showing signs of rolling over or sitting up, you’ll probably want to upgrade them even sooner.) If you’re a first-time parent, you can probably keep and use the same bassinet for future siblings. But if you’re not planning to add to your brood anytime soon, a smart bassinet may not be worth the investment.
