How Long Can My Baby Sleep in A Bassinet?

There are countless first milestones in your baby’s first months of life. One big one that can sneak up on parents is outgrowing the bassinet. Parents often ask us, how long can my baby sleep in a bassinet?

Bassinets are a wonderful first option for safe sleep during the newborn phase. They’re portable, safe, and just the right size for a brand new baby who’s getting used to their big new world. The American Academy of Pediatrics [AAP], recommends that babies share a room with parents or caregivers for the first 6 months of life. We’ve found that bassinets are a great compact option to safely room-share.

But as you are caring for your new little one, you may turn around and suddenly realize how much they’ve grown! For a smooth transition, it’s best to be prepared ahead of time to move your baby’s naps and nighttime sleep to a crib. Read on to learn how to know when to transition your baby out of a bassinet to a crib. 

When should baby move to a crib? 

First off, let’s be clear that a baby can sleep in a crib from day one! A bassinet is a choice for a transitional sleep space. There is no across the board rule for when your baby needs to be taken out of the bassinet. It has to do with many factors:

1. Your baby’s physical development and milestones
2. Your baby’s size
3. Your basinet’s weight limit
4. Your baby’s quality of sleep

Let’s look at the different ways to tell your baby is outgrowing their bassinet:

Your baby’s physical development and milestones

If your baby is starting to roll then it’s time to start transitioning to the crib. If your baby is starting to sit up or pull themselves up, it’s PAST time to transition to the crib!

Most bassinets come with safety warnings to not place mobile babies into a bassinet. A rule of thumb is when they transition out of swaddling, they should transition into the crib. The SNOO is an exception that has slightly different rules because the baby is strapped down onto their backs. However, we still maintain that when your baby tells us they are ready to roll, that we listen.

Notice your baby’s growth

When you first put your baby in a bassinet they may look so tiny in a wide open space. But suddenly, you may look down and realize they’re filling up the entire space! If your baby’s feet and head are growing close to the edges, it’s time to transition out of the bassinet.  

Check your bassinet’s specifications

First off, it’s important to know your specific bassinet’s weight limit. Most bassinets can hold a 20+ pound infant, and in this case many parents find that their baby outgrows the bassinet in length before they reach the weight limit. But some bassinets have a weight limit as low as 10 pounds and will only be able to safely house your baby for a few weeks. Look into your bassinet’s safety requirements to know what you have to work with. 

How is your baby sleeping?

Is your baby waking up often? When you get them are they bumping into an edge? Then they may be more comfortable with a bit more space.

Your baby will also get to an age/stage where hearing and smelling their parents will wake them up more often than most parents find enjoyable. If your baby is ready to be transitioned out of your room, that is a great time to transition them into a crib in their own space.

So How Long Can My Baby Sleep In a Bassinet?

Here’s the recap~

• Your baby is too long, and their head and/or toes touch the edges of the bassinet
• Your baby is too wiggly, and can wake themselves up by moving into the bassinet walls
• Your baby has reached the weight limit of your specific bassinet 
• Your baby can roll over or sit up on his own
• Your baby is ready to stop swaddling or to be in their own room

When you notice any/all of these signs, that’s when it’s time to transition your baby out of a bassinet. For most babies, at least one of these signs will occur by four months of age:

Where should the crib live?

Well, that depends on the age of your baby and your personal parenting choices. AAP guidelines are to keep your baby in your room until 6 months of age as a SIDS reducer. However, we find that most parents make this change between 3-6 months of age. This is often because parents choose to switch to the crib in the nursery instead of trying to squeeze a crib into their bedroom.

How to transition from a bassinet to a crib 

Now that you know when to transition your baby out of a bassinet, let’s talk about the HOW.

Many parents find that they’ve finally gotten into the rhythms that work for them, and the change seems overwhelming. Unfortunately, babies are always changing! The only consistency is their inconsistency.

The good news is, it’s usually a pretty easy change! If your baby is in a similar sleep environment in their bassinet and in their crib, they usually don’t notice or care. This is another benefit of transitioning when your baby is showing early signs, if you wait until 6 months or older it can be a harder transition.

• Keep the sleep environment the same [light, noise, temperature]
• Keep sleep times and bedtime/naptime routines consistent [we usually recommend starting naps in the crib from day one, and bedtime routines in the nursery early on so it isn’t such a big change.]
• Watch for sleepy cues.
• Start with naps first [but go cold turkey if your baby is no longer safe in the bassinet]
• Stay consistent. They’ll adjust in time, just like someday they’ll adjust to a big kid bed [oy, sorry don’t think about that one yet!]

Some parents don’t use a crib at all, but choose to transition to a Montessori bed. This isn’t something that we personally recommend, but it’s something that works for some.

Most of all, stay consistent. Your baby might experience a few days of difficult sleep, but with healthy sleep routines they’ll adjust to sleeping well in their crib in due time. And if you want help with this milestone, read about our overnight newborn care and sleep training services. We can help!