If you have a new baby coming, you may be considering whether or not to invest in the best baby cradle. You need one! A cradle is a cot for your newborn that’s mounted on rockers, similar to that of bassinets. Its compact design allows it to fit next to your bed with ease, while the gentle rocking motion soothes your baby, helping them fall asleep quickly.
After thorough research, we have compiled a list of the seven best baby cradles to consider. Hopefully, you make a well- informed decision and lessen some of the guesswork when choosing the perfect cradle for your new baby.
Comparison Chart
IMAGE | PRODUCT | DETAILS | PRICE |
---|---|---|---|
OUR TOP PICK | BABY BJORN Cradle | The Babybjorn Cradle is a sleek and practical sleep alternative for newborns until six months of age or until your baby reaches 18 pounds and can sit up independently. | |
RUNNER UP | Mika Micky Baby Bassinet Bedside Sleeper Bedside Crib Easy Folding Portable Crib | The Mika Micky Baby Bassinet Bedside Sleeper Bedside Crib Easy Folding Portable Crib is hand-crafted furniture using lightweight aluminum, exquisite wood, and soft fabric that is easy to assemble and durable. | |
ALSO GREAT | Dream On Me Rocking Cradle | The Dream on Me Rocking Cradle has a classic, vintage charm and boasts a much lower price tag than its rivals. It is made of wood and comes in four finish options – cherry, espresso, natural, or white. | |
Orbelle Trading The Orbelle Ga Cradle | The Orbelle Trading The Orbelle Ga Cradle comes with a cradle mattress and fitted sheet for convenient setup. The structure is made of solid wood, so you are sure about its durability. | ||
Chicco LullaGo Nest Portable Bassinet | The Chicco LullaGo Nest Portable Bassinet cradle can be set up in less than a minute, making it a popular choice for parents. It can easily be folded flat and includes a carry bag for travel and storage. | ||
SNOO Smart Sleeper by Happiest Baby | The Snoo Cradle is, without a doubt, the best baby cradle on the market. It’s got bells, got whistles, and is definitely a dream come true for parents. | ||
Dream On Me Haven Cradle | The Dream on Me cradle offers a stylish design with straight lines, solid side panels, and an X cross base for smooth rocking. |
Detailed Reviews on the 7 Best Baby Cradles
BABYBJORN Cradle
The Babybjorn Cradle is a sleek and practical sleep alternative for newborns until six months of age or until your baby reaches 18 pounds and can sit up independently.
Product Highlights
The Baby Bjorn Cradle is made for infants and newborns and is made compact and mobile so it can be easily transported. It is also quite durable. The rubber tips on the footings keep your floors from being scratched while also giving the cradle stability. The mattress is waterproof and easily removable for washing, and so is the cloth siding.
The Good
This best baby cradle is a popular choice for parents because it is beautiful, functional, lightweight, and safe. The cradle rocks gently by through your baby’s movements, but you can also manually rock it when you’re trying to calm and settle your baby. Parents also claim its durability and safety, which are worth every extra penny you spend.
The Bad
The Baby Bjorn Cradle is a functional option for new parents. However, it’s a bit more expensive compared to other baby cradles on our list. It’s also a bit small, so you might not be able to use it for too long.
PROs
- Compact and mobile
- Comes with rubber tips on the footings
- Rocks gently
- Waterproof mattress
CONs
- A bit expensive
- A bit small
Mika Micky Baby Bassinet Bedside Sleeper Bedside Crib Easy Folding Portable Crib
The Mika Micky Baby Bassinet Bedside Sleeper Bedside Crib Easy Folding Portable Crib is hand-crafted furniture using lightweight aluminum, exquisite wood, and soft fabric that is easy to assemble and durable.
Product Highlights
This product includes three customizable options, so this cradle is sure to fit your family’s needs. If you favor a rocking cradle, you won’t need to look further since it includes rockers and a stabilizing brake. You can also choose the stationary option using the wood legs.
The Good
This cradle comes in three available colors: black, sand, and gray, and includes a mattress. Many parents love the Mika Micky Baby Bassinet Bedside Sleeper Bedside Crib Easy Folding Portable Crib for its design and sturdiness.
The Bad
The Mika Micky Baby Bassinet Bedside Sleeper Bedside Crib Easy Folding Portable Crib is a great option if you’re looking for a sturdy and easy to move cradle. However, the free mattress is quite thin, and many parents opt to purchase a thicker one. The paint might also come off as poorly done, with all the screws being totally visible and not hidden.
PROs
- Quality cradle and mattress
- Includes stabilizing brake
- Three customizable options
CONs
- Mattress is quite thin
- Paint is poorly done
- Screws are visible
Dream On Me Rocking Cradle
The Dream on Me Rocking Cradle has a classic, vintage charm and boasts a much lower price tag than its rivals. It is made of wood and comes in four finish options – cherry, espresso, natural, or white.
Product Highlights
This cradle is best for newborns up to 20 pounds. Suppose it’s time to move the baby after they start pushing up or rolling from side to side; this cradle is your best choice since it can be easily made stationary with the simple support pin. It’s light-weight enough to easy to move from room to room.
The Good
The Dream On Me, Rocking Cradle, comes with an attractive arched head and footboards. It also features a slumber pad and a gentle swinging motion that rocks a baby to sleep. You will love the low price, simplicity, and charm of this baby cradle.
The Bad
The Dream on Me Rocking Cradle is a budget-friendly option for parents who do not want to splurge on a baby cradle. However, this product does not come with wheels, which can be a bit of a hassle if you want a portable one. It also comes with a thin and flimsy mattress, so buying a thicker one is highly recommended.
PROs
- Very affordable
- Can be easily made stationary with the simple support pin
- It is lightweight
- Attractive arched head and footboards
CONs
- Does not come with wheels
- Thin flimsy mattress
Orbelle Trading The Orbelle Ga Cradle
The Orbelle Trading The Orbelle Ga Cradle comes with a cradle mattress and fitted sheet for convenient setup. The four wheels also offer The Orbelle Trading The Orbelle Ga Cradle comes with a cradle mattress and fitted sheet for convenient setup. The structure is made of solid wood, so you are sure about its durability.
Product Highlights
Your little one will surely have a restful night’s sleep in the Orbelle Trading The Orbelle Ga Cradle. This best baby cradle is built of solid carved wood. A locking mechanism is also in place if you opt for the cradle not to rock. This product is available in three color options (cherry, espresso and french white) and includes a mattress and fitted sheet.
The Good
The Orbelle Trading The Orbelle Ga Cradle is a popular choice among parents for its excellent quality and craftsmanship. This baby nursery furniture meets all U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission standards and conforms to ASTM standards, ensuring you get the best quality product for your little one.
The Bad
The Orbelle Trading The Orbelle Ga Cradle is a quality product for your little one. However, do note that the mattress included is not thick enough, so you might need to purchase a better one. The size is also not standard; thus, you might need to have it customized to fit.
PROs
- Made of durable solid wood
- Comes with all the tools you need for assembly
- Features a locking mechanism
CONs
- Mattress is not thick enough
- The size of the mattress is not standard
- Product assembly guide is unclear
Chicco LullaGo Nest Portable Bassinet
The Chicco LullaGo Nest Portable Bassinet cradle can be set up in less than a minute, making it a popular choice for parents. It can easily be folded flat and includes a carry bag for travel and storage.
Product Highlights
A cradle is useful for your baby’s much-needed sleep, but sometimes you need to take them on the road. That’s why a portable cradle is a must. The Chicco LullaGo Nest Portable Bassinet cradle is ideal for using at home and then packing up to go to a family vacation trip. It folds completely flat with metal lets that snap on and off. Once folded, you can carry it in a carrying bag that’s only the size of a large tote bag.
The Good
This best baby cradle has mesh sides for visibility and breathability. It also comes with an added canopy and two soft bird toys for your baby to play with. The best part of this product is the memory foam mattress that keeps your baby comfortable. Both the cover and sheet zip off and can be machine washed.
The Bad
The Chicco LullaGo Nest Portable Bassinet cradle is an on-the-go option for parents who love to travel with their young ones. However, some parents do not like that the foldable mattress tends to dip in the middle, which creates a crater that the baby can roll into. The travel bag also does not close securely, making all pieces placed inside feel awkward.
PROs
- It is portable
- Snaps easily
- Has mesh sides for visibility and breathability
- Memory foam mattress
CONs
- Tends to dip in the middle
- Travel bag does not close
SNOO Smart Sleeper by Happiest Baby
The Snoo Cradle is, without a doubt, the best baby cradle on the market. It’s got bells, got whistles, and is definitely a dream come true for parents.
Product Highlights
The Snoo is designed to be used solely with Snoo Sacks, a special swaddle sack that keeps your baby on his or her back all night long. For parents who are especially concerned about this, this cradle can offer peace of mind. The Snoo has also been designed to calm and soothe babies when they’re crying or fussing.
The Good
Designed by pediatrician Dr. Harvey Karp and his wife, the Snoo cradle gently rock your baby. It uses an in-built white noise system that automatically responds to your baby’s noises and movements to help put the baby to sleep. Tech-loving parents will definitely love the app since it will allow you to track your baby’s sleeping patterns and adjust crib settings.
The Bad
The Snoo Cradle offers innovation that will surely help parents lull their babies to sleep. However, this product also comes with a hefty price tag. The app also requires Wi-Fi to work, so you might need to have in on every time.
PROs
- Automatic rocking cradle
- Comes with a special swaddle sack
- Uses an in-built white noise system
CONs
- A bit expensive
- App requires Wi-Fi
Dream On Me Haven Cradle
The Dream on Me cradle offers a stylish design with straight lines, solid side panels, and an X cross base for smooth rocking.
Product Highlights
This Dream on Me cradle has a stylish, modern look, complementing the most bedroom or nursery decoration. Available in 7 different colors, this product uses baby-safe paints, is made from solid wood, and has smooth corners for the safety and comfort of your little one.
The Good
This is a traditional hand-rocking baby cradle, with a smooth motion back and forth motion over sturdy cross-beam legs. You can also opt to lock the cradle rocking motion with brake stabilizers if you prefer a stationary cradle.
The Bad
The Dream on Me cradle is a standard rocking cradle that’s easy to set up. However, the mattress is too thin, as noted by most parents. It is also not of standard size, so no sheets fit the mattress perfectly.
PROs
- Stylish, modern look
- Made from solid wood
- Rocking motion with brake stabilizers
CONs
- Very thin mattress
- Mattress size is not standard
Conclusion
Part of being a parent is to ensure that your baby has a safe and comfortable place to sleep every night. Whichever preference you have, the main functions to look for is safety and convenience. You can’t go wrong with any of the best baby cradle listed above. Babyhood doesn’t last long, so remember to enjoy every tender, sleepless moments with your little one. Get more tips on cradles.