REASONS TO BUY
Very breathable
Machine washable
REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive
Easy to compress mattress
MDF board
BabyBjorn Cradle Review
Nice bedside cradle with machine washable mesh and mattress
Given the amount of time your baby will be breathing deeply in their bed, the kinds of materials surrounding them are very important. The BabyBjorn Cradle uses mostly healthier materials, but the use of MDF under the mattress gives us pause.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
RELATED: The Best Bassinets
The Skinny
The BabyBjorn Cradle is a stylish and straightforward bassinet made primarily of polyester mesh and wood. This product is one of the most breathable with a skin-friendly mesh material that surrounds the sleeping area offering visibility and air-circulation as well. We like that all of the fabric parts are machines washable (a rare find in this group) and that it is easy to set up and small enough to keep by your bed. This bassinet is one of the most expensive in the review, making it a poor choice for families on a tighter budget. Still, the soothing rhythmic sway and higher quality materials make this an excellent free-standing bassinet that we think many parents will love. See it rated versus top competitors in our review of the best bassinets.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
BabyBjorn Cradle | |||||
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| Awards |  |  | |  | |
| Price | $350 List $349.99 at Amazon | $220 List | $290 List | $220 List $149.99 at Amazon | $220 List $219.99 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | Eco-friendly fabrics cover this high-quality, breathable, freestanding bassinet | Good choice for co-sleeping that is easy to move from room to room | Functional wood bassinet you can use from your bed | Good for co-sleeping and a free-standing bassinet for most families | Safer alternative to co-sleeping and perfect for moms with c-sections |
| Rating Categories | BabyBjorn Cradle | Arm's Reach Clear-V... | babybay Bedside Sle... | Baby Delight Beside... | HALO BassiNest Esse... |
| Ease of Use (35%) | |||||
| Breathability (25%) | |||||
| Sleep Surface (20%) | |||||
| Quality (15%) | |||||
| Eco-Health (5%) | |||||
| Specs | BabyBjorn Cradle | Arm's Reach Clear-V... | babybay Bedside Sle... | Baby Delight Beside... | HALO BassiNest Esse... |
| Assembled Weight | 12.1 lbs | 22.1 lbs | 28.6 lbs | 17.5 lbs | 33 lbs |
| Open Dimensions | 26"H x 31.5"L x 18"W | 34.8"H x 34.5"L x 20.3"W | 37.1"H x 36"L x 20.7"W | 26"-30.5"H x 39"L x 27"W | 36.9"H x 45.3"L (base) 33.8" (bassinet) x 21.8"W (bassinet) |
| Age/Height/Weight Limit | 6 Months or 18 lbs Discontinue Use When Infant: Pushes Up On Hands And Knees |
5 Months or 18 lbs Discontinue Use When Infant: Pushes Up On Hands And Knees |
5 Months Discontinue Use When Infant: Pushes Up On Hands And Knees Discontinue As An Attachable Baby Bed When Infant: Rolls Over Or Pulls Up To A Kneeling, Sitting Or Standing Position |
5 Months or 20 lbs Discontinue Use When Infant: Pushes Up On Hands And Knees |
5 Months or 20 lbs Discontinue Use When Infant: Pushes Up On Hands And Knees, Pulls Up, Rolls Over, Sit Unassisted, Can Move Out Of The Security Of The Walled Sleep Area |
| Product Care | Machine Wash | Mattress: Wipe Clean Mattress Sheet: Machine Wash Metal Frame: Wipe Clean Lining: Machine Wash |
Wipe Down | Machine Wash | Sheet: Machine Wash Base and Mattress: Spot Clean |
| Bassinet Mattress Height Above Floor | 15.4" | 19.5"-25.5" Adult Mattress Height 24"-30" |
3"-27" Adult Mattress Height 10"-31" |
14" - 19" Adult Mattress Height 18.5"-24" |
26.5"-33" |
| Special Features | Springy Movement | Adjustable Legs | Made From Solid Wood | Foldable | Rotates 360 Degrees, Sidewall Lowers |
| Modes | Bassinet | Bassinet Bedside Sleeper |
Bedside Sleeper | Bedside Sleeper Bassinet |
Bassinet Bedside Sleeper |
| Chemical Flame Retardant Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Portable Design | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Wheels | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Mesh Sides | Yes - Full | Partial - Fabric in Corners | Wood Slats | Yes - Full | Yes - Full |
| Included Accessories | None | Fitted Sheet | None | Sheet | Fitted Sheet |
| Available Accessories | Fitted Sheet, Canopy | Arm's Reach® Clear-Vue™ Au Naturel Mattress Pad, Puppy Luv Music Box, Replacement Strap and Plate | Classic Mattress, Cooling Comfort Mattress, Eco-Organic Mattress, Cloud Comfort Mattress, Cooling Comfort Jersey Sheet, Snuggle Comfort Terry Sheet, Dry Comfort Mattress Protector, Classic Comfort Mattress Pad with Cotton Cover, Cooling Comfort Mattress Pad with Dry Comfort Mattress Protector, Organic Comfort Mattress Pad with Dry Comfort Mattress Protector, Cloud Comfort Mattress Pad with Dry Comfort Mattress Protector, babybay Organic Babynest, babybay Patterned Babynest, babybay Solid Colored Babynest, Bassinet Conversion Kit, Rolling Casters, Canopy Holder, Organic Canopy, Patterned Canopy, Solid Colored Canopy, Bed Frame Anchor, babycare Organizer | Waterproof Fitted Sheet | Fitted Sheet, Mattress Pad, Mobile Sleepy Owl, Mobile Whimsical Birds, Storage Caddy, Newborn Insert |
| Set Up Time | 7:19 | 29:20 (58:34 total with redo) | 39:14 | 6:50 | 27:10 |
| Materials | Polyester, Cotton (website), Polyurethane (Manual) | Strong Nylon Cloth, Cotton Polyester Blend, Nylon Woven Strapping, Polyurethane Foam | Beechwood, Water-Based Finishes, CFC Polyurethane Foam | Polyester, Polyester Fiber Batting | Polyester Fiber, Polyester Fiber Batting, Polyurethane Foam |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
The BabyBjorn Cradle is a stand-alone bassinet that can be used close to the bed.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Björn and Lillemor Jakobson started BabyBjörn in 1961. The company is headquartered in Stockholm and still family-owned. BabyBjörn's goal is to create functional, safe products that help families in their everyday life. BabyBjorn is continually striving for quality solutions and improvements. The company offers simple, modern takes on classic designs without unnecessary details. BabyBjorn believes gear should appeal to mothers, fathers, and babies. They provide products suitable for children from newborn age up to three years old.
Performance Comparison
The Cradle is harder to use than some of the competition; especially if your goal is a true co-sleeper.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Ease of Use
The BabyBjorn earned score for overall ease of use that is just average.
This metric incorporates daily features and functionality.
While a little harder to access from the parent bed, the Cradle can be used close to the bed and your baby can be reached in the middle of the night.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Accessibility
This bassinet is small enough to keep beside your bed, light enough to move away from your bed if it were in the way, and low enough to see baby while lying in bed. Unfortunately, the lower height may make it challenging to reach baby while sitting up in bed, and you will probably have to get out of bed to manage it.
The feet of the Cradle make it easier to arrange the bassinet closer to the bed.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Portability/Mobility
While this product doesn't have wheels or an easy way of moving it from room to room, it is relatively light at just over 12 lbs. This lighter weight combined with 26"H x 31.5"L x 18"W measurements means you can move it if you need to without much trouble. It is not suitable for travel, however, with no carry case and easy way of folding it.
Ease of Setup
It took about 7 minutes and 2 seconds to set up this bassinet. Set up is simple and requires a screwdriver to connects the legs.
Cleaning
The fabric is machine washable but needs to hang dry. Even the mattress can be machine washed, something the majority of the competition couldn't boast.
With fully breathable mesh sides the Cradle offers superior breathability.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Breathability
The BabyBjorn earned an exceptional score for breathability.
The Cradle is one of the most breathable options we tested with a bassinet surround made of polyester mesh. The only non-mesh fabric is about 4 1/2 inches wide on each end with the required warning labels. We feel it is unlikely that babies will be unable to maneuver themselves such that they will be unable to breathe through the sides of this bassinet.
The Cradle sleep surface performed average compared to the competition.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Sleep Surface
The BabyBjorn earned an average score for the sleeping surface.
The mattress on the Cradle is about one inch thick and is the most compressible, which translates to reduced support for baby and potential or little ones to be resting on the bottom of the bassinet with less of a cushy feeling.
The Cradle may be thick but it easily compresses under pressure offering less support for your baby.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
The mattress fits nice and snug inside the bassinet floor and doesn't shift, even when we tried to force a finger in near the sides. But, the design could create a low spot should your baby scoot down into one of the ends.
The Cradle uses high-quality materials put together with attention to detail.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Quality
The BabyBjorn earned an impressive score for quality, coming in at the top of the group. With a simple, stylish design, it looks good compared to the competition. It lacks the typical "babyish" vibe and can fit in with almost any decor.
This product is made with high-quality materials and has a sturdy design. The legs press down to create a rocking motion, and it rocks back and forth without feeling unstable. There is a keen attention to detail with no loose threads and fabric or poor connections that wiggle when they shouldn't.
The Cradle earned a second place score for eco-health by using certified materials with little off-gassing.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Eco-Health
The Cradle earned a slightly above average score and just below the high of 6 in this gear category. BabyBjorn Takes the eco-health of their products seriously and offers more information than most brands on the materials they use.
This product doesn't use chemical flame retardants according to Oeko-Tex® Standard 100 certification, but the mattress is polyurethane foam like the competition. The Cradle also uses a California Air Resources Board (CARB) Phase 2 MDF board which limits formaldehyde emissions from composite wood products, but it still contains formaldehyde which is not ideal. We wish BabyBjorn would replace this board with a more eco-healthy option, and the inclusion of the MDF hurt its overall eco-health score. We do like that this bassinet includes:
All fabrics are kind to your baby's skin and safe to taste. Free from health-hazardous substances and certified according to Oeko-Tex® Standard 100, Class I for baby products.
Its lack of flame retardant chemicals and Oeko-Tex® certification helped its eco-health score, but the MDF and polyurethane prevented it from scoring higher. This bassinet is JPMA-certified and listed as ASTM F2194.
Don't forget your crib
All babies will eventually outgrow their bassinet. Don't forget to have a top-ranked baby crib ready to go because that day will be here before you know it.
All babies will eventually outgrow their bassinet. Don't forget to have a top-ranked baby crib ready to go because that day will be here before you know it.
Manufacturer Video
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Juliet Spurrier, MD and Wendy Schmitz
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