REASONS TO BUY
Breathable mesh
Travel crib
Machine washable
REASONS TO AVOID
Not a co-sleeper
Harder to move room to room
Lotus Bassinet Review
Versatile free-standing bassinet you can use for travel
Credit: Abriah Wofford
RELATED: The Best Bassinets
The Skinny
The Lotus Bassinet is a free-standing sleeper that works in conjunction with the Lotus Travel Crib. This bassinet has breathable mesh sides and uses Greenguard Gold standard certification materials creating a healthier sleep environment that you can keep near your bedside. The Lotus is a high-quality product that feels sturdy and durable, and we think parents will love that it can be used as a travel crib as well. The Lotus is easy to set up and can be moved from room to room without much trouble. This product may not be the best option if you want to stay in bed and reach baby in the bassinet, but if you are looking for a versatile product with a stand-alone bassinet, then the Lotus may be a good pick for your baby. Compare it to top competitors in our review of the best bassinets and choose a top-ranked baby crib for their follow-on sleep space soon.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Lotus Bassinet | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  |  | |  | |
| Price | $300 List | $220 List | $290 List | $220 List $149.99 at Amazon | $220 List $219.99 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
|||||
| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | Mesh surround bassinet you can also use for travel | 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 | Lotus Bassinet | 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 | Lotus Bassinet | Arm's Reach Clear-V... | babybay Bedside Sle... | Baby Delight Beside... | HALO BassiNest Esse... |
| Assembled Weight | 13.8 lbs | 22.1 lbs | 28.6 lbs | 17.5 lbs | 33 lbs |
| Open Dimensions | 25.5"H x 47.9"L x 32.1"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 | 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 | 17.9" | 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 | Rocking-to-Stationary Base | Adjustable Legs | Made From Solid Wood | Foldable | Rotates 360 Degrees, Sidewall Lowers |
| Modes | Portable | Bassinet Bedside Sleeper |
Bedside Sleeper | Bedside Sleeper Bassinet |
Bassinet Bedside Sleeper |
| Chemical Flame Retardant Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Portable Design | Yes | 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 | Fitted Sheet | Fitted Sheet | None | Sheet | Fitted Sheet |
| Available Accessories | Organic Cotton Fitted Sheet, Fitted Sheet, Bassinet Replacement Mattress | 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 | 10:47 | 29:20 (58:34 total with redo) | 39:14 | 6:50 | 27:10 |
| Materials | high-grade, low-voc polyurethane foam, and is covered with polyurethane coated polyester fabric on the top and polyester fabric on the bottom. The integrated mattress base is made of rigid polyethylene plastic. We do not add chemical flame retardants. | 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 |
Show full specification details ▼Hide full specification details ▲
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Lotus bassinet is an attachment accessory for the Lotus Travel Criband is therefore very portable.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Guava is a family run business oriented towards making parents' lives more comfortable and efficient. The company believes that "life should be spent together." Their designers create gear with safety and ease of use in mind. The Guava company believes that products need to be safe enough for their kids before they offer for others. Guava puts their gear through third-party testing when it is possible and use high-quality materials whenever possible.
To use the Lotus Travel Crib as a bassinet, you MUST purchase the travel crib and the bassinet conversion kit either as a bundle or separately.
Performance Comparison
The Lotus bassinet is more difficult to use than much of the dedicated bassinets we tested.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Ease of Use
The Lotus bassinet earned an average score for ease of use.
These are functions and features that impact your daily use of the bassinet.
You can reach inside the Lotus while still in bed, but it is more difficult than the true co-sleepers we tested.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Accessibility
The overall larger size makes this one hard to use right by your bed. The depth of the bassinet is shallow compared to the competition and lower than most making it hard to reach from your bed even if you manage to situate closer to you. This option works best as a free-standing bassinet.
It is difficult to get the legs of the Lotus through most interior doorways but they do move inward at the hinge points to make it easier.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Portability/Mobility
With a weight of 13.9 lbs, the Lotus is relatively light. It measures 25.5"H x 47.9"L x 32.1"W when open, which makes it somewhat wide for interior doorways, but the legs can bend in, or you can tilt the frame to walk it through the door. It doesn't have wheels, but it is still light enough to move from room to room if you need too. It is, however, great for travel. It folds easily and fits inside a travel bag with backpack style straps.
The wide legs on the Lotus can be unlocked and bent to fit the bassinet through doorways.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Additional Features
This bassinet is a travel crib at heart and comes with a carry bag so you can take the Lotus on the road with you.
Ease of Setup
It took us 10 minutes and 47 seconds to turn the Lotus from a travel crib to a bassinet. If you purchased this product as a travel crib (which you likely have), you must remove the fabric of the crib from the frame and attach the more shallow bassinet attachment to the top rails.
Cleaning
The fabric on the Lotus is removable and machine-washable but must hang to dry. You can clean the frame by wiping it with a wet towel, using a mild soap if needed.
The Lotus has mesh material sides for breathability.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Breathability
The Lotus earned an exceptional score for breathability.
This product has mesh sidewalls, four nylon straps on each side, and a fabric roll over the top. The part that baby will come in contact with is very breathable, and we don't feel the straps pose a risk given their smaller width.
The mattress pad on the Lotus bassinet is thicker than the other travel crib options in the bassinet review.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Sleep Surface
The Lotus earned a relatively low score for its sleeping surface.
The Lotus bassinet mattress is one inch thick (the maximum allowed) and highly compressible. It shifts in the frame despite a Velcro connection, and the mesh on the sides of the mattress gives when we press on it.
The Lotus mattress attaches to the sleeping area with strips of Velcro that keep it from shifting during use.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Quality
The Lotus scored slightly above average for quality. We feel that the quality of this bassinet is good for the price; only one other product we reviewed came out with a higher score at a lower price.
Both the mesh and the fabric on the crib seem very solid and durable. We didn't notice any loose stitching or possible issues with the material. The stitching attaching the handles to the travel bag did begin to stretch from the weight of the crib after minimal use, and this could potentially become a problem down the road. The frame does have a slight wobble if bumped, but it holds steady when you press on the top rails.
The Lotus is made using materials that are more natural or limit off-gassing compared to the competition.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Eco-health
The Lotus earned one of the highest scores in the group for eco-health. However, this is a metric where the bassinets all struggled, and we were not very confident in the ability of any of them to offer truly eco-healthy options.
This product is GREENGUARD GOLD certified in the world of chemical emissions standards. It is guaranteed to be free of harmful substances such as lead, PVC, Phthalates, Formaldehyde, and Heavy Metals, which is a level of responsibility not shared by all of the competition. The Lotus meets all the flame retardant standards without using additional chemicals, which helped its eco-health score. However, the vague language of their email response of not "adding" chemicals made us wonder if the materials come to them already treated as they did not say "chemical-free". Guava offers more transparency on their product content and production than most of the competition, which is something we like to see when it comes to any baby gear, but feel is more important with products that will be so close to baby so frequently.
This bassinet earned points for the GreenGuard certification and the lack of added chemicals. Still, we don't appreciate the use of polyurethane and vague language potentially intended to mislead parents or "greenwash" the product. They do state the mattress is "low VOC," but given the lack of standard definitions of this phrase, we are still left wondering what this means and feel a natural mattress would be better.
Manufacturer Video
—
Juliet Spurrier, MD and Wendy Schmitz
You Might Also Like
