BabyBjorn Cradle Review

Name: BabyBjorn Cradle
Brand: BabyBjorn

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

Price: $350 List

Manufacturer: BabyBjorn

By Juliet Spurrier, MD and Wendy Schmitz ⋅ Jan 20, 2019

OVERALL
SCORE

RANKED
#6 of 13

Ease of Use - 35% 5.0
Breathability - 25% 9.0
Sleep Surface - 20% 6.0
Quality - 15% 8.0
Eco-Health - 5% 5.0

RELATED: The Best Bassinets

$300 at Amazon

Our Verdict

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.

REASONS TO BUY

Very breathable

Machine washable

REASONS TO AVOID

Expensive

Easy to compress mattress

MDF board

Compare to Similar Products

(change comparison)

	This Product BabyBjorn Cradle	Arm's Reach Clear-Vue Co-Sleeper	babybay Bedside Sleeper	Baby Delight Beside Me Dreamer	HALO BassiNest Essentia
Awards	Stylish Free Standing Cradle	Best Overall Bassinet	Quality Co-Sleeper at a Premium Price	Budget-Friendly Co-Sleeper	Ideal for Post-Cesarean Section Moms
Price	$350 List $299.99 at Amazon	$220 List	$290 List	$220 List $134.99 at Amazon	$220 List $215.00 at Amazon
Overall Score	67	78	78	77	73
Star Rating	1 2 3 4 5	1 2 3 4 5	1 2 3 4 5	1 2 3 4 5	1 2 3 4 5
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%)	5.0	8.0	6.0	8.0	6.0
Breathability (25%)	9.0	7.0	10.0	8.0	8.0
Sleep Surface (20%)	6.0	9.0	7.0	8.0	8.0
Quality (15%)	8.0	8.0	10.0	7.0	9.0
Eco-Health (5%)	5.0	5.0	6.0	5.0	5.0
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

babybjorn cradle - the babybjorn cradle is a stand-alone bassinet that can be used... — 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

babybjorn cradle - the cradle is harder to use than some of the competition; especially... — 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.

babybjorn cradle - while a little harder to access from the parent bed, the cradle can... — 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.

babybjorn cradle - the feet of the cradle make it easier to arrange the bassinet closer... — 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.

babybjorn cradle - with fully breathable mesh sides the cradle offers superior... — 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.

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.

babybjorn cradle - the cradle may be thick but it easily compresses under pressure... — 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.

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.

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.

Manufacturer Video

— Juliet Spurrier, MD and Wendy Schmitz