REASONS TO BUY
Quality build
Adjustable height
Easy to reach baby
Good eco-health
REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive
Not portable
babybay Bedside Sleeper Review
Easy access to baby in a quality wood co-sleeper that looks great
The ease of a great co-sleeper / bassinet can really make the early months of parenthood much easier and more convenient, like this easy to reach babybay Bedside Sleeper.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
By Wendy Schmitz ⋅ Senior Review Editor ⋅ February 21, 2025
Contributions From: Juliet Spurrier, MD
RELATED: The Best Bassinets of 2025
Our Verdict
The babybay Bedside Sleeper is a quality wood product that resembles a crib but attaches to the side of your bed. This design keeps baby close and provides easy access for nighttime feeding, soothing, and bonding. We love the beautifully modern design that compliments any master bedroom and the use of eco-healthy materials, setting it a step above most other bassinets. However, it's bulky and lacks wheels, making it a poor choice if you need to move it from room to room regularly. The higher price tag also makes it a poor choice for families on a tight budget. That being said, if your budget allows and your goal is an easy-access, eco-friendly co-sleeper, you can't go wrong with the impressive, OEKO-TEX certified babybay. And when you're ready to upgrade, check out the best baby cribs and crib mattresses.
Our Analysis and Test Results
In 2003, Christian Pihale's wife Ruth gave birth to two children back to back. Knowing she would have to get up throughout the night repeatedly, Ruth asked for help. Because traditional co-sleeping can be dangerous, Christian designed a solution for Ruth to keep the babies close so she could stay in bed and still meet their needs. Christian's vision became the babybay Bedside Sleeper, answering the need for parents to keep their children close, safe, healthy, and happy. babybay® is an internationally best-selling product.
The babybay isn't as easy to use as some of the competition thanks in part to its size and weight.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Ease of Use
The babybay scored just about average for ease of use, which evaluates the features and functions you will use daily.
With the babybay, it's very easy to access your little one from the comfort of your bed.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Accessibility
This bassinet is very accessible even while you stay in bed. The product will work with beds of various heights, and the lower sidewall means getting baby in and out, or comforting baby while you rest, should be no problem.
The babybay is not designed for regular movement and is not a good choice if you plan to move your bassinet from room to room. babybay does offer optional casters that would make it significantly easier to move.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Portability/Mobility
This bassinet is one of the most substantial option we've tested with a weight of 28 pounds and dimensions of 37.1 inches high, 36 inches long, and 20.7 inches high. This unit is designed to be connected to your bed, so it isn't portable, and moving it from room to room would not be recommended. The heft and lack of folding also make it a poor option for travel. There are caster wheels available as an accessory, which would make moving the babybay significantly easier. However, the wheels would arguably be safer if you paired them with the conversion kit that turns the co-sleeper into a free-standing crib.
The babybay has a height adjustment feature that is easy to move up or down with a screwdriver so it can be tailored to the height of the parent bed.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Additional Features
The mattress platform is height adjustable, so you can choose a height that works best with your bed. The product also has a system that allows it to safely attach to your bed. A long strap connects to the legs of the bassinet and runs underneath the parent mattress. The belt is kept taut by using a flat wooden addition on the opposite side of the parent bed.
The anchoring system holds the babybay snug against the parent bed and eliminates the risk of tipping.
Ease of Setup
It took almost 40 minutes to assemble this bassinet. It isn't difficult so much as the directions aren't useful. Upon investigation, we discovered that the company offers a video tutorial, and we can see why. I didn't realize there were written instructions at the back of the manual because the first part is all pictures with no indication that it exists.
Cleaning
This product wipes clean with a damp cloth. Nothing on this bassinet is machine washable, but the mattress pad can be hand-washed.
Given the wood slat design of the babybay, it has excellent breathability.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Breathability
The babybay earned a phenomenal score for breathability.
This unit is similar in design to a traditional crib, and unlike much of the competition that offers mesh sidewalls, this bassinet has wood slats with space between them. There is no fabric or obvious issues that could impair your baby's ability to breathe.
The babybaby has a great sleep surface and offers different mattress options.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Sleep Surface
The babybay earned a relatively high score for the sleeping surface. It's important to note that the mattress is sold separately. We tested the Classic mattress in this review.
This sleeping surface is very stable with no low points, but it is easy to compress and may offer less support than some of the competition.
The babybay has the thickest mattress in the group with a slated bassinet bottom.
We can push our finger between the mattress and the wood slats, but the pad doesn't shift or move, indicating a good fit. Babybay does offer two other versions for different needs, with slightly different compositions.
The babybay is made with nice materials and a thoughtful design.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Quality
The babybay earned one of the top scores for quality.
It is easy to see the quality materials and designs when comparing this product against the competition. The wood is smooth and has meticulous connection points without rough edges. The wood creates a sturdy, stable, and durable product you can use for multiple children or sell when baby outgrows it. We love the overall fit and finish and feel like this bassinet is a real piece of furniture akin to a crib, unlike some of the competition that feels like limited use products that you won't keep around for the long haul. It is a simple, chic option that will compliment any decor.
Parents can sleep with peace of mind knowing that babybay has taken eco-health into consideration in their material and construction choices.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Eco-Health
The babybay earned one of the highest scores for eco-health, a metric where most of the bassinets unimpressed.
babybay offers open transparency regarding the materials they use and their production process. The fabrics are OEKO-TEX certified, the Beechwood frame uses a water-based finish, and you can purchase 100% organic cotton sheets. There is no MDF board, which can contain formaldehyde, or flame retardants.
However, all three mattress options sold in the US are made with polyurethane foam, a material most eco-conscious shoppers would prefer to avoid due to the off-gassing potential. The Classic mattress we tested is made with food-grade, CFC-free foam, which eases some concerns about chemical emissions. The other two mattresses use either medical-grade or premium-grade foam. According to babybay, “we have no detectable VOCs off-gassing,” but still, we'd prefer an option made with natural materials. However, this is still arguably the best choice for parents concerned with toxic materials and potential off-gassing.
If you live outside the US, you may be able to purchase the Natural mattress made with coconut fibers. Some US consumers have also had luck importing the Natural mattress directly from babybay, though you'll have to assume all safety liabilities to do so.
The babybay is a high-quality product with wood slats, water-based finishes and attention to detail in construction and the way the parts attach to one another.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Should You Buy the babybay Bedside Sleeper?
If you can afford the high price tag, the babybay is an excellent, thoughtfully designed bassinet made with premium materials and quality construction. It attaches directly to your bed, giving you easy access to your little one during middle-of-the-night feeds or fusses. Plus, it's easy on the eyes. But this heirloom-style piece isn't made with portability in mind and won't suit those who need to move their bassinet from place to place.
What Other Bassinets Should You Consider?
If you are considering the babybay, you may also be interested in the Lotus bassinet for its GREENGUARD Gold certification and portable design or the BabyBjorn Cradle for its posh styling, compact and lightweight frame, and OEKO-TEX certification. The SNOO Smart Sleeper is also worth a peek, though if you think the babybay is expensive, wait till you see the price on the Snoo.
Manufacturer Video
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