Fisher-Price Soothing Motions Review

In 1930, the Fisher-Price toy company started in New York by Herman Fisher, Irving Price, and Helen Schelle. When first starting, Fisher-Price created innovative toys to stimulate development. Fisher-Price continues to grow and includes many baby gear options including their popular toys.

Ease of Use

The Soothing Motions did not score very well in overall ease of use.

Accessibility

This bassinet is small enough to keep baby bedside, and the mesh means you'll have a good view of your little one. The height, however, is lower than most and could be problematic to get baby into and out of the sleeping area. You'll have to sit up, but you may be able to get baby in and out without getting up yourself.

Portability/Mobility

This bassinet measures 28.3'H x 36.2"L x 22.4"W and weighs 22.3 lbs. It is on the heavy side with the metal base that has no wheels. The larger base makes it awkward to move or lift, so you aren't likely to move it from room to room very often. For these same reasons, we do not recommend it for travel.

Additional Features

The Soothing Motions bassinet comes with a mobile, stars and moon projection, a nightlight, music, sounds, vibration, and soothing sway motions (above left). The “entertainment center” can be removed (above right) and used as a tabletop entertainer away from the bassinet, and it has a storage tray under the sleeping area.

Ease of Setup

This product took 13 minutes and 20 seconds to assemble. You need to put together most of the structure, but the directions are clear, and the process is simple.

Cleaning

The mesh is spot clean only, which won't be a problem as long as baby doesn't have a blowout of spit up into the holes.

Breathability

The Soothing Motions earned one of the highest scores for breathability. With a mesh surround and only small panels of fabric, the Soothing Motions is one of the most breathable options we tested.

Sleep Surface

The Soothing Motions does not have a great sleeping surface. This mattress is less than desirable, earning one of the lowest scores for the metric in the group.

The bassinet body has a design that allows it to sway and rock, but it feels unstable at the ends. The mattress compression is one of the worst in the group and could leave baby unsupported. The mattress is not secured to the bottom so it can slide somewhat, and we fit several fingers around the edges, especially the corners.

Quality

The Soothing Motions is average in terms of quality. The frame on this product is a sturdy oval base. Loose strings hang out of the fabric that covers the top rail, and there is nothing to hold the mattress in place. The mesh bunches and stretches in some areas. This bassinet has bright colors and a sleek look, but the overall fit and finish aren't as nice as similar competition with tighter mesh and less quality control issues.

Eco-Health

The Soothing Motions earned relatively low eco-health score, tying with several other budget-friendly options. It is JPMA certified, but Fisher-Price did not divulge on what materials they use in their products. Fisher-Price is listed on the Center for Environmental Health (CEH) website as “unknown” when it comes to the use of flame retardants. This status means they failed to respond to inquiries concerning the use of these chemicals when contacted by CEH for further information. This lack of transparency leads CEH, and us, to assume they aren't making efforts to limit or remove these chemicals from the materials they use. The lack of information, the potential use of chemicals, and the polyurethane mattress hurt the Motions eco-health score.

Manufacturer Video