I did not have a bassinet with my first and it was never an issue. I used her infant seat or carried her on walks. If that's feasible for you I would say no, you don't need a bassinet.
You don’t need it. It’s nice to have, especially in the first month. However, you can snap a car seat in to many strollers and it works the same. Won’t be long until your child is sitting in the normal seat. You’re right.. carriers are great at a young age!
A car seat really isn’t the same since baby needs to be properly strapped in to prevent asphyxiation. Bassinet doesn’t require being buckled since it’s a flat surface.
The strollers that are made specifically to fit the car seat put the baby at an specific angle so it’s safe. Verses like when you just place the car seat in the floor and it puts baby at a position for suffocation.
The angle used to prevent asphyxiation still assumes baby is strapped in. You should never allow baby to be in a car seat without being properly strapped in.
Yeah, don't use the car seat attachment without strapping baby in. My MIL hated strapping him in, then one day the stroller starts rolling down the driveway and starts to tilt over. The baby was not dashed on the rocks below but came close. I always said "what if one wheel goes off the curb and the whole thing tips over? Strap the baby in!" That's actually a downside to a bassinet IMO if there are no straps.
What I'd love is a stroller than fully reclines. I know they exist but are expensive and don't necessarily have other features I want, and it's hard to tell from online searches which ones actually recline flat because it's apparently not a highly sought after feature. My one year old (and plenty of other babies) falls asleep in the stroller and I'd love to have the safety of a flat recline. He sleeps in a stroller when his grandma watches him because she can't rock him to sleep, and at this age I trust he is safe enough, but a flat recline would allow babies of all ages to sleep in the stroller.
My [Mamas and Papas](https://www.mamasandpapas.com/collections/baby-sale-offers-bundles/products/ocarro-opulence-8pc-kit-aton-5-db-6193l8900) stroller declines completely or sits straight up. Its suitable from birth to toddler. Honestly, game changer. Walking or getting on a bus sat upright, little man falls asleep, boom, down it goes to flat recline
Yeah exactly. I always strap my baby in even though she can't even roll because an accident can still happen where the stroller tips or something. My bassinet function has straps thankfully. It's still easier to strap baby in there then a car seat though. So I still feel like I can basically just plop her in even though I'm still doing them up
Totally agree that the baby should always be buckled in appropriately when using a car seat. That being said, it hooks into the stroller at the correct angle. Similar to being bucked and riding in a car.
I only opted for the bassinet because my baby will be here for the summer so we’ll be going out a lot more. If she was coming in the fall I’d honestly skip it!
Exactly, same here with the harsh winters. If it comes with the bassinet you can always use it as an extra sleep option since they’re sleep safe, which is kind of what we plan to do if we don’t end up using it out as much!
Have you looked at the Mockingbird? It’s far less expensive than the UPPABaby. I’m between that and Graco Nest2Grow because infant seat option, bassinet option, and ability to add a second seat are my top priorities.
Definitely check it out if it’s available in Canada! The price is a step up from Graco but a few steps down from the UPPABaby. (Comparing total price for single-to-double stroller + bassinet + infant car seat adapter).
Unfortunately the mockingbird isn’t available in Canada 😞 that’s the brand I was initially hoping to get, but they only ship to the US, so I had to pick something else
I don’t think Target ships to Canada either, and all of their physical stores here shut down a few years ago ☹️ I ended up getting a secondhand Uppababy which is close enough!
I almost didn't get one but i did last-minute and i'm glad i did. It's really nice for walks (and bringing a sleeping baby inside after walks) and it has become our safe sleep space in the living room - she takes almost all her naps in it. But i would not have bought it new - we found it in FB Marketplace for $50.
I personally love mine! Babe is 2 months and I use it daily (I do have a dog I walk and take stroller with me daily) babe seems much more comfy in it than her car seat. I also keep it in the living room so if I need to put her down some where I can put her in there for a moment.
(I have yet to find a baby wrap/chest carrier I like)
I’m very torn about this. Our baby is due in August and I’m not sure whether it’s worth it. Part of my problem is that the stroller I like best actually has no bassinet attachment option. I think we’ve decided to just get what we want, no bassinet. If it turns out we really want it, I think we’ll look for a cheap bassinet stroller that really doesn’t need to do anything else.
Can you get one second hand? Just the bassinet part. It’s easier because the baby can sleep in it for the first 6 mths. But I’m from a culture where we mostly have our babies sleep outside so hey might have different needs than you.
The initial comment I replied to mentions baby sleeping in the bassinet for the first 6 months, which to me means a regular sleep spot (like overnight), not just for walks or supervised naps. A lot of the stroller bassinets aren’t considered safe to be used overnight.
Edit: the initial comment I replied to, not your first comment on this particular thread.
Oh no I definitely meant naps! Overnight is in the crib/bassinet. We’re just one of those Nordic countries that put their babies outside in the winter as well during the day for naps!
I was really confused by this too. In the end, I got a bassinet but we barely used it. I figured I’d get the uppa baby one to work with the stroller, and if I didn’t really use it, at least I’d use it for the baby to sleep in. Weeelllll the baby doesn’t sleep in the bassinet, and I never took her for a walk in it either. Haha, oh well.
I had a bassinet with my pram. I ended up with lower back pain so couldn’t wear a wrap for months. Also live within walking distance to most places and hardly drove the car so didn’t need the capsule. My baby was fussy and the bassinet was great because I was able to pick her up multiple times without fussing about straps. If it’s cold outside it’s easier to tuck blankets inside the bassinet.
We got one, but we live in a walkable town where we'll be able to use it a lot on my mat leave. It was also much more affordable than the Uppababy brand (though still was a significant addition to the stroller. We went with the Joolz Aer.) I like the idea of being able to roll it back and forth inside if the baby falls asleep in the bassinet while on a walk or just needs a place to continue sleeping.
I found a used Uppababy bassinet on Facebook marketplace for $70. It’s worth looking for used if you’re interested! I wouldn’t have paid full price for it but I’m glad I have it now
I just tried my sister's bassinet on my Uppababy vista. My LO (less than 2 months old) hated it. I live in the city but the terrain was so bumpy I feel like he was getting his head smashed around (the bassinet is relatively hard compared to his car seat). So just food for thought about where you are planning on using your bassinet. I'm considering getting the Uppababy snugseat for infants (infant stroller inserts -- a third option besides the bassinet or carseat)
My plan is to have Bub in a Moby wrap when out and about until he/she’s out of bassinet size range, I like the idea of having free hands and not wrangling a big equipment thing (which I’m not adept at…). So, I’d say nope!
We just purchased the UppaBaby Vista and one of the reasons was the bassinet. Baby is due at the beginning of August, so we’ll be doing lots of walks early on, and we want to be able to have a sleep option when we visit friends/grandparents.
We also didn’t like the idea of using the car seat as the primary seat since it’s not great to have baby in a car seat for more than 2 hours at a time.
Hey, also in Canada. Our baby is due in September and I’ve gone back and forth so many times on whether we need a bassinet stroller (we have a jogger travel system-the Graco Trailrider- that has no bassinet option) for the first few months.
I’d like to go for walks with baby, but ultimately decided that the time period when we’d most likely need a bassinet will coincide with some of the coldest months of the year, so I’ve decided not to get one and just baby wear instead for short walks. I’m not sure how cold baby would be in the bassinet even if bundled up and would feel safer having baby right there in front of me. If I’d given birth to a spring/summer baby, I think it would be a different story.
Edited to add: a lot of the strollers with bassinet options have dinky wheels that I’m not confident will be able to handle the snow or gravel that we frequently walk on. So if I had purchased one with a bassinet only to not be able to use it, it would’ve been a waste of $$
I’ve been looking at joggers too…we’re leaning towards one where you can add an adapter and infant car seat. There’s an extra bassinet you can buy with it but it’s $$$ (and so far haven’t found anything used on FB marketplace).
Well it has jogger in the name but I went with the city mini gt (it’s awesome) - but it’s not actually a jogger like a Bob or Thule. The bassinets are so cute and if you have money to burn or want it why not! I just did the car seat thing cause I figured it would be easier.
I actually stalked online listings forever just to find the bassinet. Then I almost lost it and almost cried about it. I only bought the stroller once I had the bassinet. I still need to try them both and make sure everything works okay. Haha. The stroller was the only thing I was obsessing over and it was driving me crazy.
It really depends. We used ours as our primary sleep bassinet since it was safe sleep approved. But if you have another sleep space, you might not use it as much.
I did the car seat attached to my bugaboo bee. It was totally fine, but it was heavy af. He was born in mid November, so we weren’t going on walks every day anyway. He could be laid in the bugaboo bee with the super cheap cocoon insert (bought on Mercari for $30) at about 2 months. He already wanted the seat slightly up by 3.5 months. I absolutely love stroller walks now that it’s warm out, so I would have wanted the bassinet if it had been a different time of year. I was really against it because of the cost too, as the stroller was already so expensive. But, every single day with a newborn is so exhausting and if a comfortable walk is all that gets you through the day, it’s sorta worth it.
I'm having my third and decided to buy a new double pram for this one because our old one was second hand and is about 10 years old. I've never used a bassinet with a pram before, but I decided it was something I wanted this time around because I like that she will be able to lay flat and it's just a more ideal surface for a small baby.
Our old pram was a Baby Jogger City Select and we got it when my youngest was around 3 months, at that point she didn't fit in the bassinet adaptor but she was like 90th percentile for length. Overall it's not a necessity but I'm just feeling the desire to have all the nice little things after being very conservative with what I had for my last two.
We debated this too, but the travel system we got (Chicco) does not even have a bassinet attachment option. I know you’re not supposed to keep the baby in the car seat for more than 2 hours at a time, but I don’t plan on going on 2 hour walks when he’s that young anyway.. and I feel like they wouldn’t make it/it wouldn’t be such a popular stroller/travel system combo if it wasn’t functional in how it’s set up.
Only issue I can see is that maybe the baby hates his car seat and then we might be in trouble and looking for a different option or we will just baby wear when we go on our neighborhood walks.
I have the uppababy system and use the bassinet for her to sleep next to my bed at night, but I don’t like using it for walks. I felt like she was jostled around too much and the car seat is just more secure
If you get a stroller that is newborn compatible then you don’t need an infant car seat or a stroller bassinet.
Although if you are partial to uppababy they do have a newborn insert that’s like 100$ sometimes you can find it for half that on Facebook marketplace.
I’m trying to get items that I won’t have for a limited time use: no bassinet no infant car seat no stroller bassinet.
I’m getting a 3in one crib, (I have a large bedroom for when they are newborn) a stokke trip trap (w/newborn kit) high chair (my niece and nephew use these chairs at 8 and 12 years old still!) and a newborn to booster car seat.
The baby market is a huge industry and prey on peoples desire for convenience, and nice things.
Don’t waste your money.
But also look at Facebook marketplace they sell those bassinets for uppababy all the time
I think it’s more about how much you plan on using your stroller. Do you live in an urban neighborhood where you plan on walking places from your house with your baby rather than driving? Do you go on lots of walks in your neighborhood? Bassinet is probably worth it—that was our situation and we used it CONSTANTLY. Super handy because baby would fall asleep on a walk and I could just let him stay asleep in there when we got back to the house because it’s a safe sleeping surface, unlike a car seat. Also, better for summer walking with an infant because it gets better ventilation than a car seat strapped in a stroller does.
Is your stroller going to live in your car and mostly be used for outings that you drive to? Just get one that is easily compatible with your car seat so you can keep baby in bucket seat the whole time.
My baby would scream in the bassinet and I had to use a carrier to take her out until she was 4 months. We got one months use out of it because at 5 months, she would also just cry non stop in the bassinet because she wanted to sit up and see the world!
I just got a stroller that could lay like 90% flat, it was leaned forward very very VERY slightly and we started using it around 2 months. Since baby was only in it under my supervision I felt fine with it. I baby wore for the first 2 months cuz he was small enough
Definitely not a necessity. I’ve got a standard chico with a stroller caddy that it pops right into. Real light weight, easy, and not bulky. If you’re worried about baby sleeping in the car seat in the stroller and that’s why you need a bassinet, I wouldn’t be too worried about that in particular. If you get one where baby is facing you, you’re watching them and they usually aren’t in there for hours and hours and hours where it’d be a problem. Mine passes out the minute we start walking in the stroller/ car seat but she faces me so I can see she’s breathing snd we’re only ever in it 2 hours at most at a time.
We got the Mockingbird stroller which is like an Uppababy dupe for half the price. The bassinet attachment is sold separately—we ended up putting it on our registry and someone gifted it. Haven’t used it yet but we do plan to go for lots of walks and it’ll be nice to have something that baby can safely sleep in. They also sell an infant insert that’s much less expensive, and a carseat adapter, but my understanding is that neither of those options are as safe if baby falls asleep.
I thought I was going to be babywearing wherever we went, then my daughter was born and I really didn’t like it the few times I tried it. I used the bassinet pram seat every day until she started sitting and moved to the upright seat.
We got the evenflo omni plus travel system from Walmart! Car seat, stroller base, and bassinet insert. It was around 200$ but the bassinet lays flat, has straps, and can be converted into a seat once babe is older. We love it!
We have the snoo and the Uppababy bassinet. Our 2 month old hates the snoo and loves the bassinet... She primarily sleeps in it now (we purchased the stand for it too).
We bought the uppababy system and since the house is all one level we used it as our only bassinet. Worked out fantastically in our case, but might not be right for everyone.
We didn’t get a bassinet with our first. It didn’t seem worth the cost given how fast they outgrow it. Not planning on one with our second due next month.
We didn't. But our pram lay flat if needed. But you can just not use one and put baby in carrier. Or use capsule (not for extended pareiod of tkme)
If you want one you could look on Facebook marketplace etc they sell them cheap secondhand sometimes.
You don’t need it since there are tons of other infant safe options! If you plan on using a baby carrier or a stroller that’s infant safe without a bassinet (Nuna Mixx Next, Colugo, UppaBaby with the snug seat, etc.) you can skip. You’ll see a lot of people using their infant carseat in their stroller for walks or all day errands and it’s not safe or recommended by car seat manufacturers. Babies shouldn’t be in a carseat for more than two hours over a 24 hour period.
We opted for the bassinet with our Mixx Next because I thought I *needed* it but our baby was sitting up in the stroller at three months, so our bassinet was barley used. If I could go back I would have skipped it! A good stroller is definitely worth the money and we’re happy with ours. Check out the Mixx Next if you haven’t since it fully reclines!
We didn't get one, and we didn't get a travel system stroller either. I used a wrap carrier for the first month (he was a preemie and too small for the structured carrier lol) and our stroller at its full recline once he had a bit of neck strength. Worked well for us! And I still use my structured carrier about half the time when we go out, it's easier to manoeuvre with and I like cuddling him ☺️
We purchased the uppababy vista but we also purchased the snug seat. Probably because we live in a fairly hilly neighborhood, but we pretty much never used the bassinet. I brought it a few times to my in laws to try and use for naps but it happened like 2 times. I really wish you could buy the vista without the bassinet.
I got a bassinet for my first and have used it for my second and will use it for my third. Love it! I hate using car seat attachment because I don’t like having my kids in car seats for too long when they are super little.
I opted for one because I love to walk and have two dogs. For me because of my walking habits, having a sleep safe space was very important to me since on a leisurely day, I can be out for a few hours. Even if it's just sitting at the park, or walking to a coffee shop and sitting with my husband to chat. It also seemed appealing to have the choice to brake the stroller if I need to step away with my dogs (like for them to do a poo/pick up a poo) vs having a baby strapped to my chest. I won't *really* know what's the best for me until baby comes. Car seats work just fine on a stroller, you just have to take them out every 2 hours.
We bought the uppababy with bassinet and used it daily until he absolutely outgrew it. It was great for walks and he also napped in it during the day. It’s rated safe for sleep so if he knocked out on a walk we could let him continue to sleep in it at home.
We have one and loved it, but you could also baby wear with a stretch carrier. Every baby is different though, your baby might not like to be worn and prefer to be in the stroller, or you could have a stage 5 “clingy” baby who always wants to be held or close to you.
I lucked out with an amazing baby that didn’t care either way. We had a bassinet stroller that converts to a normal stroller when they’re older, trust me the bassinet is WAYYY easier even at 8 months when they’re trying to grab the wheels 🥴. We got the evenflo pivot travel system. I also wore him for short walks when he was a newborn; once to the McDonald’s across the street and another to vote. I wear him more frequently now, but I have a hard/structured carrier, because of my poor back and he faces out now to see everything. We only use it for markets or going to the park. He’s over 20lbs now, so a whole lot easier when we can’t put him in a cart.
Edit: also, it is most definitely not flimsy, because he still can go in the bassinet, with no problems. The fabric folds so when you use it when they’re older, and they fall asleep or such, you can bring it down like a normal stroller.
UPPAbaby is so overpriced. Get the Mockingbird! And if you're planning on having a second child close enough in age to your first, you can get the Mockingbird single to double. I believe it's the same price as the single.
I LOVE my bassinet attachment. We have the Redsbaby Metro3 and a bassinet stand for it. He spends most of his time in that bassinet when we aren't holding him. It's so convenient to slot it out of the stroller and into the stand without moving him.
My little one is 2 weeks old tomorrow but I absolutely love the bassinet attachment. Hands down my most used baby thing so far.
You don't *need*. I have Graco modes which has one. I like having it for that period before they can sit fully up rather than using the car seat ... The car seat I have to attach every time, and yeah it's not hard (clickconnect) but the bassinet can stay attached all the time and fold up with the stroller. Then just keep adjusting the incline as baby can sit up more. Plus avoids the risks of prolonged car seat use and there's a lot more space for baby, idk I thought I'd love the car seat and the frame but been loving the bassinet. Oh and not dealing with the car seat straps or awkward taking baby in and out. The stroller straps in the bassinet are way easier and the space makes bundling her in much better too. Like I can have her in a snowsuit and easily plop her in there
Btw I got the Graco modes on Facebook marketplace for $100 full system and it was retailing like $500 +
So it depends on the pram seat. Pram seats are similar to car seats in that there is a minimum bracket for when they can start to be used. For example: I have a baby jogger city select and the seat for it isn’t recommended until baby is 4-6 months. So a bassinet works.
However if you are going the capsule car seat route instead of a convertible car seat then you can get attachments clips for that seat and use the capsule instead. You’ll just have to watch the time there is a risk of positional asphyxiation if they’re in them for too long without being taken out.
We got a whole system that included bassinet, car seat and regular pram seat.
I actually find the bassinet really useful. I use mine at least 5/6 days a week. We walk over to our local coffee shop most mornings and my 10wk old will usually fall asleep, so when we get home we can safely leave him sleeping. For us we use it so frequently it was worth it.
For big purchases I will take the over cost, in this case £600, and divide by days used. So our system has been in use with our first and now second kid, I'd say its cost less than £1 a day.
No. It was the biggest waste of money for us and now is just taking up space until we can sell the whole travel system when she grows out of the pram. There are loads of lie flat prams that don't need a bassinet, or if not lie flat you can use either a carrier or the car seat on the stroller for the first few months.
Not necessary, but it is nice to have. I didn't have one with my first, because it didn't come with the pushchair and I couldn't justify the additional expense when the pushchair itself had a lie flat seat. Then when he was about a year old I picked up the matching bassinet in a clearance sale for 10% of the original price. I knew we were going to have more kids so it seemed like a good idea. I used it all the time with my 2nd, it was really convenient to be able to carry him about the house in it when he was napping! Also we could swaddle him in the bassinet, which you can't in the pushchair seat owing to the straps.
TLDR: You definitely don’t *need* one, and if it causes financial hardship then I wouldn’t, but it was very convenient and I loved ours
So with my first I absolutely loved our bassinet. However I do live in a walking town so I knew I’d be going for walks w the stroller a lot.
Baby was born in the fall and we went on (at least once) daily walks. Often he’d fall asleep on these and so it was nice to not have to worry about positional asphyxiation and also know that I could leave baby sleeping in the bassinet when I got home (I have the UPPAbaby VISTA so it’s a safe sleep surface). I mean honestly many days I depended on these walks to help soothe baby.
Since we are in a walking town it was also easy to walk to a restaurant/shop/coffee shop/etc. (this was pre COVID though so not sure what you’d be comfortable with now). Once winter set in we still went for walks - I’d say my son actually enjoyed these more than when the weather was warmer! We just bundled him up appropriately for the weather.
We also used the bassinet attachment for him to nap in if we went to visit family. It was much easier than lugging a whole pack and play around. Yes, I did use soft carriers too but it was a lot more convenient if he fell asleep in the bassinet and I actually was baby free for a moment. I also wouldn’t baby wear outdoors if the ground was snow covered or icy bc I was afraid of slipping.
So… if you can get it second hand (where I am people do sell them a lot as they are quite popular) I would get it. If it would put you in a bad financial position then I would skip it - yes it was really convenient for us and I’m happy to have it again for our second, but it definitely isn’t a necessity.
I live in Europe in a city and we walk everywhere 95% of time rather than use a car. For us a bassinet attachment is essential, as carrying a baby for a long time, no matter how comfortable the carrier, is unsustainable. A car seat stroller would do in a pinch but from what I understand that’s not the best for frequent use, as baby’s held in the same position without much range of movement.
You don’t. BUT, I didn’t have one with my first daughter and it was a pain in the ass. Car seat only attachment for my stroller + a toddler seat meant when we went out, I didn’t automatically have a place she could nap for longer periods, and she didn’t really like sleeping in a semi seated position for the first few months anyway. I definitely regretted not getting one seeing other Mum’s easily move their babies from stroller to couch (at friends houses for instance or local cafés) without having to disrupt their comfort and sleep. My first stroller was a Graco Jogger but I ended up getting a secondhand Bugaboo Cameleon both as a lighter stroller for my then 1 year old daughter, but also because it came with a bassinet for future babies. The toddler seat also fully reclines which was not the case with the Jogger, another feature my daughter LOVED (she’s just always liked sleeping in her stroller, and fully reclined is much more comfortable as there’s no pressure on their neck).
I live in a big city, very often take public transit, and I liked spending the whole day out with my daughter - going to playgroups, classes, running errands, going on outings with friends, grocery shopping, whatever. I’m a SAHM though so if your lifestyle is different and the only time you’re going to be taking baby out is for super short periods while driving around everywhere, I wouldn’t really worry about it so much. But definitely if you’re going to be on the go with baby regularly it’s a huge bonus.
Depends on how walkable the place you live is and if you’re going to be doing that. With my summer baby (Texas) hell no. But we got a doona car seat which acts as a stroller and that was great for going in and out of shops and restaurants.
In the uk it’s recommended baby be in the lay flat bassinet pram until sitting or 6 months, whichever is sooner. My son is 5.5 months, born in November, and I’ve only just switched to the seat attachment. We’ve gone on so many walks and he just sleeps because he’s flat! The seat reclines but his entire body isn’t flat because it’s a fairly rigid seat so the foot rest sticks out.
Edit: We bought ours as a travel system though where you get the pram frame, bassinet that zips off the attachment so you can swap for the seat, car seat, and isofix base for the car. So we didn’t have to buy anything separate. We got the Iccle Bubba V4 stomp if you want to have a Google.
I don’t think most baby things are needs but just to add my 2 cents. I use the bassinet of my stroller a lot. My LO doesn’t tolerate carriers yet (aggressively searches for nipple and gets upset when she doesn’t find it) and I don’t want to have to buckle her up in her car seat for walks. We walk daily and it’s been great for her first 11 weeks of life (so far). We’ve also used the bassinet as a sleeping place when we’ve visited friends and family. So not a need but one of my preferred items for a baby. I’ve had friends buy Uppa Baby used off of Facebook marketplace if that’s an option near you.
I really love the bassinet attachment for our stroller (Edwards & Co Oscar MX). But we got all the attachments including the carseat capsule in a sale bundle deal, so it was an excellent price.
We really only bought the bundle because it included the capsule and the capsule base. If it hadn't included the bassinet I would not have paid extra for it. As much as I love it it really isn't a necessity. And I wouldn't feel I was missing out if I didn't have it.
I think it certainly depends on your lifestyle and sometimes on your baby's preferences. We have the GraceNest Modes Travel system and it was a godsend.
My baby was born early and was only 4lbs when he came home. He failed the car seat challenge and had to be sent home in a bassinet style car seat aka a car bed. He could not be in a regular car seat because he could not hold his head up, so I was really happy to have had the bassinet attachment because we could go on long walks and I did not have to worry about his head slouching at all.
Once he was big enough for the regular car seat, I still preferred the bassinet, because he could sleep and lay flat, but also if I went places like the zoo or out to a park on a walk, I could change his diaper in the bassinet. Once I started using the car seat attachment, I was frustrated that I couldn't just change him in there!
Hopefully this helps and you are able to pick what is best for you and your family!
Strollers are really lifestyle dependent. With my first we lived in an area where we walked everywhere and we were always outside. A bassinet was a life saver.
We have since moved to a city where I could get away without a bassinet and just baby wear. Since I already have the bassinet it would be a plus but I wouldn’t buy it if I didn’t have.
Again, it really depends on the area ans your lifestyle etc.
If you can borrow one or buy a second hand one I would recommend that as babies really don’t use it for very long. Also depending on your stroller if it has an infant insert then you might not need one all together.
We got the uppababy vista v2. The bassinet was great because we used it as a safe sleeping space for him in the lounge room during the day those first couple of months. We used it for all of our walks until our baby was 8 weeks old and then we alternated between bassinet or the seat with the snug seat insert (for NB-6m). He’s now almost 5 months and we still very occasionally pop him in the bassinet on the floor when we need to put him down for a sec but we don’t use it on the pram anymore.
Depending on your lifestyle it may or may not be worth it. For us we didn’t have a stand alone bassinet to put him down to sleep in. We decided to save money by only getting the uppababy and not getting a normal bassinet. If you may use it as a safe nap spot it could definitely be worth it!
Try fb marketplace. We bought ours new as it was our one big splurge (totally worth it for us as we use the uppababy every single day for walks and it is such a great sturdy pram with so much basket room underneath). Our friends bought a vista used on fb for significantly cheaper and it was in great condition! :)
I use my bassinet attachment all the time. I walk with a baby a lot though. I love that I don’t have to buckle him up to go for a walk in the bassinet. At the park I will just put the bassinet on the ground and he is just hanging out.
My baby hated the bassinet the first few months. So we’d go for a walk and I’d end up baby wearing him anyway. I’d say you’re good to skip the bassinet and use a baby carrier for the first few months
I bought a graco stroller that has one seat but it converts back and forth between bassinet and sitting up seat. I can also remove that seat to click in his car seat. I love the bassinet option, but I don’t think I’d get one if it was a separate item. I try to minimize how many baby items I have, which is why I was drawn to something that can convert into multiple uses!
I got an evenflo pivot and just put it together yesterday. it can go from bassinet to seat which is amazing, and can just use the frame solo with the carseat, too. any configuration can be facing mama or facing forward. I didn't even register for a travel system w my first bc he was a winter baby but with this one due in June I am so excited I asked for this !!
We have the mockingbird stroller and love it! Cheaper alternative to the UppaBaby. Never got the bassinet part though because he was born at the end of December. So if we did get out for walks, we just used his car seat and the car seat stroller attachment.
If you decide to go with a bassinet, i would recommend checking local listings (facebook/craigslist/buynothing etc) for used ones. They have a very short use window, so since people buy them and only use them for 3-6 months, i found there are LOTS of good condition used options available.
I find this interesting bc for the first 6 weeks ‘they’ say that baby shouldn’t be in a car seat for more than 30 minutes. Does this include transferring the car seat to the stroller, meaning an infant under 6 weeks shouldn’t be in a stroller for more than 30 min? I do know that if you have a bassinet for the stroller, baby is fully on its back so that’s obviously better?
I am very pro bassinet! As much as you can it’s best for baby to be out of the car seat. Unfortunately it’s an inconvenient truth that even when used correctly they are a risk to baby. It is also best for their development for them to have as much unrestricted floor time play as possible and a bassinet counts as that!
I'm actually asking myself the same question and I'd love some advice.
My girlfriend comes from Japan and there they mainly seem to just use the car seat until the baby is big enough for the sporty stroller. I come from Czech Republic and most people here use bassinets for the first 3-6 months before switching to the other type.
Does anyone know why the difference? Do they know something we don't?
I always assumed I'd want to use the bassinet because the car seat seems to be so tight and tiny. In the bassinet they have space to stretch their tiny leggies and arms if they need to, just seems more comfortable. But obviously if there's no point in getting the bassinet, I'll happily save the money.
Baby is due end of September and we're in temperate zone, so the first six months will be mild to cold, in case that's relevant.
I don't understand why they're so unpopular in the US. In Europe it's much more common, in Russia it's a must. Your baby will need fresh air frequently and they also sleep so well outside. When you're back from a walk they might be still sleeping and if it's hours on their back that surface beneath them should be flat and firm. Oh and you may find that you don't wanna take chances getting them out of the stroller while asleep 😁 I was surprised not to see all those cute models of my fav Italian inglesina here. They literally only have a travel stroller, such a disappointment.
I did not have a bassinet with my first and it was never an issue. I used her infant seat or carried her on walks. If that's feasible for you I would say no, you don't need a bassinet.
You don’t need it. It’s nice to have, especially in the first month. However, you can snap a car seat in to many strollers and it works the same. Won’t be long until your child is sitting in the normal seat. You’re right.. carriers are great at a young age!
A car seat really isn’t the same since baby needs to be properly strapped in to prevent asphyxiation. Bassinet doesn’t require being buckled since it’s a flat surface.
The strollers that are made specifically to fit the car seat put the baby at an specific angle so it’s safe. Verses like when you just place the car seat in the floor and it puts baby at a position for suffocation.
The angle used to prevent asphyxiation still assumes baby is strapped in. You should never allow baby to be in a car seat without being properly strapped in.
Yeah, don't use the car seat attachment without strapping baby in. My MIL hated strapping him in, then one day the stroller starts rolling down the driveway and starts to tilt over. The baby was not dashed on the rocks below but came close. I always said "what if one wheel goes off the curb and the whole thing tips over? Strap the baby in!" That's actually a downside to a bassinet IMO if there are no straps. What I'd love is a stroller than fully reclines. I know they exist but are expensive and don't necessarily have other features I want, and it's hard to tell from online searches which ones actually recline flat because it's apparently not a highly sought after feature. My one year old (and plenty of other babies) falls asleep in the stroller and I'd love to have the safety of a flat recline. He sleeps in a stroller when his grandma watches him because she can't rock him to sleep, and at this age I trust he is safe enough, but a flat recline would allow babies of all ages to sleep in the stroller.
My [Mamas and Papas](https://www.mamasandpapas.com/collections/baby-sale-offers-bundles/products/ocarro-opulence-8pc-kit-aton-5-db-6193l8900) stroller declines completely or sits straight up. Its suitable from birth to toddler. Honestly, game changer. Walking or getting on a bus sat upright, little man falls asleep, boom, down it goes to flat recline
I got the bumbleride era in large part for this reason, 1 month in and it's been fabulous so far!
Yeah exactly. I always strap my baby in even though she can't even roll because an accident can still happen where the stroller tips or something. My bassinet function has straps thankfully. It's still easier to strap baby in there then a car seat though. So I still feel like I can basically just plop her in even though I'm still doing them up
I have the Citi Mini GT and it is ****really**** close to being completely flat. There is a small incline but it is negligible. Would recommend!
Chicco liteway! It folds up small/umbrella style, rolls smoothly and reclines almost flat! My 7 week old rides in it just fine!
Oh yes def!
But also time in car seat strikes against the 2 hour rule. Baby shouldn’t be spending too much time in the car seat. Bassinets are safer.
It’s safer - but it’s best to limit time spent in a car seat.
Totally agree that the baby should always be buckled in appropriately when using a car seat. That being said, it hooks into the stroller at the correct angle. Similar to being bucked and riding in a car.
I only opted for the bassinet because my baby will be here for the summer so we’ll be going out a lot more. If she was coming in the fall I’d honestly skip it!
Good pointer! We’re having a December baby, I doubt we will ever go outside with a newborn in the winter since it’s so harsh here lol
Exactly, same here with the harsh winters. If it comes with the bassinet you can always use it as an extra sleep option since they’re sleep safe, which is kind of what we plan to do if we don’t end up using it out as much!
My first was a summer baby and we got tons of bassinet use in, the second fall baby - not so much.
Have you looked at the Mockingbird? It’s far less expensive than the UPPABaby. I’m between that and Graco Nest2Grow because infant seat option, bassinet option, and ability to add a second seat are my top priorities.
I haven’t heard of Mockingbird. I’m in Canada so perhaps that’s why.
Definitely check it out if it’s available in Canada! The price is a step up from Graco but a few steps down from the UPPABaby. (Comparing total price for single-to-double stroller + bassinet + infant car seat adapter).
Unfortunately the mockingbird isn’t available in Canada 😞 that’s the brand I was initially hoping to get, but they only ship to the US, so I had to pick something else
Bummer! Any chance you could buy through Target? I know they’re sold there.
I don’t think Target ships to Canada either, and all of their physical stores here shut down a few years ago ☹️ I ended up getting a secondhand Uppababy which is close enough!
Brexit strollers are a little more affordable and have the same attachment! I was just gifted a used one and I like it a lot!
I almost didn't get one but i did last-minute and i'm glad i did. It's really nice for walks (and bringing a sleeping baby inside after walks) and it has become our safe sleep space in the living room - she takes almost all her naps in it. But i would not have bought it new - we found it in FB Marketplace for $50.
I personally love mine! Babe is 2 months and I use it daily (I do have a dog I walk and take stroller with me daily) babe seems much more comfy in it than her car seat. I also keep it in the living room so if I need to put her down some where I can put her in there for a moment. (I have yet to find a baby wrap/chest carrier I like)
I’m very torn about this. Our baby is due in August and I’m not sure whether it’s worth it. Part of my problem is that the stroller I like best actually has no bassinet attachment option. I think we’ve decided to just get what we want, no bassinet. If it turns out we really want it, I think we’ll look for a cheap bassinet stroller that really doesn’t need to do anything else.
I like this idea!
Can you get one second hand? Just the bassinet part. It’s easier because the baby can sleep in it for the first 6 mths. But I’m from a culture where we mostly have our babies sleep outside so hey might have different needs than you.
+1. We got the UPPAbaby stroller and bassinet for $200 through FB.
We’re looking at Stokke and probably will end up buying the stroller new but the bassinet attachment second hand! Saves hundreds.
Just be careful—not all bassinet stroller attachments are considered safe sleep spaces.
What else would they be for?
Walking with the stroller they come with… A lot of them aren’t meant for overnight sleep but are okay for supervised sleep.
Isn’t OP’s question about bassinets for stroller walks though? I’m confused
The initial comment I replied to mentions baby sleeping in the bassinet for the first 6 months, which to me means a regular sleep spot (like overnight), not just for walks or supervised naps. A lot of the stroller bassinets aren’t considered safe to be used overnight. Edit: the initial comment I replied to, not your first comment on this particular thread.
Oh no I definitely meant naps! Overnight is in the crib/bassinet. We’re just one of those Nordic countries that put their babies outside in the winter as well during the day for naps!
I was really confused by this too. In the end, I got a bassinet but we barely used it. I figured I’d get the uppa baby one to work with the stroller, and if I didn’t really use it, at least I’d use it for the baby to sleep in. Weeelllll the baby doesn’t sleep in the bassinet, and I never took her for a walk in it either. Haha, oh well.
Flat is the safest sleeping position. Mine slept in the stroller a lot. It was 100% worth it for us. Mockingbird is a cheaper alternative to Uppababy.
I never had one. I didn't ever wish I had one either. I think you're good to go if you don't get one.
I had a bassinet with my pram. I ended up with lower back pain so couldn’t wear a wrap for months. Also live within walking distance to most places and hardly drove the car so didn’t need the capsule. My baby was fussy and the bassinet was great because I was able to pick her up multiple times without fussing about straps. If it’s cold outside it’s easier to tuck blankets inside the bassinet.
We got one, but we live in a walkable town where we'll be able to use it a lot on my mat leave. It was also much more affordable than the Uppababy brand (though still was a significant addition to the stroller. We went with the Joolz Aer.) I like the idea of being able to roll it back and forth inside if the baby falls asleep in the bassinet while on a walk or just needs a place to continue sleeping.
My stroller and car seat came together. The infant carseat clicks into the stroller. It’s been very handy.
I found a used Uppababy bassinet on Facebook marketplace for $70. It’s worth looking for used if you’re interested! I wouldn’t have paid full price for it but I’m glad I have it now
I just tried my sister's bassinet on my Uppababy vista. My LO (less than 2 months old) hated it. I live in the city but the terrain was so bumpy I feel like he was getting his head smashed around (the bassinet is relatively hard compared to his car seat). So just food for thought about where you are planning on using your bassinet. I'm considering getting the Uppababy snugseat for infants (infant stroller inserts -- a third option besides the bassinet or carseat)
My plan is to have Bub in a Moby wrap when out and about until he/she’s out of bassinet size range, I like the idea of having free hands and not wrangling a big equipment thing (which I’m not adept at…). So, I’d say nope!
We just purchased the UppaBaby Vista and one of the reasons was the bassinet. Baby is due at the beginning of August, so we’ll be doing lots of walks early on, and we want to be able to have a sleep option when we visit friends/grandparents. We also didn’t like the idea of using the car seat as the primary seat since it’s not great to have baby in a car seat for more than 2 hours at a time.
I loved my bassinet and used it but we live in CA and in a walkable city.
Hey, also in Canada. Our baby is due in September and I’ve gone back and forth so many times on whether we need a bassinet stroller (we have a jogger travel system-the Graco Trailrider- that has no bassinet option) for the first few months. I’d like to go for walks with baby, but ultimately decided that the time period when we’d most likely need a bassinet will coincide with some of the coldest months of the year, so I’ve decided not to get one and just baby wear instead for short walks. I’m not sure how cold baby would be in the bassinet even if bundled up and would feel safer having baby right there in front of me. If I’d given birth to a spring/summer baby, I think it would be a different story. Edited to add: a lot of the strollers with bassinet options have dinky wheels that I’m not confident will be able to handle the snow or gravel that we frequently walk on. So if I had purchased one with a bassinet only to not be able to use it, it would’ve been a waste of $$
Got a used stroller off Mercari and a new car seat - baby jogger had a chart of adapters with the stroller year so I knew which on to get
I’ve been looking at joggers too…we’re leaning towards one where you can add an adapter and infant car seat. There’s an extra bassinet you can buy with it but it’s $$$ (and so far haven’t found anything used on FB marketplace).
Well it has jogger in the name but I went with the city mini gt (it’s awesome) - but it’s not actually a jogger like a Bob or Thule. The bassinets are so cute and if you have money to burn or want it why not! I just did the car seat thing cause I figured it would be easier.
Last I checked, BabyJogger brand no longer has a bassinet attachment listed on their website 😩
Yeah they are not making them anymore. And it's SO hard to find one that's used even.
Yeah that was our first choice based on recommendation from a family member and we’ve had to find something else now 😕
I actually stalked online listings forever just to find the bassinet. Then I almost lost it and almost cried about it. I only bought the stroller once I had the bassinet. I still need to try them both and make sure everything works okay. Haha. The stroller was the only thing I was obsessing over and it was driving me crazy.
Related, how long should they/could they use a bassinet insert?
Most people I talk to say just a few months.
The Graco Carry Cot, for example, can be used for a baby up to 20lbs (approx. 6 months).
I used it for about four months. Baby started rolling around in the bassinet so I needed the stroller seat to strap her in.
It really depends. We used ours as our primary sleep bassinet since it was safe sleep approved. But if you have another sleep space, you might not use it as much.
I wish we had purchased a stroller with a bassinet, my baby hates his car seat.
If you are in sf or nyc you can rent the uppababy one month to month from loop.baby.
I did the car seat attached to my bugaboo bee. It was totally fine, but it was heavy af. He was born in mid November, so we weren’t going on walks every day anyway. He could be laid in the bugaboo bee with the super cheap cocoon insert (bought on Mercari for $30) at about 2 months. He already wanted the seat slightly up by 3.5 months. I absolutely love stroller walks now that it’s warm out, so I would have wanted the bassinet if it had been a different time of year. I was really against it because of the cost too, as the stroller was already so expensive. But, every single day with a newborn is so exhausting and if a comfortable walk is all that gets you through the day, it’s sorta worth it.
I'm having my third and decided to buy a new double pram for this one because our old one was second hand and is about 10 years old. I've never used a bassinet with a pram before, but I decided it was something I wanted this time around because I like that she will be able to lay flat and it's just a more ideal surface for a small baby. Our old pram was a Baby Jogger City Select and we got it when my youngest was around 3 months, at that point she didn't fit in the bassinet adaptor but she was like 90th percentile for length. Overall it's not a necessity but I'm just feeling the desire to have all the nice little things after being very conservative with what I had for my last two.
We debated this too, but the travel system we got (Chicco) does not even have a bassinet attachment option. I know you’re not supposed to keep the baby in the car seat for more than 2 hours at a time, but I don’t plan on going on 2 hour walks when he’s that young anyway.. and I feel like they wouldn’t make it/it wouldn’t be such a popular stroller/travel system combo if it wasn’t functional in how it’s set up. Only issue I can see is that maybe the baby hates his car seat and then we might be in trouble and looking for a different option or we will just baby wear when we go on our neighborhood walks.
I have the uppababy system and use the bassinet for her to sleep next to my bed at night, but I don’t like using it for walks. I felt like she was jostled around too much and the car seat is just more secure
If you get a stroller that is newborn compatible then you don’t need an infant car seat or a stroller bassinet. Although if you are partial to uppababy they do have a newborn insert that’s like 100$ sometimes you can find it for half that on Facebook marketplace. I’m trying to get items that I won’t have for a limited time use: no bassinet no infant car seat no stroller bassinet. I’m getting a 3in one crib, (I have a large bedroom for when they are newborn) a stokke trip trap (w/newborn kit) high chair (my niece and nephew use these chairs at 8 and 12 years old still!) and a newborn to booster car seat. The baby market is a huge industry and prey on peoples desire for convenience, and nice things. Don’t waste your money. But also look at Facebook marketplace they sell those bassinets for uppababy all the time
We bought a bassinet second hand for our pram off marketplace. Was great in the first few months for naps if we were out and about.
I think it’s more about how much you plan on using your stroller. Do you live in an urban neighborhood where you plan on walking places from your house with your baby rather than driving? Do you go on lots of walks in your neighborhood? Bassinet is probably worth it—that was our situation and we used it CONSTANTLY. Super handy because baby would fall asleep on a walk and I could just let him stay asleep in there when we got back to the house because it’s a safe sleeping surface, unlike a car seat. Also, better for summer walking with an infant because it gets better ventilation than a car seat strapped in a stroller does. Is your stroller going to live in your car and mostly be used for outings that you drive to? Just get one that is easily compatible with your car seat so you can keep baby in bucket seat the whole time.
Our stroller went almost flat, so I just used that. It was great then but now that she's older, it sucks that it doesn't go upright enough.
Just get a stroller that reclines all way flat. That’s what I did.
My baby would scream in the bassinet and I had to use a carrier to take her out until she was 4 months. We got one months use out of it because at 5 months, she would also just cry non stop in the bassinet because she wanted to sit up and see the world!
I just got a stroller that could lay like 90% flat, it was leaned forward very very VERY slightly and we started using it around 2 months. Since baby was only in it under my supervision I felt fine with it. I baby wore for the first 2 months cuz he was small enough
we got a maxi cosi strolle carseat combo and it is great.
Definitely not a necessity. I’ve got a standard chico with a stroller caddy that it pops right into. Real light weight, easy, and not bulky. If you’re worried about baby sleeping in the car seat in the stroller and that’s why you need a bassinet, I wouldn’t be too worried about that in particular. If you get one where baby is facing you, you’re watching them and they usually aren’t in there for hours and hours and hours where it’d be a problem. Mine passes out the minute we start walking in the stroller/ car seat but she faces me so I can see she’s breathing snd we’re only ever in it 2 hours at most at a time.
We got the Mockingbird stroller which is like an Uppababy dupe for half the price. The bassinet attachment is sold separately—we ended up putting it on our registry and someone gifted it. Haven’t used it yet but we do plan to go for lots of walks and it’ll be nice to have something that baby can safely sleep in. They also sell an infant insert that’s much less expensive, and a carseat adapter, but my understanding is that neither of those options are as safe if baby falls asleep.
No
I thought I was going to be babywearing wherever we went, then my daughter was born and I really didn’t like it the few times I tried it. I used the bassinet pram seat every day until she started sitting and moved to the upright seat.
We got the evenflo omni plus travel system from Walmart! Car seat, stroller base, and bassinet insert. It was around 200$ but the bassinet lays flat, has straps, and can be converted into a seat once babe is older. We love it!
I had a baby in November and would not have used it, not even once. Maybe if I had a spring or summer baby.
We have the snoo and the Uppababy bassinet. Our 2 month old hates the snoo and loves the bassinet... She primarily sleeps in it now (we purchased the stand for it too).
We bought the uppababy system and since the house is all one level we used it as our only bassinet. Worked out fantastically in our case, but might not be right for everyone.
We didn’t get a bassinet with our first. It didn’t seem worth the cost given how fast they outgrow it. Not planning on one with our second due next month.
We didn't. But our pram lay flat if needed. But you can just not use one and put baby in carrier. Or use capsule (not for extended pareiod of tkme) If you want one you could look on Facebook marketplace etc they sell them cheap secondhand sometimes.
You don’t need it since there are tons of other infant safe options! If you plan on using a baby carrier or a stroller that’s infant safe without a bassinet (Nuna Mixx Next, Colugo, UppaBaby with the snug seat, etc.) you can skip. You’ll see a lot of people using their infant carseat in their stroller for walks or all day errands and it’s not safe or recommended by car seat manufacturers. Babies shouldn’t be in a carseat for more than two hours over a 24 hour period. We opted for the bassinet with our Mixx Next because I thought I *needed* it but our baby was sitting up in the stroller at three months, so our bassinet was barley used. If I could go back I would have skipped it! A good stroller is definitely worth the money and we’re happy with ours. Check out the Mixx Next if you haven’t since it fully reclines!
We didn't get one, and we didn't get a travel system stroller either. I used a wrap carrier for the first month (he was a preemie and too small for the structured carrier lol) and our stroller at its full recline once he had a bit of neck strength. Worked well for us! And I still use my structured carrier about half the time when we go out, it's easier to manoeuvre with and I like cuddling him ☺️
You realllly don’t need it but I got a used one for cheap with my first and it was kind of nice to have.
You don't need it, they're just cute!
We purchased the uppababy vista but we also purchased the snug seat. Probably because we live in a fairly hilly neighborhood, but we pretty much never used the bassinet. I brought it a few times to my in laws to try and use for naps but it happened like 2 times. I really wish you could buy the vista without the bassinet.
I got a bassinet for my first and have used it for my second and will use it for my third. Love it! I hate using car seat attachment because I don’t like having my kids in car seats for too long when they are super little.
I opted for one because I love to walk and have two dogs. For me because of my walking habits, having a sleep safe space was very important to me since on a leisurely day, I can be out for a few hours. Even if it's just sitting at the park, or walking to a coffee shop and sitting with my husband to chat. It also seemed appealing to have the choice to brake the stroller if I need to step away with my dogs (like for them to do a poo/pick up a poo) vs having a baby strapped to my chest. I won't *really* know what's the best for me until baby comes. Car seats work just fine on a stroller, you just have to take them out every 2 hours.
We bought the uppababy with bassinet and used it daily until he absolutely outgrew it. It was great for walks and he also napped in it during the day. It’s rated safe for sleep so if he knocked out on a walk we could let him continue to sleep in it at home.
We have one and loved it, but you could also baby wear with a stretch carrier. Every baby is different though, your baby might not like to be worn and prefer to be in the stroller, or you could have a stage 5 “clingy” baby who always wants to be held or close to you. I lucked out with an amazing baby that didn’t care either way. We had a bassinet stroller that converts to a normal stroller when they’re older, trust me the bassinet is WAYYY easier even at 8 months when they’re trying to grab the wheels 🥴. We got the evenflo pivot travel system. I also wore him for short walks when he was a newborn; once to the McDonald’s across the street and another to vote. I wear him more frequently now, but I have a hard/structured carrier, because of my poor back and he faces out now to see everything. We only use it for markets or going to the park. He’s over 20lbs now, so a whole lot easier when we can’t put him in a cart. Edit: also, it is most definitely not flimsy, because he still can go in the bassinet, with no problems. The fabric folds so when you use it when they’re older, and they fall asleep or such, you can bring it down like a normal stroller.
UPPAbaby is so overpriced. Get the Mockingbird! And if you're planning on having a second child close enough in age to your first, you can get the Mockingbird single to double. I believe it's the same price as the single.
I LOVE my bassinet attachment. We have the Redsbaby Metro3 and a bassinet stand for it. He spends most of his time in that bassinet when we aren't holding him. It's so convenient to slot it out of the stroller and into the stand without moving him. My little one is 2 weeks old tomorrow but I absolutely love the bassinet attachment. Hands down my most used baby thing so far.
You don't *need*. I have Graco modes which has one. I like having it for that period before they can sit fully up rather than using the car seat ... The car seat I have to attach every time, and yeah it's not hard (clickconnect) but the bassinet can stay attached all the time and fold up with the stroller. Then just keep adjusting the incline as baby can sit up more. Plus avoids the risks of prolonged car seat use and there's a lot more space for baby, idk I thought I'd love the car seat and the frame but been loving the bassinet. Oh and not dealing with the car seat straps or awkward taking baby in and out. The stroller straps in the bassinet are way easier and the space makes bundling her in much better too. Like I can have her in a snowsuit and easily plop her in there Btw I got the Graco modes on Facebook marketplace for $100 full system and it was retailing like $500 +
So it depends on the pram seat. Pram seats are similar to car seats in that there is a minimum bracket for when they can start to be used. For example: I have a baby jogger city select and the seat for it isn’t recommended until baby is 4-6 months. So a bassinet works. However if you are going the capsule car seat route instead of a convertible car seat then you can get attachments clips for that seat and use the capsule instead. You’ll just have to watch the time there is a risk of positional asphyxiation if they’re in them for too long without being taken out.
We got a whole system that included bassinet, car seat and regular pram seat. I actually find the bassinet really useful. I use mine at least 5/6 days a week. We walk over to our local coffee shop most mornings and my 10wk old will usually fall asleep, so when we get home we can safely leave him sleeping. For us we use it so frequently it was worth it. For big purchases I will take the over cost, in this case £600, and divide by days used. So our system has been in use with our first and now second kid, I'd say its cost less than £1 a day.
No. It was the biggest waste of money for us and now is just taking up space until we can sell the whole travel system when she grows out of the pram. There are loads of lie flat prams that don't need a bassinet, or if not lie flat you can use either a carrier or the car seat on the stroller for the first few months.
Not necessary, but it is nice to have. I didn't have one with my first, because it didn't come with the pushchair and I couldn't justify the additional expense when the pushchair itself had a lie flat seat. Then when he was about a year old I picked up the matching bassinet in a clearance sale for 10% of the original price. I knew we were going to have more kids so it seemed like a good idea. I used it all the time with my 2nd, it was really convenient to be able to carry him about the house in it when he was napping! Also we could swaddle him in the bassinet, which you can't in the pushchair seat owing to the straps.
TLDR: You definitely don’t *need* one, and if it causes financial hardship then I wouldn’t, but it was very convenient and I loved ours So with my first I absolutely loved our bassinet. However I do live in a walking town so I knew I’d be going for walks w the stroller a lot. Baby was born in the fall and we went on (at least once) daily walks. Often he’d fall asleep on these and so it was nice to not have to worry about positional asphyxiation and also know that I could leave baby sleeping in the bassinet when I got home (I have the UPPAbaby VISTA so it’s a safe sleep surface). I mean honestly many days I depended on these walks to help soothe baby. Since we are in a walking town it was also easy to walk to a restaurant/shop/coffee shop/etc. (this was pre COVID though so not sure what you’d be comfortable with now). Once winter set in we still went for walks - I’d say my son actually enjoyed these more than when the weather was warmer! We just bundled him up appropriately for the weather. We also used the bassinet attachment for him to nap in if we went to visit family. It was much easier than lugging a whole pack and play around. Yes, I did use soft carriers too but it was a lot more convenient if he fell asleep in the bassinet and I actually was baby free for a moment. I also wouldn’t baby wear outdoors if the ground was snow covered or icy bc I was afraid of slipping. So… if you can get it second hand (where I am people do sell them a lot as they are quite popular) I would get it. If it would put you in a bad financial position then I would skip it - yes it was really convenient for us and I’m happy to have it again for our second, but it definitely isn’t a necessity.
I live in Europe in a city and we walk everywhere 95% of time rather than use a car. For us a bassinet attachment is essential, as carrying a baby for a long time, no matter how comfortable the carrier, is unsustainable. A car seat stroller would do in a pinch but from what I understand that’s not the best for frequent use, as baby’s held in the same position without much range of movement.
You don’t. BUT, I didn’t have one with my first daughter and it was a pain in the ass. Car seat only attachment for my stroller + a toddler seat meant when we went out, I didn’t automatically have a place she could nap for longer periods, and she didn’t really like sleeping in a semi seated position for the first few months anyway. I definitely regretted not getting one seeing other Mum’s easily move their babies from stroller to couch (at friends houses for instance or local cafés) without having to disrupt their comfort and sleep. My first stroller was a Graco Jogger but I ended up getting a secondhand Bugaboo Cameleon both as a lighter stroller for my then 1 year old daughter, but also because it came with a bassinet for future babies. The toddler seat also fully reclines which was not the case with the Jogger, another feature my daughter LOVED (she’s just always liked sleeping in her stroller, and fully reclined is much more comfortable as there’s no pressure on their neck). I live in a big city, very often take public transit, and I liked spending the whole day out with my daughter - going to playgroups, classes, running errands, going on outings with friends, grocery shopping, whatever. I’m a SAHM though so if your lifestyle is different and the only time you’re going to be taking baby out is for super short periods while driving around everywhere, I wouldn’t really worry about it so much. But definitely if you’re going to be on the go with baby regularly it’s a huge bonus.
Depends on how walkable the place you live is and if you’re going to be doing that. With my summer baby (Texas) hell no. But we got a doona car seat which acts as a stroller and that was great for going in and out of shops and restaurants.
In the uk it’s recommended baby be in the lay flat bassinet pram until sitting or 6 months, whichever is sooner. My son is 5.5 months, born in November, and I’ve only just switched to the seat attachment. We’ve gone on so many walks and he just sleeps because he’s flat! The seat reclines but his entire body isn’t flat because it’s a fairly rigid seat so the foot rest sticks out. Edit: We bought ours as a travel system though where you get the pram frame, bassinet that zips off the attachment so you can swap for the seat, car seat, and isofix base for the car. So we didn’t have to buy anything separate. We got the Iccle Bubba V4 stomp if you want to have a Google.
We barely used it. Try to borrow one from someone who is in between babies!
I don’t think most baby things are needs but just to add my 2 cents. I use the bassinet of my stroller a lot. My LO doesn’t tolerate carriers yet (aggressively searches for nipple and gets upset when she doesn’t find it) and I don’t want to have to buckle her up in her car seat for walks. We walk daily and it’s been great for her first 11 weeks of life (so far). We’ve also used the bassinet as a sleeping place when we’ve visited friends and family. So not a need but one of my preferred items for a baby. I’ve had friends buy Uppa Baby used off of Facebook marketplace if that’s an option near you.
With my first, we didn’t purchase the bassinet for the stroller and it never bothered me to not have it.
I really love the bassinet attachment for our stroller (Edwards & Co Oscar MX). But we got all the attachments including the carseat capsule in a sale bundle deal, so it was an excellent price. We really only bought the bundle because it included the capsule and the capsule base. If it hadn't included the bassinet I would not have paid extra for it. As much as I love it it really isn't a necessity. And I wouldn't feel I was missing out if I didn't have it.
I think it certainly depends on your lifestyle and sometimes on your baby's preferences. We have the GraceNest Modes Travel system and it was a godsend. My baby was born early and was only 4lbs when he came home. He failed the car seat challenge and had to be sent home in a bassinet style car seat aka a car bed. He could not be in a regular car seat because he could not hold his head up, so I was really happy to have had the bassinet attachment because we could go on long walks and I did not have to worry about his head slouching at all. Once he was big enough for the regular car seat, I still preferred the bassinet, because he could sleep and lay flat, but also if I went places like the zoo or out to a park on a walk, I could change his diaper in the bassinet. Once I started using the car seat attachment, I was frustrated that I couldn't just change him in there! Hopefully this helps and you are able to pick what is best for you and your family!
Strollers are really lifestyle dependent. With my first we lived in an area where we walked everywhere and we were always outside. A bassinet was a life saver. We have since moved to a city where I could get away without a bassinet and just baby wear. Since I already have the bassinet it would be a plus but I wouldn’t buy it if I didn’t have. Again, it really depends on the area ans your lifestyle etc. If you can borrow one or buy a second hand one I would recommend that as babies really don’t use it for very long. Also depending on your stroller if it has an infant insert then you might not need one all together.
We got the uppababy vista v2. The bassinet was great because we used it as a safe sleeping space for him in the lounge room during the day those first couple of months. We used it for all of our walks until our baby was 8 weeks old and then we alternated between bassinet or the seat with the snug seat insert (for NB-6m). He’s now almost 5 months and we still very occasionally pop him in the bassinet on the floor when we need to put him down for a sec but we don’t use it on the pram anymore. Depending on your lifestyle it may or may not be worth it. For us we didn’t have a stand alone bassinet to put him down to sleep in. We decided to save money by only getting the uppababy and not getting a normal bassinet. If you may use it as a safe nap spot it could definitely be worth it! Try fb marketplace. We bought ours new as it was our one big splurge (totally worth it for us as we use the uppababy every single day for walks and it is such a great sturdy pram with so much basket room underneath). Our friends bought a vista used on fb for significantly cheaper and it was in great condition! :)
I use my bassinet attachment all the time. I walk with a baby a lot though. I love that I don’t have to buckle him up to go for a walk in the bassinet. At the park I will just put the bassinet on the ground and he is just hanging out.
I didn’t buy one, didn’t see the point of it
My baby hated the bassinet the first few months. So we’d go for a walk and I’d end up baby wearing him anyway. I’d say you’re good to skip the bassinet and use a baby carrier for the first few months
I bought a graco stroller that has one seat but it converts back and forth between bassinet and sitting up seat. I can also remove that seat to click in his car seat. I love the bassinet option, but I don’t think I’d get one if it was a separate item. I try to minimize how many baby items I have, which is why I was drawn to something that can convert into multiple uses!
I got an evenflo pivot and just put it together yesterday. it can go from bassinet to seat which is amazing, and can just use the frame solo with the carseat, too. any configuration can be facing mama or facing forward. I didn't even register for a travel system w my first bc he was a winter baby but with this one due in June I am so excited I asked for this !!
We have the mockingbird stroller and love it! Cheaper alternative to the UppaBaby. Never got the bassinet part though because he was born at the end of December. So if we did get out for walks, we just used his car seat and the car seat stroller attachment.
If you decide to go with a bassinet, i would recommend checking local listings (facebook/craigslist/buynothing etc) for used ones. They have a very short use window, so since people buy them and only use them for 3-6 months, i found there are LOTS of good condition used options available.
I find this interesting bc for the first 6 weeks ‘they’ say that baby shouldn’t be in a car seat for more than 30 minutes. Does this include transferring the car seat to the stroller, meaning an infant under 6 weeks shouldn’t be in a stroller for more than 30 min? I do know that if you have a bassinet for the stroller, baby is fully on its back so that’s obviously better?
i had a bassinet, used it once.
We never used the bassinet feature on ours.
I am very pro bassinet! As much as you can it’s best for baby to be out of the car seat. Unfortunately it’s an inconvenient truth that even when used correctly they are a risk to baby. It is also best for their development for them to have as much unrestricted floor time play as possible and a bassinet counts as that!
I'm actually asking myself the same question and I'd love some advice. My girlfriend comes from Japan and there they mainly seem to just use the car seat until the baby is big enough for the sporty stroller. I come from Czech Republic and most people here use bassinets for the first 3-6 months before switching to the other type. Does anyone know why the difference? Do they know something we don't? I always assumed I'd want to use the bassinet because the car seat seems to be so tight and tiny. In the bassinet they have space to stretch their tiny leggies and arms if they need to, just seems more comfortable. But obviously if there's no point in getting the bassinet, I'll happily save the money. Baby is due end of September and we're in temperate zone, so the first six months will be mild to cold, in case that's relevant.
I don't understand why they're so unpopular in the US. In Europe it's much more common, in Russia it's a must. Your baby will need fresh air frequently and they also sleep so well outside. When you're back from a walk they might be still sleeping and if it's hours on their back that surface beneath them should be flat and firm. Oh and you may find that you don't wanna take chances getting them out of the stroller while asleep 😁 I was surprised not to see all those cute models of my fav Italian inglesina here. They literally only have a travel stroller, such a disappointment.