The HALO Bassinest Swivel Sleeper can rotate 360 degrees which is a great feature. This allows the unit to be easily accessible from your bed to access your precious newborn. While this is great, it is important to note that the unit is somewhat bulky, not easy to move around at times and can be costly depending on your budget. It should also be considered that the unit can probably only be used for a short time until your baby starts to be more active.
Customer Reviews
- 4.6 on Amazon
- 4.6 on Toys R Us
- 4.2 on Buy Buy Baby
- 4.5 on Target
- 3.9 on Bed Bath and Beyond
Overall users like this unit and though there are not many reviews, the few that are available are mostly good. However, it is still a fairly new product so it may not have been thoroughly used just yet to get the maximum amount of reviews as needed to get a true sense of its features. It is a good thing to have possibly a few hundred reviews to get good feedback on how the unit performs for others. Usually, this is a good approach when looking at an important purchase such as a bassinet.
Product Features
Rotation
This is one of the best-selling points of the HALO Bassinest Swivel Sleeper Bedside Bassinet that any potential purchases should know. It rotates and can swivel 360 degrees and makes a great gift for a mom that is currently recovering from a C-section and may need to limit movement. This can swivel over the bed so the new mommy doesn’t have to bend too much to pick up the newborn. It also comes in handy for breastfeeding moms who will want to have easy access to their baby for late-night feedings.
Side Wall
The sides of the sleeper can be unlocked so they can easily be lifted to access the baby as needed. This reduces the need to put pressure on your back and abdomen when lifting your newborn.
Siding
As a new parent, it is normal to want to consistently check on your newborn baby as they sleep or you have put them down. You will want to ensure they are ok and this unit has a mesh siding so you can easily see the baby at all times. This is a great feature as you can see easily and the baby can breathe through the mesh covering.
Pockets
There are pockets that can be used for storage at the end of the HALO Bassinest Swivel Sleeper unit. These pockets are great to store wipes or diapers that can be easily accessible for changes or even snacks for mommy and daddy!
Height (Adjustable)
There is a knob located on the base of the unit that allows the bassinet’s height to be adjusted as required. This is similar to a bike seat where you can make it the height that will be comfortable for you. This is quite helpful as you can set it to your personal preference.
Strong base
This unit is known for its strong and sturdy base. This makes it reliable and weighing in at about 50lbs will not move easily. This is great for households that may have large dogs other children who may tend to bump into things. It also does not have wheels so it will be secure and not move until you need it to be shifted.
Fitted Sheet
The unit comes with a fitted sheet that is washable along with a mattress pad. The sheet is made from polyester and can be washed by hand or in your washing machine. The mattress bed which comes with the swivel is also waterproof which is great news for new moms. This means that washing up after spit-ups or other accidents will be a breeze.
Good alternative
Cosleeping is a touch-and-go topic for many people as it is largely considered unsafe. Some people do think it promotes bonding and that is a good way to deal with the early sleepless days of having a newborn. The HALO Bassinest Swivel Sleeper Bedside Bassinet unit is a great solution to this as while it promotes bed-sharing, it reduces the risks associated with Cosleeping.
One of the recommendations by the American Academy of Pediatrics of reducing Sudden Infant Death (SIDS) is by having the newborn sleep in the room with you just not in your bed. The HALO Bassinest Swivel Sleeper does a great job of fulfilling that and keeping everything safe.
Set up
The setup process is quite easy as it is just really the base, the legs, a pole and the bassinet. Noting that it is heavy, so it may be best to set it up in the area you will be using it.
Warnings
Uncomfortable mattress
It is very important to have a firm mattress to make it safe for infants. The HALO Bassinest Swivel Sleeper Bedside Bassinet does this to an extreme which unfortunately makes the mattress very thin and possibly uncomfortable. In some cases, some babies may not want to sleep in it. This would be unfortunate after spending a considerable amount on it and they will not like it.
There is also a Velcro strip that is located down the center of the sleeper that is underneath the mattress. Since the mattress is incredibly thin, the baby can feel this on their back. Another thing to consider is that the shape of the HALO Bassinest Swivel Sleeper is somewhat different, therefore you may not be able to purchase another mattress for it. This may be an issue if your baby doesn’t like the original mattress.
Wide Base
The base of the HALO Bassinest Swivel Sleeper is wide and gives good stability based on this. However, it takes up a lot of valuable space and if there isn’t enough space in your room then this may be an issue. This means that you may not be able to get the bassinet close to your bed and can block your exit from the bed. For certain kinds of beds, this can be a problem and be very inconvenient as the sleeper will not function properly for you.
Safe for a short time
This product is considered for babies up to 5 months or 30lbs but it can be used until your baby starts to move around. This means they start pulling, pushing or rolling around. It is estimated that babies will start this around 5 months but it can start as early as 2 months. This means your baby will have to come out as they may face the risk of falling out.
Costly for temporary use
As explored before, this sleeper will only work until your baby starts to move around. Depending on the progress of your child, this could be just for a few months. This may not be cost-effective if you have to spend hundreds of dollars on a product that you will use for only a few months. This could be as low as 2 months. While you may use it, in no time you may have to purchase another solution when your infant becomes more mobile.
Babies with acid reflux or who love inclines
This will be a great sleeper for many babies but there may be a few who suffer from acid reflux or like to sleep on an incline. This sleeper may not work well for those babies and it will almost be impossible for you to know that before your child is here. If they do not like it, then it can be an expensive test to find out their preference.
Not multipurpose
The HALO Bassinest Swivel Sleeper Bedside Bassinet is not considered to be a multipurpose bassinet. Coming in at around 50lbs, no wheels which make it hard to move around. The only movement you can get is via the 360 degree swivel. It is not able to be secure on its own so it can only be used beside your bed. Therefore, if you are looking for a product to be multipurpose and be used in different areas, then this bassinet will not work for you.
Strong Smell
As with any product that is manufactured, there may be a strong chemical smell when you purchase it. When it comes to putting your newborn in the bassinet, you will not want to put them at risk. The smell will go away with time and a few washes so if you didn’t purchase it sometime before, you may be disappointed that you cannot use it right away as you purchase it.
The sides may not stay down
The sides of the HALO Bassinest Swivel Sleeper can bend and move to allow you to access your child easily. However, sometimes the side may not stay down, it may only go down when you push down on it. It can hit you on your elbow or hit you on your arm when you are trying to pick up your baby.
Only on one side of the bed
Something to consider with the bassinet as compared to others, the product will be on the floor and only be accessed by one side of the bed. So for couples that share duties at night time, this may be difficult as only one partner will have easy access.
HALO BassiNest Bedside Bassinet Versions
There are other versions of the HALO Bassinest Swivel Sleeper that has different features.
The Premiere version has features such as nightlight, vibrations, sounds and a nursery timer. It also comes in several colors.
The Luxe version contains all the features as the Premiere but includes a storage caddy and a floor light.
The Luxe Plus will come with a mattress pad and an additional cotton sheet.
Best Things about Swivel Sleeper Bassinet
– The Swivel actions.
– Sturdy base
– Alternative to Co-sleeping
– Easy Setup
– One of the best in the market
Worst Things about Swivel Sleeper Bassinet
– May only have temporary usage. As low as 2 months
– Can be costly if not used for long
– Heavy
– Mattress is somewhat thin
Recommendation
The HALO Bassinest Swivel Sleeper Bedside Bassinet has many great features that parents will love but they can be other options that may be available. Similar functionality can be found in other sleepers which may be more cost-efficient with other added benefits such as better portability and easy access for both sides of the bed. These can be explored to see which one will check all your boxes.
