You’ve probably heard of the Rock ‘n Play Recall that happened in April 2019. As a mom, I was bummed of this news because I personally had a great experience with the Rock and Play we used with our last baby. Since then parents have been searching for safe alternatives to the once genius baby must-have. I am expecting again and since the Rock ‘n Play bassinet lounger has been recalled, I found myself wondering what are the best alternatives that are similar to this baby product.
Sure there are several articles out there with their own list of alternatives, but most of them don’t have the features I enjoyed with the Rock ‘n Play. I began to dig a little deeper to find safe sleep alternatives to the Rock ‘n Play.
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What Features to Look For in a Rock ‘n Play Alternative
If you’re curious (or in a hurry):
✅This specific Portable Bassinet is the most popular with my readers.
Easily the number one favorite feature of the Rock ‘n Play was the upright position it kept babies in. Parents whose infant dealt with reflux really appreciated this for when their babies spit up. Sadly, this design is the main reason for the recall. It didn’t give much head support for younger infants, while they slept, from the degree of the incline- thus cutting off their airways. I have noticed a lot of baby gear companies have done away with the inclined style, or their products only have a slight incline.
Sure, this was a feature I enjoyed too, but there were a few others that made this my go-to piece of baby gear to use…
- Sits up off the ground. I’ve used baby bouncers and liked them but they all sit low to the ground. I didn’t think much about it with my older two kids, but when we had the rock ‘n play with our third child that was a feature I had quickly grown to love.
- It rocks. You’d think this would be a given for an alternatives list since you could manually rock the original product, but there were so many I found that didn’t have a movable feature about them.
- Must be Portable. This is the main feature I LOVED about the Rock ‘n Play. It was super easy to fold up and move around. Want to set it up across the house or outside? No problem- press the buttons and collapse. Want to have a nice place to set the baby in at someone’s house {besides the car seat}? No problem- press buttons, collapse, easily fit into vehicle… I think you catch what I’m saying, it was a great bassinet for travel.
Rock ‘n Play Alternatives List for 2020
Fisher-Price Rock ‘n Play Bassinet
Probably the closest this you will find to the original Rock ‘n Play. It literally has all the features the recalled version has except the incline. It has Twist & lock feet for stationary use, mirror & soft, linkable toy. Max weight: 25lbs (11,3 kg)
Pros
- Sits up off the ground
- Rocks
- Portable
Cons
- No Incline- I only add this because this feature is something some parents want.
Bassinet Best for travel
With almost a perfect score of 5-star reviews, this bassinet claims to be the best for home and travel! This rocking bassinet includes a soft mattress, fitted sheet, hygienic urine pad, dome-shaped mosquito net, and a carrying case.
Pros
- Sits up off the ground.
- Rocks, but also locks for a sturdy-mode.
- Portable!
Cons
- No Incline- I only add this because this feature is something some parents want.
✅ Tip: Sometimes there is a $30 OFF coupon!
MiClassic All Mesh 2in1 Stationary & Rock Bassinet
This bassinet is VERY similar to the Fisher-Price alternative listed above, but with a more simple and modern design. SIZE: 37.4 x 23.8 x 11 inches.
Pros
- Sits up off the ground.
- Rocks- Manual rocking and has locking feet to make it stationary.
- Portable- In fact, it seems to be more compact than the Fisher-Price alternative listed above when folded.
Cons
- No Incline- I only add this because this feature is something some parents want.
Graco Duet Gliding Swing with Portable Rocker
Okay, this thing is cool! It doesn’t exactly meet the features I’m looking for but it’s still so neat that it was worth putting on this list. Height and weight requirements:
- Children weighing 5.5-25 lb and up to 30 inches tall in swing mode
- Children weighing 5.5-18 lb and up to 27 inches tall in rocker mode
Pros
- Sits up off the ground- when the cradle is attached to the base.
- Rocks- Auto swings, glides, or both when on the base.
- Portable- Well… Sort of. The cradle is removable so you can take the baby with you around the house.
- 2 INCLINE SETTINGS!!!- Yes, for real.
Cons
- Not travel-friendly.
✅ Tip: If you want this rocker, but want it to lay completely flat…
➡️ check out this ALTERNATIVE Gliding Swing
- It’s just like the rocking bassinet swing above, but it has 3 incline settings (including laying completely flat)!
Ingenuity Foldaway Rocking Bassinet
A mix of modern and classic, this bassinet can go anywhere!
Pros
- Sits up off the ground.
- Rocks manually, or locks in place
- Portable- folds up for easy storage or travel
Cons
- No Incline- I only add this because this feature is something some parents want.
✅ Tip: If you like this overall function, design, & brand you may want to check out the other options available.
➡️Check out all of Ingenuity’s Foldaway Bassinets
- Some have wood & canopy options too!
- All different prices to fit your budget!
Delta Children Deluxe Activity Sleeper Bassinet
This bassinet reminds me A LOT of the Fisher-Price alternative listed above, but it’s not quite the same. features an electronic mobile with spinning toys, vibration, calming nightlight, Twinkle lights and soothing music. SIZE: 31.7 x 26.8 x 22.4 inches.
Pros
- Sits up off the ground.
- Portable- folds VERY similar to the original Rock ‘n Play.
Cons
- Does not Rock- But does have a vibration motion as mentioned above.
- No Incline- I only add this because this feature is something some parents want.
Baby Bassinet Cradle By Green Frog
This bassinet is about as basic as they get, but with a sturdy & sleek design. SIZE: 35.5 x 25.1 x 5 inches.
Pros
- Sits up off the ground.
- Rocks- Manual Rocking
- Portable- Small wheels to move from room to room. Technically can be used for travel -even includes a travel bag.
Cons
- You have to disassemble into five pieces to fit into the travel bag.
- No Incline- I only add this because this feature is something some parents want.
I hope you found the best Rock and Play alternative for you and your baby on this list.
Do you want to see the top-rated best bassinets for small babies? Tap the button below. ⬇️
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I love all of these options. I wanted to point out two things, though–the incline feature was removed from all baby sleep products because an incline of more than 10 degrees can result in positional asphyxiation, a silent death. The other is that the baby swing, while great for calming baby, should never be used for baby sleep. But for supervised awake time, it is great! Great article; thanks for sharing 🙂