How to Get Baby to Sleep in Bassinet at Night?

Last reviewed: November 6, 2026. Checked against current guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org) and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Are you planning on introducing your baby to the bassinet for sleeping at night? Well, it might take some time for them to get used to their new surroundings. But don’t lose hope.

Helping your baby adapt to the bassinet requires patience and consistency. So, let’s not say it’s going to be an easy ride.

While some parents are lucky, most have to go through a tough time getting their baby to sleep in the bassinet. If you’re one of them, find out how you can make things easier over here.

Simple Steps to Get Your Baby to Sleep in a Bassinet at Night

Helping your baby sleep in the bassinet is more than just placing them in and cooing them to sleep. You need to be persistent and follow a routine.

Let’s have a look at the simple steps that will help you put your baby to sleep in a bassinet.

Step 1: Establish a Strict Bedtime Routine

It might not seem like it, but babies are prone to following a specific pattern. So, if you mold their pattern in a way that keeps them up all night crying, you might want to see where you’re going wrong.

Follow a bedtime routine that would include bathing your baby, giving them a light massage, reading to them, or swaddling. You can easily add and subtract elements from the routine based on your preference.

After establishing a routine, your baby will get used to the process and know that it’s time to sleep soon. Don’t undermine how effective a good bedtime routine is for your baby to be able to sleep in a bassinet with ease.

Step 2: Place Your Baby in the Bassinet When They’re Awake

Having to rock your baby to sleep is quite a normal act. However, if you wish to help them sleep in a bassinet, you need to change your techniques. Make sure that you don’t let your baby sleep in your arms while you’re rocking them.

Wait just till the time that they’re sleepy, and then place them in the bassinet on their back. Allowing your baby to remain awake but on the verge of sleeping is essential to this process.

Doing so allows your baby to sleep on their own. Not only will this help them sleep longer at night, but they will also be able to soothe themselves.

Step 3: Swaddle Them in So They Feel Secure

Let’s not forget one of the most important things that you’ll need to do- swaddle. Your newborn is surely going to feel safer when they’re swaddled in the bassinet.

However, this will require you to ensure that all safety measures have been considered. Always place a swaddled baby on their back. Keep the swaddle snug around the chest but loose around the hips so the legs can bend up and out. Never use a weighted swaddle.

Why should you swaddle your baby when putting them in the bassinet? Well, swaddling helps your baby to relax and feel secure as it gives them a similar feeling to when they were in the womb.

Along with this, swaddling helps keep the startle reflex at bay that wakes babies up at night due to changes in their surroundings. Swaddling keeps them in place and secure throughout.

Stop swaddling as soon as your baby shows any signs of trying to roll over, which can happen as early as 2 months. A swaddled baby who rolls onto their tummy is at risk of suffocation.

Step 4: Stay by Their Side and Read a Book or Sing to Them

You can’t just put your baby in the bassinet while they’re sleepy and leave. They need to feel your presence to remain calm and fall asleep. Once you place your sleepy baby in the bassinet, make it a habit to read to them or sing a lullaby.

In doing so, you’ll make your baby feel that you’re still close which will make them feel safe. Keep your voice soft and calm when reading out or singing to them. It’ll help them sleep peacefully.

Safety Rules to Follow When Putting Your Baby in a Bassinet

When you’re putting your baby to sleep in a bassinet, you will need to ensure all safety measures are in place. The first thing and the most important one is that you should keep the bassinet empty. Use only a firm, flat mattress with a fitted sheet. Take out all the stuffed toys, pillows, cushions, bumpers, loose blankets and anything that can be a potential suffocation risk.

Always put your baby to sleep on their back, for naps and at night. Choose a bassinet that meets CPSC safety standards, and follow the maker’s weight and age limits. Keep the bassinet in your room, close to your bed, for at least the first 6 months, but don’t share your bed with your baby. Never let your baby sleep in an inclined product, swing or car seat.

A fitted swaddle or wearable blanket and a pacifier are all your baby needs. Offering a pacifier at sleep time may lower the risk of SIDS, but never hang it around your baby’s neck or attach it with a string. Along with this, keep the room at a comfortable temperature and avoid overheating. Dress your baby in no more than one layer more than you would wear, and skip hats indoors.

Is Your Newborn Having a Difficult Time Sleeping in the Bassinet?

If your baby is having a difficult time adjusting in the bassinet, you should look out for possible causes of discomfort. These include, but aren’t limited to:

Room temperature discomfort
Daylight peeking in
Loud sounds in the area
Hunger or a wet diaper

Try to keep an eye out for these issues so that you can help your baby have a seamless sleep in their bassinet. Never use pillows, wedges or positioners to prop your baby. Back on a flat surface is always the safest position.

This article is for general information and isn’t a substitute for medical advice. Always contact your pediatrician with questions about your baby’s health.

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