Comparing the Babybjorn Cradle vs Halo Bassinest is a little off as they have their own strengths and are not really in the same league.
For instance, Halo has several types of bassinets. Baby Bjorn has only one.
The Halo has an adjustable height frame. Baby Bjorn doesn’t have it.
So that’s already a significant difference between the two!
In this article though, I’m going to hone in on one specific Halo bassinet and that’s their latest one, the HALO BassiNest Swivel Sleeper 3.0.
I’ve made a thorough research on it, as well as the Baby Bjorn cradle, going through their website info and tons of positive and negative feedback from parents online. Hopefully, my carefully researched info and details here would be able to help you finally decide between these 2 bassinets.
Let’s start first with the selling points of the Babybjorn Cradle vs Halo Bassinest.
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List of Contents
What is the Babybjorn Cradle
The Baby Bjorn Cradle is a popular non-toxic bassinet.
It’s a simple straightforward bassinet that has mesh sides for breathability, easy to assemble yet durable.
It’s very light and portable enough for traveling.
Aside from its travel-friendly feature, you can also rock it to put your baby to sleep!
Your baby can even rock it themselves (slightly) when they move! Which will hopefully put themselves to sleep.
Check out my Baby Bjorn Cradle detailed review here.
What is the HALO BassiNest Swivel Sleeper 3.0
The latest version from Halo, the Swivel Sleeper 3.0 is the only bassinet out in the market (so far!) that can swivel 360 degrees.
It has the qualities of a typical Halo Bassinest but with one added feature.
It can turn into a portable bassinet by detaching it from his frame!
Which is pretty awesome as Halo bassinets are typically very heavy and too large to even fit in a normal door frame.
So In Short…
The Baby Bjorn can rock slightly to calm your baby at home or while traveling.
While the Halo can make it easy to access your baby at night, for nursing or soothing.
Feature Comparison Table: Babybjorn Cradle vs Halo Bassinest
This is best viewed on a desktop. Here’s a quick comparison guide on the features of the Halo Bassinest vs Babybjorn Cradle.
| Features | HALO Bassinest 3.0 | BABYBJÖRN |
|---|---|---|
| Includes | Mattress and cover | Mattress only |
| Easy Access To Baby | Yes | Slightly |
| Rocking Features | Not available | Available |
| Assembly | Mixed reviews | Easy |
| Travel-friendly | No | Yes |
| Maintenance | Spot cleaning only | Machine-washable |
| Price | Expensive | More expensive than Halo |
Below is a more detailed info on the differences of the Halo vs Baby Bjorn Cradle
Babybjorn Cradle vs Halo Bassinest: Differences
Let’s dive in a little deeper about the differences between Babybjorn Cradle vs Halo Bassinest.
Specs
Babybjorn Cradle
- Dimensions: 31 x 23 x 26 inches (LxWxH)
- Weight: 13 pounds/ 6 kg
HALO BassiNest Swivel Sleeper 3.0
- Dimensions: 47 x 47 x 44.5 inches (LxWxH)
- Weight: 28.4 pounds/ 13 kg
Includes
The Halo bassinest comes with a mattress and a cover.
While parents are complaining about the mattress cover of the Baby Bjorn, as it kinda looks like it doesn’t have any at all.
Access to Baby
This is where HALO trumps Baby Bjorn.
You can adjust the Halo’s frame to reach a bed that is 23.5” to 30” high.
Then you can easily swivel it on your bed, and lower its mesh wall to scoop up your baby effortlessly.
Then you can swivel the HALO bassinest away, if you want more space.
You can’t do that with the Baby Bjorn cradle.
You have to stand up from your bed and bend all the way to carry or lay your baby to sleep in the Baby Bjorn cradle.
Which is a common complaint among parents, especially the tall ones.
Soothing Features
The Babybjorn Cradle has a “gentle rock” feature, so you can move and rock your baby to sleep. Or your baby can move and rock themselves to sleep! Hopefully.
You can’t really do that with the Halo Bassinest Swivel Sleeper 3.0. Unlike its other versions.
But some parents who’ve used the other Halo bassinets said, they don’t really use its soothing features, like the music or vibration mode.
As one, it doesn’t work on their baby, and two, it doesn’t even turn on most of the time. So most don’t really care about it.
Although some parents wished that the swivel and the adjustable height could be battery-operated.
Portable
The Baby Bjorn Cradle is smaller and lighter than the Halo bassinet.
It can fit in a small space and it’s easy to move it from one room to another. Just make sure that your baby is not in it, for safety purposes!
You can also fold its legs and collapse the cradle (using some tools of course) and easily chuck it in your car for traveling!
It’s not that small though to fit in a luggage bag for air traveling.
The Halo’s bed, on the other hand, can be detached from its frame. Which basically makes it into a portable lounge! Making it easy to carry it in any room.
But it’s not light enough for traveling and together with the frame, not portable at all.
The base is too big and too heavy to be moved from one room to another. So good thing, this Halo’s bed is detachable, unlike the other Halo bassinets!
Built-To-Last
The HALO BassiNest Swivel Sleeper 3.0 is made of a heavy base material and is very sturdy.
But it still has yet to prove it’s long-lasting quality, since it was only launched in June 2022.
The Baby Bjorn cradle, however, has been out in the market for years.
It’s made of high-quality wood and steel material, with anti-slip feet.
Some parents mentioned buying it second-hand but still in mint condition. While a few Baby Bjorn cradle users are planning to use it for their 3rd baby!
Just don’t let an active toddler get inside both the Halo bassinet and the Baby Bjorn cradle.
Nor let your cat in it and heaven forbid if your dog runs full speed onto it!
Assembly
Most, if not all parents find the Baby Bjorn cradle easy to assemble.
While it’s a mixed review for the Halo, with some parents saying it didn’t take long to assemble it, while others said it was difficult to put together.
Maintenance
You can only spot clean the Halo bassinest, which can be a hassle.
Especially if your baby has been spitting, vomiting or worse, had a diaper explosion.
(Check out some ways here on how to clean your bassinet, if you don’t want to just spot clean your Halo.)
While you can machine-wash the mesh outer fabric and the mattress of the Baby Bjorn!
Price
The Baby Bjorn is much more expensive than the Halo BassiNest Swivel Sleeper 3.0.
And it’s pricier because it doesn’t even come with a mattress cover or fitted sheet. So you need to buy that separately!
Similarities of Halo Bassinest vs Babybjorn Cradle
Now let’s take a more detailed look at the similar features of the Baby Bjorn Cradle and the Halo Bassinet
Safety
The BABYBJÖRN Baby Cradle is one of those non-toxic bassinets that meets European and US safety standards.
Its fabrics are also baby-safe and are certified Oeko-Tex® Standard 100 Class I.
Halo is also certifiably safe and meets CPSC, ASTM, and Health Canada requirements and is JPMA certified.
Both are generally safe to use for newborns.
Although Halo has a lot of complaints about its slight tilt, which can make their babies roll to one side.
Halo addressed that concern and said the following:
“The HALO BassiNest is different from all other traditional, stationary bassinets on the market. Because it swivels 360° and rotates, there is sometimes a slight tilt. Some people interpret this tilt as problematic, but it is well within the standards of accepted angles for these types of products. In addition, the front sidewall that lowers is slightly shorter than the back sidewall, which can create the perception of additional tilt. Rest assured that the BassiNest Swivel Sleeper meets all applicable CPSC, ASTM and Health Canada requirements for the U.S. and Canada. It carries the JPMA (Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association) certification seal. The BassiNest has met and exceeded all regulatory testing, and we actually submit to additional testing beyond what is required for Bassinets and co-sleepers.”
To minimize the tilt, they’ve actually recommended putting the Halo bassinet to its lowest height setting and placing the “cradle”, the sleeping surface, in a non-swiveled out position.
They also have the BassiNest Newborn Insert which apparently, also prevents your baby from rolling to another side.
Age Limit
Both the Baby Bjorn and the Halo Bassinet can only be used for a few months, maximum 6 months.
Or until your baby starts rolling around or tries to sit up on their own, whichever comes first.
Mattress
Most parents have the same complaints about the Halo’s and Babybjorn’s mattress, saying that it seems very thin and hard and uncomfortable for their baby.
A baby can stay in the Halo Bassinest until they’re starting to roll or trying to pull themselves up in a sitting position.
Which usually happens between 3 to 6 months. When that happens, it’s required to transfer them to a crib or a similar stable sleeping place, for safety purposes.
FAQ on Halo vs Baby Bjorn
How long can you use the Baby Bjorn cradle?
You can use the Baby Bjorn cradle for a few months or as long as your baby is not yet starting to roll or pull themselves up in a sitting position.
Is the Halo swivel bassinet worth it?
The Halo swivel bassinet can be worth it if you’ve had a C-section and/or planning to breastfeed your baby.
It makes it easy to place your baby near you, to scoop them up without having to stand up and bend down multiple times in a day.
How long can a baby stay in a Halo Bassinest?
A baby can stay in the Halo Bassinest until they’re starting to roll or trying to pull themselves up in a sitting position.
Which usually happens between 3 to 6 months. When that happens, it’s required to transfer them to a crib or a similar stable sleeping place, for safety purposes.
Why are Halo bassinets so popular?
Halo bassinets are popular for their easy-to-access feature – their swivel and the collapsible wall.
It’s something that most bassinets don’t have yet.
Pros and Cons of the Baby Bjorn vs Halo Bassinet
Here’s a general overview of the advantages and drawbacks of both the Baby Bjorn vs Halo Bassinet.
Pros of Baby Bjorn Cradle
- Rocking feature
- Lightweight and portable
- Easy to clean
Cons of Baby Bjorn Cradle
- More expensive than Halo
- Sits too low on the floor
- Doesn’t come with mattress cover/ fitted sheet
Pros of HALO BassiNest Swivel Sleeper 3.0
- 360° swiveling feature
- Collapsible, lowering mesh wall
- Adjustable height frame
Cons of HALO BassiNest Swivel Sleeper 3.0
- Bulky and heavy frame
- Has a slight tilt
- Not travel-friendly
Baby Bjorn and Halo Bassinet Alternatives
If you’d like to explore other more sleeping options for your baby, here’s some that’s worth checking out:
Portable Playard with Bassinet
Baby Bjorn Travel Crib Light
Check out a guide here on Baby Bjorn Travel Crib vs Lotus.
4moms mamaRoo Sleep Bassinet
Check out my detailed 4moms Mamaroo Sleep Bassinet review here.
Babybjorn Cradle vs Halo Bassinest – So Which One Should You Get?
If you prefer a bassinet that’s easy to move around the house and can be used for visiting the in-laws on weekends, the Baby Bjorn is more suitable for your needs.
But if you have a C-section, have back pains, can’t imagine yourself getting up several times at night to carry and lay down your baby, then go fo the Halo Bassinest
I hope this article has enlightened you about the pros and cons and differences between the Babybjorn Cradle vs Halo Bassinest
And if you love this guide, then make sure to check out the Halo Bassinest vs Snoo, How To Get A Newborn To Sleep In A Bassinet, Bassinet Weight Limit, and Best Bassinets for Small Spaces.
