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The New HALO BassiNest Hears & Responds to Baby’s Cry—and it’s Under $400
The New HALO BassiNest Hears & Responds to Baby’s Cry—and it’s Under $400

The New HALO BassiNest Hears & Responds to Baby’s Cry—and it’s Under $400

One of our best bedside sleepers just added tech that soothes babies using sounds and motion. Watch us put it to the test.

author-Jana Pollack
By Jana Pollack
Published Mar 27, 2025|Updated On Apr 1, 2025
Published Mar 27, 2025Updated On Apr 1, 2025
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In This Article

Why you may want a bassinet or bedside sleeper
How the HALO BassiNest Connected stacks up to other smart bassinets
How the AutoSoothe technology works
What else makes the HALO BassiNest Connected stand out
Who we recommend the HALO BassiNest Connected for

The HALO BassiNest bedside sleeper has been one of the most popular bassinet choices among Babylist parents for years. The 360-degree swivel and lowering wall allow parents to safely sleep beside their babies without bedsharing, while also making it easier for them to get in and out of bed than with a stationary bedside bassinet. But HALO’s never had a smart bassinet—until now.  The newest BassiNest Connected Swivel Sleeper 3.0 has everything parents love about earlier versions but now comes with WiFi connectivity and AutoSoothe technology—meaning it can automatically respond to your baby's cries with a customizable mix of sound, gentle motion and vibration. Watch Julie, a Babylist parent of two, put the tech to the test in the video above—or keep reading to see why this could be a solid option to add to your Babylist registry.

Why you may want a bassinet or bedside sleeper

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies sleep in their parent's room for at least the first few months, and ideally for a year because it can lower the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Having your little one close by makes it easier to keep an eye on them and tend to night feeds and diaper changes. But finding space for a crib in your bedroom can be a challenge, and that’s where a bassinet or bedside sleeper comes in handy (especially one with a retractable wall). It’s a smaller footprint, convenient, and just as safe for sleep to make sharing a room with your new addition a bit more comfortable.

Halo BassiNest Connected Swivel Sleeper 3.0 - Grey - $399.99.

Halo BassiNest Connected Swivel Sleeper 3.0 - Grey

$399.99
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How the HALO BassiNest Connected stacks up to other smart bassinets

There are many smart bassinets out there that can help give your baby a better chance at solid sleep, which could mean more rest for everyone. But the majority don’t have the design elements of the BassiNest that specifically cater to the needs of tired or recovering new parents. And not every smart bassinet lets you change settings on the bassinet or from your phone—especially at this price point. At just under $400, HALO’s connected version of the BassiNest is one of the most affordable smart bassinets you can control with an app.

How the AutoSoothe technology works

HALO’s new smart technology kicks in when your baby starts fussing, and quickly responds with a mix of gentle rocking, vibrations and calming sounds (think: white noise, pink noise, a heartbeat or even flowing water). You can also manually adjust the sounds and motion from the mobile app or on the bassinet’s control panel (See how the soothing starts at the 1:06 mark in the video).

Since babies have different needs and preferences, the soothing sounds and motions that work for your friend’s kid may not necessarily work for yours. But you can play around with over 140 possible combinations of sounds, movements and vibrations to see what your baby responds to, then save it as a favorite setting on both the app and bassinet for future use (Julie does this at 1:34).

If the idea of over 140 combinations has you thinking, hold on, how will I even know where to start? You can cut out the guesswork with the app’s expert-recommended sleep programs for specific age ranges (for example, a newborn preset closely mimics the sounds of the womb, which can come in handy for those first days home). These presets gradually reduce soothing levels as they age (so an infant nearing three months won’t get the same soothing levels as a newborn) which will help ease the transition to a crib. Like most bassinets, the BassiNest Connected version is safe for babies up to 20 pounds or until they are starting to push up, which is typically around five months.

With HALO’s app, you can control the AutoSoothe tech without stepping foot in the room where the baby is sleeping (or should be sleeping). That means if you see or hear them stirring on your monitor, you can adjust the settings remotely to help them settle into a slumber without the risk of causing more disturbance by waking them up or them wanting to be picked up. And if you like to keep your phone tucked away at night, you can just lean over and use the control panel to adjust the features.

What else makes the HALO BassiNest Connected stand out

The BassiNest series was designed for middle-of-the-night convenience while giving your baby a separate sleep space, either inches away or across the room. Here’s how:

  • 360-degree swivel: You can adjust the height and even rest it directly over your mattress (see it swivel at the 2:36 mark in the video), making it easier for you to respond to overnight feedings, dirty diapers and early morning skin-to-skin snuggles. And when you need to get out of bed? Just swivel the bassinet out of the way.

  • One wall lowers down: The retractable wall lowers with a gentle push so you can scoop baby into your arms without uncomfortable bending or twisting (see it at 2:52). This design is unique to the BassiNest (other bedside sleepers require you to zip down the side wall to access the baby) and is especially helpful for parents recovering from a C-section. You can also lock the wall in place so that it won’t accidentally be pushed down. 

  • Fully mesh walls: You can peek at baby from every angle of the room. Having a clear view of their sleep space is a functional and emotional benefit, both for breathability and if you think you’ll be the type to frequently check in on baby for reassurance that they’re safely getting those ZZZs. 

  • Easy cleaning: Your baby might get messy, but you’ll want their bassinet to stay clean. The BassiNest's mesh walls zip right off the frame to go in the washing machine along with your latest load of pajamas. Although the BassiNest also comes with a pad and fitted cotton sheet, you may want to stock up on some replacement sheets to prep for the inevitable spit-up and blowouts.

Who we recommend the HALO BassiNest Connected for

A smart bassinet can make adjusting to life as a new parent easier and, hopefully, more restful. If it’s within your budget, this one gives you flexibility since you can use it with or without the app, adjust the settings to your liking and use the swivel & lowering wall to care for your baby from bed. At $399, the HALO BassiNest Connected is more affordable than other smart bassinets with app connectivity, which can go for as much as $800–$1,600. So if you’re looking for a safe space for your baby to sleep in your room for the first few months, this newest BassiNest could be your bedside BFF. Watch our full video review to see it in action. 

This article is sponsored by HALO. Babylist’s free site, apps and emails are made possible by our sponsors. We limit our sponsored content to relevant partners that offer products and services we believe in and use ourselves.

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