Newborn Won't Sleep in the Bassinet? 7 Things That Help

By the Napling team · · 4 min read

In this guide
  1. Why newborns wake when you put them down
  2. 7 things that help
  3. What not to do
  4. Be gentle with yourself
  5. Quick answers

They’re finally asleep on your chest: heavy, warm and peaceful. You hold your breath, inch towards the bassinet, lower them down ever so gently, and their eyes snap open.

Almost every parent knows this moment. It isn’t a sign you’re doing anything wrong. Your baby is doing exactly what newborns are built to do.

The short answer: newborns wake when put down because arms are warm, moving and close, and a bassinet is cool, still and flat. Wait until they’re deeply asleep, warm the sheet with your hand, lay them down feet first, swaddle safely if they aren’t rolling, and use soft white noise. Always place them on their back on a firm, flat, empty surface.

Why newborns wake when you put them down

They spent nine months being held. In the womb, your baby was warm, snug, rocked and surrounded by sound. Your arms recreate that. A bassinet doesn’t.

The startle reflex. Newborns have a startle (Moro) reflex: a feeling of falling makes their arms fly out, which often wakes them.

Light sleep comes first. Babies usually enter sleep through a light, active stage. Put them down too soon and they wake easily.

The temperature change. Moving from your warm body onto a cool sheet is a jolt.

7 things that help

1. Wait for deep sleep

Give it 10 to 20 minutes after they fall asleep. Look for slow, steady breathing, a still face, and arms that flop when you gently lift them. Then make the move.

2. Warm the sheet with your hand

Rest your hand or forearm on the bassinet sheet while you feed, so it isn’t cold. Don’t use hot water bottles, heated pads or anything left in the bassinet.

3. Lay them down feet first

Lower your baby feet, then bottom, then head last. Keep your body close as you go, so the feeling of falling is gentle. Keep a hand on their chest for a minute or two after they land.

4. Swaddle safely, until they show signs of rolling

A snug, hip-friendly swaddle calms the startle reflex. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises stopping as soon as your baby shows any signs of trying to roll, which can happen from about 2 months. Leave room for the hips to bend, and always place a swaddled baby on their back.

5. Use soft white noise

A steady hum or shushing sound is familiar and soothing, and it masks the creaks and clicks that wake light sleepers. Keep it at a low volume and away from the bassinet.

6. Keep the room dark and comfortable at night

Low light for night feeds, and a comfortable room temperature. The NHS suggests a room of 16 to 20°C (about 61 to 68°F) with light bedding or a baby sleep bag. Overheating is a risk factor for SIDS.

7. Practice when the stakes are low

Try the first nap of the day in the bassinet, when babies often settle most easily. If it doesn’t work, try again another time. Some naps in arms or in the carrier while you’re awake are completely fine.

What not to do

When you’re exhausted, quick fixes are tempting. Please avoid these, which the AAP and NHS warn against:

  • Pillows, bumpers, positioners, wedges or soft toys in the sleep space
  • Inclined sleepers or letting your baby sleep in a car seat, swing or bouncer for long stretches outside the car
  • Falling asleep with your baby on a sofa or armchair

The AAP safe sleep guide covers the full set of recommendations.

Be gentle with yourself

Some babies take to the bassinet in a few days, others take weeks. Short stretches count. A baby who sleeps 40 minutes in the bassinet is making progress, even if the next nap is in your arms. It also helps to notice whether the protests are worse when your baby is overtired, and to understand day-night confusion, which can make nights especially hard in the first weeks.

Logging sleep can help you spot what’s working: which naps went well in the bassinet, and how long they’d been awake first. Napling makes that a single tap, even one-handed with a baby on your chest.

Quick answers

Is it OK for my newborn to nap on me? Contact naps while you’re awake and alert are fine and lovely. If you feel yourself getting drowsy, move your baby to their bassinet.

When will my baby sleep better in the bassinet? Many babies settle more easily after the first 6 to 8 weeks, as the startle reflex fades and sleep becomes more organized.

Should I let my newborn cry in the bassinet? Newborns need responsive care. Comforting them quickly is right at this age.