In Depth Baby Product Reviews Led by a Pediatrician
We buy all the products we test — no freebies from companies. If you purchase through our links, we may earn a commission, which helps support our testing.
The HALO BassiNest Essentia is a versatile and adjustable bassinet that is great for mothers with c-sections and parents looking for a bedside bassinet for a safer co-sleeping environment. We like the breathable mesh fabric in the sleeping area of this product and the dip side access that makes reaching your baby a breeze. The height of this bassinet adjusts to most beds, and we think parents will love that it can swivel around and smoothly moves when you need to get out of bed. With a reasonable price point, there isn't much to dislike about this bassinet, and we think it is an excellent choice for most families and an especially wise choice for mothers with limited mobility.
REASONS TO BUY
Mesh breathability
Swivel versatility
Easy access to baby bedside
REASONS TO AVOID
Spot clean only
Hard to move from room to room
The HALO BassiNest Essentia series was discontinued and replaced by the BassiNest 3.0. The BassiNest 3.0 includes some features from the Essentia, like the swivel for closeness, lowering walls, and the ability to adjust the height. Its redesign incorporates a 2-in-1 system that transforms from bedside sleeper to portable lounger for naps around the house. It also has a sleeker silhouette, and its base is 30% lighter. We are now linking to the BassiNest 3.0 and hope to test it soon.
Safer alternative to co-sleeping and perfect for moms with c-sections
Functional wood bassinet you can use from your bed
Good choice for co-sleeping that is easy to move from room to room
Good for co-sleeping and a free-standing bassinet for most families
Mesh surround bassinet you can also use for travel
Rating Categories
HALO BassiNest Esse...
babybay Bedside Sle...
Arm's Reach Clear-V...
Baby Delight Beside...
Lotus Bassinet
Ease of Use(35%)
6.0
6.0
8.0
8.0
5.0
Breathability(25%)
8.0
10.0
7.0
8.0
9.0
Sleep Surface(20%)
8.0
7.0
9.0
8.0
4.0
Quality(15%)
9.0
10.0
8.0
7.0
7.0
Eco-Health(5%)
5.0
6.0
5.0
5.0
6.0
Specs
HALO BassiNest Esse...
babybay Bedside Sle...
Arm's Reach Clear-V...
Baby Delight Beside...
Lotus Bassinet
Assembled Weight
33 lbs
28.6 lbs
22.1 lbs
17.5 lbs
13.8 lbs
Open Dimensions
36.9"H x 45.3"L (base) 33.8" (bassinet) x 21.8"W (bassinet)
37.1"H x 36"L x 20.7"W
34.8"H x 34.5"L x 20.3"W
26"-30.5"H x 39"L x 27"W
25.5"H x 47.9"L x 32.1"W
Age/Height/Weight Limit
5 Months or 20 lbs Discontinue Use When Infant:
Pushes Up On Hands And Knees, Pulls Up, Rolls Over, Sit Unassisted, Can Move Out Of The Security Of The Walled Sleep Area
5 Months Discontinue Use When Infant:
Pushes Up On Hands And Knees
Discontinue As An Attachable Baby Bed When Infant:
Rolls Over Or Pulls Up To A Kneeling, Sitting Or Standing Position
5 Months or 18 lbs Discontinue Use When Infant:
Pushes Up On Hands And Knees
5 Months or 20 lbs Discontinue Use When Infant:
Pushes Up On Hands And Knees
18 lbs Discontinue Use When Infant:
Pushes Up On Hands And Knees
high-grade, low-voc polyurethane foam, and is covered with polyurethane coated polyester fabric on the top and polyester fabric on the bottom. The integrated mattress base is made of rigid polyethylene plastic. We do not add chemical flame retardants.
Show full specification details ▼Hide full specification details ▲
Our Analysis and Test Results
The HALO Bassinest Essentia is a unique side sleeper that can swivel over the bed for superior access to your bad bedside.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
In 1991, Bill and Cathy Schmid lost their daughter, Haley, to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). After the loss, Bill began researching the latest medical information and recommendations for safe sleeping environments for babies to help other families avoid the same tragedy. As an engineer, Bill became devoted to creating new ways to limit sleep risks. With the loose fabric risk in mind, he started HALO Innovations and developed the SleepSack Wearable Blanket. The SleepSack is sleeveless and worn over pajamas replacing blankets and other bedding. The HALO SleepSack is the nation's bestselling wearable blanket and is used in hospitals nationwide. As an advocate for safe sleep, HALO continues to use innovation to create safer products, including their Swivel Sleeper bassinet that lets parents sleep close to their baby while reducing the risks of bed-sharing.
Performance Comparison
The locking mechanism for the HALO side wall is hidden under the frame fabric but still easy to access.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Ease of Use
The HALO came in close to average for ease of use.
This metric includes the features and functionality you will encounter in the everyday use of your bassinet.
It is easy to reach in for little ones when using the HALO bedside.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Accessibility
This bassinet is one of the best options for accessibility. The bottom of the stand can slide under your bed, and the height is adjustable to fit your preference.
The side wall on the HALO can lock in place or be dipped down for easier access to baby while you are in bed.
You can adjust the height of the Halo for your specific bed or needs. This helps get baby closer to you or makes reaching into the bassinet easier.
If that isn't enough, it swivels 360 degrees, so it is accessible both from the bed and a standing position. The side dips down slightly for better access to your baby when lying down. This dip makes it an excellent choice for C-sections mothers who will want to avoid getting out of bed or lifting their baby while standing. The height also easily adjusts to match the parent bed.
The HALO has a sturdy metal base that makes it very stable but difficult to move on a regular basis.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Portability/Mobility
This product weighs 33 lbs, measures 36.9"H x 45.3"L (base) 33.8" (bassinet) x 21.8"W (bassinet), and has no wheels. This weight and size make it heavy and awkward to move regularly, so you'll want to set it up where you plan to use it and leave it there. It also isn't good for travel, but it doesn't claim to be, nor does it need to be.
The HALO has a mesh side pocket for storage but it isn't large enough for the items you may really need like diapers and wipes. It will fit a pacifier and diaper creme.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Additional Features
The Essentia model only comes with storage caddies on each end of the bassinet. For additional features, HALO has three other variations of the Bassinest, with a wide variety of included options from baby soother centers to waterproof mattress pads.
Ease of Setup
It took about 27 minutes to set this bassinet up for use, and unpacking the parts consumed almost half of that time. The assembly requires attaching the legs to the base, connecting the sidewalls, and clicking in the bassinet. It looks much worse than it is and is relatively easy to put together.
Cleaning
Unlike the BabyBjorn Cradle with machine-washable fabric and mattress, this product allows spot cleaning only, including the mesh and bedding. The bed and frame wipe clean without a hassle, but a blowout or spit-up on the mesh will be a more significant undertaking.
The sides of the HALO are primarily made of a mesh material for good breathability.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Breathability
The HALO earned an excellent score for breathability.
This product has mesh side walls with two seven-inch panels of fabric, one at the head and one at the foot of the bassinet. This design is similar to the BabyBjorn Cradle, which has two four-inch panels. There is also an additional strip of fabric in the middle of one side. Both the mesh and fabric are taut and do not appear as though they would impede or limit breathability.
The sleep surface of the HALO performed well compared to the competition.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Sleep Surface
The HALO has a superb sleeping surface. It earned one of the highest scores in the metric.
The mattress on the HALO is .8 inches thick, where the maximum allowed is 1 inch. This mattress is the firmest in the group with the least amount of compression in our tests. This perk will keep your baby comfortable while still providing a safe and stable place for them to sleep.
The HALO mattress is the least compressible option we tested offering more support for your infant's body.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
This limited compression could translate to potentially better support for little bodies. The bassinet is very stable and has a tiny tilt when you press on the sidebars. The side is designed to do this and doesn't impact the bassinet's overall stability.
We weren't really able to fit fingers between the mattress and the side wall of the HALO.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
The mattress pad fits snuggly inside the bassinet frame, and we are unable to get many fingers in the crack compared to the competition.
We were impressed with the quality of the materials used to construct the HALO and the apparent attention to detail in the manufacturing process.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Quality
The HALO earned an outstanding score for quality. It is one of the best in the group and stands out with very few bassinets earning a higher quality score at a lower price.
This product has a stable design with sturdy metal legs that allow for tilting and swiveling without concern. It also has smooth edges, taut mesh, and no imperfections with apparent attention to detail. The overall fit and finish are simple, functional, and clean.
Because your baby will spend so much time sleeping, it is good that HALO has used some healthier materials in the construction of this bassinet.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Eco-Health
The HALO earned a score for eco-health, which is slightly below the high of 6 for the group. Thanks to the use of polyurethane foam in all of the bassinets, none performed that well in this metric.
This product is JPMA certified and conforms to ASTM F2906-11, ASTM F2194-12a, CPSC, Health Canada, SOR/2010-261 (Canada). HALO describes the materials used in this bassinet as:
"The polyurethane foam mattress pad and fabrics used in the BassiNest Swivel Sleeper do not contain any toxic flame retardants. Additionally, all the plastic and paints used on the Bassin=Nest are lead, phthalate, and BPA-free. The BassiNest is independently tested and certified to meet all Consumer Product Safety Administration and California chemical standards for flame retardants."
This bassinet earned points for the lack of flame retardants, but the foam type and lack of third-party certifications hurt it in the end.
Remember a Crib
Your little one might be best suited for a bassinet at birth, but eventually, all babies outgrow their bassinet and need a favorite baby crib to call their own.
