When should I move my baby from a bassinet to a crib?

When your baby reaches the bassinet's weight or height limit or starts rolling over, often around 3 to 6 months. If rolling starts first, switch right away, because a bassinet is no longer safe once a baby can roll, even below the weight limit.

What is the bassinet weight limit?

Most bassinets cap around 15 to 20 pounds, but limits vary by model. Always follow the limit printed in your bassinet's manual, since that number is specific to your product.

Can I keep the crib in my room?

Yes. The AAP recommends room-sharing without bed-sharing for at least the first 6 months. A crib or play yard in your room is a safe way to move out of the bassinet before using a separate nursery.

Should I stop swaddling when I move to a crib?

Stop swaddling as soon as your baby shows signs of rolling, which often happens around the same time as this move. A swaddled baby who rolls to the stomach is at higher risk. Switch to a sleep sack with arms free.

Sleep

Moving Your Baby from Bassinet to Crib

I’ve been holding him for two hours, but the second I put him in the bassinet he wakes up screaming — how do I get him down? Move your baby to a crib once they hit the bassinet's weight limit or start rolling or pushing up, which is often around 3 to 6 months. Switch as soon as rolling begins, even if the weight limit is not reached, because a bassinet is no longer safe then. Keep every safe-sleep rule and make the move in small steps.

6 min read Sleep Updated June 2026

When to make the move

The bassinet has a shorter shelf life than many parents expect. The two signals that it is time for a crib are your baby reaching the bassinet's stated weight or height limit, often around 15 to 20 pounds depending on the model, or your baby starting to roll over or push up on hands and knees. Most babies hit one of these between about 3 and 6 months, though it varies.

Rolling is the firmer of the two limits. Once a baby can roll, a bassinet's smaller, higher-sided space is no longer safe, so switch to a crib right away even if the weight limit has not been reached. Always check your specific bassinet's manual, since limits differ by product and the manufacturer's number is the one that counts.

Signs it's time for the crib

Move to a crib when you see any of these:

Your baby reaches the bassinet's weight or height limit listed by the manufacturer
Your baby starts rolling over or pushing up onto hands and knees
Your baby can sit up or pull to stand
Your baby looks cramped or bumps the sides of the bassinet
Your baby has outgrown the bassinet even though they are not yet at the official limit

Bassinet vs crib readiness

Use whichever limit comes first; rolling overrides the weight limit.
Factor	Stay in bassinet	Move to crib
Weight / height	Under the manufacturer's limit	At or near the limit
Rolling over	Not yet rolling	Rolling has started (move now)
Pushing up / sitting	Not yet	Pushing up, sitting, or pulling to stand
Typical age	Newborn to ~3-4 months	Often ~3-6 months, varies

Keep safe sleep the same

The crib setup follows the same safe-sleep rules as the bassinet, so nothing about safety relaxes with the bigger bed. Put your baby down on their back for every sleep, on a firm, flat, non-inclined mattress with a fitted sheet, and keep the crib bare: no pillows, blankets, bumpers, stuffed toys, or weighted products. The AAP recommends room-sharing without bed-sharing for at least the first 6 months, so a crib or play yard in your room is a good option before the nursery.

If your baby has been swaddled, stop swaddling once they show any sign of rolling, which often coincides with this move; a swaddled baby who rolls to the stomach is at higher risk. Transition to a sleep sack instead so arms are free. A crib that meets current safety standards with a tight-fitting mattress is what you want, not an older or recalled model.

How to ease the transition

A gradual approach helps a baby used to a smaller space settle in a crib:

Start with naps in the crib for a few days so the new space feels familiar before nights
Keep the same bedtime routine and sleep cues you already use
Put the crib in your room first if you are still room-sharing, then move it to the nursery later
Make the room dark and use white noise to recreate the cozy feel of the bassinet
Lay your baby down drowsy but awake so they learn to settle in the new space
Give it several nights; some unsettled sleep at first is normal

Check with your pediatrician if

Your baby is rolling but you are unsure how to keep sleep safe through the change
Your baby was premature or has a medical condition affecting sleep or breathing
Sleep becomes severely disrupted for more than a couple of weeks after the move
You are unsure whether a hand-me-down or older crib meets current safety standards
Your baby snores loudly, gasps, or pauses breathing during sleep

Reflects AAP 2022 safe-sleep recommendations and CDC safe-sleep guidance, current through 2024-2026.

Sources & further reading

ParentFlow: one free app, newborn to age six

ParentFlow is a free baby tracker that logs feeds, sleep, diapers, pumping and growth in one tap, with your daily summary, trends, and reminders based on your own logs. Free for everyday tracking on iPhone, Android, and the web.

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This article reflects current AAP, CDC, FDA, and other public-health guidance and is for educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice. ParentFlow is a wellness companion — not a substitute for your pediatrician. For any medical concern, contact your healthcare provider.