In Depth Baby Product Reviews Led by a Pediatrician

Lotus Bassinet Review

Versatile free-standing bassinet you can use for travel
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lotus bassinet
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Price:  $300 List
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Manufacturer:   Guava Family
By Juliet Spurrier, MD and Wendy Schmitz  ⋅  Jan 20, 2019
62
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#7 of 13
  • Ease of Use - 35% 5.0
  • Breathability - 25% 9.0
  • Sleep Surface - 20% 4.0
  • Quality - 15% 7.0
  • Eco-Health - 5% 6.0

The Skinny

The Lotus Bassinet is a free-standing sleeper that works in conjunction with the Lotus Travel Crib. This bassinet has breathable mesh sides and uses Greenguard Gold standard certification materials creating a healthier sleep environment that you can keep near your bedside. The Lotus is a high-quality product that feels sturdy and durable, and we think parents will love that it can be used as a travel crib as well. The Lotus is easy to set up and can be moved from room to room without much trouble. This product may not be the best option if you want to stay in bed and reach baby in the bassinet, but if you are looking for a versatile product with a stand-alone bassinet, then the Lotus may be a good pick for your baby.
REASONS TO BUY
Breathable mesh
Travel crib
Machine washable
REASONS TO AVOID
Not a co-sleeper
Harder to move room to room

Compare to Similar Products

 
lotus bassinet
This Product
Lotus Bassinet
Awards Top Pick Award Editors' Choice Award Editors' Choice Award Best Value Award Editors' Choice Award 
Price $300 List$220 List
$220.00 at Amazon
$290 List$220 List
$179.99 at Amazon
$200 List
Overall Score Sort Icon
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78
78
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73
Star Rating
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Pros Breathable mesh, travel crib, machine washableBudget-friendly, super accessible and portableNatural materials available, adjustable height, easy to reach babyQuick setup, portable, easy access to babyMesh breathability, swivel versatility, easy access to baby bedside
Cons Not a co-sleeper, harder to move room to roomNot as eco-healthy, frustrating setupExpensive, hard to moveHas some flex in the frameSpot clean only, hard to move from room to room
Bottom Line Versatile free-standing bassinet you can use for travelGreat portable co-sleeping bassinet with a nice priceEasy access to baby in a quality wood co-sleeper that looks greatOur favorite bassinet for most people works well as either a co-sleeper and a stand-alone optionGreat for c-section moms and parents who'd like a safer alternative to co-sleeping
Rating Categories Lotus Bassinet Arm's Reach Clear-V... babybay Bedside Sle... Baby Delight Beside... HALO BassiNest Esse...
Ease of Use (35%)
5.0
8.0
6.0
8.0
6.0
Breathability (25%)
9.0
7.0
10.0
8.0
8.0
Sleep Surface (20%)
4.0
9.0
7.0
8.0
8.0
Quality (15%)
7.0
8.0
10.0
7.0
9.0
Eco-Health (5%)
6.0
5.0
6.0
5.0
5.0
Specs Lotus Bassinet Arm's Reach Clear-V... babybay Bedside Sle... Baby Delight Beside... HALO BassiNest Esse...
Assembled Weight 13.8 lbs 22.1 lbs 28.6 lbs 17.5 lbs 33 lbs
Open Dimensions 25.5"H x 47.9"L x 32.1"W 34.8"H x 34.5"L x 20.3"W 37.1"H x 36"L x 20.7"W 26"-30.5"H x 39"L x 27"W 36.9"H x 45.3"L (base) 33.8" (bassinet) x 21.8"W (bassinet)
Age/Height/Weight Limit 18 lbs
Discontinue Use When Infant:
Pushes Up On Hands And Knees
5 Months or 18 lbs
Discontinue Use When Infant:
Pushes Up On Hands And Knees
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 20 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, Pulls Up, Rolls Over, Sit Unassisted, Can Move Out Of The Security Of The Walled Sleep Area
Product Care Machine Wash Mattress: Wipe Clean
Mattress Sheet: Machine Wash
Metal Frame: Wipe Clean
Lining: Machine Wash
Wipe Down Machine Wash Sheet: Machine Wash
Base and Mattress: Spot Clean
Bassinet Mattress Height Above Floor 17.9" 19.5"-25.5"
Adult Mattress Height
24"-30"
3"-27"
Adult Mattress Height
10"-31"
14" - 19"
Adult Mattress Height
18.5"-24"
26.5"-33"
Special Features Rocking-to-Stationary Base Adjustable Legs Made From Solid Wood Foldable Rotates 360 Degrees, Sidewall Lowers
Modes Portable Bassinet
Bedside Sleeper
Bedside Sleeper Bedside Sleeper
Bassinet
Bassinet
Bedside Sleeper
Chemical Flame Retardant Free Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Portable Design Yes No No Yes No
Wheels No Yes No Yes No
Mesh Sides Yes - Full Partial - Fabric in Corners Wood Slats Yes - Full Yes - Full
Included Accessories Fitted Sheet Fitted Sheet None Sheet Fitted Sheet
Available Accessories Organic Cotton Fitted Sheet, Fitted Sheet, Bassinet Replacement Mattress Arm's Reach® Clear-Vue™ Au Naturel Mattress Pad, Puppy Luv Music Box, Replacement Strap and Plate Classic Mattress, Cooling Comfort Mattress, Eco-Organic Mattress, Cloud Comfort Mattress, Cooling Comfort Jersey Sheet, Snuggle Comfort Terry Sheet, Dry Comfort Mattress Protector, Classic Comfort Mattress Pad with Cotton Cover, Cooling Comfort Mattress Pad with Dry Comfort Mattress Protector, Organic Comfort Mattress Pad with Dry Comfort Mattress Protector, Cloud Comfort Mattress Pad with Dry Comfort Mattress Protector, babybay Organic Babynest, babybay Patterned Babynest, babybay Solid Colored Babynest, Bassinet Conversion Kit, Rolling Casters, Canopy Holder, Organic Canopy, Patterned Canopy, Solid Colored Canopy, Bed Frame Anchor, babycare Organizer Waterproof Fitted Sheet Fitted Sheet, Mattress Pad, Mobile Sleepy Owl, Mobile Whimsical Birds, Storage Caddy, Newborn Insert
Set Up Time 10:47 29:20 (58:34 total with redo) 39:14 6:50 27:10
Materials 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. Strong Nylon Cloth, Cotton Polyester Blend, Nylon Woven Strapping, Polyurethane Foam Beechwood, Water-Based Finishes, CFC Polyurethane Foam Polyester, Polyester Fiber Batting Polyester Fiber, Polyester Fiber Batting, Polyurethane Foam

Our Analysis and Test Results

lotus bassinet - the lotus bassinet is an attachment accessory for the lotus travel...
The Lotus bassinet is an attachment accessory for the Lotus Travel Criband is therefore very portable.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Guava is a family run business oriented towards making parents' lives more comfortable and efficient. The company believes that "life should be spent together." Their designers create gear with safety and ease of use in mind. The Guava company believes that products need to be safe enough for their kids before they offer for others. Guava puts their gear through third-party testing when it is possible and use high-quality materials whenever possible.

To use the Lotus Travel Crib as a bassinet, you MUST purchase the travel crib and the bassinet conversion kit either as a bundle or separately.

Performance Comparison


lotus bassinet - the lotus bassinet is more difficult to use than much of the...
The Lotus bassinet is more difficult to use than much of the dedicated bassinets we tested.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Ease of Use


The Lotus bassinet earned an average score for ease of use.


These are functions and features that impact your daily use of the bassinet.

lotus bassinet - you can reach inside the lotus while still in bed, but it is more...
You can reach inside the Lotus while still in bed, but it is more difficult than the true co-sleepers we tested.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Accessibility


The overall larger size makes this one hard to use right by your bed. The depth of the bassinet is shallow compared to the competition and lower than most making it hard to reach from your bed even if you manage to situate closer to you. This option works best as a free-standing bassinet.

lotus bassinet - it is difficult to get the legs of the lotus through most interior...
It is difficult to get the legs of the Lotus through most interior doorways but they do move inward at the hinge points to make it easier.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Portability/Mobility


With a weight of 13.9 lbs, the Lotus is relatively light. It measures 25.5"H x 47.9"L x 32.1"W when open, which makes it somewhat wide for interior doorways, but the legs can bend in, or you can tilt the frame to walk it through the door. It doesn't have wheels, but it is still light enough to move from room to room if you need too. It is, however, great for travel. It folds easily and fits inside a travel bag with backpack style straps.

lotus bassinet - the wide legs on the lotus can be unlocked and bent to fit the...
The wide legs on the Lotus can be unlocked and bent to fit the bassinet through doorways.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Additional Features


This bassinet is a travel crib at heart and comes with a carry bag so you can take the Lotus on the road with you.

Ease of Setup


It took us 10 minutes and 47 seconds to turn the Lotus from a travel crib to a bassinet. If you purchased this product as a travel crib (which you likely have), you must remove the fabric of the crib from the frame and attach the more shallow bassinet attachment to the top rails.

Cleaning


The fabric on the Lotus is removable and machine-washable but must hang to dry. You can clean the frame by wiping it with a wet towel, using a mild soap if needed.

lotus bassinet - the lotus has mesh material sides for breathability.
The Lotus has mesh material sides for breathability.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Breathability


The Lotus earned an exceptional score for breathability.


This product has mesh sidewalls, four nylon straps on each side, and a fabric roll over the top. The part that baby will come in contact with is very breathable, and we don't feel the straps pose a risk given their smaller width.

lotus bassinet - the mattress pad on the lotus bassinet is thicker than the other...
The mattress pad on the Lotus bassinet is thicker than the other travel crib options in the bassinet review.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Sleep Surface


The Lotus earned a relatively low score for its sleeping surface.


The Lotus bassinet mattress is one inch thick (the maximum allowed) and highly compressible. It shifts in the frame despite a Velcro connection, and the mesh on the sides of the mattress gives when we press on it.

lotus bassinet - the lotus mattress attaches to the sleeping area with strips of...
The Lotus mattress attaches to the sleeping area with strips of Velcro that keep it from shifting during use.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Quality


The Lotus scored slightly above average for quality. We feel that the quality of this bassinet is good for the price; only one other product we reviewed came out with a higher score at a lower price.


Both the mesh and the fabric on the crib seem very solid and durable. We didn't notice any loose stitching or possible issues with the material. The stitching attaching the handles to the travel bag did begin to stretch from the weight of the crib after minimal use, and this could potentially become a problem down the road. The frame does have a slight wobble if bumped, but it holds steady when you press on the top rails.

lotus bassinet - the lotus is made using materials that are more natural or limit...
The Lotus is made using materials that are more natural or limit off-gassing compared to the competition.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Eco-health


The Lotus earned one of the highest scores in the group for eco-health. However, this is a metric where the bassinets all struggled, and we were not very confident in the ability of any of them to offer truly eco-healthy options.


This product is GREENGUARD GOLD certified in the world of chemical emissions standards. It is guaranteed to be free of harmful substances such as lead, PVC, Phthalates, Formaldehyde, and Heavy Metals, which is a level of responsibility not shared by all of the competition. The Lotus meets all the flame retardant standards without using additional chemicals, which helped its eco-health score. However, the vague language of their email response of not "adding" chemicals made us wonder if the materials come to them already treated as they did not say "chemical-free". Guava offers more transparency on their product content and production than most of the competition, which is something we like to see when it comes to any baby gear, but feel is more important with products that will be so close to baby so frequently.

This bassinet earned points for the GreenGuard certification and the lack of added chemicals. Still, we don't appreciate the use of polyurethane and vague language potentially intended to mislead parents or "greenwash" the product. They do state the mattress is "low VOC," but given the lack of standard definitions of this phrase, we are still left wondering what this means and feel a natural mattress would be better.

Manufacturer Video



Juliet Spurrier, MD and Wendy Schmitz
 

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