BabyBjörn Baby Cradle review: does this premium rocking cradle justify the price tag?

In the early newborn months, many parents want a lightweight sleep space they can keep close by during daytime naps around the home, and the BabyBjörn Baby Cradle is designed to do exactly that.

Designed for babies up to 6 months old (up to 8kg), this compact cradle RRPs at £269.90 and sits in the premium price bracket. Lightweight in its design, it can be picked up and placed anywhere in your home, or quickly dismantled at the twist of two screws and folded near flat for your travels.

Unlike bedside cribs or traditional Moses baskets, the BabyBjörn Baby Cradle is a standalone rocking sleep space designed to mimic the movement of a pram.

The BabyBjörn Baby Cradle is available from BabyBjörn and Natural Baby Shower

How easy is the BabyBjörn baby cradle to assemble and set up?

The cradle is pretty easy to set up and the picture-led instructions were simple to follow. Taking just under 10 minutes, all you need to do is unbox the nearly ready-made cradle and carefully screw in two screws.

If, like me, flatpack furniture is not your forte, you will need an extra pair of hands to help line up the screws with the holes on either side.

How firm is the BabyBjörn baby cradle mattress?

The mattress is firm. When pressing my hands down on it, it resists pressure and springs back into shape. When placing my daughter in the cradle, it does the same.

The mattress feels firm and supportive, which is what you want for newborn sleep.

Is the BabyBjörn baby cradle comfortable for newborns?

My daughter was very settled in the cradle, and she slept well in it for her daytime naps. Over the course of three weeks, she napped in the cradle for anywhere between 20 minutes and an hour and a half.

I think that’s partly because the cradle feels quite compact, so when she spreads her arms out, she can feel the gentle fabric on the side. She loves a contact nap, so I believe the BabyBjörn Baby Cradle helped her feel safe and secure enough to fall asleep – and stay asleep!

Another brilliant feature is the 360-degree mesh sides, which allow for great breathability, air flow and visibility. This meant I could see my daughter from across the room – and she could see me. This gave me reassurance while she was sleeping nearby.

How effective is the rocking motion?

The rocking motion is very effective. You can rock the cradle with just a finger or two. And every time my daughter wriggled or stirred to get into a different sleeping position, she could initiate the gentle rocking motion herself.

This rocking motion felt gentle and controlled, even when my little one had reached 14 weeks and started kicking her legs with vigour!

Is the BabyBjörn baby cradle practical for everyday use?

The BabyBjörn Baby Cradle is very practical for putting your baby down asleep. When I placed my daughter in the cradle when she was already asleep, any gentle rocking motion once she stirred helped to soothe her and stay settled.

Whereas when I put her in the cradle when she was awake, she would often kick her legs to trigger the rocking motion herself.

To make the cradle even cosier, you can purchase a canopy separately (£69.90). I found this helpful for blocking out the light in certain rooms during her daytime sleep.

Is the BabyBjörn Baby Cradle suitable for overnight sleep?

It is, but personally speaking, at 65cm high, I found the cradle a little too low for sleeping at night. That’s because it didn’t match the height of my taller mattress, and you aren’t able to adjust the cradle's height. This meant that I couldn’t reach out and soothe my little one if needed without sitting up and getting out of bed.

However, during her daytime naps, I found the BabyBjörn Baby Cradle easy enough to lift my daughter in and out of.

How easy is the BabyBjörn baby cradle to move around the home?

Very! The cradle doesn’t come with a carry handle but it weighs just 6kg. And when in use, it doesn’t take up any more space than it needs to, as it’s 58cm x 79cm.

This meant it was perfect for popping in my small living room and dining room if I was staying close by. However, I took it upstairs a couple of times fully assembled, which proved to be a bit of a faff to manoeuvre around my winding stairs.

What I really like is that if you wanted to take this cradle to a friend’s or a family member's house (or keep in storage for a future baby), you can unscrew the two screws, and it folds up to just 13cm.

Is the BabyBjörn baby cradle safe and stable?

Seeing as the cradle only weighs 6kg, I was dubious about how stable it would be. But having used it for three weeks and placed my 5kg baby in it, it felt stable in daily use.

Though my daughter eventually managed to gently rock the cradle herself, the older she got, there was no chance of it falling over.

It comes with sturdy anti-slip feet which is a blessing on my wooden floors and the legs are made from wood and steel.

The mattress cover is 100% cotton and the mesh is 100% polyester.

I felt confident using it for supervised daytime naps. I just made sure I placed this in quiet corners of my home (and not in walkways!).

How easy is the BabyBjörn baby cradle to clean?

The cradle comes in an aesthetically pleasing white colourway, which means it will fit in with most people’s decor.

The mesh cradle fabric, mattress cover and mattress are all machine washable. And it’s quite easy to do so.

To take the cradle cover off, you just need to unzip two zips (one at the top of the crib and the other at the bottom). My daughter used this daily and I washed it weekly (if not more, depending on whether there were any spillages or leaks). Stains came out every time and the fabrics were quick to dry, so they could be hung out and used in time for her next nap.

What’s in the box?

• 1 x BabyBjörn Cradle
• Two screws
• Allen key

How sustainable and durable is the BabyBjörn baby cradle?

The lightweight BabyBjörn Baby Cradle feels durable and could definitely be used for another child.

Having said that, the compact design makes it easy to move around the home, but it also limits how long you'll be able to use it. My daughter was just over three months old at the time we started using this cradle. And by the time she was four months old, it didn’t look like she would get much more use out of the cradle.

Coming in just one cardboard box, all the materials used to guarantee the cradle’s safe arrival can be recycled.

Is the BabyBjörn baby cradle worth the money?

Yes, if you have a newborn or a small baby who favours a gentle rocking motion and consistently falls asleep in their pram bassinet. This compact cradle is like having a moving pushchair indoors, and will last up to 6 months or 8kg — although in practice some babies may outgrow it earlier.

However, if you have a tall baby, your baby is close to 8kg (or sitting) or you want to invest in a cradle that’s more likely to last the full recommended six months, your money is best spent elsewhere.

Where can I buy the BabyBjörn Baby Cradle?

It is available from BabyBjörn and Natural Baby Shower

MadeForMums verdict:

Quiet, smooth and compact, the BabyBjörn Baby Cradle became my baby's preferred daytime nap space. I was particularly impressed by the smooth rocking motion and the fact that my daughter could gently rock it herself.

But at four months, she has nearly outgrown the cradle. And I found it to be too low (as it’s not adjustable) for overnight sleep. The cradle is also quite expensive. So if you are on a budget, there are more affordable options around.

Therefore, I’d recommend this to parents who have small newborns who love motion – as the BabyBjörn Baby Cradle will gently help little dreamers settle for daytime naps right by your side or in your eye line.

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