5 rock n play alternatives

If you found yourself pregnant or with a young baby in the midst of (or after!) the Rock ‘N Play recall, you may be on the hunt for an alternative for your Baby Registry

I had (and loved!) the recalled device for my first two babies. Annd then I sold it at a garage sale thinking I may not have a third. Now that I’m pregnant again I’ve been wondering what I’m going to do without our beloved Rock N Play!

We relied on that thing.

Our babies slept in it beside our bed for a few weeks and then transitioned into their cribs. And then after using it as a bassinet, we went on to still use that Rock N Play for several months. For travel, naps, letting baby hang out while showering, cooking dinner (or binge watching Netflix…).

I had the newest version in my Amazon cart and I was 4 months along with baby #3 when they were removed from the market. Ah oh!

Not going to lie, I went into a researching frenzy a few late nights.

Baby product research is my special kind of crazy nesting.

My first inclination was just to buy a used Rock N Play and be diligent and safe with usage. Then I found it seemed to be taboo to sell them because I found limited listings.

I even reached out to one woman on Facebook who said she regretted listing hers and had decided to break it apart. The horror! (I mean I get it, but still.)

Onto a Rock N Play Alternative

Here’s what I knew I wanted:

• super lightweight and portable
• slightly inclined
• raised off the floor (aka up away from young siblings and dog)
• deemed safe with a lot of mesh in the design
• a stylish design and affordable price didn’t hurt either!

I found options on Amazon and STALKED the reviews. Here are the top 5 alternatives to save you from hours of research!

5. Fisher Price has a related product,the Fisher-Price Rock ‘n Play Portable Bassinet, on the market that is a solid alternative. The rocking and folding mechanisms are similar, but no incline. While I don’t like to risk the baby becoming hooked on such a sleeping position for the long run, it does help them early on, especially if refluxy! I prefer to use the help of the incline and transition to flat. If incline isn’t a deal breaker for you, this is an affordable and foldable rocking bassinet with 4.5/5 stars on Amazon.

4. The hiccapop Day Dreamer Sleeper Baby Lounger checks a lot of boxes. It’s inclined and super portable and lightweight. It does not rock or fold up, though, and it’s just too low to the ground for our environment that involves curious little boys and a dog that will lick you death. It’s a little pricier than some options on my list, but may be a great alternative depending on what your needs are. Comes highly recommended with 4.5/5 stars on Amazon. *UPDATE – no longer available on Amazon I presume due to the incline. The Boppy Lounger is a similar product with great reviews, but definitely not intendd for sleep.

3. The most expensive on my list, the Graco DreamGlider Gliding Swing and Sleeper comes with a lot of features. You get incline, gliding, a safe mesh surround and even a little mobile. This one didn’t make the cut for me due to lack of portability and price but I do think it looks like a great option for some, especially if you intend to leave it strictly by your bed for a few months. 4/5 stars for this one!

2. This SwaddleMe by Your Bed Sleeper was a very close second for me. I love almost everything about it– it’s safe with mesh, it’s affordable, it keeps baby up and away from the dog, it rocks, and it has an incline OR flat option with adjustments in-between. But, I was slightly deterred by the base design and unsure I could cart it around my house as easily as I had the Rock N Play. Overall this is a top alternative option! 4/5 stars on Amazon. *UPDATE – This product has been removed from most retailers. No recall yet but the incline has been deemed unsafe. They do sell this lay flat option that may work well for you!

1. The Baby Delight Go with Me Sway Portable Infant Rocker was the winner for me. It’s the most similar in price and design to the Rock N Play. Perks are: it’s inclined, it’s portable and folds up like a bag chair for travel, it’s got a ton of breathable mesh, and it’s even easy on the eyes. This stylish rocker/sleeper is already at my house awaiting assembly–no more stress! It doesn’t have a ton of reviews but they are all 5/5 stars. *UPDATE – Inclined loungers are dropping like flies! We have and used this…it appears to be available for sale but not on Amazon. They may have just made a decision to remove any incline item with the recent publishings.

If you’ve been stressing about the sleeping situation for your new baby now that everyone’s favorite lounger is no more, I hope you find the perfect option in one of these 5 alternatives to the Rock ‘N Play.

** Note that I am by no means qualified to tell you what is safe for your baby. I feel better with a mesh surround so those items got “safe points” from me. Flat on their back in their own crib is the way to go. At our household we typically make it there within a few weeks. My hunt for a great “sleeper” was more about a portable place to lay our awake baby when we have our hands full doing other tasks.

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