Our Story
Bassinet AU was born in 2024 from a simple frustration that every new Australian parent understands: finding trustworthy, locally-relevant information about baby sleep products is surprisingly difficult. When our founder, Sarah Henderson, was expecting her first child in Melbourne, she spent countless hours researching bassinets online, only to find that most reviews were written for American or European audiences. Products that were highly recommended overseas often weren't even available in Australia, and those that were had different pricing, specifications, or safety certifications.
Sarah connected with other parents in her local mothers' group who shared the same challenge. Together with Michelle Kowalski, a certified infant sleep consultant based in Sydney, and James Thompson, a father of three and former product testing engineer from Brisbane, they decided to create the resource they wished had existed: a comprehensive, Australian-focused guide to choosing the right bassinet.
What started as a shared Google Doc among friends quickly grew into something bigger. Parents from Perth to Hobart began reaching out, asking for recommendations and sharing their own experiences. We realised there was a genuine need for a dedicated platform that understood the unique considerations of Australian families—from our climate and housing styles to our specific safety standards and retail landscape.
To provide Australian families with honest, well-researched, and practical guidance on baby sleep products, empowering parents to make confident decisions that prioritise their newborn's safety and comfort.
What Makes Us Different
Unlike many product review sites, we don't accept payment for featured placements or positive reviews. Our recommendations are based entirely on our hands-on testing, safety research, and community feedback. When we feature a bassinet, it's because we genuinely believe it offers value to Australian families—not because a manufacturer paid us to say so.
We do participate in the Amazon Associates program, which means we may earn a small commission when you purchase through our links. This helps us cover our operating costs and continue producing free content. However, this never influences which products we recommend. We feature the same bassinets regardless of whether they're available on Amazon or not, and we're always transparent about our affiliate relationships.
Our testing process is thorough and practical. We assess each bassinet across multiple criteria that matter to real parents: ease of assembly (because you'll likely be setting it up while sleep-deprived), mattress firmness and breathability, manoeuvrability around typical Australian homes (including through standard door frames and on various floor surfaces), cleaning and maintenance requirements, and of course, compliance with Australian safety standards.
Our Expertise
The Bassinet AU team brings together diverse expertise that informs everything we publish:
- Infant Sleep Science: Michelle holds a Certificate IV in Sleep Science from the Australasian Sleep Association and has worked with over 500 families as a private sleep consultant. She ensures our content reflects current evidence-based sleep recommendations.
- Product Engineering: James spent eight years in consumer product testing before becoming a stay-at-home dad. His background helps us evaluate build quality, materials, and durability beyond surface-level impressions.
- Parent Experience: Between our core team and contributing writers, we've collectively navigated the newborn phase with nine children. We understand the real-world challenges that don't show up in manufacturer specifications.
- Australian Context: We're based across Australia—Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane—giving us insight into the regional variations in climate, housing, and retail availability that affect product choices.
Our Commitment to Safety
Nothing matters more than your baby's safety. We take this responsibility seriously by staying current with Red Nose Australia guidelines, monitoring ACCC product recalls, and consulting with paediatric health professionals when developing our content. If a product we've previously recommended is subject to a safety notice, we immediately update our content and notify our email subscribers.
We also believe in empowering parents with knowledge, not just product recommendations. That's why our educational articles cover safe sleep practices, bassinet maintenance, and recognising when it's time to transition to a cot. An informed parent is a confident parent.
We're not just a review site—we're parents who've been exactly where you are now. Every piece of content we create is written with the same care and thoroughness we'd want if we were researching for our own babies.
Get in Touch
We love hearing from our community. Whether you have a question about a specific product, want to share your own bassinet experience, or have suggestions for topics you'd like us to cover, please don't hesitate to reach out. Your feedback helps us improve and serve Australian families better.
Thank you for trusting Bassinet AU as part of your parenting journey. We're honoured to help you create a safe, comfortable sleep environment for your little one.
Meet Our Team
The parents and experts behind Bassinet AU
Sarah Henderson
Founder & Editor
Melbourne-based mother of two. Former health journalist with a passion for evidence-based parenting. Founder of Bassinet AU after her own exhaustive search for the right bassinet.
Michelle Kowalski
Sleep Consultant
Certified infant sleep consultant based in Sydney. Mother of three. Brings scientific rigour to our sleep-related content and product assessments.
James Thompson
Product Specialist
Brisbane dad of three and former product testing engineer. Leads our hands-on product evaluations with an engineer's eye for detail and a parent's practical perspective.