Do I need the bassinet attachment for a newborn?

For a newborn, a bassinet insert (or a playard with the mattress raised) saves your back versus bending down to a floor-level mattress. However, weight limits are low — typically 15 lbs — so babies often outgrow the bassinet mode within a few months. If you're buying primarily for travel rather than as a primary sleep space, many parents skip the bassinet and use the standard floor mattress configuration.