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In a nutshell

Really good value for money and bigger than the other bedside cribs on the market. Slightly hard to assemble, but sturdy and portable once you’ve figured it out.

What we tested

  • Ease of assembly
    A star rating of 3.0 out of 5.
  • Comfort
    A star rating of 5.0 out of 5.
  • Style
    A star rating of 4.0 out of 5.
  • Sturdiness
    A star rating of 4.0 out of 5.
  • Worth the money
    A star rating of 5.0 out of 5.
Overall Rating
A star rating of 4.2 out of 5.

Pros

  • Bigger than other bedside cribs, good value, 6 different heights, has a semi-recline position, can be used as a travel cot

Cons

  • Doesn’t rock, hard to assemble, can’t easily move from room-to-room for daytime naps

With safe sleep guidelines advising that the safest place for your baby to sleep for the first 6 months is in their own sleeping place (cot, crib or moses basket) in your room, bedside cribs enable you to get as close as possible to your baby without sharing their sleeping space. They can be attached to your bed, their height can be adjusted so that they are level with your mattress and they have drop-down sides so you can easily reach your baby.

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Chicco's Next2Me bedside crib was one of the first bedside cribs and has become a bestseller in this market. Owning one means you don’t need to buy a bassinet or a Moses basket, and bedside cribs can usually be used until your baby is 6 months old.

The prices vary, but Chicco’s Next 2 Me is a little higher than the average price.

As a London mum to a 3-week-old, Theo, like a lot of people who live in a city, I have limited living space. I like to buy baby products that adjust as my child grows, or that don’t take up a lot of space, or have a good resale value.

Buy The Chicco Next2me Bedside Crib: Uber Kids, Amazon, Very and Argos

What’s in the box

The crib comes flat-packed ready for assembly. It consists of an upper body with mesh walls, a mattress, separate legs and feet with wheels, and a carry-bag so the cot can be easily moved from room-to-room or used as a travel cot.

How do you assemble the Chicco Next2Me crib?

My husband assembled the Next 2 Me in about 10 minutes in a sleep-deprived and distracted state (my waters had just broken!), but even so he says it was more complicated than he would have liked.

It took him about 8 of those 10 minutes to figure out how to start because the instructions were badly written.

Moving parts were stiff, and where certain struts had to be passed through canvas holes rather than over them, it wasn’t obvious from the instructions. But, once assembled, the cot felt sturdy and well made.

chicco-next2me-crib_52879

How does the Chicco Next2Me fit to the bed?

We have an iron-framed bed, which made installation easy, but even if you have a divan bed with a drawer, the ends of the legs fold back and the strap is long enough to go all the way around, so you shouldn’t have any trouble.

The crib also has 6 different height positions, so whatever the height of your bed, you can adjust it to match.

Is the Next2Me crib comfortable for babies?

Yes, it seems to be so, my son liked to sleep in it. Overall, the Next 2 Me crib comes with an acceptable mattress, but it’s nothing special. You could buy a separate mattress if you were unhappy with the one it comes with.

How was using it at night?

Using the Next 2 Me is easy. Picking up my baby for a feed in the middle of the night is no problem and it’s just as easy to slide him back in again afterwards – important for when you don’t want to wake him any more than necessary! I can imagine how useful this ease of access would be for mums who have had a C-section and want to avoid lifting and getting in and out of bed.

I keep the mesh wall permanently zipped down so that the Next 2 Me is like an extension of my mattress – with the mesh wall zipped up, it’s much like any other crib, so this side-access is what makes all the difference.

chicco-next2me-crib_52881

Who is the Chicco Next 2 Me best for?

The Next 2 Me is bigger than most of its competitors so if you’re short of space, this might be an issue for you. Even though I live in London, I like its size as I can see myself using it until my baby is 6 months old. I’m sceptical about whether most other bedside cribs can last that long.

However, in order for it to comfortably be a co-sleeper, the side wall has to stay unzipped and tucked in between the Next 2 Me and my mattress. At first, this didn't bother me. But now I realise that as Theo gets older and, when he can roll, it won't be ideal as I won't be able to leave him in unzipped it without me in the room.

Can you travel with it?

It comes with a carry bag, which means you can use it as a travel cot. Disassembled, the cot weights 9kg, which is fairly light, especially considering how solid it feels.

Where can I buy the Chicco Next2Me Bedside crib?

You can buy the crib from, Uber Kids, Amazon, Very and Argos.

MadeForMums verdict:

Co-sleeping is great for keeping baby close while following the NICE guidelines of being in a separate bed. Next 2 Me is sturdy and spacious, but the tricky assembly and larger size may be an issue for some.

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MadeForMums product reviews are independent, honest and provide advice you can have confidence in. Sometimes, we earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links. However we never allow this to influence our coverage. Our reviews and articles are written by parents who are professional journalists, and we also include feedback from our parent community and industry experts.

Product Specifications

Product
BrandChicco
ModelNext2me crib
Price£179.00
Suitable for
Child age (approx)Birth to 6 months
Dimensions & Weight
DimensionsH:59cm W:52cm D:91cm
Features
Sleep height positionsMulti-position
Drop down / Removable sideYes
Made fromVarious
Features
  • Crib attaches to parent's bed
  • Removable washable lining
  • Fitted with wheels
Accessories
Accessories includedMattress, transport and storage bag
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