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We were recently sent a brand new Chicco Next2Me Dream Crib to review. We’re now all ready for Baby #2 to arrive and so the cot is all set up. I really wanted to post before little one arrives and we use it as it’s just so amazing!

Chicco Next2Me Dream crib…

A few things struck me immediately:

1. It was so easy to put together
2. It tilts, so if Baby #2 has reflux like Toddler H did, we don’t need to faff about to raise one end of the cot
3. It’s only 9kg and comes with a carry bag, so we can take it on holiday with us
4. I don’t need to get out of bed to feed baby… to a second time mum who chases a toddler all day, those extra few minutes every feed will make all the difference ✔️

Obviously there are many more advantages to this bedside crib and much more to say, so here is my full review below, but these are my first thoughts and reasons why I think this bedside crib is brilliant. I will update this once Baby arrives as well.

Chicco Next2Me Dream review

The Chicco Next2Me Dream is a new version of the Chicco Next2Me bedside crib. It has a few extra features and new colours/patterns. We have the Fairytale version which is a pale duck egg blue with clouds. The inside features these cute bunny rabbits. We do know we’re having a girl, but this is s gorgeous colour and, in my opinion, perfect for boy or girl.

Features

I absolutely love how many features this bedside crib crams in. So many useful things that only a second time mum would appreciate. I was very practical with Toddler H, thinking why would soft side with mesh be better than bars, why would rocking really help baby will sleep fine, and tilting – why, just why why why?!

Well I now know that Toddler H very quickly started banging her arms on the sides of said hard sided crib, and putting her arms through getting stuck once she was in a sleeping bag instead of a swaddle. All babies are different, H did sleep well, but at times rocking the crib would have been much less work! And, the tilting, well having had a reflux baby and piling umpteen books under one end of the crib to raise one end, spending hours researching expensive wedges and raisers, a crib that just allows you to adjust one end at the click of a button (one handed!) would have been so nice.

I also have to mention that the Chicco Next 2 Me bedside crib is slightly wider than many standard cribs and it was the width that had limited H’s time in her crib as she was walking her arms off the sides and we thought trying to grab he sides and potentially pull herself up. Now maybe it’s second baby syndrome and thinking I’ll try to relish it all, cling onto my baby, but if I can keep baby in our room longer and prolong that move, I’m for it!

I also love that it adjusts quite high, as if we don’t use it in side sleeping mode, at its highest height I can see baby at the end of our bed or beside me easier than in a standard crib which would would be lower than our mattress.

Finally, again as a second time mummy I can see the huge advantage of side sleeping, something I didn’t do last time. Even if we don’t actually side sleep with the side down I can see me keeping the crib right beside the edge of the bed (knowing its secure) to save those minutes of getting out of bed and picking up a baby to feed. Yes, one minute to have extra sleep, one minute of saved grizzling one minute of extra sleep will make all the difference when having a newborn and toddler to chase all day.

Chicco Next2Me bedside crib feature list:

1. A drop side, but is also useable as a ‘normal’ standalone crib
2. It’s a good size, a bit bigger than a standard crib, but that just means it lasts a bit longer!
3. Rocking crib to soothe baby
4. Wheels make it easy to move (they have brakes!)
5. Adjustable height (so easy to do!) – 6 different heights varying from 35-52cm using easy to use buttons on each side
6. Adjustable height enables one end to be tilted more than the other, helping reflux (either end can be the higher end)
7. Carry bag – take it on holiday!
8. Comes with a comfy mattress that has a washable cover
9. Rounded shape, makes it look really comfy and snug for baby
10. Quote from the website “Fits most types of beds easily, even divans as the bedside feet fold to allow the crib to move up close to the frame and mattress.” – sounds good to me!

Age range: birth to 9kg.

Size: W93 x D69 x Heighg varies from 66 to 81cm

Mattress size: 80cm X 53 cm

Putting it together:

Given this cot comes with a carry bag and can be taken on holiday with you, you’d expect it to be easy to put up and down. It is! It’s also just as easy when it arrives, which is a huge advantage in my book.

There are literally a few pieces that nicely slot together, the crib, the legs, the bottom support and some straps to secure it to the bed if side sleeping.

A few photos of the features…

(Below) Easy adjustment and easy to know which height setting the crib is on. If you want to tilt it, just make sure the numbers on each side differ!

(Above) Wheels so you can move it easily, and also nice secure brakes!

(Below) on one side, the drop side, the legs fold in so that the crib fits beside a divan bed.

One handed dropping of the side:

Tilted crib (obviously shown quite steeply so you can see it clearly in a photo!):

Price

RRP £239 e.g. on Amazon (affiliate link) Chicco Dream Next2Me – Fairytale)

Yes, it’s more pricey than a bog standard crib, but this is much more versitile. It rocks, has a really good mattress, inclines for reflux, and enables safe co-sleeping through the drop side.

Have you got a side sleeping crib? Did it make a difference with baby #2?

Lynne x