Anyone have a bedside crib? Need advice please!

[Sunny4124]

Hi All,

Hope you are well :-)

Does anyone have a bedside crib, or thinking about getting one? I need advice please!

We have bought the Chicco Next 2 Me, for our baby who will hopefully make an appearance very soon ;-) Loved it in the shop and been excited about using it! One of the sides can be zipped down and the crib attached to our bed, and I love the thought that the baby will be able to sleep right next to us, and will also make it much easier for breastfeeding/ bonding etc

However, when we have set it up, my boyfriend is a little concerned about product safety - I think he might be being a little over-cautious, and wanted your thoughts please! He is worried that if we have the side down when we and the baby are asleep, then what's to stop our quilt, pillows etc going fully into the crib. He thinks that because of this, we should have the side down when we are awake, and zip the side fully up when we are all asleep, for safety. The trouble is, with the Chicco, putting the side up and down is a total faff, and not something you could do a couple of times a day (I think you need to actually take it off the bed to put the side up and down, if you see what I mean). I also think it takes away from the fact that if the baby wakes, she'll be able to see us (ie the whole point of buying this instead of a Moses basket in the first place!!)

Argh!! What do you think? For those of you who have bedside cribs, do you leave the side down all the time? Or do you zip it up when asleep? I'm getting into a right stress about this, any thoughts or advice would be much appreciated!! I've gone onto the Chicco website and also read all the instructions etc and it seems designed for sleeping with the side down, although it doesn't really address the safety concerns that we have, as far as I can see.

Would love thoughts/ advice from people who are using or planning to use a bedside crib! Thanks so much in advance!
:-)

[Laquila]

I have one and have the side down all the time. I had a Bednest last time round and never had a problem with any of our bedding getting in there, but if you're worried then maybe consider switching to blankets rather than a duvet? Or maybe sleep in thermals and socks, and have a big cellular blanket over you?

[SweepTheHalls]

We have a bedside crib and I just make sure my duvet is tucked down in between my bed and her cot if that makes sense?

[Pinkheart5915]

We had a Chicco next to me crib for our ds and he loved it and it was so easy with breastfeeding and for just looking at him as soon as I was awake. I had the side down most of the time.
Bless him but I think your be is being understandably over cautious.

[unimaginative13]

It's quite warm now so I slept hugging the duvet or right on the edge slightly away from the crib so the duvet didn't go into it.

We had a snuzpod and you can zip the side up and down.

They are quite small and DS kept waking himself up in it so it is best to swaddle early on if you can, they will last a bit longer.

You don't really get that long out of it if you have a normal sized baby and once they can see you and you arena distraction we put the side up.

[ChannelFiftySeven]

I had a next 2 me. Never had a problem with our bedding getting in there. They are useful little cribs :)

I wouldn't advise tucking quilts down in between though as there shouldn't be a gap between her crib and your bed. It might be different for other cribs but definitely not safe to do that with the next 2 me.

[AlexandraEiffel]

Side down. You could wrap your bedding around you. If you're breastfeeding you and the baby are very sensitive to each other.

[CityMole]

It's not an unreasonable concern, and we have discussed it too (we have ordered a snuzpod).

We came to the view that we would ensure that our duvet was weighted to the other side of the bed, so that no loose bedding was at risk of encroaching into the crib space. To zip up the wall somewhat defeats the purpose for us.

[unimaginative13]

When you have a 16 + week old laughing at the sight of you at 3am playtime then you will be thankful for the side zipping up.

[SpinMyBaby]

I had similar concerns about bedding with our bedside cot, especially as I'm a duvet hogger so the duvet often ends up hanging over my side of the bed. Our solution was a sleeping bag for me plus a single duvet for DH. I actually ended up sewing up 2 double duvet covers into sleeping bag shapes, so I can change the thickness of the duvet and wash the covers.

[MrsBenWyatt]

We are using the Next 2 Me with 11-day-old DC3.

We just make sure that the 'extra' bedding hangs over DH's side of the bed, so that the duvet on my side stops just before the edge of the bed/start of the cot.

TBH, I think it's unlikely that the bedding would go over the cot, but it's best to err on the side of caution.

[Junosmum]

We have a snuzpo and the side is very easy to zip up and down. The duvet has got in on the odd occasion, but as long as you are careful with where you have the duvet it is fine.

[seven201]

This is what put me off the Chico so we've bought a second hand snuzpod where the side goes up and down easily. We're both roll over a lot duvet goes everywhere kind of sleepers. I do think I am probably over worrying so your oh probably is too!

[Sunny4124]

Ah thank you so much for all your advice everyone, much appreciated! Definitely going to try a few of your tips :-) I like the idea of fixing the duvet to my boyfriend's side of the bed so it can't reach the crib :-)
Xx

[Loolooloo1968]

We went to the baby show at excel in London recently to buy the Chicco but ended up buying the Knuma Huddle after seeing it there. To be honest I'd not heard of this crib before.
Really easy to put side up and down in night so we don't worry about our bedding causing problems. Looks great too. The main reason we liked it is that it converts to a desk and bench after our baby grows out of it so great value for money.