Chicco Next2Me Magic Evo Crib review (updated for 2026): still one of the best bedside cribs for newborns

Price on writing: £140 | Buy now from Argos

Our verdict

With a side that can be lowered at the click of a button, four tilt options, 11 height settings and a rocking mechanism to help get your baby to sleep, the Chicco Next2Me Magic Evo crib ticks all the boxes for safe side-sleeping with your newborn, which is why it tops our guide to the best cribs. First tested by mum-of-three Anna back in 2019, and more recently used by new parent Amy with her 2025-born newborn, the verdict is reassuringly consistent: the Next2Me Magic Evo remains a sturdy, safe, highly adjustable bedside crib that makes those early months with a newborn significantly easier.

Seven years on from its original review, the Chicco Next2Me Magic Evo remains a reliable, well-designed and confidence-inspiring bedside crib. While the instructions, portability and cleaning could be improved, its core strengths - safety, sturdiness, adjustability and ease of night-time use - have not dated.

It may not be the flashiest crib on the market, but it does exactly what new parents need it to do, night after night.

Bottom line: A true example of a baby product that has stood the test of time and is truly just as good in 2026 as it was in 2019.

Read next: For extra peace of mind, check out our guide to the best baby monitors

The Chicco Next2Me Magic Evo crib: highlights

• The drop-side is very easy to adjust with just one hand so will help breastfeeding mums, post c-section mums and those with bad sleepers

• Really easy to comfort baby in the night when in side-sleeping mode as you don’t have to get out of bed

• Side-sleeping promotes child bonding and allows you to co-sleep safely

• 3-in-1 design means it can be used as a stand-alone crib, side-sleeper and includes a travel bag so you can use it as a travel cot away from home too

• The crib has four wheels and brakes to make moving around your home easier

• Crib and mattress covers can be removed for cleaning

• Can be used up to six months

• Has a one-handed side panel which slides up and down for easy access when used as a co-sleeper crib

• Double mesh windows and mesh mattress cover for extra air ventilation

• Smooth rocking mechanism at the touch of a button when the bed is in free-standing mode

• 11 different height settings and adjustable legs to fit any bed (including Divan)

• The crib can be tilted to four levels to help with digestion, breathing or to manage reflux

• Legs have four swivelling wheels and brakes to make the crib easier to move

• Comes with a safety harness for attaching to bed

Looking for more bedtime essentials? Don't miss our guides to the best travel cots, best mattress protectors, top cot beds, white noise machines and swaddles.

How easy is the Chicco Next2Me crib to set up?

Assembly has always been straightforward, but the instructions remain the trickiest part.

Back in 2019, Anna found the large, multi-language booklet confusing at first, saying that “once you get going the bed is actually quite straightforward to set up.” She eventually found it easier to work things out intuitively rather than rely too heavily on the diagrams.

That experience was echoed almost exactly by Amy in 2026:

Instructions are image-only and very small, which didn’t help. "I’ve got 20:20 vision but could’ve done with a magnifying glass!" - 2026 parent-tester Amy

Both testers assembled the crib solo in around 30–35 minutes, with no tools required. Once built, it’s easy to adjust or dismantle again, and Chicco’s online videos are a helpful backup if needed.

Related: Check out our guides to the best blackout blinds, best baby sleeping bags, night lights and baby blankets for more night-time essentials

How adjustable is the Chicco Next2Me crib?

Adjustability remains one of the Magic Evo’s strongest features, consistently so from 2019 to now. Compared to the original Next2Me, the Magic Evo offers multiple height settings, adjustable legs and four tilt positions. Anna (our 2019 tester) praised how easy it was to tweak: “It’s super-simple to adjust by pressing the buttons on the legs to change the height or incline.”

Our more recent tester Amy agreed, adding that adjustments can be done one leg at a time by a single person, which is particularly useful when fitting it to different beds while travelling: “Very easy to adjust and quick to set up to new beds — only one pair of hands needed.”

Both testers used the tilting function, particularly to help with reflux or posseting. Anna found it helpful during illness, while Amy pointed out: “We’ve used the tilt with her head one click higher - the baby is happy and sleeps through very well.”

How does this crib look?

The Magic Evo’s appearance is best described as functional rather than flashy. Anna liked its clean, minimalist design and felt it blended well with her bedroom décor, even if it wasn’t the prettiest crib she’d seen. Amy, meanwhile, summed it up as: "Fine - nothing exciting, does the job!”

Both agreed the neutral colour options work well in most homes, and the double mesh panels help it feel lighter and less bulky while allowing you to keep an eye on your baby.

What is it like to use day-to-day?

This is where the Next2Me Magic Evo really shines - and where both testers’ experiences strongly align, despite being years apart. The one-handed sliding side panel was repeatedly highlighted by both testers as a game-changer for night feeds and settling. Anna said: “It was great in the early days when my baby would only fall asleep with me still having a hand on him, as I'm not comfortable with co-sleeping. Has also been great for night feeds so I don't even have to get out of bed. Not looking forward to the transition out of it and actually having to get up in the night!"

Our 2026 tester Amy, whose baby started using the crib at just two weeks old, told us: “She settled straight away. The sliding front is really nice and gives lots of confidence for safe sleeping.”

Both testers found the crib spacious yet cosy, with plenty of room for babies to grow and wriggle comfortably. Compared with a Moses basket, the Magic Evo felt far more robust, too, with Amy pointing out, "While the Moses basket serves its purpose for naps and easy transportability, the Magic Evo feels more like a proper bed that you have confidence with."

How portable is the Chicco Next2Me Magic Evo?

Despite featuring wheels, portability has always been the Magic Evo’s biggest compromise, and that remains true today. Anna felt it was too large and heavy (13kg) to move frequently around the house, despite the wheels and brakes. Amy agreed, adding: "The footprint is 75cm x 100cm, which makes it too wide to fit through a standard doorway."

While the legs can be folded in slightly, they don’t lock securely for transport, which makes manoeuvring tricky. Travelling with it is possible, but not especially convenient:

-2026 parent-tester Amy

In short: fine for occasional trips, but better suited as a stay-put bedside crib.

How safe is the Chicco Next2Me Magic Evo crib?

Safety is where the Magic Evo consistently earns top marks. Anna described it as “secure and sturdy,” particularly appreciating the safety straps and extendable feet when attached to the bed. Amy was equally confident: "It feels extremely sturdy. The mattress is very robust and well fitted - it gives lots of confidence for safe sleeping.”

Both highlighted the firm, breathable mattress, secure zip panels, lack of gaps and smooth sliding rail. The mesh windows improve airflow and visibility, and the overall build quality inspires trust - even with other children in the house.

How easy is the Next2Me crib to clean?

This is an area that didn’t score as highly as other baby beds we tested, such as the Tutti Bambini CoZee Bedside Crib. While the crib cover can be easily removed by zips at the top of the rails and the mattress cover taken off too, they both have to be hand-washed in cold water which is more time-consuming than putting them in the washing machine.

The bed comes in neutral colours so any marks – such as milk stains or dribble – may show up easily. As Anna noted in 2019, the covers and mattress cover must be hand-washed only, which is less convenient than some competitors. She also found the covers tight to refit, something Chicco themselves warn about.

Our newer tester Amy didn’t report major cleaning issues, but the neutral colours mean marks show easily, and parents should still expect more effort than with machine-washable alternatives.

Is the Chicco Next2Me crib good value for money?

Despite its premium feel, both testers agreed the Magic Evo offers strong value (particularly when on sale, as it currently is at just £140, 30% down from its original RRP of £200)

Anna felt the price was justified by its versatility and longevity, especially compared to a Moses basket. The crib’s popularity also means it holds its value well second-hand, making it a sensible investment for parents planning more than one child.

-2026 parent-tester Amy

Has the Chicco Next2Me Magic Evo stood the test of time?

Absolutely. From 2019 to 2026, the Chicco Next2Me Magic Evo has proven itself to be a safe, spacious and thoughtfully designed bedside crib that genuinely supports parents through the newborn months. While the instructions, portability and cleaning could be improved, its core strengths remain as relevant now as they were years ago.

-2019 parent-tester Anna

-2026 parent-tester Amy

A reassuring classic, which is why it remains top of our shortlist for the best cribs you can buy in 2026.

About the author

Jenny Wonnacott has been working as a Content Editor for Mumsnet since 2022 and, as part of the core baby and child editorial team, has been responsible for the bedtime category of articles, buyers' guides and review content for most of this time. She has extensive experience of researching, testing and reviewing a wide range of baby and toddler sleep items from travel cots to swaddles, baby monitors to toddler beds.

A mum of three, Jenny has done her fair share of late-night Googling in search of the best baby sleep aids - and now puts that experience to good use by ensuring Mumsnet’s reviews and buyers' guides are practical, trustworthy and based on genuine insight. She works closely with medical and industry experts and Mumsnet’s community of parent testers to make sure every product recommendation truly lives up to Mumsnet's goal of making parents’ lives easier.

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All prices correct at time of publication