Chicco Next2Me Magic Side-Sleeping Crib review

Verdict in 10 seconds

• The side can be lowered at the click of a button

• Has four tilt options and a rocking mechanism to help get your baby to sleep

• More spacious than other bedside cribs, such as SnuzPod 3

Pros

• Roomy with plenty of space for baby to grow and wriggle

• You have the option to rock the bed to help comfort your baby

• Easily adjustable height settings which fit all kinds of adult beds

• Four tilt options to help babies who have reflux or a cold

• Much bigger than a Moses basket or standard crib so you’ll get more for your money

• Mesh covers promote better air flow throughout the crib

• The drop-side is very easy to adjust with just one hand so will help breastfeeding 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 – 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

Cons

• The bed can’t be rocked when it's in side-sleeper mode

• It is quite bulky and heavy so not ideal for using as a travel cot even though you can

• The larger size is great for baby’s growth, but the crib feels too big to keep moving around the house – even though it has wheels

• The covers can only be hand-washed and can feel tight when being put back on

What are the key features?

• 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

What are the specs?

• Suitable from: newborn until baby can sit alone, turn and raise themselves unaided – maximum weight 9kg

• Dimensions: 82.5 × 73 × 99cm

• Folded dimensions: 94 × 59 × 16cm

• Mattress size: 51.5 × 82.5cm

• Weight: 13kg

• Outer covers: 94% polyester and 6% cotton

• Lining: 100% polypropylene

• Fabric filling: 100% polypropylene

• Mattress: 100% polyester

• Comes in two colours: grey and white

• RRP price: £239 at time of review

• Resale price: around £160 at time of review

• Extras: £20 for fitted sheets

How easy is the Chicco Next2Me Magic to set up?

At first glance, the instructions are quite confusing. The big booklet offers guidance in many different languages so it took our tester, Anna, a while to find and make sense of the English instructions.

There are lots of pictures, which are quite baffling, but once you get going the bed is actually quite straightforward to set up. Anna felt it was easier not to look at the instructions as most of it you can work out for yourself. Just make sure you read the safety advice.

There are a couple of videos on the Chicco YouTube channel showing how to use the bed and set it up if you do have any problems and there’s a number for customer services on their website. A copy of the instructions is also available on there should you lose your copy.

During testing, it took around 30 minutes to set up the crib and attach it to the bed in side-sleeping mode, with one person doing it and no tools required. Initially, Anna worried it wouldn’t fit under their bed but the auto-retractable legs slotted in very easily and the two straps attached the crib securely to her bed.

Thankfully, she didn’t need to go back to the instructions to remove the bed or change the height settings which are very simple, but you may need to consult them again if you want to put the crib in the storage bag. It requires removing the fabric from the rails, taking apart the legs and folding it all down.

How adjustable is it?

The Chicco Next2Me Magic is the latest version of the award-winning Chicco Next2Me side-sleeper – and they have done all they can to try and make it even more functional.

Compared to their original co-sleeper, the Magic has five more height settings, a new rocking mechanism, double mesh windows, a one-handed sliding rail and retractable feet to fit all kinds of beds, including those with drawers.

It is so simple to adjust – just press the buttons on the legs to change the height or incline the Magic to one of four different levels.

Our tester gave it top marks for usability as the drop side was so handy for her during the night. It was put to good use as she was up regularly for feeds or to soothe her three-month-old baby.

Being able to leave the side down and reach over to him without having to get out of bed made life so much easier and, if she needed to put it back up, she could do it one-handed as all you have to do is press a button and slide the side up.

The bed comes with two straps which you adjust to attach the crib securely to your bed and, when it comes to converting it to a stand-alone, you simply remove the straps and slide the side up. Our mum thought it was very easy to make the change.

If you want to rock your baby you just press the designated switches, but it can only be used when the crib is free-standing.

How does it look?

The Chicco Next2Me Magic Side-Sleeper is a stylish, clean design that comes in two neutral colours – cool grey and snow white – and would fit any décor.

We tested the grey and although Anna felt she had seen prettier beds on the market, such as the Shnuggle Dreami Clever Baby Sleeper, she liked the simplicity and functionality of this crib. She thought it was good quality and roomy without taking up too much space in her home, yet still felt cosy for her baby boy.

The bed has two mesh windows and a mesh mattress, made from polyester and cotton, which allows air to flow and lets you easily keep an eye on your baby. The mattress is firm while still feeling soft enough for a newborn’s delicate skin.

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

There’s so much about this bed that really tries to make life easier for parents. As our mum was breastfeeding (and up quite a lot during the night), she got to make use of the bed when in side-sleeper mode.

She found it really easy to lift her baby boy in and out for feeds but she also loved how she could leave the side down and comfort him when he was upset, without leaving her bed. The one-handed sliding mechanism makes it very easy to put it back up again if you don’t want to leave it down while you sleep.

The size of this bed allows your baby plenty of room to move, wriggle and grow, but that does mean it is quite chunky so you may struggle to fit it into smaller spaces. Our mum thought it was a great size for her 30s semi and the adjustable height settings allowed her to align the crib perfectly to her bed.

She did feel, though, that the bed was too big to keep moving up and down the stairs and through doorways (although she didn’t actually try the latter) – it weighs 13kg so you’d need to fold it all down to carry it.

It does come with four swivelling wheels and brakes to make moving it around easier, but you may still need a second bed for daytime sleeping.

Our tester didn’t travel with the crib, even though it does come with a storage bag. It wasn’t that compact when folded, so she felt it would take up too much room in her car.

The gentle rocking mechanism is a great option for babies who need some extra comfort, but the downside is that you can only rock it when the bed is free-standing. For that reason it wasn’t used much during testing.

She did find it very simple to make the switch to a stand-alone crib, though, with the mesh panels on both sides allowing you to see your baby at all times.

How safe is it?

Spacious, adjustable and sturdy, the Chicco Next2Me Magic got top marks for safety.

As she did before using any of the cribs, Anna checked that everything on the bed was working properly. She tested the sturdiness of the sides to make sure they could withstand any knocks – especially important with four-year-old twin girls around – and she liked that it felt secure when attached to the bed thanks to the two straps and extendable feet.

There are no loose parts or gaps around the mattress once fitted, which feels firm but comfortable and has a breathable cover.

The mesh windows encourage air to flow easily throughout the crib and all the corners are covered so there are no sharp bits to catch yourself on. Zips feel safe for little fingers and there are no gaps on the sliding rail for them to get caught. When the crib is not attached to the bed you should always make sure that the side is up.

Though our mum didn’t rock the crib very much, she did feel it was safe and smooth for her baby. The swivelling wheels made moving the heavy bed around easier, but you do need to ensure the brakes are on when it is standing still – simply lower the levers on the wheels to do this.

Chicco does warn not to use this bed if your mattress is lower than 51cm or higher than 66cm off the ground. You should also ensure that, when the side is lowered, there are no gaps between the rail of the crib and the adult mattress. Always read all of the manufacturers safety advice before using any newborn bed.

How easy is it 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 a snot or dribble – may show up easily. To test how easy it was to clean the mattress, our mum removed the cover to wash it but she found it quite tight to put back on afterwards and ended up accidentally ripping the seam a bit. Chicco does warn to take extra care when removing the covers as they may tear.

The crib didn’t need any more cleaning during testing, but the rest of the bed can be wiped with a cloth if you do get any marks on it.

Is this bed good value for money?

When it comes to bedside cribs, the Chicco Next2Me Magic is at the top end of the price range. Costing £239, it is an investment, but you do get a fair bit for your money.

Sold as a bedside sleeper, stand-alone crib and a travel cot in one, the only thing you need to buy are the fitted sheets for £20. Other than that you have a bed that will last up to six months, maybe even longer depending on your baby’s size and development, so there’s no having to rush them into a bigger bed before you’re ready.

The only other thing you may need to consider getting is a second bed for naps as our tester did feel it was too big to move around a house or even use as a travel cot.

The crib is very breastfeeding-friendly so if you have to get up in the night to make a bottle anyway it may not be worth the extra cost. The Chicco Next2Me range is popular and it does tend to sell well second-hand, so you could get back more than half of what you paid even after using it for any future children.

Final verdict?

Safe, spacious and very functional, this crib will give peace of mind to parents – especially first-timers – who want to keep their baby close and care for them easily in the early hours of the morning.

The adjustable height options and one-handed drop side help with night feeds and allow parents to co-sleep safely, while the adjustable feet and safety straps fit the crib securely to your bed.

Thanks to the swivelling wheels and brakes, the Chicco Next2Me Magic lets you keep an eye on your baby and even rock them if they need some extra comfort.

It may have a luxury price tag, but, with this crib, Chicco have thought of everything a baby and parent could need.

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For more information about what to look for when buying a newborn bed, check out our buyer's guide.

All prices correct at time of publication

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