Best Next to Me Cribs UK
A next to me crib is the sleep setup that keeps your newborn within arm's reach at night without sharing your bed, which is exactly the balance the Lullaby Trust and the NHS recommend for the first six months. After comparing five of the best-selling bedside cribs on Amazon UK, the Tutti Bambini CoZee Air is our top pick: it breathes better than most, rocks, and carries on earning its keep as a standalone cot once the bedside stage ends. Budget buyers are well served too, with the Red Kite Cozysleep under £75 and the Graco Sweet2Sleep not far behind.
Quick Comparison
| Crib | Price | Rating | Age / weight | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CoZee Air | £147 | 4.6/5 | 0-6 months | Overall |
| Next2Me Essential | £94.83 | 4.6/5 | 0-6 months | Classic all-rounder |
| Maxi-Cosi Iora | £99.95 | 4.6/5 | 0-6 months, 9kg | Travel and folding |
| Graco Sweet2Sleep | £74.99 | 4.4/5 | birth-9 months, 9kg | Budget |
| Red Kite Cozysleep | £73.99 | 4.6/5 | birth-approx. 9kg | Value |
What Is a Next to Me Crib?
A next to me crib, sometimes called a bedside crib or co-sleeper crib, is a small cot that stands beside your bed with one side that drops or slides down. That side opening lets you reach your baby for night feeds and settling without getting out of bed, and most models strap to your bed frame or match its height so there is no gap between the two sleep surfaces.
It is important to be clear about what a bedside crib is not. Despite the co-sleeper label, your baby still sleeps on their own firm, flat mattress, which is a different thing from bed-sharing. The Lullaby Trust's safer sleep advice is that the safest place for a baby under six months is a clear, separate sleep space in the same room as you, day and night, and a next to me crib is one of the easiest ways to make that work. Our baby sleep safety guide explains the full picture.
How We Compared These Cribs
We assessed each crib against the things that actually keep a baby safer and a parent saner: whether the mattress is firm and fits snugly, how well the sides breathe, how easily the height matches a real adult bed, how the drop side locks, and what happens when your baby outgrows it. We also weighed up the buying experience, including setup time, portability and what is included in the box. Where we mention ratings, they come from Amazon UK purchaser reviews, not from our own testing.
The Best Next to Me Cribs Compared
1. Tutti Bambini CoZee Air - Best Overall
The CoZee Air takes the brand's most popular bedside crib and makes it cooler and more breathable. Two large mesh windows sit alongside a mattress with built-in vents, which matters because overheating is a risk factor the Lullaby Trust flags. It also has lockable rocking bars to settle a fussy baby, six height positions from 49cm to over 64cm, and straps that secure it to your bed frame.
The party trick is the side. Drop it and the CoZee Air works as a bedside crib; raise it and you have a standalone cot your baby can keep using after they leave your room. Setup takes under a minute, and wheels plus a travel bag mean you can roll it from room to room for naps. At about £147 it costs more than the others here, but the convertible design gives it the longest useful life of the five.
2. Chicco Next2Me Essential - Best Classic
Chicco's Next2Me is the crib many midwives will name when you ask about bedside sleep, and the Essential version keeps the formula while using 62% recycled polyester in its soft fabrics. It adapts to most beds thanks to six height levels and foldable feet, and the mesh soft barrier plus two mesh windows keep air moving so you can see and hear your baby clearly.
At just under £95 it sits in the sensible middle of the market, and the small touches are what make it feel premium: two swivel wheels with brakes so you can wheel it around the house, a removable lining you can throw in the wash, and a mattress and travel bag in the box. Amazon UK reviewers give it 4.6 out of 5 from over 1,700 ratings, with parents consistently calling it sturdy and easy to use.
3. Maxi-Cosi Iora - Best for Travel and Small Rooms
The Iora is the crib that disappears when you do not need it. It folds flat in seconds into a carry bag that is a touch over 18cm deep, which makes it the easiest of these five to store between babies or take to grandparents. The clever bit is the Easy Slide action: instead of dropping a side, the whole crib slides sideways to tuck tight against your mattress, then slides back to become a standalone cot.
You get five height positions, four incline options that can help a baby with reflux feel more comfortable, a cushioned mattress and a large storage basket underneath for nappies and muslins. It is rated for use from birth to six months or 9kg. The listing is newer than the others, so its 4.6 out of 5 comes from a smaller pool of reviews, but the pattern so far is consistent praise for the fold and the slide mechanism.
4. Graco Sweet2Sleep - Best Budget
Graco's Sweet2Sleep proves you do not need to spend triple figures for a safe bedside setup. It has 11 height adjustments, which is more than any crib on this list, plus a sliding side panel you can lift and lower with one hand and a strap-and-clip system that holds it against your bed. The cushioned mattress keeps a firm surface for your baby while the mesh covering lets air pass through.
Four lockable, rubber-covered wheels make it easy to move without scratching your floor, and the lightweight aluminium frame keeps the whole thing manageable. It suits babies from birth to about nine months or 9kg and comes with a carry bag. Its 4.4 out of 5 from around 150 Amazon ratings is a touch lower than the others mainly because a minority of reviewers found the mattress cover fiddly to remove, not because of any safety concern.
5. Red Kite Cozysleep - Best Value Alternative
Red Kite is a UK brand that has been making nursery furniture for decades, and the Cozysleep keeps things simple at under £74. The drop side converts it between co-sleeping mode and standalone crib mode, the height adjusts to match your bed base, and an adjustable incline lets you tilt the crib slightly, which the manufacturer says can help with digestion, reflux and colds.
There is no rocking mechanism, no wheels and no fold-flat party trick, which is exactly the point: this is a no-frills bedside crib for parents who want the safe-sleep benefit without paying for extras they will not use. It suits babies from birth to about 9kg, and its 4.6 out of 5 from over 450 Amazon ratings shows it punches above its price. If you are not sure the bedside crib stage will suit your family, this is the lowest-risk way to find out.
What to Check Before You Buy a Next to Me Crib
Bed height and straps. Measure from your mattress top to the floor before you choose. Most cribs offer five or six height levels, but the range differs, and a crib that sits higher than your mattress creates a drop you do not want. Every crib here straps to the bed, and you should use those straps every night.
Mattress fit. A firm, flat mattress with no gaps around the edges is non-negotiable. Use only the mattress supplied with the crib, and if you want to keep it clean, buy a fitted waterproof protector made for that crib rather than adding a topper. Our next to me crib mattress protector guide covers the ones that fit Chicco and similar cribs.
Breathability. Look for mesh panels or mesh sides. They let air circulate and let you see your baby clearly in a dim room. The Lullaby Trust suggests keeping the room at 16 to 20 degrees Celsius, so a crib with good airflow helps you keep bedding light; our baby room temperature guide has more detail.
Drop side locks. Check that the drop or slide side clicks firmly back into place and cannot be lowered by your baby. You will be operating it one-handed at 3am, so try the mechanism in the shop or read reviews if you buy online.
Weight and age limits. All five cribs here are suitable from birth and top out at roughly six to nine months or 9kg. That limit is about the baby pushing up and moving, not just weight, so read the manufacturer's wording carefully.
When to Stop Using a Next to Me Crib
Plan for the crib to last about six months, but be ready for it to end sooner. The moment your baby can roll over, push up on their hands and knees, or sit up, a bedside crib is no longer a safe place for them to sleep, even if they are under the weight limit. That is also roughly when many babies start trying to climb, and the low sides of a bedside crib become a hazard rather than a convenience.
Most parents make the switch to a cot or cot bed in the same room, then move the cot to the nursery when the baby is ready. If your crib converts to a standalone cot, like the CoZee Air, you get a bit more life out of it. For the move itself, our guide to making a next to me crib more comfortable and our best cot beds roundup are worth a read before you shop.
FAQ
Is a next to me crib safe for a newborn?
Yes, if you set it up exactly as the manufacturer instructs. Your baby should sleep on their back in a clear sleep space with a firm, flat mattress that fits snugly with no gaps, and you should never add pillows, duvets or bumpers. The Lullaby Trust says the safest place for a baby to sleep for the first six months is in the same room as you, in their own cot, Moses basket or bedside crib.
How long can my baby sleep in a next to me crib?
Most next to me cribs are suitable from birth to around six months or 9kg, but the real limit comes earlier if your baby starts rolling over, pushing up on their hands and knees, or trying to sit up. Move them to a cot or cot bed as soon as they reach that stage or hit the crib's stated height or weight limit, whichever comes first.
Which is better, the Chicco Next2Me or the Tutti Bambini CoZee?
Both are strong options and both rate 4.6 out of 5 from Amazon reviewers. We recommend the Tutti Bambini CoZee Air if you want the extra airflow, lockable rocking bars and the option to keep it as a standalone cot after the bedside stage. Choose the Chicco Next2Me Essential if you want a lighter, more affordable crib that adapts to a wider range of bed heights and folds flatter for storage.
Does a next to me crib replace a cot?
For the first few months, yes. Many parents use a next to me crib as the baby's only sleep space from birth until around six months, then switch to a cot or cot bed. It is a personal choice: some prefer a Moses basket for daytime naps and a next to me crib at night, while others go straight to a cot bed and use a bedside crib only for the early weeks.
Can I leave the drop side down while my baby sleeps?
No. The side should be up and locked whenever your baby is asleep or you are not actively tending to them. Drop or roll the side down only when you are awake and settling, feeding or comforting your baby, then secure it again before they go back to sleep. This is how every bedside crib manufacturer intends the feature to be used.
Do I need a special mattress for a next to me crib?
Use the mattress that comes with the crib. It is made to fit that exact sleep surface, which is the only way to guarantee no gaps around the edges. Never add your own mattress, topper or pillow underneath your baby. If you want to protect the mattress from leaks and spit-up, use a fitted waterproof mattress protector made for that crib size.
Final Verdict
If you want one crib that does the bedside job and then becomes a standalone cot, buy the Tutti Bambini CoZee Air. It is the most ventilated, smoothest to use and best value over its whole life despite the higher upfront price. If you want the proven classic at a fair price, the Chicco Next2Me Essential is the safe, sensible choice, and the Maxi-Cosi Iora wins if you travel or need to pack the crib away between babies.
On a tighter budget, the Red Kite Cozysleep gives you the same safe-sleep benefit for under £75, and the Graco Sweet2Sleep is worth a look if you want the widest height range and a one-handed slide. Whichever you choose, remember the safe sleep basics from the Lullaby Trust: back to sleep, clear crib, firm mattress, and the same room as you for the first six months.
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Emma reviews baby gear for My Baby Now, prams, car seats, monitors, toys and everything in between. Parent of two, she has first-hand experience of what actually matters when you're navigating sleep deprivation and a screaming baby in a car park.
Prices and ratings correct as of September 2026 and may change. This comparison is based on manufacturer specifications, product safety guidance and Amazon UK purchaser reviews rather than hands-on use.