The best next-to-me cribs for comfort and safe co-sleeping – tested and approved by parents

Designed for use from birth, the SnuzPod 5 Bedside Crib allows you to sleep next to your baby within easy reach when night feeds occur. Our tester likes that it has a light bassinet and can be used as a bedside crib, stand-alone crib or a Moses basket/bassinet. The crib can be adjusted in height and comes in nine different colours, as the brand partnered with online paint company, Lick.

Our Mother & Baby's senior writer and mum, Samantha, tested this crib with her third child and loved the idea and design of it. "I was really impressed with how neatly everything was packaged in a single box" and even though Sam noted that nothing was labelled, it was easy to match them up, so the overall set-up didn't take too long. She found it easy to use, and the shelf below was a bonus, as she could keep supplies for herself and the baby close by. "Adjusting the height was a bit trickier as you have to lower the stand, but once this had been done, we didn't need to adjust it again..."

The mesh side panels allow your baby to sleep comfortably, as they help regulate your little one’s temperature while they sleep.

Read our full SnuzPod 5 crib review

The older version of the CoZee Air, the Tutti Bambini CoZee won Bronze in the 2018 Mother&Baby Awards Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket category.

So quick and easy to open and fold – just the ticket if you're looking for a truly travel-friendly option. Mother & Baby's Features and Reviews Editor and mum Emily Gilbert tested this product and said, "We simply removed it from the bag and unfolded the legs, making sure the brackets clicked into place on the underside of the crib base. And there it was! Standing before our very eyes in just a matter of seconds."

The rest of the assembly was also a breeze, but it got a bit trickier when attaching the CoZee Air to their bed. One of the things that sets this crib apart from some others is that you thread the safety straps underneath the adult bed and clip them securely to the base of the CoZee crib. Emily notes that when attaching it to the bed, the instructions could have been better. Emily found a video online, which made the process a lot easier.

If you have a particularly high divan bed like Emily, the CoZee Air has six different height positions. The lowest is suitable for a mattress height between 49-52cm, while the highest is for a mattress height of 64+ cm. It is easy to adjust the height, though.

Like others, you can position one side of the CoZee Air higher than the other to help a baby with reflux. Other features include two ventilated sides (many just have one) and a handy storage shelf underneath. It also comes with lockable rocking bars and castors, meaning you can use it as a co-sleeper or a height-adjustable, standalone crib that rocks. Emily thought it was a shame that you had to choose between the rocking feature or it being attached to the bed.

Size-wise, it's one of the larger bedside crib options, so if you're short on space, this might not be the one for you. Instead, we'd suggest the Clair de Lune bedside crib as a great fold-away option.

Read our full Tutti Bambini CoZee Air Bedside Crib review

The crib's fabric sides are made from GOTs-certified organic cotton, and is ideal for parents with a smaller bedroom, as it can easily be folded away when not in use. A premium, bamboo mattress provides a firm and supportive sleeping surface and is made from memory wool that promotes healthy spinal development.

Our mum tester, Carla Duffy, loved the appearance and really liked that this crib was designed with practicality and design in mind; it's both lightweight and secure when in place. Our mum tester said, "The foldable cot also made the perfect travel cot." Mum Hannah agreed, saying, "I find it a lot easier to get to my baby in the night because I can have this right beside the bed, but then can fold it away when it's not in use. The cot is a good size too, I feel happy and comfortable that my baby has the room to have a wiggle!"

With its organic materials, breathable design, and premium bamboo mattress, this crib will surely provide your little one with a restful and healthy night's sleep. Mum tester Carla also liked that it was easy to set up, saying, "When following the instructions, this was incredibly easy to put together, just needing a simple screwdriver.

As a standalone crib, it can easily be moved around the house, but doesn't attach to an adult bed. Also, you can't adjust the height, which could be off-putting for some.

Read our full Clair de Lune Organic Folding Crib review

The Maxi-Cosi Iora won the Gold award at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket category

The Iora gives parents peace of mind to rest easy knowing that their baby is sleeping in the utmost luxury, only an arm's reach away. Our mum tester, Jasmine Abbott, tested the crib and said that it was the perfect height for her to be able to pick up her baby with ease, after having had a C-section.

Jasmine describes the size of the crib as "perfect", saying it’s easy to set up and not as big as a full-sized crib, but it's much bigger than standard Moses baskets. She liked that this made it comfortable for her baby and that the mattress is of good quality.

The crib made a good bedside sleeper with a co-sleeping slide function. Jasmin also appreciated the storage compartment underneath, ideal for spare blankets, nappies, and clothes to grab. "The mattress is easy to find sheets for, too, and it’s larger than most Moses baskets, so it will last longer before I need to upgrade him to a bigger crib," she added.

Another parent tester, Gulhan Arapoglu, said that while she didn't find it to be light, she was able to move it from room to room and liked that it was nice and sturdy. However, she says it's quite big when packed away in the travel bag, and her husband would have to carry it if travelling. If you're looking for a more portable option, the Shnuggle Air bedside crib is much easier to move.

Read our full Maxi-Cosi Iora Bedside Crib review

Shortlisted in the 2021 Mother&Baby awards in the best cot, crib or Moses basket category.

The Shnuggle Air Bedside Crib is designed to maximise airflow. To reduce the risk of overheating, it also comes with a hypoallergenic fibre mattress that's 50 per cent more breathable than others. The crib is uniquely designed to grow with a baby – converting to a stylish standalone cot to last until they turn two (the conversion kit is sold separately at £109.95).

One tester mentioned that she preferred this to a traditional Moses basket, saying, " My son would have easily outgrown one by now, but this feels safer and more spacious.” The wooden frame not only provides visual appeal but is also practical - easy to clean and durable enough to last through multiple stages of use. Mum tester Adelle Barnett says, "It is well made and solid and you can really feel the quality from taking it out of the box, building it and then finally when it's made and baby is in it."

One of the standout features is the gentle incline setting, ideal for babies who suffer from reflux or colic. Parents noted this was particularly useful for keeping babies comfortable after feeds. The drop-down side panel also received positive feedback, making it easier to reach a baby from bed. However, some did express frustration that the side cannot remain down during sleep, limiting the true co-sleeping experience. Another mum tester, Alison Barnard, noted that it's quite noisy to zip back up again/clip the bar back in, and on one occasion, she woke her son while doing this.

The crib has storage space for nighttime essentials; however, it doesn't have a rocking feature.

Read our full Shnuggle Air Bedside Crib review

A consistently popular choice with mums and shortlisted in our M&B awards continuously, the Chicco Next2me Forever Sleeping Crib is an all-in-one crib that converts from a co-sleeping cot, to a standalone cot to a toddler floor bed. It's height-adjustable, comes with a removable crib cover, can tilt up to 10 cm on one side, is quick to assemble, and easy to attach to your bed.

Tester Hannah Jhutti said, "This was much easier to use than a Moses basket. My back was hurting from having to lean over the bed to lift the baby out, but with this crib next to me, I just sat up and scooped the baby out! During the night, if the baby cried, I could reach in and hold his hand or stroke him to comfort him back to sleep. I loved being able to see him lying next to me, knowing he was safe and that I couldn't roll onto him." Mum tester Sian was also impressed, saying, "After outgrowing the next to me crib, I was bed sharing with my little boy, which resulted in very little sleep for me. Since testing this, I sleep so much better knowing he is safe, but I am still close enough to be able to settle him..."

It doesn't rock, which isn't a problem when it's a bedside crib, but as a standalone, it would be helpful. Some testers thought it would be nice to see it in other colours too.

Read our full Chicco Next2Me Forever Crib review

The Silver Cross Lunar is a great crib for at home or when travelling. Reviewers were impressed with its use as a bedside crib, and mum tester Kelly said, "The side comes down to the bedside very easily. It simply unzips, and two buttons release the rim to allow the side to drop down. It is compatible with our bed, an ottoman with wooden slats."

The Silver Cross Lunar is extremely versatile, not only with the way you choose to use it, but it also boasts 7 different height positions and two incline positions, which could help with reflux.

It is easy to assemble, with not much to do and uncomplicated instructions, which is a plus point. Kelly loved the fabric and the mattress, saying, "It is backed by a decent board underneath, unlike many other baby mattresses, it is not just a flimsy piece of foam!" However, she did mention that the product is not as stable as it could be, noting, "due to the design of the mattress area being suspended, it can be wobbled easily if knocked, which could disturb your baby."

Overall, it is well designed, with mum tester loving the appearance but noting that it may not be easy to clean. "It’s advised on the labels to sponge clean only, and this is the only option as it does not come apart, there are no removable covers. Even the mattress has no removable cover for washing, so a mattress protector is definitely needed for this." Kelly also liked the shelf, which can be used to store muslins, nappies and have them within easy reach.

Read our full SilverCross Lunar bedside cribreview

The Joie Baby Roomie Glide Sleep Bedside Travel Cot offers a convenient way to keep your baby close while maintaining your own space. Our testers loved the smooth single-hand glide function, which lets you gently rock your little one to sleep without leaving the comfort of your bed. The one-touch glide lock secures the cot once your baby is asleep, and the sliding side panel lifts and lowers with ease, making nighttime feedings or soothing quick and simple.

Assembly is simple, and parents appreciated the 11 adjustable height settings, ensuring a perfect fit for most beds. One mum tester, Charlene Rowe, said, “The assembly was as easy as 1, 2, 3.” Another tester, Linda Yip, shared, “The side panel lifts with very little effort, and I was impressed with the gliding function, which works right next to the bed.”

The cot also features a safety strap and clip attachment for secure bed attachment and double mesh windows for ventilation and easy monitoring. Our other mum tester, Kelly Taylor, said, “So reassuring. I could easily comfort my baby without getting up.” The crib is lightweight and easy to move, though some found that the wheels don’t roll smoothly on thick carpet. Kelly added, “The bassinet unit itself was light and easy to move off the frame.”

Some parents mentioned the bassinet felt a bit wobbly, and disassembly was tricky. Kelly Taylor suggested some storage space or pockets on the sides would make it better.

Read our full review of the Joie Baby Roomie Glide

Shortlisted in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket category, the Next2me Magic is a newer version from Chicco, more advanced than ever.

The push of a button is all it takes to remove the side of the Chicco bedside crib. The 4 wheels make it easy to manoeuvre around the house if required.

Mum tester, Melissa Erskine, noted that it was relatively easy to build, although one tester thought a link to an online tutorial could have been helpful. Mum tester, Amy Williams, used the Chicco Next2Me Magic as a travel cot so her newborn could continue to get used to his new sleeping environment while they were away. It was perfect, being really quick and easy to assemble and dismantle. Rebecca Croxford noted that "Having a side that lowers was also a lifesaver" as she could settle her baby by putting a hand on his chest, and she wouldn't need to physically get up. The mesh panels gave her peace of mind as she could see him all the time. In terms of improvement, Rebecca noted that the mechanism when you move the side up and down could be smoother. More worryingly, she noted that even when the rocking function was not in use, "it would still move slightly," so sometimes when her baby would wriggle, the crib would rock to one side and make him wriggle to one side of the crib, leaving her worried.

It has some great features, such as the ability to incline and rock, and also has 11 height levels, which means it fits against pretty much any bed. The crib legs have swivel wheels and brakes for easy manoeuvring, which is handy too.

Read our full Chicco Next2Me Magic crib review