Chicco Next2Me Forever

The latest bedside crib from Chicco offers 3 different functionalities up to four years: co-sleeping cot, traditional cot and floor bed for toddlers.

It has a clever anti-misuse barrier system which is activated by the buckles used to attach the crib to your bed, preventing the side panel from remaining lowered unless it is securely fastened in the correct position, ensuring total safety so that both you and your baby can get a better night's sleep.

Breathable mesh sides allow you to check on your little one and the wheels make it easy to move around when needed. Plus the crib is easy to convert when you're ready to give them a bit more space as they get older.

We spoke to these real parent testers to get their review...

How did this product make your life easier?

Katie: This product has been very useful when my daughter has been unwell and I have wanted to keep her close to make sure she is okay overnight whilst still allowing her her own safe sleeping space. The large mattress means she is comfortable and has plenty of room to roll around unlike in her previous next to me crib.

Emma: The Next2Me forever is a nice quality crib for my baby. Having my baby against the bed so that you can get to them easily during the night is a good thing. Using the Next2Me fits with current guidelines around safe sleeping, which is important to me. My baby is able to be close, but in their own sleep space. The size of the product means that it will last for my baby for a long time before they need to be in a different bed.

Sian: After outgrowing the next to me crib I was bed sharing with my little boy which was resulting in very little sleep for me. I trawled the internet looking for a solution to have him close to me but his own safe space but for many months was unsuccessful. Being given the opportunity to trial this product has been completely life changing for me. I sleep so much better knowing he is safe but I am still close enough to be able to settle him without going into another room several times a night. I have recommended this product to several of my pregnant friends due to the functionality of being able to use it beyond 6 months. I love the feature of being able to put the side up so we can put him to bed at 7 and know he will be safe. This product is revolutionary because there is nothing else like it on the market. No other product has the same level of flexibility as the Chicco next to me forever.

Would you recommend this to other parents?

Shelby: The Chicco Next2Me Forever is such good value for money! The fact it is suitable from birth to 4 years old is fantastic and will save a lot of money and short lived products in the long run. The wheels make it easy to manoeuvre and it looks so spacious and comfy for my baby. I love how it can connect to the bed to keep my baby close by and how the side can come down for easy access. It is however quite big so if you have a small space, it may not be suitable for you. It also doesn't fold down so it isn't easily stored or transported which may be a problem for some people.

Sian: The Chicco next to me forever has completely changed my life! Being able to provide my 13 month old with a safe space to sleep but still have him close by has meant we are all sleeping so much better. We are able to put him to bed at 7pm with the side of the cot up then once my husband and I go to bed I lower the side of the cot so I can reach over and settle my little one when he wakes in the night. We had briefly moved my little one into his own room at 6 months but getting up and going into a different room several times a night was incredibly exhausting which is why we ended up bed sharing. My little one is also a fan of the Next to me forever. He’s happy and content in the next to be forever and having mesh sides also stops him from waking when he rolls over and knocks into the side of the cot. Overall this product has had a huge impact on my quality of sleep and has allowed us to continue co-sleeping.

Emma: The Next2Me forever is a good choice for parents who want to buy one product to see their baby through many years. It is large and is able to be used open at the side of the bed, or with the side up. It can also be used as a toddler bed with the legs removed. The crib was easy enough to put together, but as we have an ottoman bed, it took a bit of thinking about how we used the fixation straps to keep the side down. However, it goes to show that it can be used with different styles of beds safely.

Would you choose this product above all others on the market?

Anna: I would choose it because of its size but I am not sure how many 4 year old's would find it comfortable to sleep in. However, it is nice to have the option to remove the legs and place the bed on the floor without the side which would suit many parents especially those who follow a Montessori approach. I did, however, find the instructions very difficult to follow. Even using the online videos on their website, it wasn't always clear how to use it.

Jennifer: Yes I think so. I wish I'd had this sooner as we really did struggle as my little girl got too big for the next2me and we had to make multiple trips to her bedroom through the night each time she woke. I feel that this bed ticks every box as it allows the next2me sleeping for breastfeeding in the early stages and it supports me as a tired and busy mum in finding solutions to all our sleep problems. For me, it's the fact it's both the next2me side sleeper for tiny babies and it is flexible in that you could have it as a toddler bed in your room, next to you or in their room and it just solved the head ache and the sleep deprivation issues that come with having bad sleepers!I like how the side comes down having had the next2me dream previously, this design is better. And the toddler bed element is what makes it stand out for me. I really like the product.

Sian: I would 100% choose this product above others on the market. It would be difficult to compare this product as there is no other product I am aware of that offers the same level of flexibility. The Next2me forever lasts from birth to approximately 4 years. It can be used as a bedside cot or a stand-alone cot and can also transform into a floor bed. The product is incredibly versatile and would suit many different family’s needs and sleeping arrangements. The standout feature for me is the size of the product and being able to lower and raise the side.

What changes would you make to this product?

Sian: If I could change one thing about the product it would be that the mattress could be set to different levels like in a standard cot. The current level is perfect for my 13 month old so he cannot climb over the side but I do find it difficult to lift him into the cot when he’s sleeping if the side is up. I usually had to shuffle onto the bed, drop the side of the cot and put him in that way. I think if I had a tiny baby in the cot being able to have the mattress at a higher height would make it easier to lift them in and out when the side is up.

Shelby: I think the Next2Me Forever is such a great product. The one thing for our family that would make it that little bit better would be if it had the ability to rock or swing slightly. This isn’t such a problem when using it as a side sleeping crib as the baby is so close by but if using it as a stand alone crib it would be good to be able to rock the baby easily to settle her without having to get up or pick her up. I'd also love to see some other colours in the future!

Jennifer: I really don't have much to say that could make it better. Perhaps because the sides are higher than the traditional model, having the drop down side on both sides during those early months if using with a newborn perhaps, so when my husband goes round it's easier to get her out if I'm actually asleep!

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