Bedside Cribs by Budget: £75 vs £125 vs £145

COMPARISON · NURSERY & SLEEP

A bedside crib is probably the first piece of nursery furniture you will actually use every single night. It sits right next to your bed, lets you reach your baby for feeds without fully waking, and gives everyone their own safe sleep space. Getting it right matters, but the price spread is enormous, from around £50 all the way past £250.

The good news? You do not have to spend premium money to get a safe, well-built crib. You do, however, get genuinely different features as the price climbs, and knowing exactly what those extras buy you is the whole point of this guide. We picked one crib at each of three price tiers, compared them on the things parents actually care about, and scored each one on build quality, ease of use, versatility and real-world feedback.

Whether you are shopping on a strict budget, looking for the best all-rounder in the middle, or ready to invest in something that feels like furniture, one of these three will fit. Here is how they compare.

Lil' Bubba's verdicts

• Best Overall: Maxi-Cosi Iora Air · 8.5/10 - premium feel at a mid-range price, with eco-friendly materials and a built-in rocking function
• Best Budget: Kinderkraft Nestee Up 2 · 7.5/10 - five height settings, full mesh airflow and a reflux incline for under £80
• Best Premium: Silver Cross Lunar · 8.0/10 - seven height positions, bamboo-lined mattress and stunning craftsmanship from a heritage brand

Quick comparison

	Kinderkraft Nestee Up 2	Maxi-Cosi Iora Air	Silver Cross Lunar
Price tier	Budget (~£75)	Mid-range (~£125)	Premium (~£145)
Rating
Height positions	5	5	7
Incline	2 levels	Yes	2 levels
Weight	~7.8 kg	~12.5 kg	~8.1 kg
Rocking	No	Yes	No
Travel bag	No	Included	Included
Eco materials	No	100% recycled fabrics	Natural bamboo lining

How we picked the three

We started by filtering every joined-programme bedside crib in our catalogue by brand quality and parent interest. From there, we sorted by price and selected one product from each tier: under £80, around £120 to £130 and over £140. All three are currently in stock, from established brands with UK customer support, and come with a mattress included. We cross-referenced parent feedback from multiple sources, verified specifications against official product pages and scored each crib on build quality, ease of use, versatility and value for money.

What to look for in a bedside crib

Height adjustment. The more height positions a crib offers, the easier it is to match your mattress exactly. Three positions is the minimum. Five is comfortable. Seven gives you flexibility across divan beds, bed frames with storage drawers and even floor-level futons.

Side access. Every bedside crib drops its side panel for night feeds, but the mechanisms differ. Some zip and fold, others use clips or buttons. Test how quietly and quickly the side opens, because you will be doing it half asleep.

Incline settings. If your baby has reflux or congestion, an adjustable incline at the head end is worth its weight in gold. Most mid-range and premium cribs offer this. Some budget cribs do too, so it is not exclusively a premium feature.

Airflow. Mesh sides improve breathability and let you see your baby without sitting up. Full mesh on all sides is ideal. Some cribs have mesh on only one or two panels, which can restrict airflow in warmer months.

Portability. If you plan to move the crib between rooms during the day or take it to grandparents, check the weight, whether it folds and whether a travel bag is included. Some cribs fold flat in seconds, others need partial disassembly.

Mattress quality. The included mattress varies enormously. Budget cribs often include a thinner foam pad. Premium models invest in breathable, hypoallergenic mattresses with washable covers. You can always upgrade the mattress separately, but factor that into the total cost.

1. Maxi-Cosi Iora Air / 10 · Best Overall

The Iora Air sits in that sweet spot where you get genuinely premium features without paying premium prices. Maxi-Cosi built it with 100% recycled fabrics, breathable mesh on all sides and a rocking function that you activate by turning the leg bar. It slides closer to your bed, adjusts to five heights and includes straps, a storage basket and a travel bag.

One parent told us: "Very easy to understand the instructions and it only took around five to ten minutes to put up." That ease of assembly came up repeatedly in feedback. Parents recovering from a caesarean found it especially practical, since the height adjustment and side access work with one hand.

What parents love

• Quick assembly. Most parents had it built in under ten minutes, with clear instructions and minimal fuss.
• Built-in rocking. The rocking function helps settle restless babies without lifting them out of the crib.
• Eco credentials. The side fabric is made from recycled bottles and is machine washable, which is a genuine differentiator at this price.
• Breathable mesh. All-round mesh means good airflow and clear sightlines from your bed. A parent shared: "Our daughter has slept so well in it from day one."

What to know before you buy

• Short usable window. Like all bedside cribs, the Iora Air lasts about six months. At this price that is reasonable, but it is worth planning what comes next.
• Small storage basket. The under-crib basket is not very spacious. We hear repeatedly from parents that it is hard to access and fits fewer nappies than expected.
• Heavier than rivals. At around 12.5 kg, the Iora Air is noticeably heavier than budget options. Moving it between rooms is possible but not effortless.

Best for

• Parents wanting a rocking function without the premium price tag
• Eco-conscious buyers who value recycled materials
• Anyone recovering from surgery who needs easy one-handed access
• Smaller bedrooms where breathability and compact footprint matter

2. Kinderkraft Nestee Up 2 / 10 · Best Budget

Kinderkraft has quietly built a reputation for packing strong specifications into budget-friendly nursery products. The Nestee Up 2 is their second-generation bedside crib, and it punches well above its price with five height positions, two incline settings for reflux, 360-degree mesh and four lockable wheels. It converts from a bedside co-sleeper to a standalone crib with a simple zip, which makes it useful in two configurations.

The steel frame keeps the weight down to around 7.8 kg, so moving it room to room is straightforward. One parent put it best: "You can see the baby from every angle and the air circulation is brilliant, even in summer."

What parents love

• Outstanding value. At under £80, it includes features that some cribs charge twice as much for, including the reflux incline and full mesh sides.
• Lightweight and mobile. At 7.8 kg with lockable wheels, it moves easily between rooms during the day.
• Reflux support. Two incline levels are a rare feature at this price point and a genuine lifesaver for babies with posseting or congestion.
• 2-in-1 design. Converts from bedside co-sleeper to standalone crib with one zip, extending its usefulness.

What to know before you buy

• Thinner mattress. The included mattress is functional but not plush. Several parents upgraded it within the first few weeks.
• No travel bag. Unlike the mid-range and premium picks, the Nestee Up 2 does not come with a carry bag, which limits its portability for overnight stays.
• Basic aesthetics. The steel-and-mesh build is practical but does not look as polished as the wood-finished premium options.

Best for

• First-time parents on a budget who still want key safety features
• Families needing a reflux incline without the premium price
• Parents who move the crib between rooms during the day
• Anyone buying a crib as a short-term solution before the full-size cot

3. Silver Cross Lunar / 10 · Best Premium

Silver Cross has been making prams and nursery furniture for over 145 years, and the Lunar is their flagship bedside crib. It looks and feels like a premium piece of furniture: clean lines, a sleek wood-effect finish and a natural bamboo-lined mattress that sets it apart from anything else at this price.

With seven height positions, it fits a wider range of bed types than either of the other picks. The mattress protector is machine washable at 30 degrees, and the whole crib folds flat for travel with the included bag. A parent shared: "It feels incredibly sturdy. We felt completely confident having our baby in it from the very first night."

What parents love

• Build quality. Every parent we heard from mentioned how solid and well-made the Lunar feels. The frame does not wobble or creak.
• Seven heights. The widest height range of any crib here, making it compatible with low divans, high bed frames and everything in between.
• Bamboo-lined mattress. Naturally temperature-regulating and hypoallergenic, the bamboo lining is a genuine comfort upgrade over standard foam.
• Included extras. Mattress, mattress protector and travel bag are all in the box, with no costly add-ons needed.

What to know before you buy

• Larger footprint. At 93 cm long, the Lunar takes up more floor space than compact models. Parents in smaller bedrooms found it a tight fit.
• Covers not easily removable. Some fabric panels are tricky to remove for washing, which can be frustrating during night-time incidents.
• Spacious for tiny newborns. Parents we hear from regularly say the crib felt a little roomy for very small babies in the first week or two.

Best for

• Parents who want a crib that looks like furniture, not medical equipment
• Tall beds or unusual bed heights where extra adjustment matters
• Families who travel and want a crib that folds flat with a travel bag
• Anyone willing to invest a little more for premium materials and finish

How to choose

If budget is the priority, the Kinderkraft Nestee Up 2 delivers features that would have been unthinkable at this price a few years ago. The reflux incline alone makes it worth considering over cheaper alternatives, and the 360-degree mesh is a genuine safety plus.

If you want the best balance of features and price, the Maxi-Cosi Iora Air is our top pick. The rocking function, eco-friendly materials and included travel bag put it ahead of comparably priced options. The assembly is remarkably quick, which matters when you are setting up a nursery on a deadline.

If you are happy to spend more for premium quality, the Silver Cross Lunar justifies its price through build quality, the bamboo-lined mattress and seven height positions. It is a crib you will feel proud to have next to your bed, and it holds its resale value well.

Add it to your Nest

Found your match? Add any of these cribs to your free BubsNest registry and let family and friends know exactly which one you want. Your Nest keeps everything in one place, from the crib itself to the fitted sheets, sleeping bags and night lights you will need alongside it.