Graco Sweet2Sleep vs Obaby Cloud: Which Budget Bedside Crib Wins?

COMPARISON · NURSERY & SLEEP

Choosing a bedside crib is one of those decisions that feels simple until you start comparing. You want your baby close enough for those middle-of-the-night feeds, but you also want something safe, comfortable, and ideally not the price of a small holiday. Two cribs keep surfacing in conversations among budget-conscious UK parents: the Graco Sweet2Sleep and the Obaby Cloud.

Both promise safe co-sleeping with drop-down sides and breathable mesh panels, and both come from established nursery brands with years of pedigree behind them. But at different price points and with genuinely different approaches to portability and storage, they suit different households. We dug into expert reviews, parent feedback, and the specs that actually matter at 3 a.m. to work out which one deserves a spot next to your bed.

Whether you are a first-time parent building a nursery on a realistic budget or adding a second crib for grandparents, this comparison cuts through the marketing to tell you what each crib does well, where it falls short, and which one fits your life.

Lil' Bubba's verdicts

• Best Overall: Graco Sweet2Sleep · 8.5/10 - double award-winner with unbeatable value and a superior mattress
• Best for Style & Storage: Obaby Cloud · 7.5/10 - understated design with a handy under-crib shelf in four colour options

	Graco Sweet2Sleep	Obaby Cloud
Price (approx.)	~£75–79	~£112–145
Dimensions	L95 × W68.5 × H66–81 cm	L100 × W52 × H81.6 cm
Weight	8.6 kg	9.6 kg
Height positions	11	Adjustable (not specified)
Tilt for reflux	4 positions	Limited (asymmetric tilt)
Drop-down side	One-hand	One-hand
Wheels	4 lockable	No
Travel fold	Yes + carry bag	No
Under-crib storage	No	Yes (36.9 L)
Colours	Oatmeal	Oatmeal, Grey, Sage, Nutmeg
Age range	Birth to ~6 months (9 kg)	Birth to ~6 months (9 kg)
Awards	Gold, Mother & Baby 2024 + 2026	–

How we picked the two

We track which products parents add to their BubsNest registries, which items come up most in community threads, and which cribs attract the most comparison questions. The Graco Sweet2Sleep and Obaby Cloud kept appearing together because they sit in the sub-£150 bedside crib bracket, a price range where most first-time parents start shopping. Rather than relying on one reviewer's opinion, we cross-referenced expert scores from multiple UK parenting publications, aggregated parent feedback from forums and retailer reviews, and checked current UK prices and stock. No brand paid for inclusion and we receive no editorial direction from either manufacturer.

What to look for in a bedside crib

Before diving into the head-to-head, here is what actually matters when you are comparing bedside cribs side by side.

Height adjustability. Your crib needs to sit level with your mattress top for safe co-sleeping. More height positions means a better chance of a flush fit, especially with thicker mattresses or divan beds. Anything below six positions is limiting; eleven is excellent.

Drop-down side mechanism. You will operate this one-handed at 2 a.m. while half asleep. It should lower quietly, lock securely, and not require two hands or a degree in engineering.

Tilt function. If your baby has reflux or congestion, being able to raise the head end slightly can make a real difference to settled sleep. Not all cribs offer this, and the number of tilt angles varies.

Mattress quality. A thin, plasticky mattress gets replaced within weeks. A firm, breathable one with a washable cover is worth prioritising, because you will be washing it.

Portability. If you plan to move the crib between rooms during the day or take it to grandparents, wheels, a compact fold, and low weight all matter. If it stays put, these matter less.

Storage. Nappies, wipes, muslins, a spare sleeping bag. Having a shelf underneath the crib means one fewer trip across the room in the dark. Not essential, but genuinely useful.

Safety standards. Both cribs in this comparison meet BS EN 1130, the UK standard for cribs and cradles. Always check that any crib you buy carries this certification.

1. Graco Sweet2Sleep / 10 · Best Overall

The Graco Sweet2Sleep is the American brand's first bedside crib with a drop-down side, and it has made an immediate impression. Winning Gold at the Mother and Baby Awards in both 2024 and 2026 for Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket, it packs features that rival cribs costing twice the price into a lightweight frame that genuinely folds flat for travel.

Eleven height positions mean you can match almost any bed height, from a low platform frame to a tall divan. Four tilt angles let you raise the head end to ease reflux or congestion, a feature some premium cribs lack entirely. The one-hand drop-down side is smooth enough to operate in the dark, and the included carry bag and compact fold (just 17.5 cm thick) make it a realistic option for overnights at grandparents or holidays.

What parents love

• Outstanding value. At roughly half the price of the SnuzPod or Chicco Next2Me, parents consistently call this "fantastic value for money." One parent told us: "This is a must-have for any new parents."
• Superior mattress. The aerated, mesh-covered mattress gets singled out repeatedly. A parent shared: "The mattress is vastly superior to both the SnuzPod's and the mattress that comes with our Joie Kubbie."
• Effortless co-sleeping access. We hear repeatedly from parents that the drop-down side transforms night feeds. One parent put it best: "I loved being able to lower the side when attached to the bed and co-sleep in a safe manner."
• Travel-ready design. The flat fold, carry bag, and 8.6 kg weight make this genuinely portable. A parent shared: "It is super easy to collapse, making it perfect to take away."

What to know before you buy

• No storage shelf. Unlike the Obaby Cloud or the Maxi-Cosi Iora Air, there is no under-crib basket for nappies or wipes. You will need a separate caddy nearby.
• Tricky disassembly. While setup takes around 10-20 minutes with no tools, taking it apart can be frustrating. Some parents found hidden release buttons fiddly.
• Bedside mode quirks. The leg design means you cannot push the crib flush against a wall, and the tilt function is unavailable when the crib is strapped to your bed.

Best for

• Budget-conscious parents who want award-winning features without the premium price tag
• Breastfeeding mothers who need easy one-handed nighttime access
• Parents of reflux or colic babies who benefit from the four-position tilt
• Families who travel or move rooms frequently

2. Obaby Cloud / 10 · Best for Style & Storage

The Obaby Cloud takes a different approach. Where the Graco leads with adjustability and portability, the Cloud focuses on aesthetics and practical nursery storage. Available in four soft, neutral shades, it is one of the most visually cohesive bedside cribs at this price point, designed to blend into a styled nursery rather than stand out as a piece of baby equipment.

The under-crib storage shelf (36.9 litres) is a genuine differentiator. Having nappies, wipes, and a spare muslin within arm's reach at 3 a.m. removes one of the biggest annoyances of nighttime changes. The mesh panels are breathable and see-through, the mattress is supportive, and the one-hand drop-down side works smoothly for feeds and cuddles.

What parents love

• Under-crib storage. The 36.9-litre shelf keeps nighttime essentials within reach. Parents we hear from regularly say this single feature justifies the price difference over cribs without storage.
• Beautiful colour range. Four neutral shades (Oatmeal, Grey, Sage, Nutmeg) let parents match the crib to their nursery palette. One parent told us: "It looks lovely, really blends in with our bedroom furniture."
• Trusted British brand. Obaby has been making nursery furniture in the UK for decades, and parents appreciate the 2-year warranty and responsive customer service.
• Generous sleep space. At 100 cm long and 52 cm deep, the internal dimensions are slightly more spacious than some competitors, giving bigger babies a bit more room.

What to know before you buy

• Limited independent reviews. Unlike the heavily reviewed Graco, the Obaby Cloud has not yet appeared in major UK roundups from the leading parenting publications. Most available feedback comes from retailer descriptions rather than tested editorial reviews.
• No wheels or travel fold. This is a stay-put crib. Without wheels or a folding mechanism, moving it between rooms requires lifting, and it does not pack down for travel.
• Fewer height positions. Obaby describes the height as "adjustable" but does not publish the number of distinct positions, making it harder to guarantee a flush fit with your specific bed.

Best for

• Parents who want a crib that looks like nursery furniture, not medical equipment
• Anyone who values having nappy-change essentials stored underneath the crib
• Households where the crib will stay in one room for its entire lifespan

What about the Chicco Next2Me?

The Chicco Next2Me Magic Evo is the bedside crib you will see recommended most often in UK roundups, and for good reason. It has 11 height positions, a rocking function in standalone mode, and years of proven parent feedback. But it typically retails between £130 and £200, which puts it in a different bracket from the two cribs in this comparison. If your budget stretches that far and you want the most-reviewed option on the market, it is worth a look. We do not currently carry the Next2Me crib in our affiliate channels, but Chicco accessories such as replacement mattresses and fitted sheets are available through our retailers.

How to choose

Choose the Graco Sweet2Sleep if value, portability, and adjustability are your priorities. It costs roughly £35-70 less than the Obaby Cloud, folds flat for travel, and gives you 11 height positions plus a dedicated reflux tilt. The mattress quality alone justifies the price, and back-to-back Gold awards confirm this is a best-in-class budget crib. If you plan to move the crib between rooms or take it to grandparents, the Graco is the obvious pick.

Choose the Obaby Cloud if you want a crib that looks at home in a curated nursery and keeps your nighttime essentials neatly stored underneath. The four colour options and the understated British design give it an edge on aesthetics, and the under-crib shelf is a feature you will appreciate every single night. Just be aware that it stays where you put it, with no wheels and no travel fold.

Add it to your Nest

Whichever crib suits your family, you can add it to your free BubsNest registry alongside everything else on your list. Share one link with friends and family, and let them choose the gift that feels right, whether it is the crib itself or a pack of fitted sheets to go with it.