Chicco in 2014

Ever wanted a co-sleeping crib that didn’t cost a fortune but still had all the features? When I was looking around for such a thing with Bubby D, it became blatantly obvious that such a thing really didn’t exist – and knowing from my experience with the Wee Man that co-sleeping was likely to be the best way for us to get a bit of rest, I really wanted to get a bedside crib!

But it looks like the new Next2Me from Chicco fits the bill – with a range of adjustable heights and the option to securely attach to any bed, it promises to help a good nights’ sleep with a little one become that little bit more of a reality. Even better it also has the option to tilt slightly for the times when babies are a bit snuffly or congested – much better than fiddling around with wedges and bricks! With the option to attach the fourth side so that it can be used as a standalone crib, it is versatile enough to make the RRP of £149.99 money well worth spending.

Talking of sleep, there is a very comfortable looking bump and beyond maternity pillow on offer too, which can be adjusted to suit growing bumps. It is made up of the pregnancy wedge, comfort pillow, and total body pillow. I’m not quite at the point yet with this pregnancy where I’m starting to get uncomfortable at night but I know it won’t be long now before it’s getting harder to sleep and having a range of options all from one pillow looks like a great way of dealing with finding the ultimate sleep position.

For little babies who are looking for a bit of relaxation while awake, there is the Hoopla rocker, which is a padded, comfortable seat which can be used in static or rocking mode, and has a removable toy bar and 3 point harness to keep babies safely strapped in. It folds completely flat for storage, something which I particularly liked.

Chicco have also introduced a new pushchair (or three, in fact!) to their range – with the first being the Urban. The thing that surprised me most about it was that, despite how solid and robust it looks, its actually incredibly lightweight and easy to push! It’s got a very modern look, with a seat that can be forward or parent facing, and the basic chassis is complemented by the addition of  a choice of colour packs – I really love the teal colour but there are five different options to choose from. It can be used as a travel system with an adaptor which is quite a lot larger than others, but does hold the infant car seat securely in place for a smooth ride. With an adjustable handle, great size shopping basket and effortless kerb pop its a great affordable option at £349.99 (colour packs are extra).

A jogging pushchair (Chicco Activ3 with a hand operated brake, option to use with the Keyfit car seat and and easy one hand fold) and a larger, more rugged pushchair called the Arctic are the other two additions to the range. They are bigger and heavier than the more city-suitable Urban, but this is no surprise given that they are tailored more towards the outdoor life. The Arctic has a lovely curved chassis with a carrycot and seat unit that look very comfortable. I have to be honest and say that the seat unit isn’t my favourite in terms of looks, but having been to Norway several times I can definitely see how functionality triumphs over appearance when ensuring a comfortable, cosy ride for a small child. For anyone who is after a pushchair that can handle rough terrain and all kinds of weather conditions with ease, this is probably a good option.

Highchairs and wooden toys made up the rest of the new collection.

We aren’t fussy about wooden or plastic toys ourselves, but I can see how the wooden toys on offer from Chicco would appeal with lovely bright colours and styles that babies and toddlers will really enjoy.

The highchairs look great too – the new Pocket Snack in particular really caught my eye. Bubby D is quite small for her age but not too keen on using traditional type highchairs – and this option gives some extra lift without being a standalone seat as it attaches to any chair with a range of heights available. It can be used with or without the tray and folds down small for transportation or storage.

Lots of other great products are available, including a whole range of car seats from birth to age 12 and a larger highchair – and you can see all of these as well as more information about the products above on the Chicco website.