Knuma Huddle Co-Sleeping Crib review

The Knuma Huddle co-sleeper cot in particular can be used as a bedside crib, standalone crib, removable bassinet or a child’s desk and bench.

Co-sleeping cots and cribs are quickly becoming considered the best way to nap with a newborn. The Lullaby Trust (formerly known as the Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths - FSID) says the safest place for your baby to sleep is on his back, on his own sleep surface, in the same room as you, for at least the first six months.

And co-sleeper cribs allows us to keep our babies close (which is great for breastfeeding and soothing at night), while following the Lullaby Trust and NICE guidelines for safe sleeping.

Looking at their current list of products, this Knuma, seems to be pretty good at designing and catering for those looking for multifunctional baby items, and already has an award-winning 4 in 1 highchair in it’s portfolio (the Connect 4 in 1 highchair).

It’s got some very stiff opposition in the safe co-sleeping market, going up against the Little Green Sheep SnuzPod (£199.99), Halo Bassinest (£249) and the ever-popular Chicco Next2Me (£239).

So why a co-sleeper?

After finding it hard to transition my first born (now two and a half) into her own cot from a Moses basket, I’ve always loved the thought of being as close to my baby for as long as possible.

The NICE guidelines state that the safest place for your baby to sleep for the first 6 months is in their cot in your room, so this seemed like the perfect solution.

A bedside crib that attaches to your bed for those precious first few months, then a stand-alone crib that can either stay in your room or be transported to their room when you feel comfortable.

As a mum of two, I was looking for furniture this time around that would grow with my child, rather than me having to look for new furniture once he has out-grown it. This seemed like a great option.

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How easy was it to fit the Knuma Huddle 4-in-1 co sleeper crib to the bed?

Easy. The crib comes with two straps, so we simply popped each strap around the bed frame and then attached it to the cot.

This felt secure and easy to disconnect for when I wanted to move it, and put the baby round my husbands’ side of the bed for a night (or two!).

The Huddle also has 10 different height positions, so whatever the height of your bed, you can adjust it to suit.

You can buy the Knuma co-sleeper crib at Knuma or Pram World.

How comfortable is it?

The Knuma Huddle comes with a much thicker mattress than your typical Moses basket (sold separately from £30), and is really soft and silky to touch, thanks to its natural bamboo fibres. I was really impressed with it.

The Huddle is also bigger than an average Moses basket, which means I will be able to keep my son in with me for longer, and hopefully until he is sleeping more solidly.

How easy is it to see your baby when in the Huddle?

The mesh all the way round makes it easy to see my son, and the adjustable height makes it easy to adjust, no matter the height of the bed.

This was lovely for my two year old who wanted to look inside the crib at all times.

The mesh sides also made the crib really breathable, so I didn’t get too panicked when my little one was smooched against the side.

Can the Knuma Huddle 4-in-1 co sleeper crib move around the house when assembled?

It can be transported easily and doesn’t get stuck in doorways once assembled.

But I did find it hard to take it up and down the stairs, which is a narrow part of the house with quite a tight corner.

The crib itself isn’t heavy, but heavier than your bog-standard Moses basket, and it doesn’t have carry handles, so I did find it tough to get a handle on it when picking it up, especially up and down the stairs.

I wouldn’t be happy doing this with the baby in it! It is definitely a two man job, as the bassinet is very square and rigid, and not like a Moses basket that has some give in it and won’t dent the walls from bad manoeuvring. Whoops!

Does it rock?

Yes. The base rocks and the bassinet rocks too! So if you have it on the floor in the day (as a bassinette), then you can rock your baby back to sleep.

It’s worth remembering though, that the base rocks from front to back, and the bassinette from side-to-side.

This took some getting used too, especially in the middle of the night, when you would automatically just push and pull the crib from side to side to make it rock.

What is the Huddle co-sleeper crib like on space?

The Huddle is bigger than most Moses baskets in the market so if you’re short of space, this might be an issue for you.

But it’s roughly identical in size to other co-sleeper cots like the Chicco Next2Me (D69, W93, H66-89) Snuz Pod (D42cm, W100, H95), Halo Bassinest (D85, W56, H96).

I like its size as I can see myself using it until my baby is at least 6 months old.

It is very square though, so to have a king-sized bed in a room, as well as this, and other furniture, it did make my side of the bedroom seem a lot smaller and a bit like an obstacle course, but it’s just short-term, so I don’t mind.

You just have to remember the path out of the bedroom if you get up in the middle of the night!

Is it easy to put the sides down?

Yes, it’s easy and more importantly safe. To open the mesh side, you have to un-pop the mesh first using the safety poppers, unzip the sides and then physically lift the rails out.

It’s very secure and would be very difficult for my two-year old daughter to do, or someone who didn’t know what they were doing.

What’s better, a Moses basket or the Knuma Huddle co-sleeper crib?

I really wish I had one of these for my first born, so I would totally recommend it over a Moses basket.

The drop down side is great for those recovering after a C-section (like me)or a difficult birth. I can soothe my baby lying down and just scoot him out of the crib into my bed if he needs attention or feeding.

This has certainly helped with keeping him calm and not waking my daughter, and husband.

I will however need to transfer him into a bigger cot-bed at 6ish months, so you do need to bare in mind that this is a short-team sleeping arrangement and you will need to pay out again for a cot bed that is bigger.

However, the investment is well worth it in my view, especially if it means you get a little more sleep in those first few months.

How does it compare to other cot beds you have used?

The Huddle is solid, practical and allows me to see to my baby in the night without too much disruption.

I’ve only ever used a bog-standard wicker basket in the past, so I wish I had had this crib with my daughter.

Having my son so close, yet in his separate space is fantastic. I’m a more rested happy mummy for both my newborn and toddler.

Does it have storage?

Yes, at the bottom of the crib there is a shelf for storing all those essentials.

I keep spare muslins on it, a dummy, wipes, my water bottle and anything else that we might need in the night.

It certainly helps keep the bedroom less cluttered, and all the baby stuff together.

Is the Knuma Huddle co-sleeper crib good value for money?

The Huddle is the same price as other co-sleeping cribs in the market, which are all generally quite pricey, especially once you buy the mattress and sheets (£19.95 for two) too.

But I definitely think it’s good value, as it will serve as a bench & desk, once you have finished with the crib.

In the first few months with a newborn, getting as much sleep as possible is vital – and you can’t put a price on feeling happy that your baby is close to you and that he or she is sleeping better because of it.

It also means that my daughter can still fit in our bed for morning snuggles and doesn’t feel pushed out by the baby. You can’t put a price on that!

What’s in the box?

• Huddle crib with mesh walls (flat-packed ready for assembly)
• Mattress
• Base

Any additional extras?

• Huddle crib mattress - £30
• Huddle crib sheet - £19.99

How quick is it to assemble?

It took an hour and a half from start to finish. The instructions were easy to follow, and it wasn’t too heavy as you make it in two bits – the base and then the bassinet.

It came with its own Allen key, which is all that you need to assemble, which was also pretty handy and didn’t mean that I had to be the one to’ing and fro’ing to the toolbox.

And what’s great is that you can assemble anywhere as it’s not too hard to transport about.

But when it comes to making sure it's the right height for the bed you will need to remember to either measure your bed with a tape measure before you start, or measure the base up against the bed.

We did it via a tape measure, but actually once we got the crib upstairs, it was too high for the bed so we had to spend another ten minutes lowering it, which isn’t the end of the world but ten minutes, is ten minutes, when you are a new mum, right?

MadeForMums Verdict:

A fabulous product for mummy, baby, and all the family. The Knuma Huddle is comfortable, roomy and fits in nicely to our bedroom and his nursery.

It’s perfect for mums who want to have their baby close without the risks of bed-sharing. I love that once you are done with the co-sleeping and want to wean your baby away from you, and prepare him for his own room, you can just use it as a regular stand-alone crib, and remove it from the bed really easily.

It is also roomy, so should accommodate your little one to at least 6 months and then it can be turned into another piece of furniture (a desk with a bench) for the nursery.

You will however then have to think about investing in a proper cot, I’m lucky enough to have my daughters old cot-bed waiting for us.

But hey, those first few months with your newborn are precious and if you can both feel happy at night, then it’s going to make your life feel so much easier.

We've got more safe co-sleeper cribs below….

• The Babybay Convertible Bedside Cot
• Jané Babyside Bedside Crib
  
• Guether Aladdin Co-Sleeper crib

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