There’s nothing nicer than having a newborn baby – all those gorgeous, squishy cuddles and new baby smells. But the tiredness that goes with it – oh my goodness, the tiredness!
Anything that makes night feeds easier is a plus in my book, and I’d heard great things about side-by-side cribs, how you can just roll your baby towards you without having to get up, and then put them back into their own safe sleeping space afterwards.
My babies all came out through the sunroof, so getting up at night was especially difficult. With my first, my husband had to physically push me up in bed so I could go and get the baby, and I slept upright on the sofa for ten days after my second.
So with the imminent arrival of my third, figuring out how to look after the little one AND get some sleep was high on my list.
After seeing what was on the market, we decided to try the Knuma Huddle Bedside Crib.
It was fairly easy to set up, and fits pretty much every type of bed, thanks to its ten height settings, and allows a maximum height of 70 cm off the floor – the highest on the market. We have a high divan bed, and it fits snugly without a gap, and is solid and very sturdy.
You can set it up as a standalone crib, a co-sleeper, or remove the bassinet to have elsewhere in your house. It’s a heavy bassinet though, so you might not be able to carry it around if you were sore, or had surgery.
There’s plenty of room for baby, breathable mesh sides (another huge plus point for us), and an aerated base. On the side that rolls down, there is also a childproof latch so mischievous siblings can’t come along and let the side down. It is easy for an adult to fasten it up and down though.
On our first night home from the hospital, I braced myself for a night of pain, and propped myself up in bed against some pillows. But the Huddle made it so much easier than I’d experienced before. This was the single best thing about the Huddle for me, being able to reach into the crib and pick up my daughter without any pain at all. There’s even a handle on the top, so you can pull yourself up – a game changer for C-section mums.
But however you delivered, there’s no doubt that having the baby so close to you and being able to feed without getting out of bed is amazing. I love being able to check on her in the night, to rest my hand on her chest to try and soothe her, to lie her next to me to feed then put her safely into her own space afterwards. Although I co-slept with our other two, my husband was never comfortable with the idea and this has been the perfect compromise; closeness for me and peace of mind for him.
It’s plenty spacious for a newborn, and can accommodate most babies until they are six months. My daughter is big and long and I think it will probably take her until that age, but even when she moves into her big crib, I will probably keep the Huddle attached in case she does end up in bed with us, as a safety barrier so she doesn’t roll out.
When you’re ready to take the Huddle off your bed, it turns into a stylish table and bench set, without needing any extra parts. We’re not there yet, but I’m looking forward to trying it when we are, turning baby furniture into something all three of our kids can use – a constant reminder of those lovely – if a little sleep deprived – newborn days!
Disclaimer: While Mumbler received a free Knuma Huddle to try out, we would never write a dishonest review. Therefore, reviews contain our honest views and opinions and always will.
