Ickle Bubba Drift Gliding Crib Review: the gliding crib which won't set you back £££
This two-in-one newborn crib from Ickle Bubba offers all the portable convenience of a Moses basket with the added benefits of a gliding, rocking feature to soothe your baby to sleep - and at a far more affordable price point than a lot of its rivals. We put it to the test with the help of real parent testers and their newborn baby.
By Jenny Wonnacott | Last updated May 30, 2024
Price on writing: £119 | Buy now from Ickle Bubba | Buy now from Amazon
Easy to assemble
Very portable to transport around the house
More affordable than the likes of the Chicco Next2Me, Maxi-Cosi Iora and Tutti Bambini CoZee
Smart and practical
Gliding feature could be better - considering it's a selling point it didn't blow our tester away
Legs stick out at an angle which tester found a bit of a trip hazard
Not as sturdy as a permanent cot or cot bed
Price on writing: From £87 | Size: L70, W61, D108cm | What's included: Mattress with cover, travel bag | Height settings: N/A | Rocking feature: Yes
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Ickle Bubba Drift Gliding Crib: How we tested
Our parent tester Phil used the Ickle Bubba Drift Gliding Crib with his newborn baby from birth over a testing period of four weeks. During this time the crib was used primarily for daytime naps in a variety of different locations within the home. Phil assessed the crib thoroughly for a variety of factors during this timeframe, including its safety, sturdiness, portability, comfort, practicality, look and value for money in order to arrive at their overall rating of the IB Drift Gliding Crib.
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How easy is the crib to assemble?
'We found it very easy,' said Phil. 'The instructions were clear and the parts are designed so they only really fit in the right places. It took about ten minutes, but once you have the hang of it, I'm sure it could be done without instructions.'
The crib came with instructions and did need to be assembled, but no tools were required and it's clearly designed to be taken apart and carried flat in the bag.
-parent-tester Phil, dad-of-two
How big is the Ickle Bubba Drift Gliding Crib?
The crib measures H70 x W61 x D108cm when put together. The mattress measures 73 x 44cm and the crib is raised around 45cm off the floor.
'It's a fairly standard size for cribs of this style,' said Phil, adding: 'The legs of the frame stick out at an angle, so it takes up a bit more floor area than the bed itself - and we've tripped over the legs enough times to notice this!'
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How portable is the Ickle Bubba Drift Gliding Crib?
It’s portable - you can definitely move it between rooms (it’s light enough that you could move without taking the frame apart - the cot and the frame detach like a Moses basket). But it’s also fairly easy to take the frame apart, and the cot section collapses flat. Once it’s in its carry bag, you could realistically take it on holiday.
Ickle Bubba Drift Gliding Crib
Buy now from AmazonHow sturdy is the crib?
Phil said that the crib 'feels sturdy and safe for what it is,' but added: 'It isn't as sturdy as a permanent cot, and the legs are a bit spindly. It feels like it might be a bit wobbly if your floor was particularly uneven.' However, he said they preferred the sturdiness of the Drift Gliding Crib over a standard wicker Moses basket.
We've also used a wicker Moses basket and the IB Drift Crib certainly feels a lot sturdier and more stable than this. I think we're more likely to keep this crib longer than the Moses basket as it's bigger and more substantial.
-parent tester Phil, dad-of-two
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How does the Ickle Bubba Drift compare to other cribs/ co-sleepers?
'Our son also sleeps in a Snuzpod 3 which we use as a co-sleeper crib. We love this but I wouldn't say that the IB Glide is in the same category. We've also used a Moses basket and prefer the Glide to this as it feels more substantial.'
How does the rocking mechanism work with the Ickle Bubba Drift?
The glide mechanism allows the crib to rock from side to side manually. It also locks in place with a simple button if you prefer it not to glide. It isn't particularly spectacular or do much more than any other crib with a rocking base though.
Parent-tester Phil, dad of two
Ickle Bubba Drift Gliding Crib
Buy now from Ickle BubbaRead next: The best baby sleeping bags, blankets and weighted blankets for kids
How long can you use the crib?
The Ickle Bubba Drift Gliding crib is intended for use from birth until the baby weighs 9kg (approximately 6 - 9 months) or can sit up unaided.
'We probably wouldn't use the IB Drift crib longer than around six months,' said Phil. 'The mattress size isn't so big that it'll be useful beyond that and the walls of the crib aren't very high.'
How easy is the IB Drift Gliding Crib to clean?
The Drift crib features fabric and mesh sides which can be wiped clean. The mattress has a removable and washable cover.
Ickle Bubba Drift Gliding Crib: Overall verdict
While Phil said he wasn't particularly overwhelmed with the crib's gliding function considering it's a stand-out feature of the product, he said he did think it represented good value for money, adding: 'It's a more costly alternative to a Moses basket, but it could be used as a night time crib or a small travel crib, which makes it more comparable to co-sleeper cribs.'
It's good value for money. It's smart, practical if you want something that can fold down easily, be taken apart and carried.
-parent-tester Phil
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About the author
Jenny Wonnacott is a Content Editor for Mumsnet, specialising in writing, editing and optimising pregnancy, baby care and general parenting-related content. As a parent of three primary school-aged children, Jenny is passionate about making Mumsetters' lives easier through rigorous research of all items recommended in reviews, features buyers' guides.
Jenny is also a best-selling sci-fi author (writing as J M Briscoe) and parenting blogger.
About Mumsnet reviews
All Mumsnet product reviews are written by real parents after weeks of research and testing – this includes recommendations from the Mumsnet Talk boards. We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust. Sometimes, we earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. However, we never allow this to influence our coverage.
All prices correct at time of publication