In Depth Baby Product Reviews Led by a Pediatrician

Summer Infant Classic Comfort Wood Review

Fabric around the mattress makes this bassinet a no-go in our book
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summer infant classic comfort wood bassinet review
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Price:  $140 List
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Manufacturer:   Summer Infant
By Juliet Spurrier, MD and Wendy Schmitz  ⋅  Nov 2, 2017
44
OVERALL
SCORE
  • Ease of Use - 35% 6.0
  • Breathability - 25% 1.0
  • Sleep Surface - 20% 5.0
  • Quality - 15% 6.0
  • Eco-Health - 5% 2.0

The Skinny

The Summer Infant Classic Comfort Wood bassinet has a cute look but a questionable design. This product incorporates significant fabric around the sleeping area that mimics a crib bumper. Given the concerns of bumpers being a potential SIDS risk we aren't sure why Summer Infant didn't include some mesh panels near baby's head at the very least. This product is relatively average in its performance outside the disappointing breathability, and the lower price may be enticing to families on a budget. However, there are less expensive options in this review like the Graco Pack 'n Play On the Go Bassinet that has better breathability and sleep surface and is higher quality with easier to use features. We don't recommend this bassinet based on the excessive use of fabric that can potentially impact breathability.
REASONS TO BUY
Lower price
Rolls well
REASONS TO AVOID
Seriously impaired breathability
Spot clean non-waterproof mattress

Our Analysis and Test Results

summer infant classic comfort wood bassinet review - the summer infant has a rumpled appearance and thin fabric that...
The Summer Infant has a rumpled appearance and thin fabric that indicates lower quality materials and construction.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

In 1985, William Lockett III started Summer Infant when he had trouble finding a safe place for his baby when he needed to do other things. Lockett created the first bouncy seat to meet his need, and Summer Infant went on to create a wide variety of affordable baby gear for families including monitors, strollers, bassinets and more.

Performance Comparison


This comparison chart offers a quick look at the overall scores for the products tested in this review including the Summer Infant (in blue).


The sections below provide information on the Summer Infant's performance compared to the competition during testing.

summer infant classic comfort wood bassinet review - the summer infant comes with a baby soother that provides vibration...
The Summer Infant comes with a baby soother that provides vibration, music and sounds to help sooth babies.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Ease of Use


The Summer Infant earned a 6 of 10 for ease of use.

Accessibility


This product is an average size bassinet but the sleep surface is higher up than some of the competition, and you will need to sit up in bed to reach your baby bedside. You may not need to get out of bed which is a plus, but if you do, you'll need to scoot to the end of the bed or push the bassinet aside.

summer infant classic comfort wood bassinet review - while the wheels on the summer infant aren't that large, they are...
While the wheels on the Summer Infant aren't that large, they are more substantial than those found on the Delta Children Deluxe.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Portability/Mobility


This bassinet is 17.8 lbs and measures 25.5"H x 47.9"L x 32.1"W when open. This product has four wheels and is relatively light so you can move it from room to room as long as the doorways are larger than 32 inches. Two f the wheels can be locked to prevent it from moving when you don't want it to.

Do NOT move any bassinet with a baby inside. No matter how tempted you are, you should never move your bassinet with the baby still inside to avoid the potential of injuries that could happen should the bassinet fall or tip.

summer infant classic comfort wood bassinet review - the summer infant has a storage bin under the sleeping area.
The Summer Infant has a storage bin under the sleeping area.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Additional Features


This product comes with a storage bin under the bassinet and the ability to play some melodies, calming sounds, and offers vibrations to help lull baby to sleep.

Ease of Setup


This bassinet took almost 40 minutes to assemble. It wasn't difficult just time consuming with multiple steps and parts. The manual is only pictures which are useful, but it would be nice if it came somewhat assembled.

Cleaning


The canopy and mattress pad on the Summer Infant is spot clean only while the skirt can be hand washed. Both are labor intensive if your baby has a blowout, and it seems like a significant oversight that you can't clean the mattress pad. It comes with a fitted sheet you can machine wash, but it isn't waterproof so whatever happens on the sheet will reach the mattress in short order.

summer infant classic comfort wood bassinet review - the summer infant has fabric side walls that can potentially impair...
The Summer Infant has fabric side walls that can potentially impair breathability and are not as desirable as mesh side or wood slats that allow proper air flow for the best breathability.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Breathability


The Summer Infant earned a 1 of 10 for breathability. This bassinet sleep area has a fabric surround that mimics the design and looks of a crib bumper. Crib bumpers have been identified as a potential SIDS risk factor and are not recommended for use in baby cribs.

summer infant classic comfort wood bassinet review - the summer infant has two layers of fabric including a skirt and...
The Summer Infant has two layers of fabric including a skirt and some batting for the side walls making it virtually impossible to breathe through. The skirt and side walls are not removable because they form the sleeping area.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

As a result, we can't imagine why it is the main element in this bassinet. Given that this product is smaller than a traditional crib, it is more likely that baby may come in contact with the sides of the bassinet than they would in a crib. If their face ends up pressed against the fabric their breathing could be seriously impaired. In our opinion, this is a major flaw and one that makes the Summer Infant a bassinet we don't recommend.

summer infant classic comfort wood bassinet review - the summer infant has a mesh bottom, but the fabric side walls...
The Summer Infant has a mesh bottom, but the fabric side walls remind us of crib bumpers which are discouraged by the American Academy of Pediatrics as a potential SIDs risk.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Sleep Surface


The Summer Infant earned a 5 of 10 for the sleeping surface.

The pad on the Summer Infant is relatively compressible offering...
The pad on the Summer Infant is relatively compressible offering less support than much of the competition.

The mattress is 0.8 inches thick (above left), and its compression tests were about average. This mattress does not fit the frame very well (above right), and you can easily fit multiple fingers around the edges especially in the corners. This gap could lead to a potential safety concern. The mattress doesn't tilt, however, but overall the sleeping surface isn't impressive.

summer infant classic comfort wood bassinet review - the summer infant has a fabric skirt around the outer edge that is...
The Summer Infant has a fabric skirt around the outer edge that is attached to the inner lining. Both can potentially limit breathability.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Quality


The Summer Infant earned a 6 of 10 for quality. This product comes with a nicer wood frame that is relatively sturdy but does rock back and forth a bit. We didn't identify any tipping issues, but a toddler could stand on the frame or bottom storage and potentially topple the bassinet. The fabric is soft and smooth, but the canopy feels flimsy, and there are several loose threads. The fabric doesn't fit the frame very well and has an overall wrinkled appearance.

Eco-Health


The Summer Infant earned a 2 of 10 for eco-health. This product is JPMA certified. Summer Infant doesn't offer any information on what it is made of or what may have been used in the manufacturing process. This lack of transparency means the bassinet could potentially be made with MDF board (which contains formaldehyde) or flame retardant chemicals. Neither are good for baby's health, and while we can't be sure this product includes them, most manufacturers are bragging when they use chemical-free materials, and Summer Infant is remaining silent on the topic.

Manufacturer Video



Juliet Spurrier, MD and Wendy Schmitz
 

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