REASONS TO BUY
Lower price
Rolls well
REASONS TO AVOID
Seriously impaired breathability
Spot clean non-waterproof mattress
Summer Infant Classic Comfort Wood Review
Fabric around the mattress makes this bassinet a no-go in our book
Credit: Abriah Wofford
RELATED: The Best Bassinets
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.
Our Analysis and Test Results
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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
You Might Also Like
