Delta Children Deluxe Sweet Beginnings Review
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
This Product
Delta Children Deluxe Sweet Beginnings | |||||
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Awards | Quality Co-Sleeper at a Premium Price | Best Overall Bassinet | Budget-Friendly Co-Sleeper | Ideal for Post-Cesarean Section Moms | |
Price | $65 List | $290 List | $220 List $220.00 at Amazon | $220 List $179.99 at Amazon | $220 List $215.00 at Amazon |
Overall Score | |||||
Star Rating | |||||
Bottom Line | Fabric side panels impact the breathability of this cheaper poor quality option | Functional wood bassinet you can use from your bed | Good choice for co-sleeping that is easy to move from room to room | Good for co-sleeping and a free-standing bassinet for most families | Safer alternative to co-sleeping and perfect for moms with c-sections |
Rating Categories | Delta Children Delu... | babybay Bedside Sle... | Arm's Reach Clear-V... | Baby Delight Beside... | HALO BassiNest Esse... |
Ease of Use (35%) | |||||
Breathability (25%) | |||||
Sleep Surface (20%) | |||||
Quality (15%) | |||||
Eco-Health (5%) | |||||
Specs | Delta Children Delu... | babybay Bedside Sle... | Arm's Reach Clear-V... | Baby Delight Beside... | HALO BassiNest Esse... |
Assembled Weight | 9.4 lbs | 28.6 lbs | 22.1 lbs | 17.5 lbs | 33 lbs |
Open Dimensions | 31.5"H x 34.3"L x 19.4"W | 37.1"H x 36"L x 20.7"W | 34.8"H x 34.5"L x 20.3"W | 26"-30.5"H x 39"L x 27"W | 36.9"H x 45.3"L (base) 33.8" (bassinet) x 21.8"W (bassinet) |
Age/Height/Weight Limit | 15 lbs Discontinue Use When Infant: Pushes Up On Hands And Knees |
5 Months Discontinue Use When Infant: Pushes Up On Hands And Knees Discontinue As An Attachable Baby Bed When Infant: Rolls Over Or Pulls Up To A Kneeling, Sitting Or Standing Position |
5 Months or 18 lbs Discontinue Use When Infant: Pushes Up On Hands And Knees |
5 Months or 20 lbs Discontinue Use When Infant: Pushes Up On Hands And Knees |
5 Months or 20 lbs Discontinue Use When Infant: Pushes Up On Hands And Knees, Pulls Up, Rolls Over, Sit Unassisted, Can Move Out Of The Security Of The Walled Sleep Area |
Product Care | Spot Clean | Wipe Down | Mattress: Wipe Clean Mattress Sheet: Machine Wash Metal Frame: Wipe Clean Lining: Machine Wash |
Machine Wash | Sheet: Machine Wash Base and Mattress: Spot Clean |
Bassinet Mattress Height Above Floor | 22.3" | 3"-27" Adult Mattress Height 10"-31" |
19.5"-25.5" Adult Mattress Height 24"-30" |
14" - 19" Adult Mattress Height 18.5"-24" |
26.5"-33" |
Special Features | Electronic Music Module With Nightlight | Made From Solid Wood | Adjustable Legs | Foldable | Rotates 360 Degrees, Sidewall Lowers |
Modes | Bassinet | Bedside Sleeper | Bassinet Bedside Sleeper |
Bedside Sleeper Bassinet |
Bassinet Bedside Sleeper |
Chemical Flame Retardant Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Portable Design | No | No | No | Yes | No |
Wheels | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
Mesh Sides | Partial - 2 Panels | Wood Slats | Partial - Fabric in Corners | Yes - Full | Yes - Full |
Included Accessories | Adjustable Canopy, Electronic Music Module with Nightlight, Rocking Base with Locking Retractable Casters | None | Fitted Sheet | Sheet | Fitted Sheet |
Available Accessories | None | Classic Mattress, Cooling Comfort Mattress, Eco-Organic Mattress, Cloud Comfort Mattress, Cooling Comfort Jersey Sheet, Snuggle Comfort Terry Sheet, Dry Comfort Mattress Protector, Classic Comfort Mattress Pad with Cotton Cover, Cooling Comfort Mattress Pad with Dry Comfort Mattress Protector, Organic Comfort Mattress Pad with Dry Comfort Mattress Protector, Cloud Comfort Mattress Pad with Dry Comfort Mattress Protector, babybay Organic Babynest, babybay Patterned Babynest, babybay Solid Colored Babynest, Bassinet Conversion Kit, Rolling Casters, Canopy Holder, Organic Canopy, Patterned Canopy, Solid Colored Canopy, Bed Frame Anchor, babycare Organizer | Arm's Reach® Clear-Vue™ Au Naturel Mattress Pad, Puppy Luv Music Box, Replacement Strap and Plate | Waterproof Fitted Sheet | Fitted Sheet, Mattress Pad, Mobile Sleepy Owl, Mobile Whimsical Birds, Storage Caddy, Newborn Insert |
Set Up Time | 32:26 | 39:14 | 29:20 (58:34 total with redo) | 6:50 | 27:10 |
Materials | Polyurethane Foam | Beechwood, Water-Based Finishes, CFC Polyurethane Foam | Strong Nylon Cloth, Cotton Polyester Blend, Nylon Woven Strapping, Polyurethane Foam | Polyester, Polyester Fiber Batting | Polyester Fiber, Polyester Fiber Batting, Polyurethane Foam |
Our Analysis and Test Results
In 1968, Louis Shamie Sr. founded Delta Children when he became a new parent. The Shamie family continues to uphold their grandfather's legacy by offering baby gear for affordable prices. In addition to their line of children's furniture and other baby gear, the Sahmie family owns Simmons kids. The Delta company works with the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) and American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) to develop industry standards for the production of safe children's gear.
Performance Comparison
Ease of Use
Ease of use entails the critical features and functionality you use daily.
Accessiblity
The Delta is a reasonable height for the average bed with a depth that is more shallow than some of the competition. The footprint is on the small side, so it should fit next to or near most master beds for a comfortable middle of the night access.
Portability/Mobility
This product isn't the best for travel as it requires full disassembly. It is reasonably easy to move from room to room, however, with four wheels and lighter weight. The wheels are on the smaller side and sometimes have trouble over floor transitions or on a thicker carpet. We feel like the wheels could easily break because they are so flimsy looking.
Additional Features
The Delta has a light and sound feature on the foot of the bassinet. The buttons are easy to operate and intuitive with icons and easy on/off pressing.
Ease of Setup
The Delta is only slightly above average for ease of use. The setup of the Delta took over 32 minutes. While it isn't particularly tricky, there are a lot of parts and pieces to assemble. The screws for the base where the mattress sits need tightening three different times, which is time-consuming.
Cleaning
The bassinet is spot clean only as the fabric isn't removable, which will be a problem if baby spits up or has a blowout.
Breathability
The Delta earned a very poor score for breathability. The inside of the bassinet is comprised mostly of thick fabric and padding similar to crib bumpers. Crib bumpers are a potential risk for SIDS, and the AAP recommends NOT using them near babies. This design has us concerned about the breathability of this enclosure. There is a risk that baby could wiggle to the side and press their face against the not very breathable fabric. While the risk may be low, it is hard to tell for sure, and it is certainly higher than the bassinets with mesh fabric or a traditional crib with vertical bars. The interior lining does have two 10" mesh panels on each side. Still, the outside of the sleeping area has a fabric skirt, which could inhibit clear breathing through the mesh, and the panels assume that your baby's head will only be at a certain point in the sleeping area.
Sleep Surface
The sleep surface of the Delta earned an average score compared to other products. The mattress on the Delta earned one of the higher compression scores, indicating a stable and firm sleep surface that is unlikely to interfere with baby's comfort or health. The mattress fits the frame of the bassinet fairly well from side to side but has more than two fingers worth of space at the top and bottom if you push the edge even slightly. This wiggle room in the mattress hurt the overall sleep surface score, and we'd like to see the mattress fit the space with less of a potential gap.
Quality
The Delta does not offer the best quality in materials or construction. This bassinet feels like something you would by for a doll. It is flimsy, has tiny wheels, and it isn't very stable. The metal legs are exposed, and it appears as though a baby could bump their head, and the fabric is loose and not very fitted to the frame or mattress. This base wiggles significantly in all directions, and the materials and connection points are not tight or high quality.
This option, more so than the competition, feels as if it could easily topple over if a curious toddler were to grip the side and pull up for a peek at the baby. A similar falling incident could happen with bigger dogs or curious pets who might place their paws on the side. Use caution and arrange the bassinet, so it is less likely this can happen.
Eco-Health
The Delta came in just above average for eco-health. For an inexpensive product, it came in higher than we expected. Compared to similarly priced products, it performed admirably. While the website and user manual fail to include details about the materials used in the product, forcing us to email the company for more information, it is certified by JPMA and GreenGuard Gold. The Delta website also states:
While we like that this product has third-party testing with the GreenGuard Gold certification, we do feel as if it is somewhat “greenwashing” as we call it because it is still a polyurethane foam that can off-gas but is just below an arbitrary standard. So, it gets points for trying, but lost points for not offering more natural options. It is also free of flame retardant chemicals, which is a big plus and something to consider for parents on a budget.