In my opinion, a baby swing is a must-have essential for any parent. It can be the only thing that soothes a fussy baby or provide you a safe place to keep your baby happy while you cook dinner or just get a break from the constant baby-holding.
But just like every other baby product, there are plenty of swings on the market, and the wide variety of swings can make any new parent’s head spin. Is it safe? Is it expensive? What are the speeds? We get it—and we’re here to help eliminate the guesswork for you in choosing the best baby swings.
In this article:
- How to choose a baby swing
- Safety + care
- Let’s compare
- Best baby swing for…
- Best overall baby swing: Fisher Price Dots & Spots swing
- Most versatile baby swing: 4Moms MamaRoo
- Best for travel + small spaces: Fisher-Price Deluxe Take-Along swing & seat
- Best 2-in-1 swing: Graco Soothe ‘n Sway LX Swing with portable pouncer
- Best tech-savvy swing: Graco Sense2Soothe Baby Swing with Cry Detection Technology
- Most luxurious baby swing: Nuna Leaf Grow baby swing
How to Choose a Baby Swing
When choosing a baby swing, there are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind, such as how old your baby is, how long you’d like to use the swing for, and how much space you have in your house. A baby swing can be invaluable for the newborn stage, but it won’t be right for an older baby. And if you don’t have a lot of free space in your house, you might want to choose a swing that can convert into a rocker or has a slim profile.
Here are some other aspects to keep in mind:
- Safety. Safety is never an option, and just like choosing a car seat, you should make sure the swing you choose has either a three-point or five-point harness. The seatbelt should be used at all times no matter how small your baby is, or how reclined they are in their swing.
- Portability. If you live in a small space or travel often, you may want a compact swing that folds or breaks down easily. However, if space or setup isn’t an area of concern, then you may prefer the features of a full-sized swing.
- Power source. There are swings that can run off of battery power, AC adapter, or both. If your swing isn’t going to leave home or switch rooms, then you may be okay with just using an AC adapter. If you plan on being mobile or don’t have extra outlets, then finding a swing that uses batteries may be a better choice.
- Swing speed and direction. Some swings have rock front to back or left to right, and have differing speeds based on your baby’s age and/or preference.
- Timer. Along with speed/direction, some swings that have a timer and will shut off automatically
- Cleaning. It’s no secret that babies throw up or have diaper blowouts, so you may want a swing with a cover that comes off easily for clean-ups.
- Comfort. If your baby winds up liking their new swing, then they may be using it a few times a day. You want to make sure the material is comfortable, while also providing head and neck support. Along with comfort, the seat position also matters. If the seat remains reclined, and can’t change position, this may pose a problem as your child gets bigger.
- Bells and whistles. The extra features that come with a baby swing may be important to you. Depending on the baby swing, it may vibrate, play music, have a night light, or toys attached to it.
A good swing can soothe a fussy baby and parent. Both baby and parents deserve to have peace, and looking for the right swing may give you a sliver of that. Read on for more on how to care for a baby swing and our 2021 picks for the best baby swings.
Safety and Baby Swing Care
Baby swings are a fairly straightforward baby product: they swing and are a place to put your baby in when they’re being fussy. The biggest thing you want to consider is if your space will fit a baby swing, because they can be kind of cumbersome. However, many of the new baby swings on the market are designed to fix just that issue and are ultra-light, streamlined, and can double as two product in one.
Here are more aspects of safety and baby swing care you might be curious about.
How do I wash my baby swing?
Most baby swings can be used until your child exceeds the weight limit, or starts trying to climb out of it. If you want to save the swing for another child, you can as long as you take care of it. Unlike car seats, baby swings are not made of materials that will break down. You should always check your swing’s expiration date and for any recalls before using again, however.
How long do baby swings last?
The frame of the swing can be spot cleaned with a damp cloth and mild detergent. If the swing you choose comes with a machine washable cover and inserts, then you can wash them along with your baby’s clothing.
Can a baby sleep in a swing overnight?
No, it is not safe. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, babies shouldn’t have prolonged sleep periods while in their swings. And you should never leave a baby in a baby swing unsupervised.
Best Overall Baby Swing
Fisher-Price® Dots & Spots Puppy Cradle 'n Swing
This bouncer has an infant insert to provide a bit more support for the newest babes. With a three-point harness and headrest, and a seat that is machine washable and dryer safe, this bouncer is both secure and easy to clean. And at roughly eight pounds, it’s very easy to move from room to room. A few comments to note: the seat length is a bit short, so longer babies might have to tuck their legs up to stay comfy. And other reviews noted that the bouncer can be a bit awkward to assemble, but all in all, it’s a hit as an economical and practical option.
Fisher-Price Dots & Spots: Connecting the Dots
The Fisher-Price Dots & Spots is probably the most “traditional” looking swing in our line-up, which is why it nabbed the #1 spot. It can swing forward-to-back or side-to-side, so it hits those major qualifications and has the look of a swing that many babies will be soothed by. I couldn’t find a single bad review for this swing, so you really can’t go wrong with this choice!
Pros:
- Swings side-to-side or front-to-back
- 16 sounds
- Removable toy bar
- Machine-washable seat pad
Cons:
- Only supports babies up to 25 lbs.
- Battery-powered only
Best Swing for Travel
Fisher-Price Deluxe Take-Along Swing & Seat
Weighing in at 1 pound and priced at only $80, this is the best swing for traveling families. This swing only uses batteries and doesn’t come with an AC adapter. Part of the appeal is that this swing also doubles as a baby seat. It comes with a vibrating option and 12 sounds and songs to soothe your baby. It has two plush toys that hang from the frame, allowing for your baby to be entertained.
Fisher-Price Deluxe Take-Along Swing & Seat: The Details
This seat offers a lot of cool options at only a fraction of the size of a full-size swing.
Pros:
- Safety. This baby swing features with a five-point harness and can accommodate up to 25 pounds.
- Double-duty. The swing doubles as a baby seat.
- Speed/direction. This baby swing has 6 different speeds and swings front to back.
- Portability. A flat-fold option allows for easy transportation and set-up.
- Comfort. This baby swing has a deep seat that has a machine washable cover.
Cons:
- Battery-powered only. There is no AC adapter, so depending on how much you use it, you’ll need to keep batteries handy.
- Older babies only. There is no infant insert.
- Limited use. Only accommodates up to 25 pounds.
Best Tech-Savvy Swing
Graco Sense2Soothe Baby Swing with Cry Detection Technology
This swing has a high price point, but it comes with technology that makes it worth it. It does not use batteries, but does use an AC adapter. You’re paying for cry sense technology, which means it has a microphone that picks up your baby’s cry and adjusts its speed. It comes with a mobile that has plush toys attached to it. It also vibrates and plays both songs and melodies. Plus, this swing doubles as a rocker as well, so you're getting a lot of bang for your buck.
Graco Sense2Soothe Baby Swing with Cry Detection Technology: What to Know
This swing is definitely the most tech-savvy of the swings we listed, but there are a few things to note about it.
Pros:
- Safety. This safety swing comes with a five-point harness. It can accommodate a maximum of 25 pounds and a minimum of 5 pounds as a swing and up to 18 pounds as a rocker.
- Speed/Direction. A multidirectional swing lets it move from left to right or front to back. There are three swing speeds and two vibration settings.
- Portability. You can get away with moving from room to room within a home, but it would be difficult to travel with this swing.
- Smart features. That cry sense technology is pretty cool, right?
- Comfort. The swing comes complete with an infant insert and the cover is machine-washable.
Cons:
- Not portable. The swing can’t be used for travel.
- Noise factor. The cry technology can be triggered by other children in the house if they are nearby.
Most Versatile
4Moms mamaRoo Baby Swing
A higher-priced luxury swing, the mamaRoo is built for the tech-savvy parent, but its larger size and lack of a battery unit means it’s best-suited for parents who don’t plan on traveling with the swing. The primary appeal of this swing is the multi-directional feature that let parents choose which way the swing moves–right from their phone. Plus, it boasts Bluetooth technology and comes with soothing capabilities, like built-in white noise or music you can play through your phone. If you've got a fussy babe on your hands who needs to move throughout the day to settle down, this 5-way-movement baby seat and swing may just be a lifesaver.
Read Review
4 Moms MamaRoo Baby Swing: A Closer Look
A higher-priced luxury swing, the mamaRoo is built for the tech-savvy parent, but without a battery unit, it’s best-suited for parents who don’t plan on traveling with the swing.
The primary appeal of this swing is the multi-directional feature that let parents choose which way the swing moves–right from their phone. Plus, it boasts Bluetooth technology and comes with built-in soothing capabilities.
Pros:
- Safety. This baby swing has a three-point harness and can be used until your little one reaches 25 pounds or can sit up unassisted.
- Bells and whistles. It’s the tech-friendly features that make this swing shine–it comes equipped with Bluetooth technology that allows the parent to control the swing from your phone. It also has an MP3 plugin so you can play whatever music you’d like. The swing also comes with 4 built-in sounds.
- Speed/direction. This swing has 5 different speeds and motions and one of its prominent and popular features are the unique motions: a car ride, kangaroo, Rockabye, wave, and tree swing.
- Portability. This swing is meant to stay home. It doesn’t conveniently break down for travel.
- Comfort. The seat comes with a removable insert and reclines easily. Both the insert and the fabric are machine-washable.
Cons:
- Connectivity. Android phones have issues connecting to the swing
- Not portable. The swing isn’t good for traveling families, because it doesn’t break down or use batteries.
- Accommodation. It only holds up to 25 pounds, while many other swings can hold up to 30 pounds.
Best 2-in-1 Baby Swing
Graco Soothe 'n Sway LX Swing with Portable Bouncer
If you're looking for a product that can pull double duty, the Graco Soothe 'n Sway is worth a second look. It's almost like a much more affordable version of the mamaRoo because it can move two different ways: side-to-side or front-to-back. All babies are different, so it's a definite plus to have a swing that can move both ways. In addition to swing versatility, it also doubles as a baby bouncer and has carry handles on the side so you can easily move it from room to room or take it on-the-go.
Graco Soothe ‘n Sway LX Swing with Portable Bouncer: A Closer Look
The big draw of the Sooth `n Sway is that it doubles as both a bouncer and a swing. However, as with any 2-in-1 product, you really have to consider if you’re actually getting the full potential of either feature. For some babies, not having the full swing might be just fine, but others really need a lot of motion to be soothed.
Pros:
- Doubles as a bouncer
- Portable
- 2 motions
- Multi-directional
- Includes removable toy bar
- Recline in 3 different positions
Cons:
- You really won’t get the full motion of a traditional baby swing
- Wipe-clean only
- Some reviews mention it’s not super sturdy
- Noisy
Must Luxurious Baby Swing
Nuna Leaf Grow Baby Swing
This baby swing is an interesting one: it doesn't have any power, batteries, or cord and is instead, solely powered by just a gentle push from you that will keep it moving. For not being powered by anything other than your hands, it's a pretty pricey swing, but parents love that it's no-tech, simple, and portable. Plus, it's made for the long haul and can convert to a child chair (with a 130 lb. weight capacity!) when your little one outgrows the baby swing stage.
Nuna Leaf Grow Baby Swing: A Nod to the Nuna
The Nuna Leaf is definitely a luxury buy and it’s an interesting choice: despite the fact that it doesn’t have actual power it’s classified as a baby swing. The only motion it has is 2 minutes of side-to-side swaying once you push it with your hand. As a mom who’s owned several baby swings, I’d say definitely consider if this pick is right for you before buying.
Pros:
- No power needed (it’s hand-powered only!)
- Organic fabric
- Converts to a chair for toddlers and kids up to 130 lbs.
Cons:
- No power
- Expensive
- No real swinging motion
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