When our kids were little, one of our absolute favorite pieces of baby equipment was baby swings. Whether swaying my kid or buying me a few minutes of peace with a colicky one, we used baby swings a lot. Trust us when we say, we know we aren’t alone. What’s more, baby swings have come a long way in the last 10 years, with many models offering modern features such as Bluetooth connectivity, timers, soothing music, white noise and even the ability to detect a baby crying and respond accordingly. While baby swings are decidedly optional pieces of baby gear, we think you should consider them, including a baby swing glider. It can feel like a lifesaver when you’ll want a spot to soothe an extremely fussy baby. To that end, here’s a comprehensive guide to the same.
Important: Swings are designed to be used only when the baby is awake and also for supervised use only.
Momcozy CocoSway 3D Motion Electric Baby Swing
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We begin with the Momcozy CocoSway 3D Motion Electric Baby Swing, which rotated 180 degrees and would move and soothe our baby with six different motions. It was much more portable and compact as compared to a typical A-frame swing. We especially loved the rotating feature that allowed us to move our tots out of the sun without having to pick up and move the entire unit at once. Furthermore, the supportive seat was soft, removable, and machine-washable, making it a major plus with both us and the baby. And even the most colicky babies and those with serious FOMO will e entertained by the movement, the eight sound options, and the removable plush toy. Finally, the automatic timer maxes out at 45 minutes, which we appreciated whenever we were distracted with home tasks.
Pros
- We loved the rotating feature.
- It comes with a lot of extras.
- There’s an automatic timer.
Cons
- The five-point harness might be a bit awkward fit for newborns.
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Ingenuity Compact Lightweight Portable Baby Swing
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The Ingenuity Compact Lightweight Portable Baby Swing checked a lot of boxes. The 7-lbs swing featured not just three nature sounds but also eight melodies, five swing speeds, as well as a timer setting. At USD 135, this Ingenuity baby swing also happens to be on the more reasonable end for baby swings, and that too with 14,000 5-star reviews! Unlike most baby swings, this one can be easily folded and has a smaller overall footprint. We could easily fold it and put in the trunk of our car for a road trip. Besides being space efficient, it’s also about as portable as baby swings can get.
Pros
- This baby swing had nature and music sounds.
- It folds very easily.
- It’s relatively affordable.
Cons
- The swing movement is slower.
- Some reviewers said that it was slightly difficult to assemble.
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Graco DuetSoothe Swing and Rocker
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The Graco DuetSoothe Swing and Rocker is one amazing baby swing glider despite its name. We found ourselves trying to decide between a rocker seat and a swing, making this product the “baby bear’s bed” — just right. This swing has not only three positions, but also an engaging overhead mobile, nature sounds and music, and even a vibration function. However, its best feature was that we could detach the seat and use it as a portable rocker with a carry handle, allowing us to take it from room to room easily. So, our baby could swing back and forth in the seat, as well as side to side in the swing mode. We also appreciated that we could plug it in and use batteries both, and in its portable form, the swing was lightweight.
Pros
- The swing had multiple power sources.
- It offered great value, costing less than USD 200.
- It’s a two-in-one product.
Cons
- The swing itself has a large footprint.
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Munchkin Bluetooth Baby Swing Chair & Seat
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Best automatic swing. We were looking for the convenience of an automatic swing, which is why we chose the Munchkin Bluetooth Baby Swing Chair & Seat. This futuristic-looking bouncer/swing is machine-operated and even won the “Best Swing/Bouncer/Rocker” at the 2021 Best of The Bump Awards! And it’s no surprise why. Firstly, the automatic action, along with the side-to-side sway, mimics natural rocking, complete with five different motion levels. Secondly, we could operate the bouncer through an easy digital touch display via an in-built speaker. If that wasn’t enough, the speaker even played eight sounds, including white noise and classical music pieces. And since it also had Bluetooth, we could even play our own playlists. Additionally, the swing even had a remote, making our lives all the more easy.
Pros
- It even came with a remote.
- The swing also had Bluetooth with an in-built speaker.
- It’s machine-operated and features five levels of automatic rocking motion.
Cons
- Since it’s electronic, we had limited places where we could put them.
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Bright Starts Portable Automatic 6-Speed Baby Swing
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Best value-for-money. Baby swings aren’t cheap, as we found out. Luckily, we came across the Bright Starts Portable Automatic 6-Speed Baby Swing, one of the more affordable swings around. Costing us just USD 60, it was still a high-quality swing and featured six melodies and two recline positions, making it a very calming product. What’s more, it featured the WhisperQuiet technology from the brand, which ensured that the motor didn’t make distracting noises. It also happens to be one of the most lightest baby swings around, weighing just 4 lbs, and we especially loved the portable and compact design and low profile. The best bit? It was absolutely uncomplicated to assemble.
Pros
- It’s a very quiet swing.
- It comes with two recline and six swing settings.
- The toys were included in the design.
Cons
- The weight limit is lower than some other swings.
- The mobile is a bit basic, but it works.
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4moms RockaRoo Baby Rocker
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Best overall. The 4moms RockaRoo Baby Rocker is at the top of the list for more reasons than one. Firstly, it looks more like a seat than a swing, but has all the portability and functionality our baby needed to be entertained and soothed. What’s more, the swing had a rhythmic front-to-back motion instead of side-to-side sway, along with five speed settings. In fact, it was stable even at the fastest setting, even if we didn’t use it. If that wasn’t enough, putting together the swing was a cincher, and was mostly assembled out of the box. Above all, it was the portability that blew our minds. We could carry it from room to room with one hand even, keeping the tot entertained while we got things done around the house.
Pros
- The product took two minutes to assemble without instructions.
- The design was comfortable and allowed babies to sit independently without assistance.
- We, as well as the babies, loved the soothing back-and-forth motion.
Cons
- While the portability is incredible, our tester felt that the AC adapter cord was a tripping hazard, as it had to be plugged into a wall to work, with no batter options.
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Our Verdict!
While we love all the products on this list, here’s a specialized list to help you choose:
- Best value for money: Bright Starts Portable Automatic 6-Speed Baby Swing
- Best automatic: Munchkin Bluetooth Baby Swing Chair & Seat
- Best overall: 4moms RockaRoo Baby Rocker
How To Choose The Best Baby Swings?
Size
One of the first things we did before buying baby swings is measuring the space we planned to put it in and compare it to the dimensions of the swings you’re looking at. It’s not just to ensure that the swing will fit but also to ensure that there’s enough room for it to rock the baby safely. Additionally, you need to consider the swing’s weight and age limits, since they all have maximum weight limits.
Kind of Movement and Noise Level
Now this one might “sound” surprising, but one should select baby swings with smooth and minimal motion. That’s because the more one stimulates the babies, the more stimulation they will expect going forward. That will end up creating routines that the babies will be carrying into toddlerhood.
It’s the same thing when it comes to noise – the less stimulation there is, the better it is for the baby. In terms of safety concerns, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says that kids of all ages shouldn’t listen to prolonged sounds over the level of 75 decibels. Since babies’ ears are even more sensitive, the noise could be even more stimulating in a negative way.
Incline
Another factor to consider is the incline. Technically, all baby swings need to pass many safety tests. However, no matter the kind of bouncy seat, swing, or baby rocker, if they’re at a steep incline (10-30 degrees or more), the babies are at a safety risk for sleeping. That’s because their neck muscles aren’t yet developed, so their heads droop down when they fall asleep. So, the steeper the incline, the more work their muscles will have to do to lift their heads back up, and they lack that too.
Portability
You need to consider the portability of the swing, especially if you’ll be using the baby swings in different locations in the house. Whether you want to keep moving it from room to room or even house to house, you’ll want to see how portable it is. Additionally, while some swings might be labelled as travel-friendly or compact, you need to figure out how they actually break down for travel and how you can transport them.
Extra Features
Finally, look for additional features such as cry sensors, Bluetooth, and music, which can be helpful in many scenarios. Since all babies and caregivers are different, everyone can look for different features, like the above, 360-degree swivel, automatic sensors, etc.
You might also want to look at the best baby bouncers and the best booster seats for babies. In terms of safety, you might also want to read about the best baby monitors for the first years.
At What Age Should We Use Baby Swings?
Usually, baby swings can be used from when they’re newborns up until when the babies reach the weight limits of the swings. .
What are baby swings used for?
Baby swings are mainly used to entertain and soothe fussy babies with gentle rocking motions, mimicking the feeling of being held. Plus, parents can put their babies down when they need a break.
Can babies sleep in a swing?
While baby swings can be helpful for entertaining and soothing babies, the AAP recommends not using swings to make babies sleep for safety concerns, especially for those tots less than 4 months old.
