Babies love for their parents to hold them, but parents need a break sometimes. Bathroom breaks are a must! So, parents love bouncers and baby swings because they create a cozy, comfortable, and safe place to place their baby to while things get done around the house.
| Budget |
|---|
 |
| Ingenuity Cozy Kingdom Portable Swing |
| 4.5/5.0 |
| Check Amazon |
| Best Value |
|---|
 |
| Graco Simple Sway Baby Swing |
| 4.3/5.0 |
| Check Amazon |
| Top Pick |
|---|
 |
| Graco Duet Soothe Swing and Rocker |
| 4.7/5.0 |
| Check Amazon |
| Brand | Price Range | Weight Limit | Plug or Batteries | Portable or Full-Size | Rating |
| 4Moms MamaRoo | $$$ | 25lbs | Plug | Full-size | 4.7 |
| Graco Duet Soothe Swing and Rocker | $$$ | 30lbs | Both – plug in and batteries | Full-size | 4.7 |
| Fisher-Price My Little Snugapuppy Cradle ‘n Swing | $$$ | 25lbs | Both – plug in and batteries | Full-Size and converts to a rocker | 4.6 |
| Ingenuity Cozy Kingdom Portable Swing | $$ | 19lbs | Batteries | Portable | 4.5 |
| Fisher-Price Take-Along Swing | $$ | 25lbs | Batteries | Portable | 4.4 |
| Graco Simple Sway Baby Swing | $$$ | 30lbs | Both – plug in and batteries | Full-size | 4.3 |
Is a Baby Swing Necessary?
Cuddling your baby all day is wonderful; babies only little for a short period. Get all of that cuddle time you can in before it is over. At the same time, you are going to need to get a shower throughout the week and clean the house. Babywearing is a fantastic choice, especially for high-need babies, but it is important to have a safe place to place your baby.
A baby swing is one of the options, so a baby swing isn’t a necessity. However, a baby swing is a fantastic choice! Babies enjoy the swinging motion – many fall asleep – and moms get a chance to accomplish tasks. So, if you want to fold laundry, wash dishes, or simply brush your teeth, a baby swing is a wise investment.
When Can I Safely Use a Baby Swing?
Always make sure you read the owner’s manual before use because some do have a specific starting weight range. Most baby swings are usable immediately after birth.
To use immediately after birth, the swing needs to have a proper recline because newborn babies lack neck strength to support their head.
Important Features of a Baby Swing
Before you make a purchase, there are a few things you should consider first.
- Seatbelt: Whatever swing you purchase should have a seat belt, either a three or five-point harness. These seatbelts keep your baby safe and secure in his swing. Always use the seatbelt, especially if older siblings are near who thinks the baby needs to swing just a bit higher!
- Comfort Level: Your baby should want to spend time in his swing, so it should be comfortable enough that he doesn’t object each time you place him in the swing. Is the material soft? Does it provide support for his head? These features matter to your child!
- Plugs or Batteries: Baby swings run either on battery power or by using an AC adapter to plug into an outlet. Some swings offer both options. A plug is great for when you are home and don’t want to go through batteries often. On the other hand, batteries allow you to place the swing wherever you want without worry of an outlet and lets you take it places.
- The position of the Seat: A newborn baby requires a reclining seat due to their immature neck support. As your child gets older, the reclining might be annoying to an older infant who wants to sit up a bit more.
- Size of the Swing: If you have limited space available, take a look at the dimensions of the swing, such as the height and width. Measure where you plan to place the swing. Make sure you still have some space on either side for the swaying motion of the swing.
- Swing Speeds: Check to see if the swing offers different speeds. If having different options matters to you, look for a swing with at least five speeds. Some babies like the slow speed and others prefer to feel like they’re on an amusement park swing.
- Portability: Do you want the swing to be portable? A portable baby swing lets you take it to grandma’s house or use it while traveling. If you travel or like to visit friends and family often, a portable swing is fantastic. They are smaller and fold in half.
- Machine Washable: Babies may not be able to crawl or move too much just yet, but they can make a mess. Spit-up and poop explosions happen often. You want to take off the cover and throw it into the washing machine. No one wants to have to scrub the swing by hand.
- Extras: What extras does the swing include with it? Does it vibrate as well as swing? Is there a mobile or attached toys for your baby to enjoy. If there are lights or sounds, make sure that these features can turn off because they might disturb your child while he sleeps.
Full Size vs. Portable Swing
The hardest decision is to decide if you want a full size or portable swing. Each type has pros and cons to consider.
Full-Size Swing
If you have space already planned to place your swing and you have no plans to move it, a full-size swing would be an ideal choice. You need to space to keep the swing because they are larger than portable swings. These swings are harder to move around.
Full-size swings have the best swinging motion because the motors are mounted on top and are stronger. Because of the design, it is harder to tip over and overall stronger than portable ones. However, full-size swings come with a full-size price, so expect to pay more.
PROS:
- Wide swinging arc
- Hold a Height weight limit
- A wide range of features
- Runs on electricity
CONS:
Portable Swing
If you don’t have a lot of space in your house, consider a portable swing. These swings cost less and don’t take up much space. Most portable swings fold up and can be stored away easily. Traveling families enjoy the convenience of taking their baby’s beloved swing with them. Take the portable swing with you on vacation or just to visit grandma!
Portable swings do have negatives, such as most only run on batteries. If you plan to use a portable swing full-time, you are going to use a lot of batteries. Full-size swings typically run on either batteries or plugs.
PROS:
- Easily stowed away
- Cost less than full-size models
- Perfect for traveling
CONS:
- Lower weight limit, so outgrown sooner
- Fewer features
- Less stable as full-size models
The Best Baby Swings
1. 4Moms MamaRoo
The MamaRoo is a modern baby swing with a futuristic look and dozens of features. It does more than swinging back and forth like a typical bab swing. The MamaRoo has five different motions – car ride, kangaroo, tree swing, rock-a-bye, and wave. This feature is fantastic because every baby has a preferred motion that calms them more than others. 4Moms hoped to mimic that natural, soothing motions that babies felt in the womb.
A unique feature of the MamaRoo is a built-in white noise machine and the ability to plug in an MP3 player. You can even control the swing remotely through an app on your phone. Most impressively, Moms say that the MamaRoo is a true lifesaver, getting newborn babies to sleep longer and relaxing infants so parents can be productive. Overall, the swing Is rather quiet, so you don’t need to worry that creaking or popping will wake the baby.
4Moms added several other aspects that make the MamaRoo worth the price. It has an adjustable recline, and you can remove the seat cover for easy machine washing if soiled. When compared to other swings, it isn’t large so that it won’t take up a lot of space in your living room. MamaRoo plugs into the wall outlet, so you don’t have to worry about wasting batteries.
As you might imagine, all of these modern aspects make the price high, so this isn’t a budget-friendly choice. 4Moms made a baby swing for parents who want all the modern features and don’t mind paying a steep price for it. MamaRoo comes in five different color options – black, designer, grey, multi-color, and silver.
| Specs |
|---|
| Child Weight Limit: Birth to 25 lbs, or when a child sits unassisted |
| Plugs or Batteries: Plug into an outlet |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Five different motions |
| Built-in white noise machine |
| Can Plug in MP3 Player |
| App controls remotely |
| Adjustable Recline |
| Machine washable |
| Plugs into outlet |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Expensive |
| 3-point harness |
2. Graco Duet Soothe Swing and Rocker
The Graco Duet is a hit with parents because you don’t have to pick between a swing and a bouncer; it does both! Parents can remove the seat from the frame and convert to a vibrating rocker. A convenient handle on the top lets you carry the rocker around. The vibrating feature has two speeds, and it works whether you are using the rocker or the swing.
Babies have three ways to sway, along with choices of music and relaxing nature sounds. There are five different nature-inspired noises. Like other Graco swings, the seat rotates so the baby can swing side to side or front to back. Parents can pick between using batteries (5 D batteries) or plug into the wall.
Parents love that the Duet comes in gender neutral colors schemes, so you can match your décor and use it for several children. One positive note is that the Duet Soothe has a higher weight limit than other swings at 30lbs. You can tell by looking at the swing that it is more comfortable because the seat is deep and roomy with extra body support. Different reclining positions help you find the best one for your baby’s comfort.
With all these positive features, you should note a few negatives. The motor is considerably louder than other models on the market. Also, if you decide not to plug the swing into the wall, expect to burn through batteries really fast. Parents note that if you want to use the swing with vibration and sounds, there are three buttons to push and turn off. There isn’t a simple on and off switch.
| Specs |
|---|
| Child Weight Limit: Birth to 30lbs |
| Plugs or Batteries: Can use batteries or plug into an outlet |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Easy to assemble |
| Swing and rocker combo |
| Several vibration and speed settings |
| Multiple choices of music and sounds |
| Option to use a plug or batteries |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Loud motor |
| Uses batteries fast |
| Mobile doesn’t rotate |
3. Fisher-Price My Little Snugapuppy Cradle ‘n Swing
Fisher-Price’s Snugapuppy offers options to babies and parents. You can use it with a plug, which is great when your child loves the swing and sleeps soundly for hours, but it also runs on batteries, which is great for portability.
Parents can pick from several swinging motions and speeds, along with providing several choices for nature sounds and music. The swing senses the baby’s weight and adjusts the motor torque and compensates for the weight. The compensation keeps the swing’s speeds consistent.
The material is incredibly soft and snuggly, perfect for your baby that loves to cuddle. It can recline in two different positions and three adjustable seat positions. The position can change to the center, facing the left, or facing the right. Also, the legs fold up for portability and storage.
Unfortunately, the motor is rather loud, but the included nature songs and 16 songs should drown out any unwanted sounds. Your baby will enjoy the mobile that runs by the motor, which features a mirrored globe. A mirrored globe lets baby look at himself and the spinning, three soft toys entertain your baby. Parents can control all of these features with the app on their smartphone.
| Specs |
|---|
| Child Weight Limit: Birth to 25lbs |
| Plugs or Batteries: Plugs and Batteries |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Easy to assemble |
| Uses batteries and a plug |
| Comfortable, padded seat |
| Five-point harness |
| App controls sounds and features |
| The Cons |
|---|
| If using batteries, it will drain them fast. |
| The motor makes a clicking sound. |
4. Ingenuity Cozy Kingdom Portable Swing
For convenience and portability, you want a lightweight, foldable swing, and the Ingenuity Cozy Kingdom fits that bill. Once folded, you can carry it with one hand, and the swing fits into a medium or large suitcase once folded.
It is quiet, doesn’t go through batteries too fast and has a nice, gender-neutral design. It’s the perfect swing to last through several babies. Don’t let the small design fool you. The Ingenuity Cozy is as strong as the full-size swing. It features six swing speed settings while swinging front to back.
Ingenuity added several music options, including relaxing nature sounds and lullabies. The sounds do turn off if they disturb your child’s sleep. Because this is a portable swing, it runs on batteries – 4 C batteries to be exact. Ingenuity added a timer to avoid the batteries getting burned out unintentionally. That is a great feature because it is easy to take the baby out of the swing and forget to turn it off. It only runs on batteries, which can get pricey. So, while the overall price of this swing is low, factor in the cost of replacing batteries frequently.
Older babies may find that it lays too far back for their comfort. While the motor itself is quiet, the swing speed knob makes a noise when adjusting the speed. Also, it makes popping and cracking sounds until the swing attains the new speed. The sounds aren’t the necessarily loud, but they could disturb a light sleeper.
Overall, babies find the Ingenuity Cozy comfortable, and the fabric is machine washable. The manual says that the swing can be used for babies up to 19 pounds, but it does strain with babies who are 15 pounds and above. Also, consider that you have to get low to the ground to get baby in and out of the swing.
| Specs |
|---|
| Child Weight Limit: Birth to 19lbs |
| Plugs or Batteries: Batteries |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Compact once folded |
| Gender neutral design |
| Six-speed settings |
| Music options |
| Timer to shut off |
| Machine washable fabric |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Only runs on batteries |
| No adjustable recline |
| Low weight limit |
5. Fisher-Price Take-Along Swing
Fisher Price created another portable swing that has a cute, rainforest animal design that kids love and is gender neutral. The Take-Along folds easily, making it perfect for traveling. There are six different speeds, plus it converts to a stationary seat that vibrates instead of swinging.
A few extras are included with the Fisher-Price Take-Along swing such as two attached animal toys that hang down to entertain your child. Two nature songs and ten songs play to entertain your baby. Fisher-Price created the swing with their SmartSwing Technology. This technology senses the baby’s weight and automatically adjusts the speeds so that it doesn’t slow down as baby gets bigger.
For comfort, seats have extra padding, and shoulder straps keep your baby secured to the seat. If the seat gets dirty, you can put it in the washing machine, and it is dryer safe. Because it is a portable swing, it sits very low to the ground, which some find frustrating. However, it is quite normal for this in portable swings.
| Specs |
|---|
| Child Weight Limit: Birth to 25lbs |
| Plug or Batteries: Batteries |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Comfortable reclining position for young infants |
| The padded seat can go into the washing machine and dryer. |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Runs only on batteries |
| The motor is loud. |
6. Graco Simple Sway Baby Swing
If you want a simple, compact, and reliable swing, the Graco Simple Sway will fit your requirements at a budget-friendly price. The Simple Sway has a small frame design, so it doesn’t take up much space when compared to other baby swings. If you live in a small house or apartment, you’ll love this cute swing!
One thing to remember is that the Simple Sway is exactly what the name says – simple. That means the overhead mobile doesn’t spin. Babies just look at it and reach for it.
Graco didn’t skimp on the settings for the baby though! There are ten different music tones and five nature sounds. You can select between two vibration settings and six swing speeds. Babies swing side to side and are kept safe with a five-point harness. Just like the Duet Soothe, the Simple Sway has a 30lb weight limit.
Parents love the other feature that Graco included for convenience. The swing takes either four D batteries or plugs into the wall outlet. If your baby makes a mess, the seat cover is washing machine safe.
Unlike higher priced seats, the seat has a fixed recline position rather than several recline settings. The seat switches from front to back swinging or side to side. The legs fold for easy storage. You should note that, when compared to other baby swings, the padding in the seat is lacking cushioning and support, which may play a factor for smaller babies. The motor tends to be louder than another swing as well.
| Specs |
|---|
| Child Weight Limits: Birth to 30lbs |
| Plugs or Batteries: Plugs and Batteries |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Budget-friendly |
| Uses plugs and batteries |
| Multiple speed settings and vibration settings |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Fixed recline, which older infants may not like |
| Not enough padding |
| Loud motor |
Safety Tips for Using a Baby Swing
A baby swing is pretty straightforward when it comes to installation, but parents need to keep their new baby safe. Here are some simple safety tips for using a baby swing.
- Pay attention to the weight and age guidelines because they are there for your baby’s safety. Don’t go by how long you think your baby use the swing.
- Once your baby starts to wiggle free or sit up on his own, get rid of the swing. You need to do so even if your child is still in the appropriate weight and age range.
- Never place a swing on an incline or a table. The last thing you want is for your baby to fall, so follow instructions carefully.
- While it is okay for your baby to take supervised naps in the baby swing, it isn’t a recommend safe sleeping surface. Baby swings aren’t intended to replace cribs and bassinets, and they must be supervised while sleeping. There is a danger of accidental suffocation or partial airway obstruction.
It is important to note that doctors believe that swing sleep isn’t as productive as sleep in a crib or other appropriate surfaces. The reason is that the child is limited in his positioning and the ability to readjust to find a comfortable position. It also can encourage bad habits that make sleeping in the future harder.
So, if your baby falls asleep in the swing, gently and slowly remove your child from the swing and place him in his crib for the rest of his nap.
Picking the Best Baby Swing
As you can see, there are plenty of choices for the best baby swing, and the choices can make it hard for you to make a final decision. Based on the research we did on the top choices, the Graco Duet Soothe Swing and Rocker is the clear winner. The ability to switch from a swing to a rocker and the multiple features make it a fantastic pick for parents. It has one of the higher weight limits, and babies have different options to comfort them.
When you pick the best baby swing for your child, take into consideration that type of swing you want – either full-size or portable – and the features that matter. You may not mind if the seat rotates in different positions, but you may want a swing that plays nature sounds. One of these swings will fit your needs and wants.
What is your favorite baby swing? We would love to know which one you use. Be sure to let us know in the comments.
