The Best Baby Swing

Buying Guide for Baby Swings

Why buy a baby swing?

Sometimes, you simply need to put your baby down. Whether you need to do work or housework, prepare a bottle for your baby, or simply need a break, a baby swing is a safe, happy place for your little one to rest. It’s a great alternative to putting your baby in her crib, playpen, or bassinet while awake, and you can place it in the living areas of your home for easy accessibility. Plus, baby swings can be more soothing and entertaining for your baby, especially since many offer varying swing and vibration settings as well as toys and accessories for your child to explore.

What should you consider in a baby swing?

• Functionality: When it comes to baby swings, it all comes down to the experience. Most offer rocking, swaying, and vibrating functions, while others also offer soothing sounds, toys, or music to entertain your baby or lull them gently to sleep.
• Easy Assembly: Most baby swings are now incredibly easy to install and set up. It takes mere minutes to assemble a freestanding baby swing as long as the instructions are easy to follow. You can disassemble most freestanding models and take them with you anywhere.
• Portability: Many baby swings are portable because of the simplicity of their design and the ease with which you can install them in different places. This makes it easier to entertain your children while traveling and exploring the world. Others don’t need to be disassembled and are lightweight and compact enough to fit in the trunk of an SUV or larger car.

Is it okay for your baby to sleep in a baby swing?

If your baby falls asleep in their baby swing, you’ll want to transfer them safely into their crib or bassinet. While baby swings are great for calming or entertaining babies, they’re not deemed safe for sleep by the AAP. Babies’ little heads can flop forward when they’re asleep, and the semi-recumbent position of a baby swing can potentially cause the baby to experience positional asphyxiation, which means the airway is restricted and they cannot breathe properly. For this reason, infants under 4 months should be in the most reclined position on the baby swing.

Our Picks for the Best Baby Swings

Pros: This foldable swing is made to be transported from place to place easily and quickly, so your baby can enjoy relaxing at home or while traveling, or with their favorite caregiver. It features premium fabrics and soft, fleecy shoulder strap cushions for optimal comfort. The soft toys are entertaining and easy to clean. Plus, the pad and headrest are removable and machine washable. This swing has five swing speeds, eight melodies, and three nature sounds. Parents can select the desired timer setting of 30, 45, or 60 minutes, and it shuts off automatically after 90 minutes. It’s powered by four D batteries and features Hybridrive technology to extend your battery life. And this swing has an extra-quiet motor.

Cons: Some parents don’t care for the auto-shutoff feature or the pauses between songs. Also, this swing has a fairly low weight limit of 20 pounds.

Bottom Line: For portability purposes, this is a fantastic baby swing. It comes in several color and pattern choices to match your decor. And though it doesn’t come with batteries, it does help to extend battery life.

 

Pros: This popular baby shower gift is great for most moms because it’s easy to assemble and can be moved around with little effort. It offers a gentle side-to-side swaying motion that little ones love because it mimics a parent’s natural sway. And it has six different speeds, two vibration settings, 10 songs, and five soothing sounds to calm and comfort your baby exactly as they like it. The cushions are super comfy for your baby, and they’re easy to clean as well. Plus, unlike some models, the frame is small and compact enough to fit in just about any corner of your home.

Cons: Some buyers found the directions a little difficult to understand.

Bottom Line: This baby swing is a great buy for comfort and security. The three-point harness keeps your baby safely in place. And it’s easy to move around the house.

 

Pros: Even if you’re not tech-savvy, you might really love this baby swing for your little one. It features 10 preset lullabies, Bluetooth and USB connectivity options, an auto-off timer, and a soft and cozy washable seat that will soothe and calm your little one. It’s specifically designed for infants between 0-6 months and below 24 pounds, and it includes three hanging stuffed toys that will keep your baby entertained. Plus, the advanced five-point harness will keep your child secure and protected. It has an easy control panel remote for quick and simple adjustments, and you can feel good about the durable aluminum base that’s fitted with anti-skid grips. It meets all applicable FCC and ASTM standards. And it even comes with a mosquito net if you want to use it outdoors on your porch or another flat, safe surface.

Cons: This swing uses a lot of battery power, so your batteries will need to be replaced often. However, you can use the plug-in cord at home. Also, this swing only has one speed setting.

Bottom Line: This baby swing’s modern and trendy design, incredibly simple assembly, and soft washable seat cover for easy cleaning make this swing a parents’ favorite. You can even play preset lullabies or their favorite music from your playlist. And this seat is suitable for outdoor use in good weather conditions while your baby is supervised.

 

Pros: If you prefer a swing that can alternate directions, this may be the one for you. It offers side-to-side or front-to-back rocking motions with six speed settings, so you can rock your baby gently to calm and soothe them. It also comes with 16 songs and two sound effects settings for your baby to enjoy. For even more entertainment, it has a motorized mobile with a dome mirror and three soft toys overhead to encourage eye-tracking play. And the pad is removable and washable for your convenience. Plus, the legs fold flat for storage and transport, making this swing a great option to tote on vacations or to a caregiver’s home.

Cons: The motor is a bit loud on this one, and the music quality isn’t as good as some others. Also, the leg base is wide, so you need to be careful not to trip when it’s set up.

Bottom Line: This name-brand baby swing has many amenities that parents love; plus, it has two-direction motion built-in. It works on an outlet or with batteries, so you can use it pretty much anywhere. And it’s one of the coziest swings on the market.

 

Pros: There’s a lot to love about this advanced baby swing. First, it offers five levels of a range of motion to rock your baby safely and comfortably. It’s also Bluetooth-enabled to play your child’s favorite soothing music from your phone or smart device. The touchscreen display is intuitive and easy to use, even if you’re not particularly tech-savvy. For easy transport, this seat is lightweight and portable. It’s so easy to put together and take apart that you’ll probably want to take it with you everywhere. It’s perfect for babies between 5 and 20 pounds for play and soothing enjoyment. Also, this swing is the winner of 2021’s Best of Baby Awards by The Bump.

Cons: This swing doesn’t have a ton of padding to keep smaller babies upright. And there doesn’t seem to be much difference between speed levels.

Bottom Line: This swing is great for portability and takes up a minimal footprint on your floor. The remote and touchscreen make it easy to use, and it links seamlessly to Bluetooth.

Final Thoughts

Baby swings are great for calming your baby while you free up your hands to take care of other children or tackle tasks. These models are all great options for those with babies in the home.