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The 5 Best Baby Swings That Will Save Your Sanity

Inside: Check out my top 10 picks of the best baby swings to lull your little one to sleep so you can have a few moments of quiet. This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. You can read my full disclosure here

Getting ready for baby is no small task.

You’re a first-time mom and you’re totally overwhelmed with the amount of baby gear available for you to choose from.

Don’t worry; I’ve been there and I learned a little secret:

Most of the decisions you make aren’t going to make a big impact in your day to day life with your baby.

But there is one baby product that you don’t want to forget:

The baby swing.

Yes, this magical little contraption can soothe a cranky infant faster than you can say hush little baby.

Read on to find the top picks for the best infant swings.

In a rush?

?Compare the top baby swings on one page here.

top baby swings

✅What Is The Best Baby Swing Available?

When you take all the factors into consideration, this baby swing is the top pick.

The Fisher-Price My Little Snugabear Cradle ‘N Swing has a 4.0-star rating from over 982 parents.

Parents love that it lulls their crying baby to sleep in short amount of time. Several also like that the swing is fast since lots of babies prefer the fast motion over the slow rocking.

While this rating is one of the highest on the market, it is definitely not free from negative reviews.

The most common complaint from parents is that this swing just isn’t as high quality as they’d expect. Several people mentioned the mobile making a terrible grinding sound. They also say the swing’s motor doesn’t last.

Before purchasing read all the negative one-star reviews here.

We used the older version of this swing with my second son and overall we were quite happy with it. Within a few months, the swing did make noise when he used it, but he was also pretty heavy for his age. We didn’t experience any problems with the motor.

See how it works in the video below:

What’s The Difference Between A Swing, Bouncer & Jumper?

Although all three of these baby products are lumped together they are generally used for different reasons and ages.

A baby swing is best for parents with finicky babies who need lots of holding and moving around or who resist falling asleep. Swings help to calm babies and also put them to sleep.

A baby bouncer is great for babies who like to be where Mom is, but don’t like to lie down. Bouncers are also awesome for babies who suffer from reflux since they’re more upright. They’re also generally much less expensive than baby swings.

Jumpers are for older babies, usually around 6 months old or so. They’re normally packed with various toys, so babies have something to do and are entertained. The baby sits in the jumper upright and can use their legs to walk or bounce around.

Factors To Consider When Buying A Baby Swing

?Size:

One important thing you need to consider about a baby swing is how much space you have available. If you’re tight on space, a travel swing, like this one, will save a ton of space and is easy to take with you to Grandma’s house too.

?Mobile:

Do you want or need a mobile to entertain your baby when they are older? Most full-size baby swings come with a powered mobile, but not all travel swings do.

?Sound Capability:

Is it important to you to have your baby swing play music? Most baby swings will have preprogrammed soothing songs such as lullabies, water sounds or nature sounds. More high tech baby swings, like this one, are able to sync up with your phone to play any music you like.

?Safety Harness:

In the beginning, when your baby isn’t mobile this factor may not be as important (although I still say always buckle up). However, once your baby is bigger and mobile, you’ll want to be sure they’re securely in the seat. A 5 point harness is the most secure.

?Number Of Speeds:

Perhaps the most important function of the baby swing you choose is how it actually swings.

Does it swing slowly? Quickly? Both?

I always advise going with the most number of speeds as possible so you give yourself the best chance of finding a speed your baby loves.

?Swinging Directions:

Do you want your infant swing to just swing side to side or is front to back important to you as well?

In my experience and with many friends I know, most babies prefer the side to side swinging. Again, though, it’s just nice to be able to mix it up and try another direction on days your baby may be extra fussy.

?Weight Capacity:

How long do you plan to have your baby use the swing? Do you have bigger babies?

It’s good to know the maximum weight for whatever swing you choose so your baby won’t outgrow it too quickly.

My babies were big so once they were a few months old the swings didn’t swing as quickly and powerfully as when they were smaller.

?Power Source:

Do you want a battery powered swing so it’s easy to take on the go or do you want to have it plug into the wall?

If you choose a plugin style, think about where in the room you’ll be able to keep the swing so it’s convenient but not in the way.

?Ability To Recline:

Most swings allow some degree of reclining options to allow baby to be more comfortable when young or let older babies lie down to sleep. Determine what’s best for your baby and look for the ability of the seat to recline.

Baby Swings Finalists:

Below are the top picks for baby swings for various categories. Determine which factor is most important for you, then pick from one of these top-rated baby swings.

?Best Overall Baby Swing:

Fisher-Price Snugabunny Cradle ‘N Swing

This baby swing is my top pick out of all the baby swings because of the versatility of its design.

?‍♀️Me? This is the baby swing we used for my first son (it was an older version) and it was awesome. You can choose to use it as a baby swing (front to back motion) or as a cradle (side to side motion). Plus, there are six different speeds.

Since there’s so much customization of motion between those two settings, I’d say it’s likely to soothe most babies.

Best Versatile Baby Swing:

Graco Glider LX Gliding Swing

This versatile baby swing is a great option for parents who want a portable swing that mimics the motions of a Mom rocking baby in a nursery glider.

It’s lightweight, portable and has the option to use batteries or a wall plug.

It has a neutral color palette that’ll blend (as best as kid items can) in with surrounding decor and it’s affordable.

Best Portable Baby Swing:

Ingenuity Cozy Kingdom Portable Swing

This portable baby swing is the least expensive swing on the list but still meets most parents needs.

It’s truly portable and folds down easily so you can pack it with you to that trip to Grandma’s house.

One downside some parents noted was their larger babies didn’t fit in it too long because of its small size.

Best High Tech Baby Swing:

4Moms MamaRoo


The MamaRoo is the newest style of baby swing available.

It’s also the most stylish and technologically advanced swing on the list. This version is Bluetooth compatible so you can change the motion or sound straight from your phone. It also thas 5 parent-like motions to choose from.

I have to admit, I made my husband buy this one for our first son (which was 7 years ago when the MamaRoo was pretty new to the market) and he hated it.

Back then, the motion was snail-like and waaaaaay too slow for his liking.  We did, however, borrow a newer model when we were on vacation visiting family for my younger son and were ecstatic that the new model was much faster.

My baby loved it and fell asleep within just a few minutes of using it. So the moral of the story is get a new model and try your baby out in it before you buy if you can.

Best Compact Baby Swing:

Graco Slim Spaces Compact Baby Swing

This compact baby swing is ideal for parents who need to save space in their home.

Unlike most of the other swings on this list, the Graco Slim Spaces swing has adjustable legs to change the height of the swing. It folds easily so you can move it from room to room if necessary as well.

One downside of this swing is that the seat incline is not adjustable. Overall, this swing gets 4.3 out of 5 stars.

Baby Swing FAQs

  1. Is it safe to let my baby sleep in a swing?

    • First, please remember to never leave your baby unattended in a swing. Secondly, many baby sleep experts don’t recommend allowing your baby to sleep in a swing frequently because they can refuse to sleep in their crib.
    • I let my baby nap in the swing many times and he didn’t get to the point where he wouldn’t sleep without it but do be aware that can happen with some babies.
  2. What are the weight limits for most baby swings?

    • Although all swings will be different, generally the weight limit on most are around 25-30 lbs.
    • Be sure to note that most baby swings also have a minimum weight for use, generally around 3-5 lbs.
  3. When should I use a baby swing?

    • Baby swings are best used when you’re unable to soothe a fussy baby after meeting all their needs (feeding, holding, checking diaper, etc)
  4. How long can I use the swing each day?

    • Most experts recommend up to one hour per day to allow time for your baby to develop physically and emotionally.

More Must Read Baby Posts:

Top Rated Baby Swings:

Graco Slim Spaces Compact B...Shop on Amazon Ingenuity Soothe 'n Delight...Shop on Amazon

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