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Best Baby Swings 2024 | Mom Tested - Forbes Vetted

The best baby swings offer a break to parents in what can be long monotonous days of parenting a baby, as sweet as they are. While a pack and play might work in a pinch, baby swings tend to offer

The best baby swings offer a break to parents in what can be long monotonous days of parenting a baby, as sweet as they are. While a pack and play might work in a pinch, baby swings tend to offer additional soothing and entertainment features designed to keep little ones occupied. After testing 10 baby swings over several months with my fifth baby, the Graco Soothe ’N Sway LX Swing With Portable Bouncer proved to be the best baby swing overall. As a professional product reviewer and journalist, I’ve tried out more than 20 baby swings over the last decade. I found five additional baby swings to consider for your family.

The best baby swings were those that offered convenience and easy-to-use features to parents and ... [+] comfort and entertainment to infants.

Some swings are complicated to use while others don’t offer the right motion, sounds or toys to soothe a baby. The swings below aced my tests in these areas. Keep in mind, that a baby should never sleep in a swing. Instead, a swing can be used as a temporary baby seat. Experts like the American Academy of Pediatrics advise parents to put babies to sleep on their backs on a firm, flat surface, such as in their crib or bassinet, without loose or soft bedding.

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Graco makes a variety of baby swings, bouncers and other infant gear and seats. I tested three of its swings for this guide and was most impressed with its Soothe ’N Sway LX Swing With Portable Bouncer. The swing features a large, easy to see and use knob that turns up like a volume button on your car stereo. This makes it helpful for other siblings to participate in helping the baby with the swing, their favorite job.

This swing offers three recline positions, which is helpful for newborns who need to lay flat and older babies with some neck control who are ready to look around. Though it wasn’t the easiest to build among all the baby swings I tested—it took 23 minutes compared to just 1 minute for the Nuna Leaf Grow, which comes assembled, and 2 minutes for the Munchkin Bluetooth Enabled Swing—the final product felt worth the labor to me.

The Graco Soothe 'N Sway LX swing's size was just right—and its controls easy to use.

Compared to some baby swings that have a bigger total footprint and height, this swing fits better into smaller spaces and sits lower to the ground but not so low that I found it difficult to reach into it for my child. Instead, it feels like a true midsize swing. This size might make it a bit more palatable than bulkier swings with legs that stick out, while other parents might prefer the swing be higher off the ground. It felt extremely sturdy, especially in comparison to the smallest, lightest swings out there, and I never worried about it tipping.

I also appreciated that Graco made this a two-in-one baby gear item, offering the removable and portable bouncer bundled with the swing, reducing parents’ need to buy one more thing for the nursery. There are multiple vibration and song settings, which helps soothe the baby, but it doesn’t have a mobile that spins like some fancier full-size swings. Instead, a few stationary hanging toys have to suffice. The swing can also rotate to face a different direction, letting baby swing either front to back or side to side. After extensive testing, I didn’t find another swing that could beat this Graco’s versatility, reliability and strong features. Read my full in-depth review of the Graco Soothe ’N Sway LX Swing for additional details.

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The Graco SmartSense swing offers some of the best of technological advancements solving parenting problems. It has numerous settings, responds to a fussing baby on its own and has a deep, wide, comfortable and plush seat. It’s cute without a major footprint, but roomy enough to accommodate many sizes of babies.

The swing settings likely appeal to lots of different babies’ preferences. For example, it has two vibration settings, and four motion settings, such as gliding versus rocking. Finally, it has three recline settings, making it a highly customizable swing, with the ability to adjust it to best fit them as they get bigger.

The SmartSense baby swing was released this summer after my testing had already concluded, but my now older baby was right around its maximum weight suggestion, so I did take a look at how she looked in it and tested the various features. I also had a third time mom try it with her new 3-month-old baby. She shared that her baby liked the swing, based on the fact that he didn’t cry when she put him in it. “He liked the rock; I liked the glide,” she said of the motion options.

She adjusted the recline options based on whether he wanted to sit up and look around or have a more calm rest. We both found the toys lackluster, however, and the swing noisy. Our tester shared that one of the main issues with the swing is the noise: “The bearings are not great, so it’s loud and distracting in small spaces — like my office when I’m trying to work,” she says.

Those researching AI swings will likely come across a comparable swing, the Maxi-Cosi Cassia, reviewed below. Before the SmartSense, I chose it as the best smart swing overall. It works on the same concept as the Graco SmartSense, but has a few differences that make it a little less helpful than the Graco. This is also likely why the Cassia is $100 cheaper.

First, the Maxi-Cosi seat angle and depth seems to be a point of contention among parents based on reviews: some love the upright angle of the Cassia, while others find it less comfortable. The Graco has a deeper bucket seat that seems more comfortable for bigger babies and gives a much more sit-back and relaxed vibe. Both have control panels far down on the floor, which isn’t the most convenient. The Graco was more responsive to cries for me than the Cassia, making it worth the extra money. The Cassia is lighter, however, and can be operated via the plug-in adapter or batteries whereas the SmartSense is 7 pounds heavier and comes with only the wall plug.

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The Maxi-Cosi Cassia baby swing affectionately became known around our house as “the egg,” because it’s shaped as such. The shape was one of the most attractive features, as it looks much more pleasing than some other more bulky options, and this shape also seemed to position the baby better into upright positions than swings with a deeper bucket seat.

This smart baby swing was particularly entertaining for our tester and the motion was just right for ... [+] soothing.

This smart swing responds to the baby’s fussiness, soothing them with strong side-to-side motion, at up to five speeds. One of the indicators of a great swing, I’ve learned after five kids, is the ability to move fast enough to really simulate the movement a parent would provide rocking a baby—which is not always a slow motion.

The Cassia is fast enough to actually calm the baby, as long as they aren’t too upset already, and it’s easy to find and push the buttons on the base to select these options. However, there’s a bit of a learning curve as to what each button means; for example, the Speedometer button speeds it up. This might not be as intuitive as other options.

This baby swing has a unique oval shape unlike many other swings. It’s the reason the seat is a bit more slim and visually appealing than some other options, and for babies who love to sit up and look around, this is a plus. Others who want a more relaxed feel may prefer the Graco SmartSense, which is a deeper bucket seat. It’s also lightweight at just 10 pounds and offers parents the option to either plug it into the wall or keep it more portable with batteries.

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The Bright Starts Portable Swing weighs barely 7 pounds and runs exclusively on batteries, so it isn’t tethered to the closest outlet. It quickly became my favorite swing when moving with my baby to another room in the house and would appeal to those with small spaces as well as anyone seeking an extra portable pick.

It starts swinging with just one button, and I pushed the highest swing intensity for a solid front to back motion. The swinging motion itself is a bit more jostling than other smoother swings—but this was a plus for her. It seemed like the equivalent of a bumpy car ride, and she was a fan.

It is low to the ground and sturdy, so I wasn’t worried about my toddler tipping the swing. The seat itself is much deeper and a bit more upright than some options, which my baby seemed to enjoy. She could look around at her brothers and wasn’t looking up at the ceiling. There are a few mobile toys, which she didn’t pay much attention to, but her upright angle provided more comfort and entertainment for her than some other angles.

This Bright Starts baby swing is exceptionally easy to move from room to room—and it felt sturdy and ... [+] safe.

This swing seemed exceptionally safe compared to some others, due to its five-point harness and low profile, not leaving as much room for something to happen due to height. “Even though swings are safer [now than in the past], infants should always be supervised in a swing—make sure you can see and hear them,” says Dr. Jenelle Ferry, neonatologist and director of feeding, nutrition and infant development at Pediatrix Medical Group in Tampa. “Infants under 4 months should use the most reclined swing position, as they don’t have good head control and can easily slump over. Ensure the swing has a good base and doesn’t tip over easily, especially if other children or pets are in the house.”

Like some other swings, the top bar comes off easily, obviously trying to deter parents from carrying the swing around with the baby in it. But in this case, sometimes I’d knock it off accidentally a little too easily, which was frustrating. Overall, the Bright Starts swing was one of the most convenient options I tested. It even made a trip to the Little League park to watch the older siblings play ball. Given this portability, and the unbeatable price, I found this to be the best value baby swing overall.

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You can turn on the fan or the TV with a remote, and now some baby swings offer the same convenience. The Munchkin Bluetooth Enabled Swing features volume and other functions made possible from afar through a remote control, so you don’t have to stop what you are doing to adjust the settings. This can be quite convenient, or an additional stressor to keep track of another remote, depending how organized you are. Of course, you can also operate it with the digital touch buttons on the swing itself.

One of my favorite features of this swing is the easy-to-access safety belt that’s already set up, preventing you from having to attach the straps each time like you’d see on a larger 5-point harness swing. This makes it super convenient to place the baby in the swing quickly if you need a safe place to put them while you help another kid, answer the door or tend to your burning dinner.

The Munchkin Bluetooth Enabled Swing lets parents activate it via remote and play the music and ... [+] sounds of their choice.

The infant insert is a bit larger than some others, and it’s at a good angle that doesn’t thrust the baby’s chin down or head forward too much, which was an issue with some other options. The swing was also among the quickest to build, taking me just 2 minutes to set it up, which is essential with a fussing baby. It can also fold down flat for storage and is particularly lightweight for a full-size swing. You can opt to purchase an additional carrying case to travel with it, too.

I especially loved the ability to pair the swing with my baby’s favorite songs on my phone, to have a more customized, familiar and comforting experience. This is a unique attribute that other swings with more annoying music don’t offer.

However, if you prefer a lower-tech swing, you might be better off purchasing a more basic option. This swing does cost a bit more than others given the extra tech and customization available in it. I generally found the added features convenient for both babies and parents.

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The Nuna Leaf Grow baby swing is the only non-motorized swing on this list, so if you’re looking for a traditional, higher-motion pick, you’ll want to skip this one. But I found it has a lot to offer. For one, it’s a convertible baby seat that turns into a big kid seat when you’re ready, offering parents a two-in-one baby gear item, much like the top pick. This can save parents time and money in the long run.

This baby seat is not tethered by any sort of power cord, so it’s also easy to move or tuck out of the way when not in use. Instead, it’s powered only by the baby’s motion, so when your child starts bouncing, the seat moves side to side in a natural swaying motion, much like a mom or dad in line at the grocery with a baby on their hip. Parents can also give it a push to start the motion, which lasts about 2 minutes.

The Nuna Leaf Grow offers a 2-minute manual sway vs. a motorized, constant swinging motion.

But the absolute most convenient function of the Nuna Leaf Grow is how easy it is to place the baby into the straps that are set up similar to a diaper: a left and right clasp secured at each hip. This isn’t a five-point harness, so younger babies who can’t easily keep their head upright might struggle. It’s definitely one of the more upright seats that I tested, though the position is easily adjustable. But once they can do that, which my baby was able to do around 2 months, this is a comfortable swing for the rest of their babyhood. It allows the baby to see all around the room, more like the popular BabyBjorn Bouncer seat. The safety strap on the Nuna Leaf Grow was the only one I didn’t struggle somewhat to adjust during testing.

Another unique feature is the base. It’s a half circle, or incomplete circle, that allows the baby to sway while maintaining stability and safety. It proved a strong base that my child’s toddler brother couldn’t tip over (and yes, he tried). Finally, the mobile toys are exceptionally cute, and have a hand-stitched look with a fun color scheme. Parents looking for longevity from their baby products might appreciate that this Nuna swing turns into a toddler seat and can even hold bigger kids who might enjoy watching a show or reading a book from this perch.

Nine infant swings were tested during reporting for this guide.

I tested four additional products that didn’t make the cut. They are listed below. The team plans to continue testing new baby swings as they are released as we did with the just released Graco SmartSense Soothing Baby Swing.

Graco DuetConnect LX: This swing seems like a workhouse, and does it all, but I had technical issues getting this swing to work, which was disappointing. In addition, the seat was too wide and bulky for infants, and it seemed to be the easiest one for them to tilt or tip over in, in spite of being strapped in. This would be helpful for bigger babies who need more room side to side.

4Moms MamaRoo Multi-Motion Baby Swing: This is one of those swings your baby will simply love or hate, with little middle road, based on years of discussion with parents, reading parenting group chatter and sifting through the many competitor reviews on the MamaRoo. My baby, unfortunately, wasn’t a big fan, as none of the many creative swing settings that imitate washing machines, car rides and more were fast enough to soothe her. The motion seemed too smooth for her without a true swinging motion.

Ingenuity InLighten 5-Speed: The baby didn’t seem as comfortable with the seat itself, which was too flat and shallow around the butt and hips, rather than set back a bit like other options. It also had a longer and more complicated build time than some others, and only two recline options not three.

RECALL ALERT: The Fisher-Price Snuga swing series below was recalled Oct. 10, 2024 due to suffocation concerns and following the death of five infants. The company told Forbes Vetted that it is “no longer” making it.

Fisher-Price Snuga Baby Swing: I tested this popular swing in my first round of baby swing testing and found it extra easy to use and extra engaging for my baby with its mirror, mobile and more. However, after years on the market, it suddenly started showing limited availability making it an unreliable to purchase option—and we opted not to include it here. Later, it was recalled.

I tested all the swings with my fifth baby, a newborn, and also rated them on their features, ease ... [+] of assembly and more.

To ensure thorough testing of each swing, my baby, the best infant tester around, happily participated in swinging for hours (not all at once) in various products, until I had a strong opinion about all nine products. I also considered and analyzed around a dozen additional swings before selecting those nine to test.

To test these swings: First, I built the swings, timing how long the process took, what tools were necessary, and if it was an intuitive or difficult task.

Next, I explored the various options for angles and settings, changing the volume, songs, back position and direction the swing would go. I kept an eye on parent accessibility, such as how obvious it was to find and use the buttons, and how physically difficult or easy it was to get the baby in and out of the seats.

Safety straps are a must-have, but can also be quite annoying if they separate into too many pieces, a consideration I tested with each swing. The easiest types weren’t five-point harnesses, but rather lap straps that go between the baby’s legs and across the waist. But, for the five-point harnesses, I tried clipping and unclipping the straps multiple times to find those that are most convenient.

Finally, the baby voiced her opinions, either seeming easily soothed by the sounds and motion intensity, or not so much for some weaker options. Though she can’t talk, her input was obvious and valuable.

In order to gather long-term testing feedback and notes, I sent the winners out to other new parents to see how well the swings worked for their families. Given that my baby, of course, grew too big for these swings, I engaged additional panel testers to test new swings as they came on the market.

Carefully compare features and dimensions when selecting a baby swing—and also consider where and ... [+] when you will use it.

Here’s what to consider when shopping for the best swings.

Some swings are seriously bulky and can take up a whole section of a room, especially when you clear the way for the actual swinging motion. Consider if you want a higher swing with a moving mobile, which typically means bulkier and wider set legs and a higher profile. If not, you might want a medium height or low to the ground swing, all based on how low you want to reach to put the baby in, and if there are other safety factors to consider like wild toddlers or pets around.

If you are choosing a swing, you likely want to soothe a baby with motion—but some are too weak to make a difference. Look for swings that crank high enough to get some serious motion going to simulate a parent actively swaying or bouncing their baby. For those that convert to bouncers, you can also look for strong enough vibrations. “Essentially, we’re trying to recreate the experience they had late in utero, because that’s what is soothing to them,” McMason says.

Some button panels took some learning, as they weren’t exactly intuitive. Choose a swing with easy-to-understand buttons and customizable options that allow you to turn up the white noise, play songs and change the volume or speed without having to think too hard through your sleep deprivation.

“A swing is safest with a 5-point harness to securely hold your baby,” says Dr. Ferry. But those five-point harnesses often separate into five pieces, which can be frustrating to parents. If, for example, each shoulder strap separates from each waist strap every time, you might spend too long bent over threading strap pieces together, annoyingly enough. You might, instead, prefer a simpler Velcro-based crotch and hip strap for easier, faster buckling, or a five-point harness with an easier style of buckling at least.

I’ve been researching, buying and trying baby equipment for a decade trying to please and soothe my five little friends, who have all preferred different types of swings, motions and sounds (of course). I initially tested these swings with my 3-month-old baby and also employed background knowledge from testing additional swings through the years as a mother and a product journalist. As a longtime journalist, I’m experienced with looking for the most high-quality, well-loved baby products that will go the distance. I’ve tested hundreds of baby and kids gear items over the years, at home and professionally—and interviewed plenty of experts at the top of their fields, too. I most recently wrote about the best pregnancy pillows for Forbes Vetted, but I’ve also tested high chairs, baby monitors and more.

For this story, I interviewed the following experts to understand safety concerns around swings and to consider their recommendations when selecting a swing:

The best baby swing is a bit subjective, of course, and it depends on what you prefer when you look for a swing, whether that is a strong soothing center, portability or maybe even a smart swing. After extensive testing, I found that the Graco Soothe 'N Sway LX Swing With Portable Bouncer is the best baby swing overall for most families. It offers a variety of movements and two baby gear items in one, plus intuitive features for parents. But there are also additional options to fit different budgets, families and spaces, including the more affordable (and portable) Bright Starts Portable Swing, and the smart swings that respond to your baby with movement, such as the Maxi-Cosi Cassia and the Graco SmartSense.

McMason explains that it can involve some trial and error to find the swing your baby likes most. “Remember, though, that parenting is more like a science experiment than it is an algebra equation. We may put in all the right factors, but there’s no guarantee of the outcome. The solution isn’t a single answer, it’s about trying new things over and over until we get it right,” she says.

One isn’t better than the other. It simply depends what you need it for and what your baby and you prefer. Both of these baby gear items are designed as baby seats or containers for young babies. A bouncer, however, might sit more upright, and it is typically not motorized whereas a swing offers soothing movement in sometimes several directions and speeds. A swing often comes with music or white noise, and sometimes vibration, along with swinging. Both a bouncer or swing might come with a toy bar, but overall, the swing offers more entertainment.

Our experts recommend baby swings with a five-point harness for maximum security. In addition, look for a sturdy base that doesn’t seem like it could tip easily, even if another child is messing with it. “A 5-point harness and recline option for a newborn are most important for safety. For practicality, look for material that is waterproof and can be wiped down or a removable machine washable cover, as blowouts and spit-up are inevitable,” Ferry says. “Depending on how you plan to use your swing, portability may be important for moving from room-to-room.”

Swing safety also means the caregiver follows the manufacturer’s directions on use, baby weight limits—and not allowing children to sleep in the swing or to remain in it for extended periods of time or unsupervised.

Dr. Whitney Casares, Portland-based pediatrician, writer and speaker at Modern Mommy Doc, says sometimes swings are simply one tool parents can use in their toolbox to help bust boredom with young babies, to be used in a rotation with other activities and products.

“[Swings are] items that parents can use in a circuit to drive out boredom for themselves with their babies, and also provide a little bit of different stimulation for babies so that if they're fussy, or if they want them to sit for a second,” she says. “Sometimes it’s just a slight change of environment.”

Most babies can use swings from their newborn days through 20 pounds or when they simply become too active for it, which happens at different times for different babies. Parents might start to notice that they are not really well contained in the swing, with their limbs hanging over the edges, or that they are developmentally preferring to do other things like work on crawling and walking, and lose interest after a few months.

Pediatricians tend to advise parents to limit time in swings and other baby seats. “If a baby is in a swing for a prolonged period of time, then that's less time that a baby can practice supervised tummy time where a baby can practice holding their head up and moving around. Supervised tummy time helps a baby develop gross motor skills and truncal core support,” Moorjani says. So, don’t confine a baby to a swing for too long.

Giving Back Note: Four swings that were no longer needed for long-term testing were donated to the Hamilton Family Christian Center in Ohio, to benefit families in need.

We tested the new Graco SmartSense baby swing over the last month and, based on those results, added it to our list of the best baby swings overall. It tested a bit better than the existing best smart swing pick: the Maxi-Cosi Cassia. However, we could see the utility in both swings, so both are now featured here.

We also added an alert about the just recalled Fisher-Price Snuga Baby Swing series. We did test this swing for this guide, but did not include it among our picks. This swing is no longer in production but may still be in homes or available in secondhand markets. Parents should read the recall notice for more information.

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Best Baby Swings 2024 | Mom Tested - Forbes Vetted