Baby swings and rocking chairs offer a solution to tired parents with babies who are difficult to soothe. The rhythmic movements relax babies while giving an exhausted mom or dad a moment to spare. We draw on recommendations from moms and dads in the BabyCenter Community and the expertise of our editors to bring you the best baby swings and rocking chairs.
The best baby swing of 2021
4moms mamaRoo4 Infant Seat
Unlike most swings, the mamaRoo4 doesn’t rock back and forth or side to side, instead it mimics the rocking motions a mom or dad would make. You can choose from five unique moves and speeds including “car ride”, “kangaroo” and “Rockabye”. It has four sounds or you can play your own music with Bluetooth. The seat reclines to almost any position, even fully reclined. The swing comes with toys and the cover is removable and washable.
Keep in mind
Although not required, you may want to pay a little more for a more comfortable infant seat, which is inserted and sold separately. MamaRoo’s movements are gentle and may not be strong enough to calm a very cranky baby.
What Parents Are Saying
“We like the 4moms swing. It is our secret weapon for those restless and gassy afternoons of our baby. It has more speeds than most swings and the higher level is the better. I would only change the mobile toy that doesn’t move on its own.”
“I recommend it. My two-month-old baby has colic and we couldn’t stop carrying him all day. Just putting it on the swing for a few minutes made her happy looking at the balls, especially the one with a mirror.”
“Our newborn I love him. He has been a lifesaver for us. He likes all the moves, he is a bit expensive but he is pretty”.
The best classic swing
Fisher-Price Sweet Snuggapuppy Dreams Cradle ‘n Swing
The Snuggapuppy has two rocking motions: side-to-side and back-and-forth. It has two reclining positions. The seat is puppy soft and offers head and body support. Machine Washable Babies enjoy the included mobile and mirrored dome and parents like that they can control movement options from a mobile phone.
Please Note
Sometimes it squeaks a bit when the swing is rocking, but it can be fixed by adjusting the swing legs.
What Parents Say
“My baby really likes the Snugapuppy swing. She doesn’t appreciate the mobile yet but she really likes the movement”.
“Without this, I couldn’t stop carrying my baby when he is very irritated, it has saved my life, he enjoys it a lot and I can do other things”.
“My baby loved it right away, now that she is two months old she has started to enjoy the mirror and the toys. Assembling it was easy, it is easy to move because it folds. You can hear the engine, but not so much if you put on the music”.
Best cheap swing
Graco Simple Sway Baby Swing
The Simple Sway soothes babies the old-fashioned way—from side to side. It’s cheaper, but it offers six rocking and two vibrating speeds, it doesn’t recline. Parents like that it is small which makes it easy to fit anywhere. It has a five-point harness and a soft, supportive shell, it also has removable head support. It has 15 songs and sounds and a simple mobile with three toys.
Keep in mind
Some parents say that the removable cover is difficult to put on.
What Parents Say “My son loved the Graco Simple Sway when he was a baby.”
“It’s perfect for us because it doesn’t take up much space, it’s light enough to move it from one place to another or outside. It doesn’t make a lot of noise, I love it.”
Best bouncer swing
Ingenuity convert me Swing-2-Seat
This swing is a good option for parents who want the benefits of a swing and bouncer chair and is relatively inexpensive. They convert easily changes from swing to vibrating seat. It swings back and forth and is battery-operated. It is simple to assemble, it folds flat which makes it easy to store or travel with.
Keep in Mind
Some parents said they had trouble getting it to rock. It takes a little push to get it started. It only works with batteries.
what parents say
“It is a very good portable swing, it is not very flashy, but it folds up and you can take it everywhere and the price is good.” “The colors are soft and relaxing, the size is ideal. It is small so as not to take up much space and enough for your baby to be comfortable.
What is a baby swing?
Baby swings are electrical or electronic devices that rock by mimicking movements in the womb. They can be a useful tool like another set of hands for parents of young babies. When it seems that nothing calms your baby, a swing could be the solution.
There are large ones, which take up a lot of space, and small ones. Some have to be pushed, but most run on batteries or a power adapter. You will find them with mobile toys, different types of speed or vibration, reclining, sound, with music. Some serve as bouncer chairs as well.
Can my baby sleep in a swing?
Don’t leave your baby sleeping in the swing for more than a short nap when you’re supervising him. The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend letting babies sleep in a swing.
If your baby falls asleep, move him to a firm mattress so he sleeps on his back. Younger babies do not have much strength to hold their heads upright, and having their heads against their chests could cause suffocation.
And while your little one will surely love his swing and it will be a great help, try not to depend too much on it. Your baby needs time in your arms and time on his tummy to strengthen the muscles he needs to crawl and stand up. Experts recommend that your baby spend an hour or less a day in the swing.
You may also be interested in Baby’s first steps: Tips to help him walk spontaneously