“Infant swings are valuable to parents who need or want help soothing a fussy baby or need a safe place for their child to spend time,” Amanda Abramczyk-Thill, Injury Prevention Specialist at Children’s Hospital Colorado and Safe Kids Worldwide Coalition Coordinator, tells Verywell Family. While fun accessories are enticing, the right safety features are of utmost importance when looking for a baby swing. Parents should pay attention to weight and height limits as well as straps. When reviewing products, we researched value, safety, additional features, and material. To get your little one swinging comfortably, we found the best baby swings on the market now. You should discontinue the use of the swing when your baby is old enough to roll over, even if they have not met the age or weight limit suggested by the manufacturer. When they need a little extra calming, you can choose from two vibration settings and play one of 15 sound options. The swing also comes with a removable toy mobile and has a deep, cozy seat that’s designed for proper support. Dimensions: 30 x 31 x 38 inches | Item Weight: 17 pounds | Age Range: Newborn to 18 months | Weight Limit: 5.5 to 30 pounds | Power: Battery | Price at time of publication: $110 To convert it into a rocker, simply dismount the seat from the swing frame and place it on the floor where it will rock back and forth in response to the baby’s movement. When it’s in rocker mode, it also has a handle for bringing the baby from room to room with you. The seat is equipped with a five-point harness for extra safety. Dimensions: 30.8 x 24.5 x 36 inches | Item Weight: 21 pounds | Age Range: Newborn to 23 months | Weight Limit: 4 to 30 pounds | Power: Rechargeable Battery | Price at time of publication: $180 Dimensions: 25.5 x 28 x 35 inches | Item Weight: 22.5 pounds | Age Range: Newborn to 9 months | Weight Limit: 5.5 to 25 pounds (swing) and 5.5 to 18 pounds (rocker) | Power: Battery | Price at time of publication: $210 Dimensions: 22.5 x 28.5 x 23 inches | Item Weight: 9.11 pounds | Age Range: 1 month to 9 months | Weight Limit: 20 pounds | Power: Batteries | Price at time of publication: $75 You can set a 30, 45, or 60-minute swing timer, which you may not even notice because the swing itself is designed to be whisper quiet. When it’s set up, the swing rotates 180 degrees so you can always have your eyes on the baby, and when it’s not in use, the swing easily folds down to stow away until next time. Dimensions: 35.7 x 34.3 x 41.1 inches | Item Weight: 23.46 pounds | Age Range: Newborn and up | Weight Limit: 20 pounds | Power: Battery or AC Adapter | Price at time of publication: $180 Dimensions: 23.6 x 23.6 x 15 inches | Item Weight: 8.6 pounds | Age Range: Not Listed | Weight Limit: 5 to 20 pounds | Power: AC Adapter | Price at time of publication: $200 The seat has a five-point harness to make sure the baby stays safe, volume control for sounds, and a timer. The swing also includes a removable toy bar and has an adjustable recline. Dimensions: 28 x 24.5 x 36 inches | Item Weight: 17.9 pounds | Age Range: Not Listed | Weight Limit: 5.5 to 30 pounds | Power: AC Adapter or Batteries | Price at time of publication: $150 4.5 to 4.7 stars: These baby swings are excellent—they might have minor flaws, but we still recommend them. 4.0 to 4.5 stars: We think these are great baby swings, but others are better. 3.5 to 3.9 stars: These baby swings are just average. 3.4 and below: We don’t recommend baby swings with this rating; you won’t find any on our list.
What to Look for When Buying a Baby Swing
Safety Features
Before shopping for a baby swing, it’s important for parents and caregivers to outline what safety features they should look for in a swing, like weight/height limit, straps, and reclining features. “The most important things parents should consider when purchasing an infant swing for these purposes is to ensure the swing meets the latest safety standards,” Abramczyk-Thill tells Verywell Family, adding parents and caregivers should check for any recalls. Double-check the swing’s weight and height limit to ensure your baby fits within the limits and it is safe for them to use. Straps are also a vital piece of safety on a baby swing as they prevent your baby from slipping or falling out. “Ensure that the straps fit appropriately and that the infant is of the recommended weight and length for the swing,” Abramczyk-Thill says. Additionally, to avoid babies from slumping over and accidentally suffocating, infants under the age of four months should be in the most reclined position while in a baby swing.
Harness and Seat Type
Baby swings feature different types of seats for little ones. Some seats are low to the floor to prevent your baby from falling out of the swing which could be best for older babies that are becoming more mobile. There are also hanging seats that act as an actual swing to help babies relax comfortably while giving parents and caregivers a break from holding the baby. These types of seats are ideal for younger babies who can benefit from the soothing swaying of the swing safely. When it comes to the depth of a baby seat, a deep seat is going to hold more of a baby’s body while a shallow seat may let their feet dangle while they’re in their swing. Younger babies tend to like a deeper seat that cradles their body while shallower seats allow parents to pick up their little ones easily. As for harnesses, baby swings typically feature a 3-point or 5-point harness. A 3-point harness wraps around your baby’s waist and buckles with a flap between their legs. They will still have upper body movement but will be secure around their waist. A 5-point harness has straps on the baby’s shoulders and hips, which all connect through a strap between the baby’s legs and is considered to be a safer option.
Soothing Features
Baby swings offer several different types of features to help soothe babies. If you’re in the market for a baby swing, look for these soothing features.
VibrationSwing speedWhite noise Music
No matter what baby swing you decide to go with, it’s important to know babies should never sleep in a swing. “If the baby falls asleep in a swing, it’s important for the parent or caregiver to remove the child from the swing and move them to a firm sleep surface,” Abramcyzk-Thill says.
Why Trust Verywell Family
Ashley Ziegler is a full-time parenting writer, mom to a 1 and a 4-year-old, and she has personal experience in researching and using baby swings. Key considerations she used when selecting these recommendations include safety, functionality, pricing, and purchaser reviews. CPSC’s Safety Standard for Infant Sleep Products also states that sleep surfaces should have a maximum inclination of “10 degrees from horizontal.” The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) also advises parents to move their baby to a flat surface if their baby appears drowsy or has fallen asleep in the swing. They are not meant to replace cribs and do not align with the AAP’s safe sleep guidelines.
