A baby swing is a decidedly optional piece of baby gear, but when you need a spot to soothe a fussy baby, it can feel like a lifesaver. (Keep in mind that swings are designed for supervised use when your baby is awake only.)
We conducted more than 30 hours of research, which included interviewing child-safety experts, and we spent 20 hours testing 10 different models since 2017. After all of that, we’ve concluded that the Graco Glider LX Gliding Swing, with its gentle swaying motion, is the best swing for soothing babies.
That said, swings rely on a battery- or AC-powered motor to function, and these motors are notoriously faulty. Customer reviews for even highest-rated swings include complaints about motors malfunctioning or failing over time.
Our pick
Handy features—like an auto shutoff and a motor that defaults to the last setting used—set this swing apart from the competition. It also sits higher off the floor than the other models we tested.
The Graco Glider LX Gliding Swing is designed to emulate the feeling of being rocked in a glider chair. It also offers vibration, classical music, and nature sounds, plus a toy bar to help keep babies calm and entertained. It’s one of the more space-efficient swings we tested, and it weighs just under 18 pounds. Also, it sits higher off the floor than most other models—a plus for caregivers who have to bend over many times a day. Along with our runner-up pick, the Graco Simple Sway, this swing has the highest weight limit (up to 30 pounds) of the models we tested. Several customer reviews mention the motor failing over time, however. And though the Glider LX Gliding Swing offers six speeds, it moves in only one direction.
Runner-up
This traditional swing offers plenty of functionality for babies who enjoy side-to-side swaying.
The Graco Simple Sway Swing has similar features to our top pick in terms of vibration, swaying speeds, and sounds. Its side-to-side motion is soothing for many babies, but when you’re placing your infant inside, you have to bend over and dodge the swing’s bulky metal frame, and some customers say the seat is too deep for newborns. It’s also heavier than our top pick (about 31 pounds), and the motor has received similar complaints about failing over time.
Upgrade pick
This swing has 25 options for movement and entertainment, plus it allows you to fine-tune your baby’s position.
The 4moms MamaRoo Multi-Motion Baby Swing motor is located in its base, so the swing doesn’t sway like a traditional model where the seat is suspended from a metal arm. However, it offers five movements, ranging from a bounce (called “Kangaroo”) to a rocking motion (“Tree Swing”), each at five different speeds. The swing, which weighs 25 pounds, plays a variety of sounds as well as tunes from your phone via Bluetooth. This is the only model we tested that offers (but doesn’t require) both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. Our testers loved its design and that it took just 10 minutes to assemble. But the weight limit (25 pounds) is less than that of our other picks (30 pounds).
