7 Best Baby Swings of 2024, Tested by Experts (2024)

We love a 2-in-1 product, and this is both an electric swing and a removable rocker or bouncer seat.

When it's in swing mode, you can choose either a front-to-back or side-to-side motion. If you take the seat off to use it as a bouncer seat in another room, you can still turn on the vibrating feature. The swing can also play 10 different songs or a few soft nature sounds, and a mobile featuring three soft teddy bears dangles overhead to offer some distraction (though we noted during testing that you have to spin it manually if you want it to twirl). It's also a big win if you're looking specifically for a baby swing and bouncer 2-in-1 combo.

The swing motion is motorized by either an AC adapter plug or batteries. Keep in mind, though, that you'll save money by plugging it in but will then need to keep it near an outlet. Home testers confirm that it might make a clicking sound when swinging at top speed, but, for what it's worth, the babies don't seem to care.

We love how lightweight this baby swing is (four pounds without the batteries in it!) and that it fits smalls spaces and has a slim fold, so you can easily move it out of the way or bring it along on travels. For such a nice price, it has a lot of features, from two dangling toys to six swing speeds and a cozy newborn headrest.

There are two recline options: tilted far back for a newborn or upright for an older baby. It runs on batteries only, so get yourself a stash of C-size ones. We like that there's a timer to set for 15, 30 or 45 minutes if you want to keep track of how long your baby is in there (experts recommend no more than 30 minutes at a time). The swinging motion is quiet, but when you change the speed, the dial does make a clicking sound.

For the same small footprint, plus some Taggies toys for sensory play, consider this similar six-speed swing from Ingenuity's sister brand, Bright Starts.

Munchkin's relatively new swing (it came out during the pandemic) is a cinch to assemble and nice to use with the included remote control. It's got the modern look of other seats that sway side to side but weighs less than 10 pounds and folds flat for storage.

This swing comes with four classical songs and eight sounds (including heartbeat, water and white noise), but you can also pair it with your device via Bluetooth and play your own music for your baby. We hear many of our consumer testers excitedly talk about how quiet it is while in motion, and many love using the remote control, which arrives with the battery already in place.

It's one of the few swings we've tested that we can unbox and have up and running in less than 10 minutes.

Rather than swing your baby or sway them side to side, this seat eases your infant back and forth in the same smooth motion that a nursery glider chair uses.

Some babies prefer the gliding, which keeps their body at an even level; other babies prefer a swing that moves them up and down a bit. There are only two possible recline positions (despite some online reviews saying three), but there are six speeds to choose from, plus two vibration modes.

The arch, with its two dangling toys, is removable, which would give the seat a slightly lower profile. The swing can play 10 songs and five nature sounds that function as soft white noise; there's also a timer that can be set for 10, 20 or 30 minutes, though our experts found it to be confusing to use. (You hit the clock button, then hit the number six either once, twice or three times.)

We love a product that can last for years, and this swing does. It starts as a baby swing with three recline positions and a toy bar.

There are no electronics; it swings only side to side (like a leaf in the wind, the brand says) when a parent gives it a push. It sways silently for a minute or two and then slows to a stop until you push it again. You can also lock it into a stationary position, so, in effect, this can be both your infant swing and your baby bouncer seat.

Then it goes from being a baby swing to a toddler seat and even a big-kid papasan-style chair that you can use for years. Remove the seat insert, toy bar and harness once your kid can get in and out of the chair by themselves.

Previous iterations of MamaRoo swings that had three-point harnesses were recalled. This latest version, for sale since July 2022, has a five-point harness and updated electronic features. Use the 4moms app to demonstrate how you hold and sway your baby and the app can tell you which setting most approximates your natural movements. Or skip that and just experiment with the five motion settings to see which one your baby likes best.

The motions on this swing are unique and a big reason that some of our parenting experts have loved the MamaRoo. It can, for instance, move up and down while going side to side. You can choose to toggle among motions and speeds using the app or the buttons on the machine. In our Lab tests, we found pairing the app to be easy, but many online reviewers report more difficulty. This Bluetooth-enabled swing can also be paired with your devices, so you can stream music through it, though reviewers report mixed results with that too.

Two other features worth mentioning: The fabric zips off for cleaning, and a timer on the app lets you set the swing to move for five minutes all the way up to four hours, which we don't recommend. A half hour of swing time per day is the cap set by developmental experts.

New parents understandably want to keep their eyes on their infant. Because the seat on the Cassia can rotate all the way around, you can turn your baby to face you, even when you have to move to the other side of the room. The swing also reclines nearly flat and has a five-point harness, both of which keep it newborn-friendly.

The controls are all on the base of this seat. Tech-wise, Maxi-Cosi says the swing will increase motion using motion technology when your baby fusses. Our experts find it to be a little hit and miss (sometimes happy babies kick and move around too). You can set it yourself to any of five different speeds, and there are 12 songs and soothing sounds, plus a timer you can set for 8, 15 or 30 minutes. The mobile (love the llama and cactus!) is removable, and the polyester fabric can be machine washed.

At the Good Housekeeping Institute, we've had scientists, researchers and journalists reviewing consumer goods for more than 100 years. Evaluating products to be sure they live up to their claims is in our DNA.

We test infant swings in our Lab and also in the homes of our consumer testers, who provide us with feedback. In all, there are more than 12 metrics we evaluate when deciding which swings deserve a spot on our list.

In the Lab, we look at how swings are powered and whether they make noise while operating. We add weights to each swing to see if more weight changes the speed or sound of the swing operation.

For consumer tests, we ask parents to grade how easy swings are to assemble and use and how happy the babies are riding inside (while understanding that not every baby wants a swing). We give more points to swings that have varied options when it comes to direction and speed.

Per the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), a baby swing is not approved for safe sleep. Although your baby might drift off in their swing, bouncer, car seat or stroller, it is recommended that you move your sleeping baby to a crib or bassinet as soon as possible.

According to the AAP, babies younger than four months are at particular risk for suffering from airway obstruction or suffocation if they slump down asleep while in a seated position. In addition, babies should stay in a bouncer or swing for no more than 30 minutes per session to ensure they get varied exercise and motion in their day.

Consider your budget and living space when thinking about purchasing an infant swing, since a swing can be among the largest and most expensive pieces of indoor baby gear. Also look at return policies in case your baby ends up being one of the few infants who don't like all that motion.

We wish you could tell ahead of time whether your baby would prefer to sway side to side or front to back or to glide, but you'll have to guess, unless you've been able to try out a swing with your infant at a friend's house first. Here's what to keep in mind as you shop:

✔️ Features: Swings today might blow you away with their array of bells and whistles, from Bluetooth pairing, so you can use them like a speaker, to operating them via a remote control or an app. Some are more traditional and simply rock back and forth with speeds you set solely by pressing buttons on the swing. Consider your needs and budget when choosing the features you want. You should also bear in mind ease of cleaning, as babies can be messy.

✔️ Size: Some are compact, portable and great for travel. Some are larger and sturdier. You'll want to think about the size of your space, as well as how you'll be using your swing.

✔️ Noise: If you and your baby are sensitive to sound, pay careful attention to the noise a swing makes as it moves or vibrates. Some make a steady clicking or whirring sound, which can be annoying — most often to the adults in the house. Fortunately, there are some models that are virtually silent. If you can't make it into a brick-and-mortar store to try out a few swings, watching review videos online can give you a sense of how some swings sound.

✔️ Design: There are now modern, egg-shaped swings, as well as classic, traditional profiles. If your baby swing will occupy a prominent place in your living room, it's worth taking a minute to decide what look and fabric color you want.

It's huge, actually — and you may want both!

• A bouncer is a lightweight, low-to-the-ground seat designed for playtime, powered by your baby's own movement or your own foot or hand, and sometimes there are additional battery-operated vibrations. Bouncers are mostly designed to be springy when your baby kicks their legs or moves their arms. A baby bouncer is super handy when you need to set your baby down. Bouncers are usually more portable than swings and take up less space, but most do not offer the soothing motion of an infant swing.

• A swing is a seat that moves your little one back and forth or from side to side. Infant swings are usually operated electronically — many plug into an outlet — and come fitted with more features, such as soothing sounds and adjustable speeds. Swings are heftier and harder to move than bouncers, but some babies are much calmer and less cranky when they can ride in a swing.•

Both a bouncer and a swing can be used right from birth until your baby is ready to pull to a stand, generally the 9-month mark, though some bouncer seats and even some swings transition into toddler seats.

Our experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute test baby gear both in the Lab and in consumer homes.

Chief Technologist & Executive Technical Director Rachel Rothman leads many of our baby gear reviews. In addition to being a 15-year veteran of the GH Institute and managing the research division, she's the mother of three kids, ages 6 and younger. She helps families make key purchases, such as the best cribs for babies and toddlers and the best thermostats.

Our latest update to this story was written by journalist and mom of two Jessica Hartshorn, a contributing writer for the Good Housekeeping Institute and former editor at American Baby and Parents magazines. She enjoys writing about baby gear, including the best jumpers and the best bassinets.