Are you looking for a baby swing or bouncer to keep your infant soothed during the day? Unsurprisingly, our babies love to be rocked and bounced for comfort. In the womb, they could be rocked around all day whenever you’d move or walk around. However, it’s unrealistic to assume you’ll be able to bounce them around all day after they’re born.
Yes, you can use a baby carrier or wrap, but sometimes, your back and body will need a break. That’s where having a soothing baby swing or bouncer comes in handy. Today, we’re sharing our favorite Baby Swings and Bouncers Chick Picks to help you find the best one!
What is a Baby Swing?
A baby swing is a baby gear item meant to soothe and comfort babies. They’re often powered by a motor that powers the swing to move front to back, side to side, and sometimes it can vibrate too! Baby swings are fantastic when you need a few minutes to get some hands-free tasks done around the house while your baby remains safe and comfortable in their swing. With baby swings and baby bouncers, you should never leave your baby unattended or alone as a safety precaution.
What is a Baby Bouncer?
On the other hand, a baby bouncer is not powered by a motor. Instead, its soothing movements come from the motion created by your baby. It’s typically built on a wireframe that allows the bouncer to bobble up and down whenever the baby moves or jolts. A baby bouncer could be a great choice if you are limited on space.
When Can Baby Use a Baby Swing/Bouncer?
Many baby swings are designed to be used as early as the newborn stage. However, each swing has its own weight and age limits, so you will want to ensure you thoroughly read over them. In addition, following safe sleep guidelines when using baby gear (such as keeping your infant in a flat reclined position) is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. They also do NOT recommend letting your baby sleep in a baby swing or baby bouncer.
Why are these Baby Swings and Baby Bouncers our Favorite?
Having helped parents as a baby planner and doula over the past ten years, I’ve seen and tested many baby products. I know which ones work, which ones are popular with parents, and which ones newborns love. I have also consulted with other parents, doulas, and midwives about their favorite baby swings and baby bouncers, and these are the ones that have made it on our list.
The Baby Swings & Bouncers for Baby
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If you need a baby swing on a compact frame, the Graco Simple Sway is the way to go. It features a 5-point harness, six side-to-side swing speeds, and fifteen songs/sounds. The padding isn’t the best on this swing for young babies; however, you can purchase inserts separately if you find you need better head support for them.
This is an affordable swing that gets the job done. It does so without taking up too much space in the home, which is one of its best features. Plus, there are even more reasons we love this baby swing:
Why We Love It:
- 5-point safety harness
- Six side-to-side swing speeds
- Small frame design to fit anywhere in the home
- 2-speed vibration for comfort
- 15 soothing songs and sounds
- Plug-in and battery option
Parent’s Thoughts:
Though many parents love this baby swing, some reported “a loud clicking noise when they turned on this swing. It sounds like something is about to break.” It’s something to be mindful of. On a more positive note, parents LOVE that this swing is compact enough to fit just about anywhere in their home. Not to mention, save some money by not purchasing batteries every few weeks.
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You will love this baby swing if techy baby gear gets you excited. Believe it or not, this swing was created to soothe your baby just as you would by bouncing up and down and swaying side to side. It has five unique motions and 5-speed options that make 25 different combinations. This baby swing also has built-in sounds (like many other swings do), but it takes the cake with its ability to connect to any MP3 device.
Another feature moms love is that you can control the swing via Bluetooth! That means if your little one is resting cozy, you don’t need to disturb their peace by adjusting knobs or buttons — just update through your phone, and you’re good to go! (The 4moms app for iOS is compatible with all Apple devices newer than the iPhone 4s running iOS 9 or newer. The native Android app is compatible with most Android devices that support Bluetooth Low Energy and devices that are running Android 4.3 or newer.) Lastly, the toys on this swing have high contrast and interactive designs making them perfect for young babies and their brain development.
Why We Love It:
- 3-point safety belt
- It has five motion and speed options
- It contains four built-in sounds + capable of connecting with MP3 devices
- Bluetooth-enabled control through your smart device
- Adjustable seat recline
- Toy mobile with interactive, reversible toy balls that include a rattle, mirror, and crinkle ball
Parent’s Thoughts:
Parents love the 4moms mamaRoo. What else can we say? “It was so easy to assemble, and my baby loves this swing more than her crib! I love that I can control it from my phone. The best baby item I own,” says one ecstatic mom. And we have to agree, the features 4moms has built into the mamaRoo are pretty amazing.
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As a mom who has personally owned and used this dual swing/rocker by Graco, I have to say I love it. You get a two-in-one swing or rocker for under $200! The seat isn’t adjustable to recline, but your little one will have head support while enjoying some soothing swing or rocker motions for comfort.
Because the swing can easily convert into a rocker with its one-handed maneuver, you can carry the rocker portion anywhere you need. This makes it super easy. Let’s say you’re folding laundry in your laundry room and then need to head over to the kitchen to start dinner — simply grab your rocker by the handle and bring them along (kind of like a car seat).
It has six speeds and three swing directions to choose from in swing mode. The seat also features two-speed vibration, a non-spinning mobile, and a 5-point harness to keep your little one safe & secure.
Why We Love It:
- 5-point safety harness
- 6-speed swing that doubles as a portable rocker
- Option to plug-in or use batteries
- Ten melodies and five soothing sounds for baby
Parent’s Thoughts:
Like myself, many parents love this swing’s removable/portable rocker feature. “It can be a little time-consuming to put together but totally worth it,” says one mom. Another parent wrote, “this swing takes the cake of all baby swings. It’s affordable, swing, and it rocks (literally).”
The Tot
If you want a more minimalist style bouncer, look no more! This bouncer is all about its sleek, cool design; honestly, we can’t get enough of it! The bouncer initially gained some traction when the Fixer Upper star, Joanna Gaines, posted a photo of her newborn son, Crew, swaddled in this beautiful baby bouncer. Trust us, this bouncer rocks some serious Scandinavian style, but it’s not just the style we love.
Thanks to its detachable machine washable fabric, this bouncer is easy to clean. And all it takes is a gentle rock from your hand or foot to gently soothe your baby into a calm state. Here are a few more features we love!
Why We Love It:
- 3-point safety harness
- Made from multi-ply European Beech with baby-safe paint
- Detachable fabric for easy washing
- Suitable for babies up to approximately seven months old
- BPA+BPS free
Parent’s Thoughts:
It’s no surprise that this bouncer is luxurious. Its hand craftsmanship beats many of the other swings on this list. However, its functionality remains pretty basic. One mom mentioned, “I wish this swing would swing on its own for the price point, but it’s lovely to look at, and my baby doesn’t seem to mind.”
It can be hard to weigh the pros and cons between these baby swings and baby rockers. However, be sure you’re realistic with your budget, household space, and useability when picking the best one for your family. Is there a baby swing or rocker you love and would like to see on our list?
This article contains affiliate links. These opinions are our own. However, if you buy something, we may earn a small commission, which helps us keep our content free to our readers. Check out our Chick Picks Shop to see more of our recommended products. It’s our carefully curated shop of products we love and recommend! ❤️
