The Best Bouncers and Swings to Get Your Little Passenger to Chill

Babybjörn has been making baby bouncers since 1960, way before they launched their well-known baby carriers, and they have definitely perfected the product in that time. Their lightweight bouncer clocks in at seven pounds and folds flat, making it easy to move around the house and take on the go. When it’s unfolded, it has three recline levels—one for newborns, one for babies who can hold up their own head and one for babies who can sit on their own.

The Babybjörn was the top-ranked bouncer in the Babylist annual product survey. “I've used it with both my kiddos now and it is the perfect item to take around the house and have baby in every room,” said a Babylist parent. And after your baby outgrows the bouncer, it can be converted into a little chair your child can use until they hit 20 pounds.

“When I was building my first baby registry, a few mom friends told me this bouncer was a must-have. It looked so simple—and it was pretty pricey—so I wasn’t sold,” says LaBracio. “Turns out my friends were right. I used this bouncer with both of my boys and it was hands-down one of my favorite baby products. It’s supportive, even for newborns, and so easy to move around your home. I can’t imagine the newborn days without it.”

Since the seat’s bounce motion is triggered by baby’s movements, you’ll need to manually bounce this until your little one is big enough to start kicking. It’s also pricey, and the toy bar isn’t included. But since it can be used into toddlerhood (until your child hits 20 pounds), it’s a bit easier to justify the higher cost.

Additional Specs

• Child Guidelines: As a bouncer, birth to when baby sits up unassisted; as a chair, up to 2 yrs or 20 lbs

• Plugs or Batteries: None; uses baby's movements

With a similar aesthetic to the Babybjörn bouncer at a fraction of the cost, this bouncer is definitely worth a look. It has all the features we love: three recline positions, easy portability (it folds flat and weighs just over four pounds), a comfy, washable seat and a toy bar included. The simple, neutral design is also a big plus for lots of parents. “It has been our baby's favorite place besides our arms,” said a parent from Babylist’s survey.

The main downside is that it is not quite as bouncy as higher-priced options. It also doesn’t have an adjustable harness, which may leave too much room for a smaller baby. And unlike other similar bouncers, this one doesn’t come ready to go out of the box; it has to be assembled. Parents also complain that the toy bar doesn’t attach securely and that the organic fabric option doesn’t have organic fabric in the part where the baby sits (which is polyester mesh).

If you're looking for another budget-friendly bouncer, check out the Bright Starts Playful Pinwheel Bouncer. It's around $30 and I used it with my last baby—it was a simple option for when I needed two hands to cook and a soft place to put the baby in sight.

Additional Specs

• Child Guidelines: Birth to 6 mos or up to 20 lbs

• Plugs or Batteries: None; uses baby’s movements

Well known (and loved) for their ergonomic baby carriers, parent-favorite brand Ergobaby’s first baby bouncer is thoughtfully designed, stylishly modern and may stay in use longer than other bouncers on our best-of list. “It’s the only way I can put my baby down!” said a parent in the Babylist survey.

The ergonomically designed newborn insert makes the Evolve suitable for infants starting at five and a half pounds. The insert pops out as baby grows, at which point you can use the seat in one of three different recline positions and then as a seat until your little one hits the toddler years, up to 29 pounds. The adjustable harness helps keep the baby in securely. And the bouncer folds completely flat for easy transport and storage.

The Evolve is similar to the Babybjörn Bouncer Balance Soft in that it’s powered by your baby’s kicks; however, it does have a larger footprint, something to keep in mind if space is an issue for you.

Additional Specs

• Child Guidelines: As a bouncer, birth to when baby sits up unassisted; as a chair, up to 3 yrs or 29 lbs

• Plugs or Batteries: None; uses baby’s movements

This stylish bouncer has more going for it than just its good looks. It’s actually a bouncer and a rocker rolled into one, offering two different ways to soothe and entertain your little one depending on which motion they like best. “It was so durable and was able to use it for longer than I would have if it was a traditional bouncer,” a Babylist parent told us.

There are three different recline positions and a newborn inlay for extra support. And speaking of support—parents love how sturdy this bouncer is. They also love that it folds completely flat so it’s easy to carry or tuck away when not in use. Many said it was the perfect substitute for an extra set of hands around the house, especially during the newborn days.

“I’ve done my research…with every newborn/baby purchase I made, despite unknowingly becoming a mom overnight after unexpectedly adopting a newborn,” one parent said. “Amongst the sleepless nights, in between feedings, in those early days I found this gem. And as a single mom it helped me to get feedings in for my son, showers in for myself, a soothing rock when he was fussy…and sometimes just a safe place to set him if when I needed my hands free."

Keep in mind that the Kori isn’t the bounciest of bouncers and has difficulty rocking on rugs and carpets, especially if they’re plush.

Additional Specs

• Child Guidelines: Birth to 9 mos

• Plugs or Batteries: None; uses baby’s movements

This parent (and baby) favorite swing just got a smart, stylish update thanks to another much-loved brand, UPPAbaby. The new and improved UPPAbaby Mamaroo holds onto its beloved claim to fame: it moves like you do, mimicking natural rhythms and movements (like bouncing up and down or side-to-side) to help calm even the fussiest of babies. The five motions, five speeds and four sounds can be tailored to your baby’s preferences for a custom mix-and-match motion, and you can control everything via an app. There are also smart home features like Bluetooth and voice control compatibility with Amazon Alexa and Google Home. Upgrades include a sleek new design and a newborn insert that now comes with the swing—no need to purchase it separately.

It's worth a call-out that parent reviews of the Mamaroo can be quite mixed. It’s not uncommon to read an incredible rave (“The Mamaroo is hands down the best product we purchased,” said one parent in our annual survey) followed by a not-so-great review (“Our kid just hated it and it’s not worth the noise [or] floor space,” said another). We’ve had a similar experience. My own kids didn’t like the Mamaroo (but I never found a swing that they *did* like), while LaBracio said it was one of the few things that calmed her first son down, even when he was extra fussy. It’s a good reminder that babies can have their own individual—and strong!—reactions to things, so don’t stock up on too many swings or bouncers before you know how your little one will respond.

The Mamaroo is also on the pricier side. And it’s heavy—moving it from room to room won’t be as easy as other swings or bouncers.

Additional Specs

• Child Guidelines: Birth until 25 lbs (approximately 9 mos) or attempts to climb out, whichever comes first

• Plugs or Batteries: Plugs in

From smart cribs to smart nurseries, baby tech that can sense your little one's cries and respond accordingly is becoming more common—and more popular among parents. The SmartSense Soothing Swing is Graco's answer to the smart baby swing. It uses cry detection technology to sense when your baby is fussing and responds instantaneously with a custom combination of calming motion, gentle vibration and sounds. Like the Mamaroo, there are four parent-inspired motions (swing, rock, cradle and glide), but it takes things one step further, pairing these motions with custom combinations of speed, music, white noise and vibration. And if whatever it's doing doesn't do the trick, it auto-adjusts, learning along the way.

If you need a portable swing, skip the SmartSense; it's one of the heaviest on our list, weighing over 17 pounds. Some parents also experience a clicking noise in the motor after extensive use and a slight lag between when baby starts crying and when the auto-response tech kicks in, but that wasn't the case in our experience. And the swing does take a bit of time to assemble.

Additional Specs

• Child Guidelines: Birth to 25 lbs; stop using product when baby attempts to climb out (approximately 9 mos) or reaches 25 lbs

• Plugs or Batteries: Plugs in

If you like the idea of the mamaRoo but don’t quite have the space, you’ll want to give this lower profile, foldable option from Munchkin a serious look. “I needed a safe spot on the second floor of our house to put my second son during the newborn days, but I didn’t want anything big or bulky,” says LaBracio. “The Munchkin swing was the perfect option. It was sleek and small and my son loved the gentle rocking motion.”

This streamlined swing rocks side-to-side. It has a compact silhouette and easily comes apart into two parts so you can store it flat or take it on the go, and it’s not too heavy—just 10 pounds. There’s a remote to control everything wirelessly and the system connects to your phone so you can stream your own music if you don’t want the music or sounds that are already built in.

One complaint is that this swing doesn’t have much velocity—its side-to-side glide is rather gentle. For some babies, that totally works, but others like a little bit more oomph.

Additional Specs

• Child Guidelines: For babies 5-20 lbs who cannot sit up or climb out of swing unassisted

• Plugs or Batteries: Plugs in

This simple swing is a registry favorite and a budget-friendly pick. Parents love the neutral aesthetic, something you often don't find in more affordable swing options. The swing features six swing speeds, eight melodies, and three nature sounds, and the seat rotates 180 degrees and swings in three directions so you can find the perfect combination to soothe your baby. There are also two recline angles. The wooden toy bar and two interactive toys are removable, and the motor is fairly quiet.

One downside is the swing's weight. Although it's fairly compact for a traditional baby swing, it does weigh about 15 pounds, so keep that in mind if you think you'll be moving the swing around your home often. Some parents also note that the motor stopped working after frequent use, but that's not the case for all families.

Additional Specs

• Child Guidelines: 0-9 mos or up to 20 lbs

• Plugs or Batteries: USB cord

Not only is the Maxi-Cosi Cassia a particularly good-looking swing, it’s one of the quietest we tried, and one of the few that can use a power cord or batteries, which is handy for keeping your baby close as you get things done around the house. It’s also lightweight—about 10 pounds—so it’s easy to move. It features a side-to-side gliding motion with five speeds, 12 songs and nature sounds, two recline positions, and automatic motion detection that rocks gently when it senses that your baby is getting restless.

Like most swings, it’s tough to know if your baby will love it or not. “Swings in general are hit or miss with babies and we only used it a few times and our baby did not enjoy the Cassia,” a parent reported on the Babylist survey. Many parents also commented about the price, wishing it was a bit less expensive.

Additional Specs

• Child Guidelines: Birth to 20 lbs

• Plugs or Batteries: Plugs in or can use with batteries