Best Bouncers and Swings of 2021
Although your baby may disagree, it’s not practical to think you’ll be able to hold your newborn all day long. At some point you’ll need a shower, a meal or just a quick break.
That’s where bouncers and swings come in. Parents love them for providing a safe place for baby to play or relax while they get other things done, and babies love them because they’re comfy and soothing. Most parents choose to add a bouncer or a swing to their baby registry—and are really happy they did.
What’s the Difference Between a Bouncer and a Swing?
A bouncer is usually lightweight and low to the ground. It’s powered by baby’s own movements or by giving it a quick nudge with your hand or foot. Bouncers tend to be fairly compact—some even fold flat for easy storage—and range in price but are often quite affordable.
Swings tend to be heavier and larger than bouncers and are mechanically powered. A swing rocks your baby back and forth, side to side or a combination of both in some cases. Many have other features like sounds and vibrations. Swings range from affordable to fairly pricey.
Do You Need a Bouncer or Swing?
Bouncers and swings are not must-have baby items. But for most parents, they like the idea of a portable piece of baby gear that offers a safe place for baby when they need to get something else done. Bouncers and swings can also be great for soothing fussy newborns.
Keep in mind: When used properly and under supervision, a swing, bouncer or rocker is a safe space for baby—but, per the American Academy of Pediatrics, these products are not approved for safe sleep. While some of these products have the word “sleep” in the name or have photos of babies sleeping on the packaging, it’s important to always follow safe sleep guidelines for your baby.
When Do You Need a Bouncer or Swing?
Bouncers and swings are generally made for the pre-sitting set. They’re best for newborns and babies up to about six months old or until they can sit up on their own. Be sure to check the age and weight recommendations on the particular swing or bouncer you’re using to ensure it’s still okay for your baby to use as they grow.
Best Baby Swing
What Our Experts Say
Even the fussiest baby is no match for this versatile swing from Fisher-Price. The Cradle ‘n Swing is all about options, and that’s exactly why we love it so much. There are multiple swinging options (baby can sway from side to side or head to toe) and six speeds, an overhead mobile that turns on its own and a mirrored dome to catch baby’s eye, 16 nature sounds and music and an adjustable seat recline.
What’s Worth Considering
This swing has a pretty large footprint, so it’s probably not the best choice if you’re short on space. Some parents also complain that the motor can be loud.
Additional Specs
| Child Guidelines | Birth to nine months |
| Plugs or Batteries | Plugs in |
Best Baby Bouncer
What Our Experts Say
An enduring parent + baby favorite, this lightweight bouncer clocks in at seven pounds and folds flat, making it a breeze to move around the house and take on the go. When it’s unfolded, it still doesn’t take up too much space—perfect for those living in smaller quarters. The bonus? After your child outgrows the bouncer, it can be converted into a chair.
What’s Worth Considering
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, but since it can be used well into toddlerhood, 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 years old |
| Plugs or Batteries | Uses baby’s movements to bounce (no batteries required) |
| Additional Items | Optional toy bar that many parents love ($59.95) |
Best Affordable Baby Swing
What Our Experts Say
You don’t have to spend a ton—or sacrifice features—for a baby swing that’s great at soothing your little one. Graco’s Simple Sway is a Babylist parent fave thanks to its compact frame, six sway speeds and a price that comes in a lot lower than many similar baby swings. What else is there to love? The Simple Sway has a deep, comfy seat, 15 sound options and two vibration settings. It’s a great option if you’re looking for a portable swing at an affordable price.
What’s Worth Considering
This swing only features side-to-side motion, so if your little one isn’t a fan, you’re out of luck. Some parents also find the deep seat isn’t ideal for newborns.
Additional Specs
| Child Guidelines | Infants between 5.5-30 lbs |
| Plugs or Batteries | Plugs in |
Best Affordable Baby Bouncer
What Our Experts Say
This bouncer from Fisher-Price is simple, straightforward and super affordable, a winning combination. It’s also well-loved by parents and babies alike. The cozy seat relies on baby’s natural movements to bounce it up and down. There’s a vibration feature and a removable toy bar with three spinning toys to encourage reaching and grabbing. The seat pad is machine-washable and the bouncer features no-skid feet to keep it securely in place.
What’s Worth Considering
While this bouncer is really light and portable (it weighs in at about six pounds), it doesn’t fold flat, so it’s not the best choice for travel or if you’re tight on space and need to store it in a tight spot when it’s not in use.
Additional Specs
| Child Guidelines | Birth to five months; max. child weight 20 lbs |
| Plugs or Batteries | Requires one D battery, not included |
High-Tech, High Style
What Our Experts Say
Sure, it has futuristic good looks, but the mamaRoo is more than a mod piece of baby gear. It has five fluid motions based on how parents move when soothing babies, including bouncing up and down and swaying side to side. Plus, this bouncer comes with a built-in white noise machine and can connect to any MP3 device to play your own tunes.
What’s Worth Considering
The mamaRoo is a great high-tech pick, but it’s also on the pricier side and pretty heavy. Moving it from room to room won’t be as easy as other swings or bouncers. Note: 4moms does offer a less expensive and smaller swing: the rockaRoo.
Additional Specs
| Child Guidelines | Birth to 25 lbs or when baby can sit up unassisted |
| Plugs or Batteries | Plugs in, no batteries needed |
| Additional Items | Optional infant insert to give newborns additional comfort and support ($29.99) |
Best-Looking Bouncer
What Our Experts Say
This gorgeous bouncer looks more like modern furniture than baby gear. It comes in soft neutrals and has a sleek design meant to fit in with your decor for years to come. (Which is perfect since it can be used from birth all the way up to 130 pounds.) The sling-like design has a mesh seat for bigger kids and comes with a plush infant insert made from organic cotton to keep newborns carefully cradled. It’s powered by a gentle nudge that starts the swaying—no cords or batteries required—and will stay in motion for about two minutes before you need to touch it again.
What’s Worth Considering
This bouncer’s swaying motion only lasts for a limited amount of time, so if your baby craves continual movement then this probably isn’t the best option. It’s also one of the most expensive seats on our list.
Additional Specs
| Child Guidelines | Birth to 130 lbs |
| Plugs or Batteries | No batteries or plugs required |
Best Swing-Bouncer Combo
What Our Experts Say
Can’t choose between a swing or a bouncer? You don’t have to, because the Graco Duet Soothe is both. As a swing it provides three ways for baby to sway and lots of music and nature sound choices. Easily remove the cradle seat from the swing apparatus and it becomes a bouncer (rocker) you can move around to other rooms.
What’s Worth Considering
The Soothe’s motor can be noisy. The Duet also has a large footprint, so skip it if you’re looking to save space or if you need an easily portable swing/bouncer option.
Additional Specs
| Child Guidelines | Birth to 30 lbs |
| Plugs or Batteries | Plugs in or can use with batteries |
Best Modern Swing
What Our Experts Say
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. Sleek and smart, this high-tech swing rocks side to side and recreates the swaying motion of a parent’s arms. It has a compact silhouette and easily comes apart into two parts so you can store it flat or take it along on the go. There’s a remote to control everything wirelessly and the system connects right to your phone so you can stream your own music if you don’t want the music or sounds that are already built in.
What’s Worth Considering
Unlike similar swings, the portability here is key—because it disassembles easily, it’s ideal for travel or for moving from room to room. Parents also rave about the super smooth rocking motion and that it blends right into their existing decor.
Additional Specs
| Child Guidelines | For babies 5-20 lbs who cannot sit up or climb out of swing unassisted |
| Plugs or Batteries | Plugs in |
Best Bouncer-Rocker Combo
What Our Experts Say
This bouncer + rocker gives you all the standard features of a bouncer—a removable toy bar, vibration and two recline positions—and when your baby gets bigger, it can still be used as a toddler rocker. (All for under fifty bucks, which is a pretty great deal.) There’s a fold-out kickstand to help the seat stay still and a three-position reclining seat back. It also folds easily for storage or travel.
What’s Worth Considering
Some parents expressed concern about the lack of support for newborns in this hammock-style seat. Also, there’s no timer on the vibration so it’ll vibrate as long as it’s switched on.
Additional Specs
| Child Guidelines | Birth to 40 lbs or when baby can sit up unassisted |
| Plugs or Batteries | Requires batteries |
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