Best Baby Bouncers and Swings of 2023
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 baby 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 baby bouncer or a swing to their baby registry—and are really happy they did.
What’s the Difference Between a Baby Bouncer and a Swing?
A baby 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 baby 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 Baby Bouncer or Swing?
Baby 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 a fussy baby.
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 Baby Bouncer or Swing?
Baby 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 recommendation and weight limit on the particular swing or bouncer you’re using to ensure it’s still okay for your baby to use as they grow.
What Is Best, a Baby Bouncer or a Swing?
If you’re pitting a baby bouncer against a swing, one isn’t necessarily “better” than the other; it’s more about what works best for your family and your baby.
The biggest pros of baby bouncers are that they’re lightweight, easily portable and have a small footprint. There are no plugs or batteries to worry about and are ideal for storage and travel. They do, however, require manual movement either from you or your baby.
Swings provide constant motion, which is a big pro for lots of babies. They can be great for soothing your little one when they’re fussy. (Which can be pretty often in those early weeks.) But they require a plug to power up and tend to be on the larger, bulkier side.
You may want to start by adding either a baby bouncer or a swing to your registry, not both. You can then test things out once your baby arrives and go from there.
How To Choose the Best Baby Bouncer or Swing
Here are a few things to think about when you’re deciding on a baby bouncer or a swing:
- Portability and storage. How heavy is it? Can you easily move it from room to room if you’d like? What about storage—does it fold flat?
- Seat incline. If there’s an adjustable seat, you might be able to use your bouncer or swing longer.
- Sound and motion. More features to entertain baby might mean less fussiness.
- Ease of cleaning. A machine-washable cover is your friend. Style. Are bright colors your jam or are you more into a neutral aesthetic?
How We Chose Our Best Baby Bouncers and Swings
- We analyzed results from Babylist’s Best Baby Products survey, which polled almost 3,000 Babylist users and asked them to share the baby products they love the most and why.
- We utilized insight from the Babylist editorial team, including Gear Editor Jen LaBracio, an expert in the baby space for over six years and a mom of two who has written hundreds of baby gear guides and personally researched and tested hundreds of baby products, including many baby bouncers and swings.
- We reviewed customer reviews from hundreds of real Babylist parents.
Best Baby Bouncer Seat
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.
Looking for a more unique color? Check out Babylist’s exclusive Sage edition.
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 | None; uses baby’s movements |
Best Baby Swing for Newborns
What Our Experts Say
Sure, it has futuristic good looks, but the mamaRoo—in a Babylist-exclusive color you’ll only find here— 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, making it ideal for even the youngest of babies who are used to lots of motion in the womb. The movements can be tailored to your baby’s preferences for a custom mix and match motion—there’s even an app to help you figure out which motions mimic your own the most. There are also smart home features like Bluetooth and voice control compatibility with Amazon Alexa and Google Home.
What’s Worth Considering
The mamaRoo is a great high-tech pick, but it’s 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 months) or attempts to climb out, whichever comes first |
| Plugs or Batteries | Plugs in |
Best Baby Swing
What Our Experts Say
If you’re in the market for a simple yet soothing swing with lots of features and a mid-range price point, Graco’s Simple Sway is a Babylist parent fave. It features a 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.
What’s Worth Considering
This swing only features side-to-side motion. It’s not a big deal for most babies, but 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.
If you’re willing to spend a little more for more options, check out the Graco Simple Sway LX model. It offers a multi-directional seat that allows baby to swing facing right, front or left, as well as front-to-back and side-to-side swinging motions.
Additional Specs
| Child Guidelines | Infants between 5.5-30 lbs |
| Plugs or Batteries | Plugs in |
Best Affordable Baby Bouncer
What Our Experts Say
With a similar aesthetic to the Babybjorn bouncer at a fraction of the cost, this bouncer is definitely worth a look. It’s got all the features we love: several 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.
What’s Worth Considering
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.
Additional Specs
| Child Guidelines | Birth to 6 months or up to 20 lbs |
| Plugs or Batteries | None; uses baby’s movements |
Another Budget Baby Bouncer Pick
What Our Experts Say
This basic bouncer is another budget-friendly pick that gets the job done when your arms need a break. It’s super lightweight, vibrates and comes with a spinning toy bar. (The toy bar is removable if your baby doesn’t love it.) The seat has a small footprint so it’s ideal for smaller spaces and light enough to carry from room to room. And the fabric seat is machine washable for easy cleaning.
What’s Worth Considering
This bouncer doesn’t fold for storage; you’ll have to take it apart if you need to stow it away flat.
Additional Specs
| Child Guidelines | Birth to 6 months |
| Plugs or Batteries | Batteries |
Best Baby Swing for Small Spaces
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
The rocking motion on this swing is on the gentler side, so if your baby prefers a stronger swinging motion, this likely isn’t the swing for you.
For a similar swing at a slightly more affordable price point, check out the Jool Baby Nova Baby Swing. It’s about $50 less than the Munchkin swing and has similar functionality.
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 stylish bouncer has more going for it than just its good looks. It’s actually a bouncer + a rocker rolled into one, offering two different ways to soothe and entertain your little one depending on which motion they like best. 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.
What’s Worth Considering
Some parents report that the bouncing on the Kori isn’t very…bouncy.
Additional Specs
| Child Guidelines | Birth to 9 months |
| Plugs or Batteries | None; uses baby’s movements |
Best Bouncer for Newborns
What Our Experts Say
Well known (and loved) for their ergonomic baby carriers, parent-favorite brand Ergobaby’s first baby bouncer is thoughtfully designed, stylishly modern and can last you longer than other bouncers on our best-of list. The ergonomically designed newborn insert makes the Evolve suitable for infants starting around seven pounds. The insert pops out as baby grows, at which point you can use the seat in one of three different height positions and up until your little one hits the toddler years, up to 29 pounds. The seat was designed with guidance from a pediatric orthopedist and folds completely flat for easy transport.
What’s Worth Considering
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 | Birth to 29 lbs (approx. 3 yrs old) |
| Plugs or Batteries | None; uses baby’s movements |
Best Affordable Baby Swing
What Our Experts Say
This compact swing is a parent favorite and a budget-friendly pick. Although it’s marketed as a portable swing (which it is), it works just as well if you need a swing for your home that will mostly be staying in one place. It features five swing speeds, eight melodies and three nature sounds as well as a timer with auto shut-off and two hanging toys. The frame is pretty compact and foldable, and the seat fabric is washable.
What’s Worth Considering
There’s no ability to recline the seat on this swing. The smaller size means your baby may grow out of it faster than they would with other swings.
Additional Specs
| Child Guidelines | Birth to 9 months |
| Plugs or Batteries | Plugs in or can use with batteries |
Best Swing Rocker Combo
What Our Experts Say
Can’t choose between a swing or a bouncer? You don’t have to, because the Graco Sooth ‘n Sway is both. As a swing, it features a multi-directional seat (baby can face right, left or front), provides two ways to sway and a three-position recline along with vibration and an adjustable swing speed. Use the carry handles to quickly and easily remove the cradle seat from the swing’s base and it becomes a bouncer/rocker you can move around to other rooms.
What’s Worth Considering
The Soothe’s motor can be noisy.
Additional Specs
| Child Guidelines | Swing: 5.5-25 lbs; rocker: 5.5-18 lbs |
| Plugs or Batteries | Plugs in |
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