baby swings

Choosing the best baby swing for your baby is a very important act.

A baby swing is a wonderful way to soothe a fussy baby or hold an infant while mom or dad can get things done while not having to hold the baby on one hip. Before you buy a baby swing, look at some of the must have features that will make your baby swing more useful for you and baby.

Baby’s safety is the top priority, so check all swings to be sure they have a wide base so they won’t tip over if baby manages to lean in one direction. Just like in car seats, a seat belt is necessary and a 3 to 5 point harness is best. Newborns are good at curling up and slipping around if you don’t have all the belts fastened.

Must Have Features for the Best Baby Swing

·         Stability: A wide base and low center of gravity so your swing won’t tip over if little one manages to lean too far in one direction.

·         Seat Belts: again, a must 3 to 5 point harness is best. For your baby swing just like in a car seat, newborns are good at sliding out. And we don’t want that.

·         Wind-ups are usually less expensive, but the winding mechanism is so noisy, Battery-operated baby swings are so much easier to operate and maintain also have different speeds and music settings for the baby’s mood. Sometimes the baby will like to be gently rocked and other times might like a bit more determined swing. I would advise getting a baby swing with at least a couple speeds.

·         Sounds: Your baby may have preferences for their music. If your baby swing plays music there are usually a few different songs it does play, make sure there are a volume control and also an off switch.

·         Open Top: An open top baby swing allows you to lift your baby out without bumping their head on an upper bar which some do have.

·         Flip-Out Tray: A flip out or fold up tray is another great feature. You can remove your baby gently with out scratching the baby’s legs or sides.

·         Toy Bars: Toy bars with mobiles, lights, sounds all offer ways to help your baby stay entertained while in their baby swing.

·         Portability: If being able to take the baby swing with you is important, look for a portable swing. Or ones that say they break down easily for travel. This was a very important feature to me.