Before You Buy a Baby Swing

A baby swing is a wonderful way to soothe a fussy baby or hold an infant while mom or dad sneaks a quick shower. Before you buy a baby swing, check out this list of handy must-have features that will make your baby swing more useful for you and baby.
Stability & Safety First
Since baby's safety is your first priority, check all swings to be sure they have a wide base and will not tip over if baby leans to one direction. Next, check to see that the swing has a safety belt system. Just like in car seats, a 5-point harness system is safest in swings. The shoulder and hip straps reduce the chance that baby will slide out of the swing or successfully learn to climb out while mom isn't looking.
Battery Vs. Wind-Up
Whether you choose a battery-powered swing or a wind-up variety is a matter of personal choice. Of course, batteries don't last forever, so battery swings may add cost to the swing over time. However, battery swings eliminate the need to keep re-winding the swing at the risk of waking or upsetting the baby, and are more convenient to operate. Battery swings also tend to feature more speeds and music settings to meet baby's preferences.
Variable Speed & Sound
Some babies want to be rocked to sleep slowly, while colicky babies may like a more forceful rocking speed. For this reason, choose a baby swing that has several rocking speeds. Your baby may also have strong preferences on music, so look for swings that play music at different volumes and various musical styles, and that have the ability to operate with no music at all. Some babies just want peace and quiet!
Recline
Small babies will not be able to hold their head up or avoid slouching forward in an upright swing, so be sure your baby swing has at least two recline positions. One of the recline positions should be a newborn recline that allows baby to lay back far enough to avoid slouching. The recline feature is also handy when older babies fall asleep in the swing. For these instances, you'll want a recline feature that is smooth and easy to use while baby is in the swing's seat.
Open Top & Flip-Out Tray
A flip-out or fold-up tray is a must-have feature on a swing, so that a sleeping baby can be gently removed from the swing without trouble. These trays are also much more convenient for parents and lessen the chance of scraping baby's legs while trying to get them in or out of the swing. An open top swing makes it easier to lift baby out of the swing without the chance of hitting their head on the swing's upper bar.