Definitely the coolest-looking baby swing on our list, and maybe even the most capable, comfortable, and fun! Another great touch is that the Cradle 'n swing includes a 5-point harness, which really helps keep your baby safe by preventing them from sitting up, leaning way forward, or otherwise freaking out their parents! Once triggered by crying, the system goes through a sequence of eight combinations of motion and sound until it detects the crying has stopped (at which point it just stays in the final setting). Note that you can actually rotate the seat to any 90-degree increment, which is nice to help orient your baby toward wherever the action is (or away from it! Being the lightest swing of its kind, Cassia is super-easy to take from room to room and its 360° seat rotation ensures that wherever you are in the room, you can always maintain eye contact with your baby.

The speed settings provide ample adjustment range for different babies, and the music options (rain, white noise, ocean, heartbeat) were great; you can also plug in an MP3 player to play the music of your choice! The baby swing does have some music options, including nature sounds and lullabies, which were fine, so it can swing infants but also keep them interested in the music while the swing is turned off. Just like a car seat, baby swings have weight and height limits, and recline positions should be set according to the guidance found in the owner's manual. When running on batteries and not plugged in, it burns through batteries very quickly (5-7 days of normal use); also, the wall plug cord isn't super long so you might consider an extension cord if you're not placing it near a wall or outlet. The swing takes four AA batteries or (for added convenience and cost-savings) it can be plugged into the wall with the included power adapter.The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)recommends baby swings to help parents soothe a fussy baby and provide a safe place for infants to relax and watch parents catch up on grown-up tasks. Speaking of batteries, it takes 4 "C" type batteries, and in our usage, they lasted about a month with daily use. Also somewhat unique is the Bluetooth feature, allowing you to use an app on your phone to play your (and hopefully your baby's! The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and recent scientific data suggest that: 1) infants under 4 months of age should only use the most reclined swing position, 2) parents should check swing safety to prevent tipping and folding, 3) shoulder straps should be used if the incline comes up more than 50 degrees, 4) toys on mobiles should be out of reach, 5) always check weight limits before placing a baby in a swing, 6) the seat should stay relatively flat during swinging to prevent tipping, and 7) if your baby falls asleep in the swing, you should move him or her to a firm sleeping surface (bassinet, crib). There are a few chief complaints from parents about the classic design: it's awkward getting baby in and out of the seat, the batteries are expensive, the motor gets loud over time, and it takes up a huge footprint in your home.

The Munchkin Swing also includes a small remote control so you don't need to crouch down and use the buttons on the swing to turn it on or off, change the swing intensity, or change the music. We loved the motion detection mode, which detects your baby's movement and reactivates the swinging - and it actually worked pretty well (except for when our dog bumped up against it! It doesn't have any motion or other features in this mode, but it does rock nicely in response to your baby's movement (kicking, wiggling).But don't let the small size fool you, this baby swing is capable of most things that the larger ones are. Given how much time your little one will spend in a baby swing, it's important to ensure that it meets stringent standards for safety, comfort, and functionality. When you want to pop the seat off again for storage, simply push down on the small metal tab behind the control panel and lift up on the seat. The Cradle 'n Swing units are available in a bunch of different themes, some are super adorable and some more adventurous, such as the Sweet Snugapuppy, Sweet Snugabunny, Rainforest Friends, and Sweet Snugabear. The gliding motion is very similar to a parent cradling a baby and rocking back and forth, especially at slower speeds, which we appreciated.