Top pick
Handy features—like an auto shutoff and a motor that defaults to the last setting used—set this swing apart from the competition. It also sits higher off the floor than the other models we tested.
The Graco Glider LX Gliding Swing offers soothing motion and vibration, a toy bar, music, and other sounds while also keeping a low profile, compared with several other models we tested. This model’s functionality and its relatively compact size make it more attractive than many of the other swings we looked at; it’s also one of the best values.
On the con side, there are dozens of customer reviews that report its motor failing over time. We didn’t observe issues with the motor during testing; as we’ve noted, motors are a weak point among all swings, even the most popular and more expensive options.
Its convenient functionality sets it apart from the competition. The Glider LX has six speeds—the maximum number we saw on the models we tested. And there’s a button for each one, so you don’t have to cycle through the levels when switching speeds. When you turn it on, the swing automatically starts on the last speed setting; this is a plus, since most babies grow to enjoy a specific motion setting. You can also use a timer button to shut off the music, sounds, and/or swinging after 10, 20, or 30 minutes.
As with all five of the Graco models we researched, the Glider LX has battery-powered vibration in the seat, with two levels that operate independently from the rest of the swing. You can also select one of 10 classical music melodies or five nature-inspired sounds, allow the swing to play through all of the sounds, or run the swing without any sounds at all.
It offers two recline positions. Graco recommends keeping babies in the most-reclined position (near horizontal) until they’re 4 months old and can hold up their head without assistance. Older babies with head and neck strength may enjoy the more-upright angle. During testing, our babies enjoyed batting at the small stuffed bears on the toy bar (though we found its construction flimsy).
Its glider-inspired design is easy to maneuver. The short-and-squat Glider LX moves back and forth like a mini glider chair, and it doesn’t extend much beyond its frame when in motion. The swing’s open design allows you to place your baby inside without having to dodge the frame or mobile, as you must do with our runner-up pick.
The seat also sits higher off the ground than the other models we looked at. And the control panel is located on the side of the seat, so you don’t have to bend over as far as you do with competitor models, including our upgrade pick, to put your baby in or get them out or to change settings.
The Glider LX weighs just shy of 18 pounds, and it’s among the more-compact models we tested, measuring 28 inches by 24½ inches at the base and 27 inches high without the toy bar. By comparison, our runner-up pick, a traditional swing, weighs 31 pounds and is 31½ inches wide and 40¼ inches tall. The Glider LX is relatively easy to move around to various rooms.
It fits a range of babies at various developmental stages. Along with our runner-up pick, this swing has one of the highest weight limits of the swings we tested. It’s designed for babies as small as 5½ pounds and as large as 30 pounds, or until they attempt to crawl out of the swing—whatever comes first. By comparison, our upgrade pick maxes out at 25 pounds, and some other swings cut off at 20 pounds.
The five-point harness holds babies securely, and the seat’s extra cushions offer support to infants who need it. The shoulder straps on the harness can also be moved up to accommodate babies as they grow. The swing’s frame stays firmly in place on carpet and wood surfaces, though the manual notes the device will swing higher on wood floors.
It runs on batteries or AC. To run the swing exclusively off battery power, you need four D batteries. Alternatively, you can plug the swing into the wall. Either way, you need an additional D battery to power the vibrating seat. It took us 30 minutes to assemble this swing. The motor is relatively quiet, with a humming sound that registered about eight decibels louder than the noise level of the room where we tested it on its highest speed.
You can launder the swing’s seat cover in the washing machine using cold water on a gentle cycle, but you must let it air-dry.
The swing is covered by a one-year warranty.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
It moves forward and backward only. If you know your baby prefers another motion (like side to side, for instance), consider our runner-up or upgrade picks. The manual notes that “a small, quiet baby will swing higher on each setting than a larger, more active baby,” and some Amazon reviewers complain that as a baby gets heavier, the swing doesn’t work as well. If you have a larger infant who likes more-vigorous swinging, you may want to try our runner-up pick, which has a pendulum-like movement that picks up momentum as it sways.
Dozens of customers report the motor failing over time. In some cases, customers purchased or were sent a replacement model from Graco that also failed. We didn’t observe these issues.
