Before having my little one, I had no idea there were so many different swings to choose from. Don’t they all just do the same thing? Does it really matter which one you get? How naive I was! After three different swings and a completely unimpressed newborn, I figured swings just weren’t for us. However, I received the Munchkin Vibration Baby Swing as a free sample, so I figured I might as well give it one more shot. When your baby still can’t sit on their own, it’s nice to have a place to set them down while you run to the bathroom after holding it in for hours. So the question is: Does my newborn love this swing?
Pros
- Bluetooth option lets you play your own music.
- Swing emulates natural sway from parents.
- Comfortable seating.
- Machine washable cover.
- No tools required to assemble.
Cons
- Base is awkwardly large.
- Mobile is extra.
- Only available in two colors.
Specifications
- Price: $229.99.
- Vibration modes: Three.
- Bluetooth: Yes.
- Colors: Two.
- Shipping: Free next-day.
- Power: AC adaptor included.
- Input: 100-240 VAC, 50/60 Hz, 0.2A.
- Output: 5VDC, 1A.
- Weight Limit: 5–20 lbs. (until child can sit up or climb out of the swing).
- Dimensions: 25.5 inches wide × 26 inches long × 17.25 inches high.
- Weight: 8.6 lbs.
Munchkin Vibration Baby Swing
Unboxing & First Impressions
Before we get into testing, let’s talk about unboxing. After miraculously getting my daughter settled in a bouncer seat, I cut open the box. Everything was packed neatly inside. My first impression was how slim the swing is when it’s folded up. I could immediately tell how easy it would be to store when not in use. Taking it out of the box, it came in two pieces, the base and the seat. Much to my surprise, there weren’t any screws or allen keys to deal with. There was also a manual and pads to put under the base legs to dampen the vibration sound on your floor.
Product Features
The features of the swing are what drew me to test it. I was looking for something with your typical options: Vibration, swinging, and sound. However, this swing has a few extra features that help it stand out from the overwhelming array of swings in the market:
Swaying Motion: The previous swings I tried with my daughter had the generic side-to-side sway you’d expect from a regular playground swing — the ones with the scoop at the bottom. However, the Munchkin Vibration Baby Swing has a side-to-side motion that emulates the way a parent would sway their child. It’s identical to the way I get her to sleep. There are five levels of swaying to choose from, with higher numbers indicating a wider sway.
Vibration: You can never go wrong with a bit of vibration when soothing a baby, and this swing has three options to choose from — low, medium, and wave.
Motion and Sound: You can create over 100 motion and sound combinations to find the perfect rhythm for your little one to enjoy.
Bluetooth: My favorite feature about this swing is the Bluetooth capabilities. As much as I like the sounds and songs available on the Munchkin, sometimes it’s nice to play a tried-and-true playlist that you know your baby will love to listen to.
Sound and Songs: There are 12 soothing songs to listen to, including classical pieces by Mozart and Bach.
Testing
Testing a baby swing with an infant who can’t even distinguish their limbs may prove to be a bit difficult, but I’m focusing on metrics from the parent’s perspective. I’ll be testing the swing’s overall performance, comfort, ease of use, and design.
Performance
I wanted to test several factors for the performance category. The first one I focused on was the swing motion. When using the swing with the baby inside, the motion was smooth, showing no signs of clunkiness. Even at different speed levels, it moved smoothly from side to side. Another thing I noted was the distinction between each speed level of the sway. Level five, which is the strongest one, still didn’t seem like it would fling my daughter off.
Next was the vibration setting. The swing features three vibration modes: Low, medium, and wave. The low vibration felt calming, like the low hum of a car running. It was also wicked quiet. The medium vibration was noticeably louder, but still not disruptive. The wave is exactly what it sounds like: It creates a “wave-like” vibration throughout the swing. It’s essentially a combination of low and medium tones with a smooth transition in between.
As for how my daughter liked them, well, she absolutely loved them. The sway of the swing mimicked my movement perfectly, and immediately calmed her. She typically doesn’t like vibration, but the feature on the swing is so smooth, she seemed to enjoy it.
The next feature I tested, and my personal favorite, was Bluetooth. I thought it would be one of those processes where you have to press a bunch of buttons to pair the swing with your phone, download an app, sacrifice a prized possession, etc. Much to my surprise, as soon as I turned on the swing, it appeared under my phone’s Bluetooth as Munchkin. Once connected, I could play music from my phone. I love how clear the volume was, as many of these types of products lack a decent speaker. There is an option to adjust the volume on the swing, but you can also turn it up even higher from your phone.
Lastly, I tested the built-in sounds and music available if you don’t want to use the Bluetooth option. The first sound I heard when I pressed the play button was a heartbeat. It sounded a bit nasally, but still something I could see my daughter enjoying. Next, I heard the sound of water, followed by two different types of bird sounds. After that, the music playing sounded pleasant and clear, but the specific sound got weirdly loud as the song progressed, so I started to worry it would wake her up. I found it incredibly inconvenient if I have to sit there and make sure it’s not blasting in her ears while she relaxes. Or worse, disturbs her.
Overall, I enjoyed all the features. However, I would probably stick with the Bluetooth option rather than the built-in music, as the varying volumes would be annoying.
Baby Comfort
Obviously, this is a very subjective test, and it’s not like I could ask my daughter if she thought the swing was comfortable. However, as a parent, I could definitely say that the seat itself did feel comfortable when I placed my hand on it and applied extra pressure. It felt supportive—I didn’t have to worry about my daughter’s head dropping down to her chest awkwardly. The padding was soft, and I could tell she enjoyed sitting on it compared to other swings.
I loved that the harness to strap her in has soft padding protecting her body from the rough strap. My daughter absolutely hates the material of most straps, and she had no problem with this swing. It was quite a pain to adjust the straps to fit her, though — it almost felt like they were stuck in place.
This swing is suitable for newborns and can go up to 20 pounds, or around nine months of age, accommodating growing babies.
Ease of Use
This test is where the swing really shines. With everything parents have to do, the last thing we need is a product that requires a ridiculous amount of assembly before we can put our baby on it for a few moments of peace. Well, the Munchkin swing was as easy as taking it out of the box, applying the stickers to the base to muffle the vibration on the floor, and snapping the swing into place. I plugged it in, and it was ready for use.
The controls on the screen are straightforward, with icons that clearly indicate what each does. You can see the level of the swing or vibration, the time elapsed, and there are buttons for power, volume, a timer, music, sway, and vibration.
The swing itself weighs just under nine pounds, which makes it easy to move around. However, the base is quite large, which made it awkward to pick up and move around. The swing is easy to store thanks to its two-piece design, which also allows it to fold flat.
Lastly, I appreciated that both the seat (with reversible pad) and head support are machine washable.
Design
The swing I owned before this one was about twice the size, featuring an incredibly large base. The Munchkin Swing is delightfully compact and lightweight, making it a breeze to move around the living room. I didn’t like how close it is to the ground compared to my other swing. I’m a new mom, and it still just feels weird to me for my baby to be so close to the floor. It also makes for more bending and crouching to get her, which could be bothersome for someone with mobility issues.
The swing’s design is modern and sleek. It looks futuristic, almost like the swing is floating. It would look stylish in most homes, unless your home decor is a bit more quaint. I have the gray swing, which I don’t particularly like, although that’s a personal preference — I’m tired of everything being gray! However, the swing is available in a beautiful sage green color if that’s more your style. I do wish it came in other color options, like cream or white.
Munchkin Vibration Baby Swing
Final Thoughts
I may not be a baby expert (yet!), but I have over a decade of experience testing products. I provide detailed testing for each product and report my unbiased findings. Even though I received the Munchkin Baby Swing as a free sample to test, my review is 100% my own opinion on the swing.
With that being said, I did enjoy the swing overall. It makes a great addition to the endless gear I have for my little one. I love that it’s significantly more compact than other swings I’ve tried, but I hate how low it is to the ground. The Bluetooth feature is what sold the product to me because let’s face it, the built-in music in baby products can be such a bore. I love being able to choose a specific playlist I know my baby loves.
The swing performed well in terms of swing motion and vibration, although the medium level of vibration was a bit louder than expected on our floor. I imagine it wouldn’t be as loud if you have carpeting.
I would recommend this swing to any parent looking for a more natural swaying motion, a sleek design, and Bluetooth to customize your baby’s experience.
