[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] For starters, we only have a traditional swing (the kind that really only swings left to right) to compare this swing to. So we do like that there are multiple swing pattern options. We haven't found one that our baby likes more than the others, but it's nice to try different ones to soothe him. We like the removable rocker part so we can take it upstairs and have a safe place for him to relax in when we are in a different part of our house. The removable rocker is really smooth and it vibrates, which is definitely good for soothing newborns. I like that the mobile adjusts out of the way when you want to pick the baby up or maybe just watch the baby or entertain him - you don't have to remove the mobile completely and its super simple to adjust. The biggest different between this swing and our traditional swing is that this one has what I call a "bucket seat". My baby is basically swaddled in this seat because it is really deep. It might not be as deep if you use the infant insert, but it is still deeper than a traditional swing. My son was too chunky to use the insert by the time we tested this one out, but I think it would be really comfortable for a newborn. I think higher sides would help with startle reflexes. I also like that it doesn't take up as much floor space as a traditional swing. That makes it look more modern and fits in slimmer spaces. I think the power cord could be a little longer though. The music features are a nice addition and louder than the other swing's music feature. I will say that I think the gears/motor that makes the swing move is fairly loud. That might bug some parents, or even the baby - but I think most babies would like the motor noise and you wouldn't even need to put the music feature on. The two biggest (personal) cons I found for this swing -
1. It is very jerky!!! Like, surprisingly jerky!!! I thought maybe it would jerk for that initial direction movement and then be fluid movements for the rest, but no. Every time it changes a direction or goes up and down, it jerks. Not violently, but enough to potentially startle a sleeping baby until they get used to it. Compared to a traditional swing that just goes left and right and you can kind of start the swinging motion so it easily transitions into the motor swinging.. you can't do that here. I'm a little disappointed about the jerkyness of it, but I will say that it hasn't been a huge issue for the baby.
2. The highest speed is sort of slow. I mean, I don't want to catapult my baby out of the swing, but it's a deep seat with a 5 point harness so it could stand to go a little bit faster! I think my baby would enjoy it more if it went faster. Our traditional swing is usually at 3 but it goes up to 5 and I'd say we've never used level 5. This swing at it's fastest is close to the 2 on the traditional swing.
Other than that, the seat fabric washes easily, it was easy to put together, and I like it otherwise. Thanks to the Stellar Product Testing Panel for providing me with this swing.