REASONS TO BUY
Powerful
Sturdy
Longevity
REASONS TO AVOID
Lower-quality
Boxy footprint
Involved assembly
Graco Glider LX Swing Review
A stable but bulky baby swing with a strong glide motion
Credit: Manufacturer
RELATED: The Best Baby Swings
Our Verdict
The Graco Glider LX Swing is a sturdy baby swing with a soothing motion similar to rocking in a glider chair. With a usage range of 5 to 30 lbs. There's plenty of time for your baby to enjoy this swing. It's powered by an AC adapter or batteries and features options, such as melodies, nature sounds, overhead toys, and vibration to entertain your baby. We found its gliding motion to be smooth and strong, even as the speed increased. The seat is roomy and offers two reclining positions, but there wasn't much of a difference between the reclining positions. This product took some effort and time to assemble, and it's boxy in size and doesn't fold. Those with smaller spaces should note that this option takes up space. If you can overlook these false, the Graco Glider LX Swing is a contender to consider if you want a longer usage range.
Editor's Note: We updated this gear review on August 10, 2023, as we've added new products to the baby swing review, including this contender.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Graco Glider LX Swing | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Overall Best Baby Swing |  Best Budget-Friendly Baby Swing |  Best Baby Swing for Portability | ||
| Price | $150 List Check Price at Amazon | $180 List $139.99 at Amazon | $120 List $119.97 at Amazon | $100 List $99.99 at Amazon | $90 List $76.98 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | A powerful gliding swing with longevity | A big baby swing packed with exciting entertainment | A traditional baby swing with a more extended usage range | A space-saving baby swing ready for travel | A travel-friendly swing that's basic |
| Rating Categories | Graco Glider LX Swing | Ingenuity InLighten... | Graco Simple Sway S... | Ingenuity Portable... | Ingenuity Comfort 2... |
| Quality (35%) | |||||
| Entertainment (35%) | |||||
| Portability (20%) | |||||
| Assembly (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Graco Glider LX Swing | Ingenuity InLighten... | Graco Simple Sway S... | Ingenuity Portable... | Ingenuity Comfort 2... |
| Manufacturer Usage Range | 5 lbs - 30 lbs; or when infant attempts to climb out (approximately 9 mths) | 0-9 mths; maximum weight 20 lbs | 5.5 lbs - 30 lbs, or once your child attempts to climb out (approximately 9 mths), whichever comes first | 0-9 mths; 6 lbs - 20 lbs, or once your child can sit up unaided, whichever comes first | 0-9 mths |
| Weight | 18 lbs | 17.9 lbs | 17.2 lbs | 8 lbs | 7 lbs |
| Dimensions | 30.75"L x 25.5"W x 36.13"H | 31.89"L x 42.13"W x 40.94"H | 30"L x 31"W x 38"H | 22"L x 23.5"W x 23"H | 28.74"L x 22.64"W x 26.77"H |
| Harness | 5-point | 5-point | 5-point | 5-point | 5-point |
| Power Source | AC Adapter, Battery | USB Cord (wall adapter not included), Battery | AC Adapter or Batteries | USB Cord (wall adaptor not included), Battery | Battery |
| Number of Speed Settings | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 |
| Sounds | 10 classic melodies, 5 nature sounds | 20 melodies, nature sounds, white noise | 10 songs, 5 sounds | 8 melodies, 3 nature sounds | 12 melodies |
| Motion | Gliding motion | Side to side, front to back (depending on seat position) | Side to side | Front to back | Front to back |
| Fold | No | Yes, semi-fold | No | Yes | Yes |
| Seat Rotate | No | Yes. Seat can rotate 180-degrees, so you can keep your baby in sight; 3 different directions. | No | No | No |
Show full specification details ▼Hide full specification details ▲
Our Analysis and Test Results
The origins of Graco date back to 1942 when Russell Gray and Robert Cone decided to partner and embark on a venture to manufacture car parents. After some time, Russell Gray chose to follow different pursuits, and Robert Cone shifted his sights to baby gear and eventually hired an engineer. One of their first and big successes was a baby swing. Today, Graco is a prominent player in the baby product industry, aiming to help the parenting journey.
Performance Comparison
The Graco Glider LX Swing offers a gliding swing to soothe your little one.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Quality
Compared to the best baby swings, the Graco Glider LX Swing is a decent product in terms of quality, but it's nothing special. You will hear the motor when moving. The seat is deep and wide. The seat features two-recline positions, but we didn't think there was much of a difference between them. Compared to other competitors with removable toy mobiles, the toy mobile on the Glider LX didn't pop off nearly as much, and our little tester enjoyed reaching out to grab or bat the plush toys.
The Graco Glider LX Swing has a 5-point harness but no padding or material for added comfort.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
We wish more thought and quality had gone into the 5-point harness. The components feel cheap, especially the flimsy plastic buckle, and there's no padding or fabric material to cover the strap webbing, such as on the crotch or shoulder straps. This is something that some competitors offer, and it's an extra nod to baby comfort. Therefore, we recommend being careful when buckling your baby in to avoid accidentally pinching your baby's skin.
The Graco Glider LX Swing offers a toy bar with two soft toys.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Entertainment
If the traditional swinging motion doesn't seem to soothe your restless baby, you may have luck with this glider-inspired swing. The motion mimics what a baby may feel nestled in your arms and rocked in a glider chair. This motion might be familiar and comforting for your little one.
The Glider LX has entertainment and sensory features to keep your little one occupied, such as different speed settings, ten classic melodies, five nature sounds, vibration mode, and two reclining positions. While the mobile is simple, it does move with the swing and is easily reachable for older babies. All of the buttons have icons that indicate their functions, and we found the controls intuitive to use.
Our little tester enjoyed the toy bar on the Graco Glider LX Swing.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Portability
Technically, you could pick up and move the Graco Glider LX Swing and move it from room to room. But, in reality, you won't do it very often; it's a bulky, stout swing that's cumbersome to move, and you'll want to be careful when carrying it through doorways. It also doesn't fold or easily dismantle for storage. This swing is more likely to stay in one area and remain in place until you no longer need it.
The Glider LX required more effort and time to assemble, but it wasn't the most challenging seat to put together.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Assembly
Building the Graco Glider LX Swing took some effort. It's not the easiest swing to assemble, but it's not the hardest either. It involves several steps and parts, including the installation of some hardware. You will need to have some common tools on hand, such as a screwdriver. We found that we had to look closely at the images to determine how to orient and connect some of the parts. The whole process took a minimum of 20 minutes to complete.
The Graco Glider LX Swing offers no material or padding on the harness.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Should You Buy the Graco Glider LX Swing?
If you are looking for a traditional baby swing or have limited space, you may want to pass on this option. The tradeoff for sturdiness is bulk, and it's not a swing that folds up for storage. But if you want a swing with a gliding motion and a longer lifespan, the Graco Glider LX may meet your needs.
What Other Baby Swings Should You Consider?
The 4moms MamaRoo Multi-Motion is another contender in the lineup with unique motions. If you're looking to save some money, consider the Graco Simple Sway Swing, which is a traditional swing. For even more entertainment than the Glider LX, the Ingenuity InLighten Swing has lights, music, and more action to keep little ones interested.
Manufacturer Video
—
Molly Bradac & BabyGearLab Review Team
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