- Best Reversible Strollers Guide: My Top 7 Choices & How to Pick the Right One for Your Baby - October 10, 2022
- Nuna Leaf Grow vs Curv: Which Is Best? - May 20, 2022
- The Best Baby Oatmeal Brands and Options - May 12, 2022
Editor’s Note: As of August 2022, 4moms rockaRoo has been recalled for strangulation concerns. We would recommend you consider another swing/rocker option, such as Nuna Leaf Grow or Curv.
Do you have a baby swing on your shopping list? Today we’re going to discuss one of the most popular products in this category – one that is definitely on the list of best baby swings of 2022.
4moms rockaRoo is a sleek and stylish swing with multiple attractive functions and all at a relatively reasonable price. I’ve had the chance to try it at home and decided to bring you a complete 4moms rockaRoo review with all the important details.
Baby swings are great helpers. Most of the babies simply love their gentle swaying motion that smartly mimics the mother’s soothing arms.
As a result, a baby swing easily becomes the baby’s safe haven and a most favorite place for playtime or daytime naps. No wonder that many mothers regard baby swing as a must-have – and I am no different. But which one should you choose?
The market is full of various baby bouncers, swings, and infant chairs with all sorts of functions and features. Some of them excel in innovations, others have beautiful designs. In my opinion, 4moms rockaRoo probably stands somewhere in the middle. Let’s explore it in detail!
Compact Baby Rocker with Front to Back Gliding Motion, Smooth, Nylon Fabric.
Jump to a specific section
Features of 4moms rockaRoo
Check out the most important features of 4moms rockaRoo baby swing below:
- Infant seat with adjustable front-to-back gliding motion
- Works as a soothing baby swing
- Conveniently compact size (only ⅓ of the standard baby swing size)
- Choose one of 5 speeds of motion
- The seat cannot be reclined
- The seat cushion is detachable and machine-washable
- Manual control only
- Suitable from birth up to 25 lbs (or when the baby can sit up unassisted)
- Includes interactive soft toys
- AUX-IN port for external mp3 player
- 3-point harness system
Specifications of 4moms rockaRoo
Here are the product’s general technical specifications:
- Dimensions: 29.6″L x 16.5″W x 27.5″H
- Product weight: 11.5 pounds
- Batteries required: No
- Variations: grey classic / dark grey cool mesh
- Washing machine safe: Yes (textile padding)
Advantages of 4moms rockaRoo
If you never had a baby swing at home, you might be wondering now if you really need anything like that at all. Is it worth the investment?
Although this item is definitely not essential, I’ve realized it has numerous practical advantages that can improve your daily routine with the baby massively.
4moms rockaRoo might not be perfect, but it’s definitely able to fulfill most of your expectations from this kind of equipment. These are its main strengths:
Beautiful design
When it comes to baby equipment, most of the parents probably prefer functionality and safety to aesthetics. Nevertheless, it’s always a welcomed bonus if a product looks good and stylish. In this regard, 4moms really excels and rockaRoo is yet another great example of their great design skills.
This swing really looks beautiful, almost futuristic with its nice rounded curves and gender-neutral tones of grey. Although I would probably prefer a wider choice of colors, I must say that both light and dark versions look very cool.
Moreover, they don’t differ only in color, but they also come with different materials. The standard light grey model looks like a perfect all-rounder, whereas the dark grey mesh alternative is ideal for summertime.
Compact and perfectly portable
Another important aspect of this rocker is its compact size and lightweight construction. As the producer claims, it’s about ⅔ smaller than most of the other baby swings on the market, so it’s ideal for smaller spaces and traveling families.
The small size also makes manipulation much easier – if you’re a petite mom, you’ll surely appreciate it.
Easy to assemble and convenient to use
When it comes to assembling furniture and appliances, I usually struggle greatly. That’s why I was truly relieved to find out how simple and fast this thing can be assembled. It took only a few instinctive movements – and there it was, a fully assembled baby swing ready for its first ride.
I also found this swing super-easy to manipulate and use. It doesn’t need any batteries, so all you have to do is plug it into the mains. The cushions can be removed and replaced smoothly too, so keeping the swing clean and hygienic is very easy. There are not too many controls, and the instructions are simple and logical. Honestly, rockaRoo is a perfectly user-friendly product, which is something I always appreciate.
Soothing and gentle
In general, a baby swing has two important functions – it soothes and calms down when the babies need to relax, and it also entertains them when they’re ready to play and giggle. In both of these regards, 4moms rockaRoo apparently really does what it promises.
Although I was a bit unsure about various aspects of this rocker (see the Cons section below), my baby seemed perfectly relaxed and comfortable in it, which he repeatedly demonstrated by falling asleep in the swing.
The gliding motion seemed quite gentle and healthy to me, I didn’t see the baby shaking in the swing unnaturally even at some of the higher speeds (there are 5 modes to choose from).
Entertaining and interactive
As your baby gets older, their awake periods throughout the day will become longer and more frequent. They will also get much more active and demanding when it comes to various interactive elements – and that’s when the rockaRoo’s merry-go-round above the baby’s head comes really handy.
It accommodates three removable toys with various textures that encourage the baby’s curiosity and motoric skills. You can also replace them with your baby’s favorite toys instead or prepare some new surprises in the construction for the baby to explore.
Initially, I really liked the possibility to plug my smartphone directly into the seat (there is a standard aux-in port on the base) and play the music of my choice through the inbuilt speaker.
On the other hand, I am not sure what’s the point of this when I can play the music loud directly on the phone itself. The rockaRoo’s speaker is, unfortunately, mediocre at best and having your device constantly plugged into the swing is also not very convenient.
Compact Baby Rocker with Front to Back Gliding Motion, Smooth, Nylon Fabric.
Disadvantages of 4moms rockaRoo
4moms rockaRoo has some weaker points too. Check them out before you place your order:
It’s really very small
When I first heard that this baby swing measures only about ⅓ of the regular size, I was really excited. At this point, I already felt like our home had turned into a jam-packed nursery full of various bulky equipment, so I was eager to save some space.
Nevertheless, seeing how small this swing is in practice really surprised me. The truth is that it was so small that I worried if it’s even able to safely accommodate my then 3 months old.
Eventually, he fitted in alright, yet I still couldn’t shake off the feeling that it might not be completely comfortable or safe for him.
If you’re looking for a super-small travel swing and your baby is not on the larger side, it can probably be just right for you. Otherwise, I would probably go with a standard-sized swing instead.
Prone to malfunctions
To be fair, I must admit that I have not tested this swing for very long. I have also been switching it often for another baby swing I had at home at the same time. In any case, my rockaRoo seemed to work perfectly fine with no issues or malfunctions worth mentioning.
Nonetheless, I’ve read and heard repeatedly that this product is indeed quite prone to various faults including unexpected shutdowns and failing speed control.
Some parents even claim their rockaRoo stopped working altogether after just a few weeks of use. Hopefully, all these cases were properly resolved by the manufacturer or a reseller.
No reclining is possible
Most of the baby swings I have ever tried or seen could be reclined – some all the way to the full laying position that allows the baby to take a comfortable nap, others reclined at least slightly. Although rockaRoo is in a somewhat reclined position by default, you cannot adjust its angle anymore, which I found really inconvenient.
As a result, I couldn’t really imagine leaving the baby in this swing for an extended time, even though my little one did look quite happy and comfortable in it.
Annoyingly noisy
One of the main purposes of baby swings is to soothe the babies, calm them down, and, ideally, help them fall asleep. That’s why I automatically expect these products to be as quiet as possible (with the exception of some musical features that can be turned off when needed).
Unfortunately, that’s really not the case with 4moms rockaRoo, since this swing makes an annoying clicking sound with every single move it makes.
I initially thought this might be a problem of my item only, but after reading a couple of reviews online, I’ve realized that it’s actually standard for every rockaRoo chair. Moreover, the sound reportedly gets louder as the baby grows and gets heavier.
The good thing is that my little one didn’t seem to mind it at all – he was even able to fall asleep in the swing while it was clicking right next to his ears. Sadly, I was not able to ignore the noise so well and it made me quite nervous.
The price is relatively high
4moms rockaRoo is mostly going to be compared with4moms mamaRoo – an advanced, modernized, and technically upgraded baby swing from the same producer, which also costs a bit more. In this light, the simpler and cheaper rockaRoo might be seen as a budget-friendly option.
Nevertheless, rockaRoo is, in fact, still far from being cheap. The truth is that you’ll be probably able to find many cheaper options on the market with identical or very similar features and qualities.
4moms rockaRoo alternatives you might like to try
4moms mamaRoo
4moms produces several types of baby swings, and mamaRoo is currently the brand’s most innovative and sophisticated product in this category. Rather than a simple rocker, this really is a multifunctional child seat with several different movements presets, an integrated sound module, and many adjustable features.
On the other hand, mamaRoo will also cost you more than you would pay for the simpler rockaRoo baby swing. Is this investment worth it? Check out our 4moms mamaRoo vs rockaRoo comparison and learn all the details.
Nuna Leaf Grow
Nuna is another reputable producer of various rockers and swings for the tiniest babies. Most of them look and work very similar to the 4moms’ product we’ve discussed in this article.
Nevertheless, one of them is really special – Nuna Leaf Grow is a growing baby swing that can be used from birth all the way up to 130 pounds of weight. This makes it probably the most universal baby swing on the market.
Of course, such adjustability and versatility come with a price. Not sure if it’s worth it? See our Nuna Leaf Grow vs Curv swings comparison for more details.
FAQs
Answer: 4moms rockaRoo is designed particularly for the smallest babies – it can be used from birth up to 6 months of age, 25 pounds of weight, or the moment when a child is able to sit up unassisted (whichever comes first).
Answer: Swaying movement surely helps babies relax and it’s very common for them to fall asleep in their swings. If your baby likes to take a short nap in their rockaRoo, rest assured that it’s perfectly safe and healthy. However, the swing is not recommended as a full substitute for a standard baby cot, so it shouldn’t be used for a proper night’s sleep.
Answer: Many parents report that their rockaRoo baby swing is unexpectedly stopping by itself. The producer advises that this might be caused by an uneven distribution of the baby’s weight while he/she is seated in the swing. Nevertheless, if this happens repeatedly and without any reason, it might be a good idea to contact your reseller and ask for professional assistance.
Compact Baby Rocker with Front to Back Gliding Motion, Smooth, Nylon Fabric.
Conclusion – Should you invest in 4moms rockaRoo?
If you’re looking for a stylish, enjoyable, and compact baby swing for your newborn, 4moms rockaRoo will probably tick most of the boxes. It looks great, it’s super-easy to manipulate and transport, and most babies will surely enjoy its simple yet nice features such as the gliding movement and interactive toys.
However, this swing also has its weaker points. Its tiny dimensions probably won’t allow you to use the swing for too long, and according to numerous reviews, the product also seems to be prone to various malfunctions. I also didn’t like how noisy this swing is – definitely noisier than other baby swings I’ve had the chance to try.
I hope that this review answers all your curious questions about 4moms rockaRoo and helps you make the best decision for you and your baby. If you need more inspiration before making the final decision, check out our Graco Sense2Soothe baby swing review too!
Leave a comment