The Graco Lovin' Hug Swing 1A01HEM in the Hemmingway pattern is one good-looking baby accessory. Of course, it's not enough to simply appreciate this swing's curved frame, plush mobile or comfy padded seat -- we need to know if this swing can soothe and entertain a baby. For our testers, the answer is a resounding "yes."

The Graco Lovin' Hug Swing in Hemmingway features a five-point harness, a seat that reclines to four different positions (and can do so with one-hand adjustment), six speeds and a tray with crotch post that opens with one hand. We like the swing's open-top design, but we often find it necessary to hold the mobile to one side while putting older babies in the seat (the swing holds children up to 30 pounds). Despite this juggling act, we find the Lovin' Hug Swing in Hemmingway is easy to use. The curved legs provide a sturdy base, although we wonder if the traditional leg design is even sturdier. We like the swing's choice of 15 classical music and nature sounds, and we particularly enjoy the ability to set a timer to play the music automatically for up to 30 minutes. The nature sounds, however, are of poor quality.

Like most Graco products, this swing has a removable seat pad that is machine washable. The unit folds compactly for storage and requires three D batteries, which seem to last an average length of time. Although some assembly is required, it doesn't take more than about 30 minutes to put the swing together.

The Graco Lovin' Hug Swing in Hemmingway gets good marks. We like the way it looks, the comfortable seat with padded insert and the six swing speeds. We had a few minor complaints (such as the quality of nature sounds), but this swing is a good choice, although perhaps a bit pricey for what it offers.


Pros: Folds compactly, six speeds, four recline positions and a five-point harness
Cons: Nature sounds are distorted; curved base doesn't seem as sturdy as traditional bases