The report card
- Motion & soothing30% of score7.8
Front-to-back or side-to-side at five speeds, with 12 melodies and nature sounds, and it starts swaying when it senses fussing.
- Safety & build20% of score7.6
Two recline positions, a soft newborn inlay and a cushioned harness; for birth to six months or 9kg.
- Ease of use15% of score8.0
Touchscreen controls and machine-washable fabrics, and the seat rotates 360 degrees so you keep eye contact.
- Size, power & portability15% of score8.6
At 4.5kg it's light for a swing, and it runs on mains or four AA batteries.
- Value20% of score7.4
Good for the money, especially when discounted towards £160.
The full review
The Cassia is Maxi-Cosi's electric swing, and it packs a lot into a 4.5kg frame. It swings front to back or side to side at five speeds, plays 12 melodies and nature sounds, and its seat rotates a full 360 degrees, so you can keep eye contact while you move around the room. The smart bit is what Maxi-Cosi calls Automatic Motion Detection: it senses when your baby gets fussy and starts swaying on its own.
It's designed for babies from birth to around six months (9kg), with a soft newborn inlay, two recline positions and a cushioned harness. It runs on the included mains adaptor or four AA batteries, which makes it genuinely portable, and the fabrics come off for the washing machine. Maxi-Cosi gives a 24-month warranty, extended to five years if you register within six months of buying.
Owners are positive overall: it averages 4.4 out of 5 from 93 reviews on Maxi-Cosi's own site, scoring 4.7 for ease of use. The main complaint pattern is the one every swing faces, that some babies simply prefer a different motion; one owner felt an up-and-down movement would have suited their baby better. The Argos listing has far fewer reviews and a lower 4 out of 5.
At its £199.99 RRP it's fair value; at the £159.99 Maxi-Cosi was charging when I checked, it's the swing I'd buy for most families.
Pros and cons
What I like
- Starts swaying automatically when it senses fussing
- Two swing directions, five speeds and 12 sounds
- 360-degree seat rotation
- Light at 4.5kg, with mains or battery power
What I don't
- No up-and-down bounce like the Mamaroo
- Outgrown at about six months or 9kg
- Lower owner rating at Argos than on Maxi-Cosi's site
Key specs
- Motion
- Front-to-back or side-to-side, 5 speeds
- Smart feature
- Automatic Motion Detection starts swaying when baby is fussy
- Sounds
- 12 melodies and nature sounds
- Age and weight
- Birth to 6 months, up to 9kg
- Power
- Mains adaptor or 4 x AA batteries
- Weight
- 4.5kg
- Warranty
- 24 months; 5 years if registered within 6 months
Head-to-heads
What I read
This is a research-led review. These are the main sources behind the scores, alongside patterns in verified owner reviews. How I review.