A child motion device includes a motor, a drive system coupled to the motor to produce movement along a motion path having reciprocating strokes, and a sensor responsive to the movement to generate feedback information indicative of the movement. The child motion device further includes a motor control circuit coupled to the sensor to determine, based on the feedback information, when to apply power to the motor during each reciprocating stroke. In some cases, the feedback information is indicative of a position of the motor such that the motor control circuit applies the power to the motor for a duration of time that begins after an end of each reciprocating stroke.