[soulyluna]

when i think of ideal parenting, i think of how my parents raised us. i'd say we turned out pretty well both physically and emotionally. My parents used a stroller, a crib and a baby swing. Now, i am an advocate for babywearing, co-sleeping, cloth diapering...etc. I think instinctively i feel attachment parenting style is what feels right to me, and i felt that before reading Continuum Concept and other AP literature.

However, please let me know why baby swings are criticized? Sometimes it's the only thing that soothes my baby, and sometimes I just need to put her down so that I can do other things and not feel like I have absolutely no life other than holding a baby. And I'm talking about watering the plants or taking a shower or using the bathroom.

Please, tell me the truth about baby swings, but please don't be too fierce with my ignorance. I don't need harsh judgment or ridicule, just the facts would be greatly appreciated.

thank you

 

[prettymom]

Here's my understanding. Baby swings can become a replacement for a parent's soothing arms or floor time. Babies who spend too much time in a swing or bouncy chair loose out on floor time and can hit developmental milestones later than other babies. Some parents can use a swing as a way to neglect their babies because they do work so well.

That said, don't stress too much. My dd spent some time in a swing when she was two and three months old. We got one as a gift (a Fisher Price take-a-long), and one late late night when she was about three weeks old I opened it up out of desperation. It worked wonders. I could put her in it in the bathroom while I showered. She would swing in it and watch me while I worked out. I could vacum again. By about three months old she started rolling over and was done with the swing. Sometimes she would still take a nap in my sil's swing at her house (it was bigger and more exciting than ours). Now at 8 months she is starting to walk so I don't think it had any negative effect on her development.

 

[User101]

I'm one of the most attached parents I know, and my babe is asleep in a swing right now.

As far as I can see, it would be a problem if
(a)I kept him in it all day
(b)I used it to soothe him instead of me
(c)it interfered in any way with our attachment, including our breastfeeding relationship.
(d)it somehow created a dependence where his sleep associations were tied up in it
(d)some people, I think, feel it can harm physical development, but I think that would only be an issue if I was doing (a)

I didn't use one at all with my first two. My third would only nap in it. For my fourth, it's a safe and soothing place for him to sleep for his afternoon nap. I can see him (with three other little ones running around, I wouldn't want him upstairs without me even if I had a monitor) and get some stuff done that, despite my fondness for babywearing, is a little easier to do hands-free.

Which reminds me, I'm supposed to be cleaning my kitchen.

 

[ladybug13]

My input....

Sometimes it's about survival. If your baby likes the swing, then let them swing. DS would not nap anywhere but the swing the first 6 months of his life. As for hindering development, my DS was walking at 10 months and could run up a flight of stairs before he was 2. Each child is different and so is what will soothe them.

 

[The4OfUs]

See, this is where I think some AP goes a little wonky. I can see if a baby spent hours and hours a day every day in a swing with no interaction from mama (or daddy, or other caretaker), that that would be a bad thing.

But, if your babe is happy in it while you shower or water the plants, I just can't see the problem?

I think it also depends a lot on the baby. DS was perfectly happy in baby devices of all sorts and he is definitely strongly attached to me and has had no developmental problems. DD hated almost every device (except ONE bouncy seat we had that she would tolerate for abotu 15 min max). So, she was eithe ron the floor or in my arms.

IMHO, it's not the device itself that is the problem, it's the potential overuse of it.

 

[bellymama]

Quote:

Originally Posted by annettemarie I'm one of the most attached parents I know, and my babe is asleep in a swing right now. As far as I can see, it would be a problem if (a)I kept him in it all day (b)I used it to soothe him instead of me (c)it interfered in any way with our attachment, including our breastfeeding relationship. (d)it somehow created a dependence where his sleep associations were tied up in it (d)some people, I think, feel it can harm physical development, but I think that would only be an issue if I was doing (a) I didn't use one at all with my first two. My third would only nap in it. For my fourth, it's a safe and soothing place for him to sleep for his afternoon nap. I can see him (with three other little ones running around, I wouldn't want him upstairs without me even if I had a monitor) and get some stuff done that, despite my fondness for babywearing, is a little easier to do hands-free. Which reminds me, I'm supposed to be cleaning my kitchen.

true.
i used mine for naps occasionally.

 

[~Heyokha~]

To be honest I wish my baby would let me put her in the swing. I am a huge advocate of baby wearing but we all need a break occasionally.

 

[intorainbowz]

I see nothing wrong with a swing, along the lines like AnetteMarie posted.

Frankly, the swing can let me get a shower where I can actually shave my legs or wash my hair and get dressed.

 

[alegna]

Like most *objects* there is nothing evil about the swing. It can just be used in a bad way.

-Angela

 

[User101]

After two hours I actually turned ours off to see if Daniel would wake up. I missed him and wanted to change/nurse/cuddle him.

:

 

[anabellee]

Quote:

Originally Posted by annettemarie After two hours I actually turned ours off to see if Daniel would wake up. I missed him and wanted to change/nurse/cuddle him. :

:

both my ds' slept/sleep in the swing. they both have GERD though and the position was the only place they could sleep comfortably. we have the take-along swing too and it's nice because i can move it to where ever i am if i'm doing something where i can't be holding him. like all things, when used in moderation, there's nothing wrong with it.

:

 

[hanno]

I personally don't like them and we have no space for them. This baby is my only child and my only job is caring for him so I consider us very lucky to not have to use them. Not everyone is so fortunate, his sibling(s) may not be

I don't take very many showers and most of my chores get done once my husband is home. I don't think they actually do any real damage outside of overuse.

 

[CallMeKelly]

that: to everyone who said the swing itself is not bad, just overuse of it. We don't have a swing at all and DS goes to sleep in my sling or by being rocked. It can take an hour or more sometimes. It would be easier to plop him in a swing but at this point I prefer not to. SOmething sweet about knowing DS2 nods off in loving arms each night, makes me feel good. Gives me quiet time with him as well. We did have and occasionally use a swing with our first son, but simply by being there it did take away from contact. I shower with DS2 now, with a water sling.

 

[RoundAbout]

My husband was deployed during the first 4 months of my son's life, and I had NO help. Really, NO help. I think friends visited me twice. If I had NOT had a swing I would have gone insane. DS loved it and it was the only way I could take a shower/get a break.

I thought Dr. Karp of Happiest Baby on the Block was a very big advocate of swings in what he calls "the 4th trimester" (the first 3 months after birth).

Really, its like anything else. Moderate and sensible use is ok. Overuse is bad. I don't get all of the controversy over these devices.

 

[PapayaMom]

just to echo what everyone else is saying I think it is fine (babe is in there as i type this) as long as it isn't abused. I have seen kids literally go from one baby holder to another all day for months. So while I take a shower or I need to give dd #1 a bath or whatever task requires the use of both hands for a few minutes it is a safe soothing place for her which I much prefer over screaming.

 

[MommytoTwo]

I have had swings for all 3 kids and they are a lifesaver. I wear my baby sometimes, but you know what? Sometimes I just want to put him down so I can take a shower alone or just bend over for petes sake. I can see criticism if people leave the kid in there for 6 hours but in most cases that is not what is happening. My DS takes his little morning nap in the swing every day.

 

[MissMommyNiceNice]

We used the swing a lot for falling asleep for naps at the beginning, since there was only so much walking I could do. Even wearing the baby was hard sometimes, since I have shoulder issues. But DS quickly grew aware of our attempst to trick him into sleeping. He would have nothing to do with it for about 3 months, but we have recently broken it out again as severe teething has once again disrupted his sleeping.

Funny thing, though, we have to sit in front of him and pretend to be asleep until his little eyes get droopy and he falls asleep!

Then I can swoop him up and put him to bed.