Why is the swing bad?

LEMSA

So why is there a collective side-eye about letting a 5 month old sleep in the swing?
Developmental or neurological problems? Plagiocephaly?
Since 2 months LO has napped in the swing, but slept in the RNP or crib. Husband will still put him to bed in the swing when I work because he says it's easier. True, it is.

And he sleeps better. We may be getting through the sleep regression in part but LO slept till 725a in the swing. And even during the sleep regression he would sleep longer in the swing.

So what is the benefit of having interrupted sleep in the crib v full nights sleep in the swing?

TrueBeliever925

The only downside I can see is the transition later. Our LO's still sleeping a sleeper thingie (I can't think of the name of it. It's Monday) and I'm dreading the transition. He takes naps in his crib, but sometimes he wakes up like someone is killing him. He screams bloody murder because no one is there. Other times he's totally chill in it. I don't know what the difference is. I say that if you are getting more sleep, you must be a happier mama that way, so baby benefits from a happy mama and more sleep. Long live the swing! 

BellaOso

No side eye from me. We switch it up between the PNP and the swing and our bed.

The first year is about survival and sleep by any means necessary.

Leosmom13

No side eye from me! Sometimes mamas gotta do what she gotta do!i agree with pp that the transition later MIGHT be harder but it also might not!i think I might have read somewhere that they should be on a firm flat surface, so maybe if the swing isint flat that's the only other thing I can think of!

LokiLahve

Because the collective judgmental group doesn't have a 5 month old at home sucking precious hours of sleep from their nights.
I'm on the "do what it takes to survive" train.

Texasmomma13

No side eye here. S power naps in her swing in the LR. It's mainly for convenience for me.  It's downstairs. The crib is upstairs.  She takes her long nap in the crib and sleeps there at night. I don't see a problem with it. We're using it less and less as she gets bigger. At some point she'll out grow it completely.

Revez

The only thing I can think of is the prolonged amount of time "slouching" or a curved back in the swing. I tried to look into it, but I can't find anything. I remember reading somewhere that having their heads folded down onto their chest when they fall asleep in a swing could be a SIDS risk, but I haven't heard of that since. My LO never slept in the swing, so I'm not sure about the transition.

I'm not side-eyeing what so ever. Like PPs have said, the first year is about making it out alive and some what sane.

BelhurstBride

No side eye from me- DD1 was a swing sleeper! She slept there for all naps and all night until she was around 9 or 10 months old, then she was suddenly happier sleeping in her crib. 

The only downside was having to lug that thing around if we went to stay with friends. 

LJUTCMommy

The troublesome tots lady is a huge advocate for baby swing sleep and admits her own son slept in the swing until 18 mos.

Even Dr. Harvey Karp (HBOTB Author) has a video somewhere on her site explaining why it's a great tool for infant sleep.

The only concern, like @Revez stated, is infants getting into the "C" position and a possible suffocation risk. 

https://www.troublesometots.com/baby-swings-work-and-i-can-prove-it/

LEMSA

Thanks! I was worried about the chin thing when he was younger, now he's all over the place so I have no concerns about him moving into a comfortable position if needed. The swing may be the nightly go to if we all need sleep. He just looks so darn peaceful in it!

Rowcate

I see no problem. DD1 always napped in her swing, little guy hates the swing and doesn't nap. It is better for them to get sleep, I wouldn't fight it.

RK125

Dd has slept in her swing since she came home. Her pedi recommended getting her into her crib. So she naps in it most days. Sometimes she'll sleep in it for part of the night. If she's had a rough day/night, she goes in the swing. Never a side-eye from me!

11dematosk

I went to a sleep study at a local hospital, because I was having difficulties with my son sleeping through the night. They told me it was bad because 1. It affected head shape, since they can only sleep on their back in the swing and not on the side and 2. It got the baby used to only falling asleep with motion. However, that being said, the lady said it was fine to let the baby get drowsy in the swing initially, but then while they are still awake but sleepy transfer them into their crib. She said this was important because if the baby fell asleep while still in the swing but then woke up in the crib, even just for a few seconds, it would alarm them since they changed surroundings without them knowing it. Hope this helps

RK125

Is the swing in motion? We transitioned dd down to sleeping with no motion. Thought it might help with the crib transition.

ELauren88

No side eye here, I'm just jealous your kid sleeps.

TurtleMomma

^^^ same

PackersFan315

No side eye here! We're dealing with a screaming infant with an ear infection and even our pedi said that sleeping in the swing or carseat will help with congestion and helping him breathe and not have it all collect in his chest. Survival for us!!!

sfeebs13

No side eye here either! DD hasn't been in the swing for a while only because she was constantly squirming out of it but I'm with PPs sleep by any means necessary. If LO sleeps in the swing by all means let LO sleep away!

PTmama199

Let me preface this by saying absolutely no side eye, sleep trumps everything unless you startseeing problems.

Research has shown that babies shouldn't be in any assisted sitting device that puts pressure on there head for more than 20 minutes at a time.

Because

1. Brachiocephaly - symmetrical flatness of the head due to lack of movement. Plagiocephaly would be a concern if the baby has torticollis.

2. Facilitation of physiologic flexion. Babies are born with physiological flexion because of cramped quarters but as they fight gravity and stretch out they develop the natural curves of the spine. If they spend too much time in assisted sitting devices they don't develop appropriate spinal curves or muscle mass.

3. Developmental delays

Does my baby take naps in a swing? If that is the only place she'll nap for that day she will most definitely be napping in the swing. I will usually try to put her down first in the crib. I also find her a lot in sitting devices at daycare but I know she is happiest in these things so I don't say anything. I just try to do extra tummy time on my days with her and I am fanatical of checking her head shape(I'm borderline mental over it).

Even before LO when all I knew was research to guide parents I would always tell them sleep trumps all, wherever, however they can get it.

Carnation77

You do what you have to do but eventually they get too big and mobile for the swing.  I assume that's why people try to transition them to the crib.  LO used to nap in his swing the first 3 months but I could never get the harness on him when putting him down  to sleep in it, and was paranoid about him falling out, so I'd sit right next to it the entire time watching him.  If he was in there at 5 months I'd really be worried because he's so much more mobile now.  Not sure what you're doing with your 5 month old and the harness, OP.  If he's not buckled in then yeah, I'd be worried about leaving him unattended at that age.