January 2017 Moms

Mamaroo Feedback OR Other Space Saving Swing/Rocker?

emcollins3emcollins3 member
edited July 2016 in January 2017 Moms
Hey ladies! Looking for feedback/insight about this Mamaroo Baby Swing and/or suggestions for any alternative swings/rockers with a similar compact footprint. We know that having a baby means some necessary changes in our home, etc. but some of the most popular swings I have seen in friends/relatives homes look GIANT to us and take up so much space (i.e. Fisher Price swings, etc.). The Mamroo stuck out to us for it's compact footprint and dual use as a swing/rocker.  However, for the price tag it has a lot of mixed reviews from parents who say it didn't soothe their babies. Obviously we also don't want a product that won't be of any use in soothing Baby C (especially one this pricey), so if the larger ones really are the ones that do the trick the best, we will just have to find space for it.  Thanks in advance for any thoughts/feedback! 
Erin - Boston, MA 
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Re: Mamaroo Feedback OR Other Space Saving Swing/Rocker?

  • I can't wait to hear others responses to this! We have been contemplating since this is #3 and we are actually moving to a small apartment
    Baby Boy 3 is on the way! 
    Due 1/21/17
  • My friend had a Mamaroo and loved it. That said, it was $250 and there's one at Target that is very similar for $50 and I know a few who got the Target one and loved it, too. I've heard you'll only use it for the first few months...so we will be getting the cheaper one. My SIL even offered to borrow us the Target one she used for her daughter, so we will probably do that. The mamaroo has really cool features, but the people I know that used it said they only used 2 of the rocking features: front to back and side to side. Might as well save the money and buy something similar for less. Good luck!
    P.s. check amazon, too.
    Me: 30 |  DH: 33
    Married: 8/11/2007

    DD: Born 2/3/17
    BFP#2: 5/3, EDD 1/10/19
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  • I have no experience with the Mamaroo myself but the people I know who have it love it.  Just be sure that if you get one you're not letting LO spend all their time in there, which honestly is true for any swing; babies need to change positions from time to time, and nap time/bed time definitely needs to be in a crib/pack n play/bassinet for safety reasons.  That being said,  I do have friends whose babies would ONLY sleep in their swing and you gotta do what you gotta do, but flat surfaces are definitely the safer option.  Just a PSA :)
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  • cjs260cjs260 member
    This would be a great question for the Ask a STM thread :)

    FTM here, but my friend gave me her Rockaroo (step down from the Mamaroo) for free. But I was in BBB the other day just looking at the Mamaroo, and a lady with 2 children came up to me and said "Every baby I've known has hated that thing. Don't buy it." I'm sure that just like everything else, some babies will love it and others hate it. 


                                        
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  • sldp123sldp123 member
    edited July 2016
    I'm curious to see responses, but I agree with pp that it will probably depend on baby. We actually bought one because I've always thought they were so cool and when we were in BRU over the weekend, they had one with a damaged taped-up box on clearance for $180. I realize that's still very expensive, but I have seen them sell on our local flea market groups and Craigslist for $150+ so I figure we will at least get most of our money back after we are done with it or if both babies hate it. I'm hoping that with twins, the odds are in my favor for at least one of them to like it, haha.



    DS: June 2008
    Married: July 2015
    BFP: 5/20/16  |  EDD: 1/28/17  |  Twin boys born 1/16/17
  • Thanks ladies - appreciate the initial feedback! 
    Erin - Boston, MA 
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  • Lurker from Feb 17

    I had a Mamaroo for my 2nd kid and he loved it, but it's like all baby gear in that it depends on the baby.  We definitely plan to get another for this baby, but will likely buy a used one from Craigslist again or a consignment sale.

    The motions for the Rockaroo and the Mamaroo are different, so I really wouldn't say that the Rockaroo is a step down, it's just made with a different purpose the same way the Bounceroo has a different purpose than either of them.

    With my first kid, she ended up sleeping in her swing at night from about 4.5 months until she was nearly 1 because of chronic ear infections.  The combination of the incline and the swinging motion is the only thing that soothed her enough to sleep for 2-3 hour stretches (she transitioned to her crib pretty seamlessly from there as we walked the speed down for a few weeks beforehand).  I wouldn't feel comfortable doing this in the Rockeroo or the Mamaroo because they don't have the 5 point harness that makes sure they can't wiggle out.

    We also didn't use our swing until she was about 4 months old, so you may consider holding off on it and then going from there.  Since we ended up using the swing at night we just set it up in front of her crib so that she'd be used to her surroundings when she moved into her crib, so it did take up a lot of floor space but also wasn't in our way.

  • We received a momaroo as a gift for my DD and we absolutely LOVE it! It has I think 5 different setting of motion so you can mix it up. It also has a jack to plug my phone into so I can play white noise from it as well. My daughter loved it and it was always our go to move when trying to get her to sleep. The cover zips off so it's easy to wash and it has seat belt so if you have a wild one, like we did, they are safe. We cleaned it and will be pulling it out again for this new little nugget. 

    ** I'm mobile bumping so I'm not sure why my picture is showing up mid-text**


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  • Eh. I'm lukewarm on the mamaroo. My daughter didn't NEED motion. She was pretty content, so the mamaroo was a fine place to pop her in so I could have free hands. If your baby NEEDS motion, it's super tame and is unlikely to soothe. I will probably be buying a more intense swing fr baby #2. The mamaroo is pretty snazzy looking though 
  • Vivi20Vivi20 member
    I'm hesitant to spend the money on a swing again. My daughter loathed being put in a swing. I'd hate to spend money on something like this to only have this baby hate it, too.
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  • We have a mamaroo from my first. He liked it, however due to a few factors at birth, he had brachyacephaly (flat head) and we had to limit his time in it. Positioning devices likes swings and bouncers can contribute to flat head syndrome so I just throw that out there. We will use the mamaroo for this one (mama needs to be able to get something done occasionally with a toddler and a newborn). I know babies that hated their more traditional swings, but liked vibrating chairs. It all depends on the baby so spending that money on something that may or may not work is tough. I do wish it vibrated. Otherwise we love the minimal footprint and the variance in motions and speed. Hoping the next one likes it as much as the first :)

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  • I didn't have a baby swing with my first. I had a bouncer, and he hated that. So, we didn't spend the money on a swing. We had a rock-n-play which he loved and slept/napped in a lot. I think swings are very hit and miss. One baby will like it, and the next baby won't. We also lived in a pretty small house with our first, and we didn't want to waste space with something we wouldn't use. 
  • With DS we found a great deal on the mamaroo. Were given a hand me down fisher price swing (it did take up a good amount of space compared to the other), and a bouncy/vibrating chair. He never liked the mamaroo, but loved the swing and chair at different points. I would say about 6 months he had lost interest all together and preferred his bumbo or exersaucer. Definitely depends on the baby. We ended up trading the mamaroo for an ergo (love the ergo, we still use it at almost 2)! We also got rid of the swing because it was pretty old and wasn't quite working as it should, but still have the bouncy chair. I don't think we will by anything else for now, and will wait to see if baby #2 likes the chair like DS did. 
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  • lurking from October but check yard sale sites on Fb and also apps like offer up and letgo. I scored one for 50 bucks! 
  • ParleyParley member
    LOVED the mamaroo!! Obviously different babies like different things, but it was a lifesaver for us in the early days.


  • We had this swing, the Graco Swing by me, it folds when not in use and the legs are telescopic so it can be a full size swing or a low compact swing.  We LOVED IT!! DD napped in it every single day  and she would sleep for 3-4 hours straight in it.  It was a life saver and not expensive at all.  The ONLY negative is it's battery operated so we had to replace the batteries about every 1-2 months but it was so worth it that we didn't mind.
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  • I have had three friends now tell me not to bother because none of their kids liked it some actually hated it. Everyone suggested just a basic swing because they enjoy it awake but also can easily fall asleep in it ....I plan on buying a second hand swing likely off a friend because for the 6 months they use it I just feel something expensive won't be worth it

  • MrsRahlMrsRahl member
    edited July 2016
    My kid LOVED, I mean LOOOOVED the mamaroo. I debated buying a second for the second floor because it was that awesome for us. My daughter wanted constantly held or moved from the time she was a newborn until past 1 year old. I realize some babies aren't like that though. I waited until close to my due date, used shower gift cards and money to buy it, and then if it didn't work out, I'd just return it. It was the only thing dd would nap in so I could also get some sleep. So yeah, I say buy it close to or after baby is born and if he/she hates it, return it. 
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  • We have the Fischer price swing and my daughter loved it, but you're right that it has a large footprint.   I probably wouldn't invest in a mamaroo unless I knew my baby would like it....but I'm also cheap haha!
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  • I've been researching baby swings/rockers for a while now and it's not easy! I think style wise and in terms of length of time of use, we're going with the Nuna Leaf. It is stylish for our home and can swing on its own for quite a while, be stationary,  or you can buy an adapter to keep it swinging nonstop. Another plus for us on this is that it can hold up to 130 pounds while the Mamaroo is 25 I believe? The Leaf can become a seat for children as they grow which I love. Here's a photo of it, I love how clean looking it is. They sell a toy bar for it too if that's something you are interested in!

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  • Man, wish they had something like the leaf when we had our 1st! We aren't in a position to spend  $200 on a swing for our last baby :-( so cool though!
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    DS1 - 03/31/2006
    DS2 - 12/31/2008
    DS3 - 06/26/2012
    DS4 - 08/07/2014
  • Wow ladies, thank you so much!! I really appreciate everything everyone has posted and it has given me a lot to consider. May try to find one used as I'm feeling guilty about putting such a pricey item on the registry, but definitely looking at some of the other options suggested too. Thanks! :)
    Erin - Boston, MA 
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  • @emcollins3 you shouldn't feel guilty about putting expensive things on, people do group gifts too! I usually will pitch in with some friends for the bigger items :)
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  • @emcollins3 And don't forget that lots of places do registry completion discounts, too, so having expensive items on your registry, even if you don't expect people to buy it for you, can save you $ down the road...
  • @emcollins3 i agree with @poetryandoceans
    in fact throughout my pregnancy last year (it was #2 so the registry was really just for us but a few people asked for it) I would go to BRU and check out one of those registry scanners every time I went there. I would literally register for all the normal things I was going to buy that trip so that they would apply to my reward after DS2 was born. I actually felt like this was cheating until one of the managers even suggested it once when she saw I was pregnant. Last time they did a 10% back reward. 
    Baby Boy 3 is on the way! 
    Due 1/21/17
  • I don't have experience with the mama one but I did have a giant fisher price one.  I got it second hand at a consignment shop for a steal (I think $40) and even though it was giant, I loved it.  My son loved it.  He slept in it throughout the night a few times because of congestion (to keep him upright) and it was so useful all the time.  I sold it for the same price I bought it. ;)


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  • My son HATED the mama roo. It was given to me as a hand me down from a friend whose son also hated it (handed down to her from yet another baby who hated it). It was in perfect condition and a great deal. Luckily I didn't pay for it because he wanted no part of it. He loved his swing though and it was well worth the space it took up. I also think the mama roo was much smaller seat wise and would not have held him as long as the swing. 
  • My son loved the Mommaroo! We loved the music feature and streamed rock-a-bye baby music through it to soothe him. Mainly we loved it because our dog thinks anything that "swings" is a play toy and would try to jump and grab at the Fisher Price swing we bought. He didn't see the Mommaroo as a toy and let it be and I returned the Fisher Price swing--plus, my son didn't like the intense motion of the Fisher Price swing.

    This is a great registry item. Many of my friends didn't have a ton of money so they looked for larger items to go in together on. My girlfriends from home went in on this gift for us. So yes, it is expensive but when a few get together on it and they know they're buying something you'll actually use I think it works out in the end. 

    Side note--if there's one thing I can suggest, go to your local library and start your rock-a-bye baby collection. We have almost all of the albums and in DS's first year we'd play the tunes as I was nursing at night, during playtime and on long car trips. Much better than hearing traditional nursery songs and he has an intense love of music now. The Beatles, Foo Fighters and Green Day are some of his favorite bands. 
  • sohpiatrevissohpiatrevis member
    edited March 2021
    Let me give a quick review. If you have no budget issue, then there is no better baby swing than the mamaroo. This baby swing is most expensive than other baby swings but its features and durability are matchless. Even if you do some research, you'll find it among the top 5 or 10 baby swings in the world. Like according to ibestbabyswing its on number 1. I don't know what's their ranking criteria. But if you visit some other websites, you'll find it among the top brands. If you have enough money, just go for this baby swing.
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