Question for 2nd (and so on) timers!??

KarynR25 · December 2011

I am looking at purchasing my first baby item this week because Babies R Us has some wicked sales on right now. I have been eyeing a couple of baby swings and wanted some opinions on what is practical, etc.

Did you buy a baby swing/cradle for any of your babies?

Did they come with a tray and if so, did you use the tray or just take it off?

How long did LO use the swing for before it become obsolete?

I am looking at one that is a swing and bouncer in one (you can take the chair off and rest it on the floor and it bounces)...what are your thoughts on that?

Obvisously there are a huge range of prices but most are on sale right now....

Thoughts? Opinions?? Thanks ladies!!

Ncaminiti · December 2011

When i registered for DS i ad originally done a battery one it was fisher price i believe and had 3 different reclines and a tray. About 2-3 weekd before my shower i changed it to a plug in that was very similar also FP i wanna say.

We used it from the minute we set it up (DS came prior to shower) till 6-7 months. He absolutely loved his swing and did his best naps in it. We rarely used the tray but loved that you could go side 2 side movement or front to back. We had a different bouncy that worked ok in the newborn stage, used while i showered and to Sit DS in to get his indirect light but he never really enjoyed it.

I plan on setting up the swing at 35 weeks so if I go early again I have it from day one and seeing how this LO likes it.

cjpreuss · December 2011

I had DS almost 3.5 years ago.. so I'm not sure on the specifics of your question. I will say this though... He loved his swing! & I will be buying a vibrating deal this time so if you found one that does both, go for it. Some babies prefer one or the other but some like both. You really can't know which they prefer unless you have them both.

Also, babies tend to prefer movements that they felt while still inside. I rocked a TON with DS.. probably an hour or more a day. I think that is part of the reason he liked his swing so much.

SugarhillHnA · December 2011

Ours swing was called Safari or something. It had matching pack 'n play, highchair, and bouncer. It didn't have a tray and DD HATED it. She never went in it. This time around we aren't using it, but we'll be borrowing SIL's Little Lamb swing. They are the best as they swing both sideways and front ways and I've heard so many moms rave about them.

SweetHurricane · December 2011

KarynR25:

Did you buy a baby swing/cradle for any of your babies?

Yes

Did they come with a tray and if so, did you use the tray or just take it off?

We originally bought the FP Little Lamb swing, but eventually upgraded to the Snugabunny. The LL had a tray. We never used it. By the time DD was old enough to use something like that, she did not want to be contained in a swing.

How long did LO use the swing for before it become obsolete?

6-7 Months.

I am looking at one that is a swing and bouncer in one (you can take the chair off and rest it on the floor and it bounces)...what are your thoughts on that?

I love the Snugabunny so much I couldn't imagine getting anything else.

SummerMama12 · December 2011

We had a portable swing rather than a full-size one. It did not have a tray. DS never really took to the swing so we put it away at about 2 months. A bouncer was much better for us, so I like the idea of something that is both. You never know which the baby will prefer.

EMOmamma · December 2011

Yep. Swing was a must for us. J slept in it using the side to side motion and played when it went front to back. Ours didn't have a tray and I didn't miss it. We also used a bouncer seat and that was nice because it was mobile. We used it until about 5-6months (probably could have used it longer but it was nice to pack it up and get it out the way). Just make sure you check the weight limits - I wouldn't get something with 15lb or less limit.

mylittlesunshine · December 2011

We got a used swing from a gal my DH worked with. DD hated...I mean HATED it. I am so happy we never bought nor asked for one on a registry. DH cousin on the other hand had a little boy who loved it...to the point where they put him to sleep in it....which turned into a nightmare when they went to put him in a crib. Maybe try a used one first?

cat2784 · December 2011

We have one that is a bouncer/swing, it's great. We rarely used the bouncer portion, but she still naps in the swing now at 9.5 mos! I'm worried we might have to buy another if she is still using it when#2 gets here!

BetsyDavis · December 2011

We had two different ones. First kid we borrowed the Fisher price rainforest one. It was nice plugged into the wall so you didn't have to use batteries unless you needed too. But it was huge it took up a ton of space and barely swung after 4 months due to being to big. Had a tray that stayed on the at all times. We had a take along with baby #2 because it took up way less space but sucks because it runs solely on c batteries and burns through them quickly. So we are stuck pushing it ourselves. Plus it is already going crooked and the fabric is stretching out and she has not even hit 5 months yet and it's supposed to hold a 25lb baby(were just over 15). From my research most that the seat comes out and can be a bouncer had had issues with breaking and falling with baby in it. So I would recommend reading all the reviews.

cessa · December 2011

Yes, we used a swing for DS. He loved his swing, and so did I. That's how dinner got cooked most of the time. We got the Fisher Price Cradle n' swing - the one that swings front to back or side to side. We almost always used the side to side motion. I know people say they really like the little lamb one - I opted for the aquarium one that was not so baby-ish, just personal preference.

It came with a tray, and no we never really used it. Just strapped him in. I do use it now with the little girl I babysit, though because at 5 months she is a little more wiggly and tries to lean forward a lot and I get nervous.

I've not seen the ones where the seat comes off and becomes a bouncer, so can't say how well that would work. I know that a bouncer is a must have on my personal list. I would just say look into how easily it connects and disconnects. If it is hassle-free and the brand has good reviews, then two for one sounds good.

I will definitely say that you will want to get one that can plug in. We had one of those portable battery operated ones upstairs that I would use while cleaning upstairs or taking a bath, etc. and I was constanly changing batteries, even though it didn't really get all that much use.

SweetHurricane · December 2011

cessa:

I will definitely say that you will want to get one that can plug in. We had one of those portable battery operated ones upstairs that I would use while cleaning upstairs or taking a bath, etc. and I was constanly changing batteries, even though it didn't really get all that much use.

Yes, this! When I was looking at the Little Lamb some reviews said that they used it for months without replacing the batteries. I call BS. We replaced ours every 10 days like clock work. The extra cost of a plug in version is worth it due to the batteries you save.

Sawyerplus1 · December 2011

We havent had a swing for either LO. DS had a bouncy type chair that vibrated and he LOVED it. We used it for DD and she HATED it. We don't have it anymore so not sure if we'll get another one or not (I feel like with #3 I'll be so on the go with #1 and 2 that LO will have to be worn or held most for the time...)

Mt2G1012 · December 2011

A swing is one of those things I wouldn't buy until after baby. Why? Because 50% of babies love them and 50% hate them. They are expensive so don't waste your money. We didn't buy one. However, we KNEW the day after she was born while we were in the hospital that we had to have one. I ordered it on Amazon and it got there the day after we got home. Just sign up for amazon mom and you get free prime 2 day shipping for a while. Same goes for a bouncy chair. We returned ours when DD was a month. It was such a waste of money for us. I would seriously try not to buy any major things like that until you know for sure you want or need it or buy it on craigslist so it is cheap. Thankfully my stores are awesome and since stuff was on my registry I was able to return and exchange things long after if they weren't working. I even exchanged my stroller since the one I had to have was terrible for us and just didn't work when I had an actual baby.

whitneyandbrook · December 2011

A swing is essential in my opinion. DD napped in the swing for the first 4 months, and a few bad nights she even slept in it in our room.

It was given to us (FP Papasan starry night one I think) by a friend that plugged in or could run on batteries, and it swung side-to-side or front-to-back which I think is very important!

I put it away around 4-5 months because we wanted to transition her to sleeping in her crib only--but she would have used it much longer I'm sure.

ETA: This one did come with a Tray but we never used it. It made it to hard to get her in and out quickly. And I didn't find the bouncer nearly as useful as the swing--we bought one but barely used it at all.

KarynR25 · December 2011

Wow...thanks for all the feedback ladies! I am unsure of whether we will wait until baby comes, but I know now that i will get a plug in version and one that sways front to back and side to side!

Thanks for the tips!

mulatta72 · December 2011

It's true that you really won't know until but my DS loved his swing and I was so happy to have it when he came home from the hospital. He loved it from Day 1 and we used it until he got too big. He didn't love his bouncer for some reason. I think the animals on the tray scared him...LOL. We got the iglide that went a bunch of different directions and really was like a papsan chair so it snuggled him real well. Never missed it not having a tray.

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