Swing vs. Rock 'n Play

mollarific · February 2012

Obviously you don't NEED both, all my girlfriends seem to think the opposite. I have really limited space and I'm trying to choose one.

What do you all think? Links below...

Fisher-Price My Little Snugabunny Cradle 'n Swing

or

Fisher-Price Snugabunny Deluxe Rock n' Play Lightweight Plush Sleeper

TIA

Lynnette171 · February 2012

If you want something that will move on its own, then you need the swing. I got a rock n play, but you have to sit there and rock it yourself the whole time. That being said, it is way cheaper, and I love it...right now I've only had the opportunity to use it with my nephew who is at the house every weekend and he sleeps great in it. I bought it primarily because it will fit next to the bed when LO arrives, which the pack n play won't.

pugznploons · February 2012

we are getting both but may skip a bouncer chair

SoundersChick · February 2012

I didn't get a swing until I was given one when Edmund was about 3 months old. He didn't like the swing until he was about 5 months. I loved the RnP. We got way more use out of the RnP than we ever did the swing. I don't think I will get a swing for the next one unless I can't get anything else to work.

wifeyvana · February 2012

The swing would win at my house without a doubt!! If we have a #2, I will do everything in my power NOT to use the rock'n play, that thing was a beast to transition out of.

skio · February 2012

They're totally different, IMO.

The RnP is basically a bouncy seat raised higher off the ground. It doesn't do anything; you have to rock it yourself if you want it to rock. Lots of people use it in place of a bassinet because babies like sleeping cocooned rather than flat. We never used one; DD slept in the newborn napper of her PnP or her car seat for the first couple weeks. Then transitioned to the flat bassinet no problem.

The swing was an absolute must-have in our house. DD napped in it three times a day, every day, for about five months straight. It also entertained her while I did household errands; it has music, a mirror, and a mobile (we have the snug a bunny).

ekd816 · February 2012

We're getting both but if I had to choose I would pick the swing.

Kaiterz · February 2012

Honestly, raising a baby would have been a whole different ballgame w/o either one of them in my house.

Why can you not have both? The Rock n Play actually folds up pretty well so you can put it away when you're not using it. And there are certainly smaller swings out there as well.

Adventurers · February 2012

I don't know why you said "Obviously you don't need both." I guess you don't NEED either one, but they are totally different and both are fantastic and very useful with babies. I feel that we got more than our money's worth out of both our swing and our rock n play, and I am glad that we had each of them. The swing takes up more space when in use, but it is a blessing.... as is the RnP.

Kaley28 · February 2012

They are two totally different products, and also two things that I am very thankful I had.

MrsNole · February 2012

Swing.

llizzyb · February 2012

We're waiting on the swing to see if it's something we really need. We have a RNP for the first few months as somewhere to put LO in the main area of our house while I cook, after feedings, to keep out off the floor and away from the dog, etc. The RNP folds up and is easily moved from room to room. The PNP will stay in our bedroom for nighttime sleeping the first few weeks, and the bouncer we got (FP Rainforest) probably won't get much use until a bit later.

We have plenty of storage, but our actual living spaces are very small and compact, so I don't want to get a swing unless absolutely necessary, and even then I hope to get one that folds and stores easily, unlike the often recommended huge FP snugabunny one.

vaohara · February 2012

pugznploons:
we are getting both but may skip a bouncer chair

. This!

Julia_JJ · February 2012

We only have the Rock n Play, and we're surviving just fine. Little dude is about three months, and we transitioned him to his crib at about 6 weeks to make sure he wouldn't have any trouble napping in one at daycare. Prior to that, he slept in the RnP at night next to the bed and in the PnP downstairs during the day. But we use the RnP at home still - especially lately, since he's been sick and is more comfortable slightly upright vs. flat on his back. It also folds up so we can toss it in the trunk more easily than a PnP and take it to a friend's house to hang out. If he wasn't sleeping anywhere, we might have gotten a swing to try it out, but there's no need to have both right now taking up space for "just in case."

ETA: And we just have the "regular" RnP - none of the extra cushy stuff. I wouldn't feel comfortable with something that plush for sleeping in.

backinpgh · February 2012

We have both, and have gotten MUCH more mileage out of the Rock n Play. But our DD does not particularly enjoy the swing; I know some babies really love swings.

First, the RnP is actually approved for the baby to sleep in safety-wise. You really aren't supposed to let babies sleep in a swing (technically).

Secondly, the RnP is super portable. We tote it around the house for DD to sit in during the day, nap in, and sleep at night. Plus if you need to travel somewhere it's incredibly easy to bring to grandma's or wherever and have somewhere for sit and sleep. The swing, on the other hand, stays right where it is because it's a huge PITA to move around.

Third, sure it doesn't swing on its own, but that also means the RnP does not require batteries! lol As far as transitioning from the incline, you'd have that issue if your baby was sleeping in the RnP OR a swing, but I'd imagine transitioning from an incline AND constant motion would be harder.

Although in the long run, if you are having a "competition" I'd say the real competitor to the RnP is a bouncer, not a swing. If you were asking bouncer vs. RnP I'd 100% say RnP.

alach · February 2012

Like others have said, they are two different products that do completely different things. But, if you're comfortable with your baby sleeping on a flat surface right away, then I would say skip the RnP. I was really afraid of baby suffocating, so I keep her upright for nighttime sleep. At first, I kept her upright for all naps and nighttime sleep, but she's getting older and she knows how to move her head from side to side if for some reason she were to flip on her stomach during a nap.

If you want to get a swing and bouncer, Fisher Price makes a Space Saver Swing/Bouncer duo product that works as both and baby can either swing in it or you can take the seat off and carry it around your house and use it as a bouncer because it also vibrates.

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