Gear question for STMs

jj0313 · July 2014

Hi! I'm working on my registry and had a question for all you second time moms. Regarding, swings, rock and plays, bouncers: to me-they all seem like they kind of do the same thing? Do I need one of each?? Or just pick 1? And if 1, which do you prefer?

TIA!

Maelara · July 2014

I got a swing and bouncer combo from Graco. They do different things, trust me. Your baby may like one but not the other. I don't have any experience with a rock and play as they aren't sold in Canada. I've heard great things about them though, especially if your baby has reflux as the surface is on an incline. The rock and play is a sleep area, completely different from the other things. I survived just fine without the rock and play so if you're worried about budget and don't want to get everything, my suggestion is to not get that.

SarahHeck · July 2014

Kinda depends on your baby. Mine didn't like her swing but loved her bouncer, but I know a lot of moms that say the opposite and there are combo swing/bouncers but they are much more expensive so if you want to have more affordable things on your registry I'd put them on separately.

mamatohne · July 2014

Rock n play was a must for us. We skipped the basenette, he slept in it for like months. It was perfect. We also had a swing, no bouncer. We had a pack and play and only used it for a camping trip and as a changing table for the living room. And agree they are all very different.

morrkim · July 2014

We just had the swing and we borrowed it from a friend, because I didn't want to buy one if she didn't like it. I would have liked to have a bouncer because they are more portable, but we never got one. When we visited our friends they had a bouncer for their DD that we would use and I borrowed it once when I went out of town, so I would have a place to set her down. I think they would be nice to have both, but you could probably get by with just one.

jj0313 · July 2014

I'm registered for the swing and the rock and play-I guess my question is do I also need the bouncer?

carcrashheart · July 2014

RNP doesn't rock on it's own, though the new graco one does vibe, which I think could be really helpful and make it similar to a bouncer. We rarely rocked the RNP. PITA and it didn't help. I picked up a bouncer this time, but if it hadn't been free I probably wouldn't have bothered.

mamatohne · July 2014

^ To add to that, having something to put them in that doesn't move or vibrate is usually a good thing. You don't want your baby to get use to being in something that does those things all the time. You may then have issues with them sleeping with out things that vibrate or move.

erinwithtwins · July 2014

FYI target has a deal if you buy the swing you get either the bouncer or jumper free. Saves $80.

https://www.target.com/p/fisher-price-deluxe-newborn-rock-n-play-sleeper-snugamonkey/-/A-14583528

The Deluxe rock n plays DO vibrate - they are $20 more

hdall0807 · July 2014

We had a pack n play, rock n play, swing, jumperoo.... She loved the rock n play and hated everything else

ccam · July 2014

We had all three and used them each in different situations. DS was not a huge fan of the swing, but some kids love it, so I'm happy that we have it for #2. The bouncer was good for hanging out in, plus it vibrated and kept him entertained especially while I did things like pump or prep dinner. The RNP was more of a napping or fussy night time sleeping thing and was a god send because DS had reflux.

meeshybee · July 2014

I'm just getting a simple travel swing. It's small enough for me to take in the bathroom with me when I take a shower or fold up to take to family events.

Maybe it's just me but I don't see the difference between a bouncer and a swing that's turned off.

so72409 · July 2014

We LOVED our RnP. Thank God for those things. I would also suggest a wrap/carrier. One of my girls hated the swing (the other baby loved it). The one who hated it just wanted to be held, so baby wearing it was! We used the moby wrap and it worked great

kimberly_ann81 · July 2014

My children preferred the bouncers but my daycare boys loved the swings and rock n play. It really depends on your child. Mine also slept on their backs in the bassinet from day one but my daycare boys would only sleep in the Rock n play for the first couple months

mb314 · July 2014

Here's my take:

- Swings and bouncers pretty much do the same thing, although a lot of babies LOVE their swings and it may work better for calming them. Swings are bulkier than bouncers, and less portable. You can bring the bouncer easily in between rooms, but not so much the swing. So you can easily put the bouncer in your bathroom while you shower, which is nice. We somehow avoided having a swing with DS1 because we didn't have room in our rental house at the time. Almost every other mom I know had a swing and loved it. Now that we have a bigger house, I'm going to get a swing for DS2 for one level of our house and use the bouncer for the second level. It doesn't hurt to have both if you have room.

- The Rock-n-Play is primarily a place for the babies to sleep/rest and most people use them in place of the crib in the first few months (we didn't have one).

You don't NEED any of this stuff. You really need a safe place to put a baby down when you can't hold him/her, and a safe place for him/her to sleep.

wallygirl · July 2014

Becks517 said:
I'm a FTM, so maybe I have no idea what I'm talking about, but I've heard a lot that depending on the size of your home you may want at least two bouncers and/or swings, one upstairs and one downstairs. If you're living in an apartment, you may not need more than one.

I personally think this is a waste of money and space. First, I wouldn't invest in two of anything till you know whether your baby will like it. Second, bouncy seats are small and easy to move around. I moved ours from the livingroom to the kitchen to the bathroom all the time. Also, there are lots of different kinds of swings. We have a chicco and it moves around easily as well.

PennyLane26 · July 2014

This is all just my humble opinion, so take it for what it's worth!

I would definitely get both a swing and bouncer - we love the grace snugabunny/puppy/monkey brand. We kept the swing downstairs but the bouncer traveled all around the house- kitchen during meals, bathroom when I showered. It's convenient and portable.

The rock n' play acts as a bassinet. A sleeping place is necessary, we used a cradle, others use the co-sleeper or pack n play but if you're baby has reflux I've heard the rock n play is a good option.

I have a large house but don't see the needs for 2 swings and 2 bouncers. That's a little over the top b/c the bouncer can easily be moved. I would recommend a changing area upstairs and one downstairs.

ShelleyElla22 · July 2014

I was given most of this baby gear or got it secondhand much cheaper than buying new. I had two bouncers (one did more of a bouncing motion the other vibrated), a swing, rock and play with my second, 2 activity mats, an exersaucer and a jumperoo.

Each of my boys preferred different things but I definitely used all of it (although it's not necessary). Each thing does something different and it's nice to be able to rotate your LO to new things. I would say that I probably used the bouncy seat way more than the swing though.

momtojad · July 2014

We have a swing and bouncer and used both.

rahkitt · July 2014

The bouncer is the one I would buy now - if your baby doesn't sleep and you're desperate for something else to try you can always send your husband out to buy a swing after the baby arrives. But bouncers are pretty necessary IMO. Like others said, when you're showering or taking your time in the bathroom postpartum, but also at the door so you have somewhere to set baby while you get your coat and shoes on. I would have had to lay my babies on the kitchen floor if I didn't have a bouncer there! It allows baby to sit up just a little and see around (and see you) when they're little, and I think it's easier on the backs of their heads than laying flat on their backs on the floor.

AnnieRoo13 · July 2014

FTM so I'm not sure if my opinion counts! I registered for a swing that is supposed to double as a bouncer. It actually comes out of the frame and you can carry it around. I figured that this was a good compromise and even if LO doesn't like one of the options he'll like the other.

Also, I have seen many bouncers at consignment stores for a good price. We have a smallish house and I want to try to limit the baby crap- at least at first. I figured that if I decided that I need a bouncer too I can go and buy one of the barely used ones at a second hand store rather than having both the swing and the bouncer right off the bat.

jj0313 · July 2014

Thanks all for the great feedback!!

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