Bouncers/Swings at Day Care?

hilgspritch · February 2015

Hi all. I am almost 23 weeks pregnant with a baby girl. My husband and I are looking at child care centers and hoping to enroll when she is about 12 weeks old. We've visited two so far. Center A had the infants free with no bouncers/swings. Center B had bouncers/swings in the infant room and all but one baby was in something.

What are your opinions on having restraints at the day care center?

DolphinLover2002 · February 2015

I personally loved them. My ds had really bad reflux and had to sit upright for 30 minutes every time he ate. Daycare centers can't just sit there and hold the babies constantly, so they would put him in the bouncer for that 30 minutes and then let him out to explore. He loved the swing too, so when he got really fussy they'd put him in there for a while. I do not agree with them having all the babies in there all day. Here and there is fine, but they need to be free to do tummy time, be held and talked to, explore and just be free. If they have the babies in them all the time, I would explore other options. If it's just on occasion, I say is great.

annatta79 · February 2015

Our daycare uses them. DS1 was a little big for them when he started at this daycare, but I see them in the baby room. I can't imagine a daycare getting along without them. There isn't enough staff to hold every baby all the time and I think I'd rather have my kid in a swing or bouncer, able to look around and interact, rather than lying on the floor all the time. Like a PP said, babies shouldn't be in the all the time and do need tummy time and to be held, but if baby was home with you, he/she would probably spend a bit of time in a swing or bouncer, so I think it is fine at daycare.

ksimo6 · February 2015

Granted, my child goes to daycare at my mom and dad's house. My niece is there about 2-3 times a week... that said, theyhave a bouncy chair there. My daughter was in it daily. My mom would strap her in, put her on the coutner, and make dinner and talk to her... she loved it. She was not in it all day obivously, but I don't see anything wrong with episodic use. I don't see this as an all or nothing situation. You need to ask the centers about how much they use the swings/ chairs and what other activities your child would be engaged in during the day.

FarrahBelle · February 2015

I've worked at daycares. All I have to say is make sure they take them out to do tummy time etc. You don't want to end up going to a daycare where there is too many kids or lazy women where they just rely on the swings/bouncers. They are great for small periods of time but def not all day. Ask around a lot & take time to talk to all the girls who are in charge.

Katerina&Baby · February 2015

I don't know if I would characterize a bouncer or swing as a "restraint" but I have no problem with daycares having or using them - in my opinion, they are just another tool to keep the peace. For example, when my nephew was really little, he would get really fussy when he started to get tired and only chilled out enough to fall asleep if he was in his swing. Different kids have different things that work for them so I would be glad to see that my daycare had these options.

I can certainly see being concerned that they might abuse the option and not do other important thinks like holding the baby and engaging in tummy time but that's a different question and one that needs to be explored. Is the daycare understaffed for the infant room? What is their philosophy on infant care? Can you talk to other moms who use the daycare and get their impressions?

nique2307 · February 2015

The daycare my 1st went to didn't have any bouncers or swings but had lots of other things like boppy pillows and different gym like activity mats and gyms. I loved it because I felt like every time I went to a daycare the babies were always stuck in a swing or bouncer. I guess if they can assure you that they limit the time in them then it wouldn't be bad..

IslamoradaBride09 · February 2015

In the infant room where my LO goes (he's in one of the preschool classes now), they don't have any swings or bouncers, just Boppy pillows and activity stuff like @nique2307 described. I think bouncers and swings can become a crutch if not used properly.

laceyd03 · February 2015

Our daycare had swings and bouncers but the time they spent in them was specified.. for example theyd write on his paper drank 1 bottle, swing 12-1230, diaper change- urine, crib nap 1-2:30.. i loved getting the breakdown and when i noticed they were letting him sleep too long or something like that all i had to do was tell them and they would wake him up so he would sleep at night.. now my son is in the toddler room i still get the sheet with the daily activities and what he ate that day.. if youre worried about how much time the baby will be in a swing ask about a time break down sheet..

AmyCee · February 2015

I know more SAHMs that abuse swings, bouncers, etc than daycares where they have to keep a record of it

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