You wait for nine months for your little miracle of life. You endure excruciating labor pain before you are allowed to hold your little one in your arms.
At the first sight of your baby, your heart is filled with so much love that it almost hurts. You’ll go to the ends of the world to protect your bundle of joy.
So, your happiness knows no bound when you finally bring him/her home. After all, you were preparing for this for weeks or even months. The diapers, the swaddling blankets, the onesies and the toys everything is ready.
But, then reality hits you as it does all parents – Raising a baby is a mind and body racking task; one that involves you being on that little human’s beck and call 24/7.
New and experienced parents will attest to the fact that at one point mommies and daddies actually begin to dread the anguished wails of their little ones.
And there is often no method to their morosity! Babies cry for myriad reasons; because some unknown force/factor woke them up or things just did not go right in their little, yet to be discovered, world or just cuz.
And guess what, you get to deal with those heart wrenching and seemingly endless wails in your sleep-deprived and mind-numbingly exhausted state.
In fact, babies across the world seem to have an inbuilt antenna that provokes them to let out a piercing wail right in the middle of the night when their parents are just drifting off to sleep.
In the midst of this mayhem, does a little bit of effective magic in the form of a swing sound like just the thing you need? Hell Yes!
And the good news is that a baby swing truly does a marvelous job of calming most little ones, including those who perpetually wake up on the wrong side of the crib/bassinet.
As a matter of fact, such is the efficacy of baby swings that their popularity among parents transcends the bounds of culture, countries and centuries.
But, how much is too much of this good thing?
Continue reading to know the truth about baby swings. Be warned, some of them are ugly truths! Nonetheless, you need to know them to use that baby swing effectively and above all SAFELY! But first things first…
Does Your Baby Even Need A Baby Swing?
Certainly not till they have had their first experience of the rhythmic and soothing swaying! But after the first few sessions of swinging, don’t be surprised if your baby gets hooked to the infant swing.
But a swing has more to offer than just the oft recognized feel-good factor. Take a look at what else it can do:
1. Mimic the soothing movement inside the womb
Every time you move about when pregnant, your child experiences gentle movement in the womb.
Whether you are standing, exercising or walking around, because of the amniotic fluids, the baby feels all these movements as gentle swaying and rocking.
So, when you put the little one in the swing, its rhythmic swaying creates a strong and soothing sense of being back home and safe in the womb. This is one of the reasons for the calming effect that swings have on babies.
2. Stimulate and strengthen the sensory system
When it comes to human senses, we only focus on the famous five- sight, sound, taste smell and touch – all of which work externally.
But, there are two more which are internal and just as or even more important. One of them is the vestibular sense, which is basically your sense of movement, balance and coordination.
This is the most widely connected sense that also acts as the sensory traffic controller. Swinging is pleasurable and calming at the same time because it stimulates and strengthens the vestibular system.
Simply put, that swing has the ability to calm an agitated child while motivating and encouraging a normally disinterested baby to explore the world around him, how is that for dual effect?
3. Provides entertainment and enhances curiosity
The back and forth rocking changes the depth of perception of the world around. This ability is acquired by a little one by his/her third month. The change in perception goes a long way in engaging the baby and encouraging exploration.
Moreover, the little toys, the lullabies and songs as well as the mobile, all keep the child entertained and always learning something new.
Recent research has proved that most things babies do have little to do with their reflexes as was believed earlier and more to do with their desire to explore and learn. So, that’s how a swing creates the perfect environment for learning.
4. Helps with reflux issues
Not all thrower uppers respond to a swing positively but most little ones with a reflux problem are soothed by the side to side movements of the swing.
Also, the seats of most swings hold the baby’s head and upper torso at an angle to the floor. Although the position is not perpendicular, it is often good enough to stop the digestive acids from entering the esophagus.
5. Helps to create a sleep schedule
Perhaps the most important function of a swing is to inculcate healthy sleeping habits.
Of the many life skills that your baby will come to learn, sleeping on schedule is one, and it is a very important one at that because it has a direct bearing on growth milestones.
If used correctly, swings can help you to ease the baby into a sleeping schedule that gives you at least some time for yourself and your chores.
When Is A Good Time To Introduce An Infant To A Baby Swing?
There isn’t a clear consensus on this.
However, a few neonatal intensive care units have found success in calming their intense reflux and neonatal abstinence syndrome babies with the use of a glider swing (More specifically, MamaRoo).
So, it would be safe to assume that you can start using an infant swing within days of birth.
Some experienced parents choose to opt for the soothing effect of the swing (in short 5-minute episodes) within a day or two of birth. Then, there are others who like to wait for 1-2 weeks before they start using the swing.
Of course, we also have new and apprehensive parents who are comfortable graduating to the baby swing only after the infant crosses the one month mark. For full-term babies, you can take either of these approaches.
But, for preemies, get the “all-clear” from your pediatrician before using the swing. In any case, there are three vital things to remember:
The seating position
A lot of infant swings have a recliner angle of 45 to 50 degrees and yet, the makers of these products claim that they are suitable even for newborns.
The crucial thing to understand here is that till the age of about 4-5 months, little ones do not have enough spinal and neck muscle strength to hold their head up on their own, even when they are awake and are being held steady.
Now, imagine what happens when you place them in a swing and all that swaying is causing drowsiness?
The head slumps forward and they get into the extremely dangerous chin to chest posture. This is the position that has been implicated in several SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) cases. In the slumped position, the airway gets blocked and the child does not have the physical strength to sit up to breathe properly.
So, it is quintessential to use the most reclined seat position for babies under the age of 4 months.
Even when they cross this age, and if the seat is adjusted to an angle of more than 45 degrees, make sure that you always use the shoulder harness to prevent the child from falling forward and out of the swing.
Another reason to opt for swings with a 5 point harness is that the shoulder straps prevent the child from rolling over to his side, which can have a similar effect to slumping forward.
The swing direction and speed
The swaying movement in most swings is not forceful enough to cause SBS (Shaken Baby Syndrome) or concussion-like injuries in infants.
However, there are some products that do take rocking to a whole different level. I know that many parents actually believe that vigorous swinging is what their babies crave.
But, what you need to remember is that the idea of a swing is to resemble the gentle movements felt by the infant while inside the womb and then in your arms as you rocked your little one to sleep.
Anything more than that is unneeded and above all can be dangerous. Let me tell you about a neat little trick.
Place a doll or anything else that resembles your baby’s weight in the seat in its most upright position. Run the swing at its fastest without harnessing the mock-infant in the swing. If the object starts slipping out or forward from the seat from the intensity of the swinging, the sway is more than what is needed.
Generally, you will not have a problem with the intensity or even the speed of swinging when use the side to side direction or when using a glider.
The time spent in the swing
When you are starting the baby in the swing, limit the time to just 5-7 minutes and then gradually work your way up to 10 minutes.
Thereafter, stick to increments of 5 minutes at a time and don’t go above the 30-minute mark. In fact, it is never recommended to exceed the 40-minute mark; more on this coming up in the next few sections.
Supervised soothing
This is the thing that nearly 90% of parents tend to ignore when using a baby swing. Surprisingly, this is a warning that manufacturers put down in writing and experts have been yelling themselves hoarse over.
You are never supposed to keep the baby in the swing unsupervised, not even for 5 minutes. I bet at least some of you are wondering – Then, why bother with the new age remote controlled and Bluetooth-n-WiFi enabled swings?
Well, they exist only so that you don’t have to come running back to the swing to increase/decrease the speed or to start/stop the swing. But at no point is it safe to let the baby out of your sight while the little one is strapped in the swing.
For How Long Do Babies Use A Swing?
The idea is to use the swing to distract and soothe an agitated child. A swing is not a sleeping aid nor should it be used as such. That said, the amount of time that an infant can spend in a swing is another highly debated topic.
In her book, “What to Expect the First Year”, Heidi Murkoff tells parents to limit swing time to just two sessions of 30 minutes per day.
While Consumer Reports concurs with her on keeping each swing session at 30 minutes or less, they don’t offer any advice on how much total time a little one is allowed to spend in the swing through the day.
As far as pediatricians go, many of them don’t shun the swing while some actually recommend it as an occasional sleep aid and a soothing device. These experts are a bit lax with the rule and ask parents to stick to a daily limit of 2 hours per day.
Safety Tips When Using A Baby Swing
- Never leave the baby in the swing without the safety harness on; not even for a few minutes and even if the seat is in the maximum reclined position.
- Portable swings are more compact and placed closer to the ground than full size swings. This prompts many to keep these small-sized swings on elevated surfaces. This can lead to disaster. A swing, regardless of its type, should always be kept on the floor.
- Some swings do have to be pushed to get them to start. If that is the kind you own, it is OK to give the seat a gentle nudge, but stop at that. Do, not try to increase the speed or intensity of swaying by adding the power of your hands to the battery or electric power that is already working the contraption.
- Along the same lines, do not let your older child, no matter how old or young, push the swing while the baby is in it. This can be dangerous for both kids, and particularly so if the older one is also just a toddler.
- Regardless of your little one’s age, start with the lowest swing speed setting and try to stick to it as long as possible. Even if you do need to turn up the speed by a notch or two, turn it back down after a few minutes. This is a subtle yet effective way to ensure that your little one does not get used to rough swinging.
- Do not leave the child in the swing if you need to tackle chores that will take you to another area or room of the home. Similarly, lift the child out of the swing and place him/her in the crib if you are feeling tired or drowsy.There have been instances when a tired mommy dozed off with the baby in the swing and woke up hours later to find that the child was still strapped into the reclining seat or worse yet had wiggled out partly from a not-so-secure harness.
- When it comes to the height and weight recommendations from the manufacturer, it is always best to stay a few pounds and inches short of the maximums.
- Many full size and portable swings can be folded. Usually, this mechanism involves the use of hinges on the frame of the swing. Make sure that the hinges are locked into place to prevent the swing from folding while your baby is in it. I know how dangerous this sounds and sadly, it has happened.So, play it safe and once you unfold the swing, operate at full speed for a few minutes just to be sure that everything works as it should before placing the baby in it. Above all, don’t fold the swing unless you absolutely need to.
- I know that a lot of swings now come with removable rocker seats. Some of them even have a convenient handle that can be used to carry the baby around. These are great for at-home use. But a swing seat cannot and should not double up as a carrier when you are heading out.
- Keep a close watch on any movements of the swing frame as the seat sways with the baby in it. This is a product- specific fault that can cause a disaster. Flimsy frames and swing feet that do not have anti-skid covers can lead to this problem.
- When removing the baby out of the cradle seat or placing the child in, ensure that the seat itself does not move around a lot. If need be, place a low chair behind the seat, which will hold the carrier in place as you put the baby inside. The last thing you want to do is have your hands occupied with the infant and then go chasing the recliner seat in all directions.
- Most swings have mobiles or at least toy rods with plush toys to keep the baby entertained. Ensure that the moving mobile and the toys are not close enough for the baby to be able to reach them. The goal is to grab the little one’s attention and encourage him to reach out but not actually be able to grab hold of the toys.
- When the child is placed in the swing, do not place any soft toys, blankets, pillows in the seat. These can create a serious choking hazard.
The Problem With Too Much Swing Time!
1. Your baby needs you more than he needs the swing
Mommies, here is something that you probably already know instinctively- the mere sight of your face, the sound of your voice and even your smell offers a lot of reassurance and comfort to the little being you brought into this world.
Plus, these interactions are a learning experience, more than what a swing will ever be, no matter how many bells and whistles it has. So, while a swing is a wonderful soothing aid to have around, give your baby more mommy and daddy time and only a limited amount of swing time.
After all, surely you’d like it more if the little one’s first word is mama/dada or even the pets name, and not something like- swingy
2. Too much swing time is simply not good for that tiny body
Childbirth is hard on mommies? Hell, yes! The passage through the birthing canal is just as traumatic for the baby? You bet!
In fact, all that pushing and jostling often leave little ones with stiff muscles. Plus, the months of being curled up in a compact space can lead to lower muscle development in some areas of the body.
But, there is nothing to worry about because as your baby grows, all these kinks are stretched out with growing muscle strength.
However, muscles only grow when they are used and surely you will agree with me when I say that those tiny muscles are not going to get a lot of exercise if the little one spends a large part of his/her day strapped into the swing.
3. The more visible impact of too much swing time
You have probably heard about babies developing a flat skull because they spend too much time on their back and heads in the swing or other sitting/sleeping devices.
Well, that isn’t a myth! Some babies do indeed end up with a flat skull and although the condition is benign, it is best to avoid it from developing.
4. Issues that can grow with the baby
Secondary curves of the neck and the spine form/become stronger in the first year of life. But, this only happens when the baby is allowed to move about and progress naturally.
Once again, too much time in swing means that the spine is kept in an unnaturally curved position for way too long, and this can cause spine problems later in life.
5. Soothing should not be done at the cost of development and progress
Remember we discussed that infant movements are less reflexive in nature and more to do with their curiosity and desire to learn.
While the child will no doubt be amused and entertained by the bells and whistles of the swing at first eventually, the experience will get stale. But, obviously the lil’ one can’t just shout out, “I am bored, get me out of here”.
However, that boredom can impact cognitive development. Along the same lines, if the swinging is too vigorous it can prevent the child from even attempting to lift his/her head up. Again, this is something that you don’t want.
6. A dizzy baby can’t talk but it can throw up
How would you like to be in a Ferris wheel or even a carousel several times a day, every day? I bet it would make at least some of us dizzy and nauseous. That’s exactly what too much swinging does to babies.
7. Not the best sleep in the world
When you allow your baby to sleep in the swing, you are basically restricting the child to just one position.
Naturally, we move around, change sides, move our heads and limbs around as we sleep. This helps to maintain proper circulation as we sleep and keeps us comfortable as we collect our zzz’s
But, babies don’t get to do this natural moving around if they are strapped into the swing. So, this leads to a not-so-refreshing nap. Moreover, we are designed to sleep in cycles, which means natural nighttime awakenings are a part of the equation for little humans.
However, if your baby is used to only dozing off after a round of swinging, he/she will have trouble falling back asleep if transferred to a crib/bassinet from the sewing, as should be the case. In both scenarios, you will have a sleep-deprived baby on your hands.
When Do Babies Stop Using Swing?
According to some experts, a swing becomes an unnecessary sleep prop once the child is 2 months old. However, you can continue to use it for the occasional nap and when the little one cannot be calmed by other means.
Of course, there is no harm in using the swing for playtime, right till your little tot hits her half-year mark. However, once the child is past 2 months of age, don’t let her nap in the swing as far as possible.
Watch for signs of drowsiness and when your little one looks like she is about to give in to the call of snooze kingdom, transfer her to the crib/bassinet. If the child throws up a fuss, rock her in your arms for a few minutes or better yet, stay with the infant and gently rub her feet/back till she falls asleep.
When Do Babies Outgrow Swings?
If you are strictly talking about the weight and age maximums of the manufacturers, your baby will not outgrow the swing in terms of weight. Let me clarify this.
Most swings have a maximum weight limit of 25 lbs. The majority of Graco products come with a maximum weight capacity of 30 lbs.
Typically, American babies weigh around 7.5 lbs at birth, and on average, they get to about 20-21 lbs by their first birthday. So, you will still have a margin of 4 to 9 lbs even when your little one is ready to celebrate his/her first birthday.
But, that is well past the maximum age limit for swing use. So, in other words, it is rare, although not unusual, to have babies outgrowing their swings in terms of weight.
As far as the age limit is concerned, this too should not be etched in stone, although most experts would recommend sticking to it.
No, I am not telling you to go over it. But the fact is that some babies who are exceptionally tiny or are extra sensitive or have bad teething problems or are colicky will need a swing right till they are 8-10 months of age.
Then, there are the rapid developers and growers, who will physically outgrow their swings, if not in terms of weight, in terms of height, which is usually 30 inches. Some of them may get too curious and start moving about too much for the swing to be safe anymore.
In a nutshell, stay a few pounds short of the weight maximum but as far as the age limit goes, let your little one show you the way. And don’t you think that you will have no help from the swing when dealing with toddler tantrums.
You can always use indoor/outdoor swings with the same effect, just not the infant swing you have been using.
Baby Swing Age Range
On average, babies will spend 3-6 months in their infant swings. Generally, you would start at 1-2 weeks old and most kids will swing till 6 months of age.
So, that’s a lot of giggles and happy times for about 50 cents to a dollar a day. That is what the cost works out to, unless you are going for one of the expensive models.
As far as their use as sleeping aids is concerned, most infants are happy to sleep in their bassinets, without the swaying, by their 3rd or 4th month. In any case, you should get ready to get the swing out of the picture by the time your baby is 5 months old. In fact, I’d suggest you start the weaning off process around 4 ½ months.
And In Conclusion!
Nearly a fifth of all babies take to a swing like fish to water the minute you place them in the seat. For these newborns, the swaying turns into an essential tool for sleep and survival.
Other little ones grow to love it over time and only a handful end up never enjoying the calming movements of the product.
As far as parents are concerned, an infant swing can offer some much-needed respite from baby care duties. Considering the comfort of both sides, most pediatricians acknowledge that a swing can indeed be a valuable soothing and sleeping aid in a household with a newborn.
Also, the fact that the humble swing has been used for centuries the world over to calm babies is a clear indication of its efficacy and to some extent its safety. So, go ahead and use that swing, but keep things in moderation and you and your little one will be just fine!