Tell me what you LOVE about your baby swing....

[paysensmom]

Baby swings are pretty pricey. I don't mind paying a hefty price, IF they are worth it. I was looking at the Fisher Price butterfly garden papasan cradle swing. It has great reviews and is super cute.

The only negative I can see is that once the baby starts sitting up, she will want to be sitting up in the swing too. It seems as this one only really lays down. So, we probably wouldn't get too much use out of the swing.

Please tell me what swing you have and love or what to stay away from.

Thanks so much!

 

[Shmily1]

We have the big Fisher Price Rainforest swing with the swing away mobile for DGS18 months. There are two-one with the mobile and one that is an open top but it's much smaller. He used it for a long time! It lays back for when they are little and sits up when they are big. When he got up to about 25 lbs, the swing started to slow down though so we put it up. I would definitely recommend this one.

 

[hulagirl87]

we had a swing but barely used it. We had a bouncy seat that she used a lot and then this

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3739296

which was the most amazing thing. She slept like a dream in it and she always looked so cozy in it!! Best purchase we made

 

[Mrs. Charming]

Save your money. DD hardly used it and every time we put DS in it, he got this "I'm gonna hurl" look. Yeah so it's a dust collector.

If you *really* want a swing, buy something like this http://www.amazon.com/Bright-Starts-Safari-Portable-Swing/dp/B002VBXY4K

 

[Mrs. Charming]

we had a swing but barely used it. We had a bouncy seat that she used a lot and then this

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3739296

which was the most amazing thing. She slept like a dream in it and she always looked so cozy in it!! Best purchase we made

Yes! I llove that thing!!

DS slept in his for 3 months. That thing is worth its weight in gold. It's the only thing he an sit in (besides the exersaucer) that he can't fling himself out of. I think theu even have nicer colors now, too.

 

[Shleedogg]

We have the big Fisher Price Rainforest swing with the swing away mobile for DGS18 months. There are two-one with the mobile and one that is an open top but it's much smaller. He used it for a long time! It lays back for when they are little and sits up when they are big. When he got up to about 25 lbs, the swing started to slow down though so we put it up. I would definitely recommend this one.

That's the one we have too. I love it! It plugs into the wall (huge plus!). The seat can recline or sit up, it can also change directions.

I would see if there's someone you can borrow one from to try it out w/ your LO. Every baby is different, you never know what one will like. We got a bouncer at my shower, I thought I didn't need a swing. DD hated the bouncer but loved the swing. It's hard to spend so much money though and to find out that they don't like it. Finding the thing that they like/calms them down can be a lifesaver. You can get a few things done around the house or shower!

 

[amy-momofthree]

Yes! I llove that thing!!

DS slept in his for 3 months. That thing is worth its weight in gold. It's the only thing he an sit in (besides the exersaucer) that he can't fling himself out of. I think theu even have nicer colors now, too.

I had that one too! Dd lived in it for the first 3 months and it's portable. I could take it in the bathroom when I showered etc. And it folds up!

 

[Crystal824]

My daughter loved her swing. When she was tiny, and I was on maternity leave, she took most of her naps in it. We have the FisherPrice my little lamb swing. She is 6 months old now and still takes naps in it. She will sit in it and play with the toy bar for about 10-15 min. now but not much longer if she is awake. She likes to be down on the floor as she is learning to crawl. The swing, for us, was a life saver. We also had a bouncer seat. She liked it ok, but prefered the swing. She mostly sat in the bouncer while I was getting ready in the mornings.

Our swing was soft and cozy. I liked the fact that the seat came off and was washable. I also liked the fact that it would swing in two directions.

It really depends on what your child prefers.

 

[paysensmom]

My daughter loved her swing. When she was tiny, and I was on maternity leave, she took most of her naps in it. We have the FisherPrice my little lamb swing. She is 6 months old now and still takes naps in it. She will sit in it and play with the toy bar for about 10-15 min. now but not much longer if she is awake. She likes to be down on the floor as she is learning to crawl. The swing, for us, was a life saver. We also had a bouncer seat. She liked it ok, but prefered the swing. She mostly sat in the bouncer while I was getting ready in the mornings.

Our swing was soft and cozy. I liked the fact that the seat came off and was washable. I also liked the fact that it would swing in two directions.

It really depends on what your child prefers.

That swing is almost the same as the butterfly garden one I am looking at. How far could you sit the swing up? That is what I am most concerned with. It seems like these cradle/ papasan type of swing is for infants and once the child learns or wants to sit more upright, they cannot. Is this the case?

 

[Sarah_Rose]

That swing is almost the same as the butterfly garden one I am looking at. How far could you sit the swing up? That is what I am most concerned with. It seems like these cradle/ papasan type of swing is for infants and once the child learns or wants to sit more upright, they cannot. Is this the case?

We have the My Little Lamb swing as well, and it does sit up pretty upright. As in upright enough that my 6 month old still prefers to be laying down. But then again, he's crawling but has no interest in sitting up.

I do love the swing, though. For the first 4 months, Callum took almost all his naps in the swing. I still put him in it to play with the toys and look at the mobile for 15-20 minutes while I shower and get ready, occaisionally. He would rather be in his jumperoo or on the floor at this age, though.

 

[ShootingStarMom2]

We got the Rainforest swing for our second born because I was chasing his 18m old brother around. I didn't want to get a pack-n-play so when we found the swing at a resale we got it. It works on battery and plugs into the wall. I wish we had it for our first born, it would have made the day a lot easier!

Our son loved it but we had to stop using because he got so heavy the swing hardly moved. I think the best thing about it was the swing seat could turn around so it would rock side to side as well. After he was too big we put him in the Rainforest Jumparoo and he loved that too.

If you can hold off until the spring there will be tons of kids resales and you could probably find one for way less than buying new.

 

[SoonerSarah]

I have had three swings, the first one was a Fisher Price portable and it was a death trap. The second and third were the Fisher Price Papasan swing. We thought we were done with children after the second, so we sold it, and surprise. Anyway, I bought the second Papasan off of Craigslist. I think for $40. worked just like brand new. The seat does sit up more as well. My Mom also owns one and my Bro owns one as well.

 

[gigi1976]

I hate having baby equipment all over the place. For my 1st 2 babies I had a fisher price swing n meals (swing that turned into highchair). I sold it when we were done with kids, then changed our mind but they didn't make that one anymore so I got a graco swing n bounce, it is a swing with a removable bouncy seat.

 

[twinboysmom]

We have a fisher price precious planet full size. I think they have updated the line and changed the pattern. It has a mobile, plays music. Also swings horizontally and vertically. My boys are 26 lbs and it still swings fine. They did not like it for the first few months but as they got older, say 3-4months, they liked it more and more. The horizontal motion seemed to work best for them. I would highly recommend this model. If you get a swing, buy a lot of D batteries. They suck 'em down.

 

[Halbleib1]

I hate having baby equipment all over the place. For my 1st 2 babies I had a fisher price swing n meals (swing that turned into highchair). I sold it when we were done with kids, then changed our mind but they didn't make that one anymore so I got a graco swing n bounce, it is a swing with a removable bouncy seat.

We have the swing and meals as well. We used it for our son who is now 6 and we are currently using it for our 4 month old daughter. It has been a great swing the only problem is it does take up some room as a high chair which is probably why they stopped making them. But it was a great price for two pieces of baby gear. I just wish it plugged into the wall so we did not have to worry about batteries. It keeps my daughter happy. When nothing else will put her to sleep or she is being cranky it is a lifesaver. I would never go without having a swing. We also have a bouncer but she does not care for it as much. She will sleep in her swing where as the bouncer she gets bored with it.

 

[JaymeC]

This is just my two cents, but I would get whatever safe one I could get used and relatively inexpensively. We had a hand-me-down swing that our first child HATED with a passion and our second child lived in for the first few months, but barely used after that (I haven't met many babies that wanted to be confined in a swing once they could sit up and start moving around, honestly). The cute add-ons and such are more for you than for your infant. And since it can be hit or miss with the babies, I wouldn't want to invest a lot of money in it. Infant things can be overwhelming, and you really, really do not need as much as we Americans seem to think you need

 

[brandylouwho]

With our first child we had a very normal Graco swing, just went forward & back. She loved it. The only thing I would have changed was I wish the front tray was easily removable or opened as it could be a pain to get her out when she was sleeping (without waking her).

With our 2nd child we had a baby papasan type swing-they were the new best thing then & I could get her out easily. These cost quite a bit more than my first swing, but I really wanted it. 2nd baby didn't really like swings. At least I was able to resell it.

Also had a Fisher Price portable swing (sat low to the ground/folded up) that would have been more than adequate as the only swing with either kid.

Grandma had a hand me down death trap of a swing that I forbade her to use with my babies. I think it came from the 1980s. That is the only type I'd totally advise against.

We used our bouncy seat far more with both kids.

 

[Lucky4me]

Do yourself a favor and get one on Craigslist for $20.
Most babies stay in them for such a short time, not worth paying $100 for one.
I have a newer FP Disney one I bought for $20 in the basement that was wonderful for the two or three months we needed it. I'll keep it here for grandkids someday, but if that wasn't the case, it would be back on Craigslist for $20.