Image: Shutterstock

Primal Pointers

  • It is not safe to let your baby sleep in the swing, and you lot may only keep the baby on the swing for playtime.
  • Loose and soft bedding of the swings and weak muscle strength in babies could increase the adventure for positional asphyxiation, acid reflux, and container baby syndrome.
  • You lot may permit the baby in the swing during their playtime, and the infant must only slumber in a crib or bassinet.

Information technology is adorable to lookout a baby slumber in a swing, simply you may wonder why experts recommend cribs for babies to slumber. A infant sleeping in a swing has an increased hazard for positional asphyxiation, and many experts do not recommend it. It is better to transfer a baby from a swing to a crib as soon as they autumn asleep. Some babies may love to autumn asleep in the swing with swift movements. A firm flat surface with proper back back up, such as a crib, is the preferred rubber sleeping place for infants.

Read on to learn why babe sleep in swings is unsafe, how to utilize swings safely, and what to do if your babe only prefers to sleep in swings.

Is It Safe For The Baby To Slumber In A Swing?

No, placing the baby in the swing for playtime is allowable, but letting the babe sleep or have a nap in the swing is unsafe. Here are the reasons why swings are inappropriate as sleeping places for babies.

  1. Loose bedding: Babies may sleep on their sides rather than on their backs on the loose bedding of the swing. The loose bedding and padding may pose as suffocation hazards for babies, and could increment the run a risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in babies younger than a twelvemonth (1).
  1. Weak muscle strength in babies: Infants lack acceptable musculus strength to support their heads and go on their necks directly. Just like how you lot support a baby's head with your hand when you selection them up, babies demand support during sleep, too. A swing does not provide the required caput and neck support (ii).
  1. Positional asphyxiation: In a swing, at that place are chances that the baby may sleep on their tummy or sides, which may cause rebreathing of exhaled air. This leads to low oxygen levels and carbon dioxide buildup encircling the babe, increasing the risk of positional asphyxiation (three).
  1. Container baby syndrome: The swing limits baby's movements and imparts inappropriate stress on their developing joints and bones. Sustained apply of a swing for sleeping may increase the risk of container baby syndrome. It may crusade a delay in achieving physical milestones, such as rolling and sitting, and cause musculoskeletal problems, such every bit torticollis (four).
  1. Safety issues associated with a swing: Falls from swings, strangulations, trigger-happy of bad quality swing cloth, and injuries due to bumping of the swing, are some major risks associated with a swing (v).
  2. Worsening acid reflux: Some parents may place their baby with acid reflux on a swing believing that the semi-inclined position could improve the condition. However, according to Dr. Anthony Porto from the American Academy of Pediatrics, sleeping on the back is the best manner to slumber, even for babies with acrid reflux, as the semi-inclined position of the babe in a swing may worsen some symptoms of acid reflux (6).

How To Employ A Babe Swing Safely?

Exercise not use swings for sleeping and napping, but utilize them only for playing once the baby starts sitting and property up their head on their own, which is by the age of vi months (7). Observing the following tips could help in the safe utilise of swing in babies.

  1. Use but during playtime: Swinging tin exist fun when the baby uses the swing while awake. Playing appropriate games and activities while the baby is on the swing could assistance develop the petty one'due south sensory and motor skills.
  1. Soothe the baby in it: Swings are cracking options to at-home a fussy infant. Swinging relaxes the trunk and lifts the mood. Apply swinging to lull the babe, and once the infant seems sleepy, transfer them to the crib.
  1. Monitor the swing fourth dimension: Regulate the speed and the move of swinging according to the tolerance of the baby, and come across to information technology that an upright position is maintained. Make sure that the baby has access to enough of fresh air (8).
  1. Use swing sets: A portable swing fix can be carried to a garden, where the baby can bask the globe around them, get sunlight and fresh oxygen, and interact with the environment. Also, swing sets with leg holes back up the baby to exist in an upright position.
  2. Use swings as directed past the manufacturer: Read the directions for right use provided on the packaging. Bank check for any buckles, attachments, or belts provided, and understand their correct usage. Annotation the peak and weight limits mentioned for the swing.

How To Break The Baby's Habit Of Sleeping In A Swing?

If yous regularly place the infant for naps in a swing, chances are they could become habituated to information technology. Here are a few things yous can endeavor to pause the baby's addiction of sleeping in a swing and brand them slumber in a crib or bassinet instead.

  1. Habituate sleeping in cribs and bassinet: In one case your babe falls asleep in a swing, transfer them to a crib or bassinet immediately. Try doing so equally gently as possible to prevent awakening the baby. Gradually, start placing the baby in the crib right when they go drowsy. Exist consequent in using the crib/bassinet, and use the crib for both naps and dark slumber. It tin can help the babe associate the crib as a place to slumber (ix).
  1. Try a sleep routine: Observe a sleep routine to at-home the baby plenty that they can comfortably fall asleep in the crib. Give them a warm bath, feed them, and read them a book earlier they get drowsy and ready to sleep in the crib.
  1. Keep the baby awake in a swing: Make the baby associate the swing every bit a place to remain awake and play rather than sleep. Keep the babe occupied for all the fourth dimension they spend in a swing; talk to them, give them a toy to explore, or play a game to continue them engaged and awake.
  1. Place the swing near the crib: When the baby becomes drowsy, shift them to the crib, and when they are awake, shift them to the swing. A quick transition from the swing to the crib may aid some babies adapt to sleeping in the crib quicker.
  1. Maintain a consequent sleep environment: Always proceed the babe's room repose and night so that they accept an easier time relaxing inside the crib (10). Place the crib at exactly the same spot and in the same room. A consistent slumber environment could make it easier to make the baby sleep in a crib.
  1. Use pacifiers: Using a pacifier after your baby is iii to four weeks old can be an effective method to assist them fall comatose. It reduces the risk of SIDS in babies, and provides temporary distractions needed for transitions from a swing to a crib (eleven).
  1. Swaddle: Swaddling could make the baby experience warm and cozy, and calm them enough to accept the crib equally a identify to sleep. Stop swaddling the baby one time they are ii months old, which is the historic period when they endeavor rolling over (12). Swaddling helps the baby experience the warmth like the female parent's womb and accept the crib as their sleeping identify.
  1. Massage: A gentle massage acts as a soothing therapy for babies, as it relaxes them, reduces crying, and results in a audio sleep. After a massage, identify the baby in a crib or bassinet for slumber. Do not massage the baby soon later feeding, as it may cause vomiting. Wait for 45 minutes after feeding to give a baby massage (xiii).
  1. Gently rock in arms: The rocking movement could soothe the baby before yous place them in a crib. One time the infant seems drowsy, place them in their crib to fall asleep. Avoid doing it regularly and keep rocking for the moments when the baby acts fussy (14).
  2. Sing and read: You tin can attempt singing lullabies or some songs to lull the babe in a crib (15). Endeavour multiple songs or stick to one lullaby that gets your baby to slumber faster.

Safe Alternatives To Swings

Below are some of the safe alternatives to a swing for babies (16).

  1. Cribs: This infant bed, also called a cot, is the safest option for babies to sleep (17). The firm surface is ideal for babies to slumber, and the sidebars provide support when babies begin to stand up.
  1. Bassinets: Information technology is a baby basket stock-still on pinnacle of legs. A bassinet is like shooting fish in a barrel to motion from one identify to another inside the house. Some are foldable and portable for easy carrying while traveling.
  1. Cradles: These are studier than bassinets and smaller than the cribs. Cradles can be rocked to lull the baby, and some of them even have wheels for piece of cake move.

Oft Asked Questions

i. How long can I let my baby stay in a swing?

The swing time should be limited to an hour or less in a day. Activities similar crawling, sitting, and continuing cannot develop in a swing. Therefore, swings should simply be used during playtime activity and every bit a means to soothe a fussy baby.

2. Should my baby take naps in the swing?

No, swings should not be used for naps. Place the infant in a crib even for daytime naps, only similar how you would place them for night slumber.

iii. Tin a swing aid soothe my fussy baby?

A swing could assistance soothe a fussy baby since the swinging motion helps a baby calm downwards.

4. Can I employ a boppy lounger for babies to sleep, instead of a swing?

No, boppy loungers are to be used when the babe is awake. It is not prophylactic for babies to sleep in a boppy lounger.

A safe and sound sleep helps a infant grow. While swings are suitable for playtime, you lot must always use a crib or bassinet for the babe's naps and nighttime sleep. Be consistent with using cribs for sleep, and the baby volition gradually find it a comfortable alternative to sleeping in a swing.

References:

MomJunction'due south articles are written after analyzing the enquiry works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You tin can learn more about the authenticity of the information nosotros present in our editorial policy.

The following two tabs change content beneath.

  • Reviewer
  • Author

Dr. Wayne Hough is a pediatrician currently based in the Northern Suburbs of Greatcoat Town in S Africa. He got his medical degree from the Academy of Stellenbosch. He then worked at the Tygerberg Children's Hospital before completing his pediatric training and qualification from the Due south African College of Medicine. Dr. Hough as well holds a MMed degree in pediatrics from... more

Rohit Garoo is a zoologist-botanist turned author with over 8 years of experience in content writing, content marketing, and copywriting. He has likewise done an MBA in marketing and human resource and worked in the domains of market research and due east-commerce. Rohit writes topics related to health, wellness and development of babies. His articles featured on several notable websites, including... more