Useful Baby Swing Safety Tips You Need to Know
“To be a mother is to watch your heart walk outside your body”
You may have heard this, but its intensity hits you when you hold your baby in your arms for the first time. That is when the worrying starts too, and it never really stops, especially when you are introducing them to play tools like baby swings. So, if you’re a new mom looking for baby swing safety tips and a proper guide, I’ve got your back.
As a mom of six, baby swings helped me get through busy mornings when I had to make breakfast for my family or spend a little quality time with the new baby. But the cardinal rule of baby swing safety is that while they can give your arms a break, you should always supervise your baby in the swing and stay close by.
So, let’s discuss a newborn’s safety in the baby swing, height and weight limits, and other FAQs that I know are running through your mind.
Table of Contents
Baby Swing Safety Tips and Guidelines
Baby swings have a mixed reputation in the market. But, in my experience, so do most baby gears. It’s all about learning to use them the safe way, be it bouncers, swings, or more.
So, before you learn how to use baby swings, here are a few safety guidelines you need to consider:
1. Proper Assembly
Aside from interfering with your baby’s breathing, improperly assembled swings can also lead to physical injuries.
- Please read the instruction manual carefully before you assemble the swing.
- Poorly assembled swings pose grave threats to your little one, such as falling, hurting their head, and other general injuries.
2. Baby’s Positioning
- According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, if you can recline the swing seat more than 50 degrees, a five-point harness is best to support and secure your newborn.
- The shoulder straps should stop them from falling out or slumping over.
3. Constant Supervision
A baby swing is a great place to set your child down briefly and give your arms a rest.
- However, you need to ensure constant supervision. Whether you’ve got an infant or a toddler, never leave them unattended and avoid risks of suffocation, falls, injury, and more.
4. Swing Placement
Swing placement is a significant risk factor.
- Putting them up on elevated and uneven platforms increases their fall risks tremendously.
- Even the slightest movements can tip it over and injure your infant. Therefore, experts warn against placing them on high platforms like kitchen islands, tables, countertops, etc.
Height and Weight Limits for Baby Swings
All baby carriers, containers, or seats have specific age, height, and weight limitations. So, if you’re wondering about the standard height of a baby swing or the highest weight limit, it’s best to refer to the user manual for the product you buy and know when to stop using baby swings.
- For instance, full-size swings that transition from infancy to toddler have a different height and weight limit than a simple, portable one.
- Usually, the basic infant swings are suitable for kids under nine months or between the weights of 6 to 30 lbs.
We moms are all too familiar with the feeling, “They grow up so fast.” The rapid growth is one of the reasons why you must consider the height and weight limits on the baby swing.
- If your baby is too heavy for their infant swing, it’ll topple and hurt the baby.
- Moreover, as they grow, their body starts pressing against the edges of the seat or the swing. It can result in cuts and bruises.
Transition them to a toddler seat or a bigger swing once they start trying to climb out of the seat or reach heights of 65 to 74.7 cm, whichever comes first.
Because of its height and weight limits, many parents wonder if getting a baby swing is worth their investment. Well, all I can say is these baby swings are great for a little break and to introduce a change in your baby’s routine.
These swings help to preserve your sanity as well. So, please make an informed decision or look for alternatives to keep your baby entertained.
FAQs: Baby Swing Safety Tips
1. How Should a Newborn Look In A Swing?
Caring for a newborn is a different experience (to say the least!). It feels like anywhere other than your arms can hurt your little one. That’s why the baby’s position in a swing is a common concern.
AAP suggests keeping your infant in the most reclined position if they are younger than four months. Their neck muscles haven’t developed yet, and they don’t have any head and neck control at that age. The reclined position protects their head from slumping over and causing suffocation.
You can also use infant inserts to keep your baby safe in the swing. Most babies grow out of their infant inserts at five to six months. However, you must refer to the user manual before taking it out.
2. Can a Baby Swing Go Too Fast? – Speed Safety Guidelines
Colicky babies love their swings, at least in my experience. The gentle swaying motion is very soothing and calms them down instantly. However, the swing speed poses a significant safety concern to the parents. And personally, I like to err on the side of caution.
If the swing’s motion is too fast, it could make your baby uncomfortable. It can cause motion sickness or difficulty breathing and further agitate rather than soothe them (and that defeats the purpose, doesn’t it?).
It is one of the reasons why parents often prefer a manual bouncer or swing over an electric one. System malfunction of an electric swing can disrupt the speed settings. But, with manual swings, the speed depends on your and your baby’s movements.
3. Safe Alternatives to Baby Swings
My number 1 tip for all new parents shopping for a baby swing or bouncer is to try a preloved product with your baby first. See if they enjoy it because if they don’t, you won’t use the product, no matter how many 5-star reviews it has.
And if your kid doesn’t love a swing much like my daughters, you can explore other baby containers like bassinets, bouncers (please keep age limits in mind), cribs, pack-and-plays, and baby gliders.
4. Can You Put a 1-Year-Old On A Swing?
Yes. Swings are a perfectly safe device to put your baby in momentarily when you need to free your arms.
When I had my second child, my firstborn, Avery, was only 19 months old. Without the swing, it would’ve been quite difficult for me to manage two children under two years. The swing allowed me to spend quality time with my daughter.
Do Not Let Your Child Sleep in Baby Swings
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, letting babies sleep in containers like car seats, jumpers, bouncers, and swings can be dangerous regardless of age — however, the risk increases in the first year of their lives.
- Babies younger than a year don’t have adequate muscle strength to stay up straight in the swing. Therefore, if they fall asleep, their heads slump forward, interfering with their breathing.
So, you should always move your young infant to a firm, flat surface once they fall asleep in the swing or bouncer.
5. Do Baby Swings Cause Brain Damage?
Whenever a first-time mom asks me for advice, I tell them, “Protect yourself and your baby against myths and misconceptions.” There are numerous scary misconceptions and myths about baby swings and safe sleeping.
A particular one that I was concerned about was that infant or baby swings can cause brain damage or shaken baby syndrome. However, my pediatrician assured me that babies can’t get brain damage or shaken baby syndrome from gentle swinging and swaying.
Remember The Cardinal Rules Of Swing Safety
Becoming a mother is the most blessed journey. With every smile, giggle, wiggle, and footsteps, our children transform our lives. And we naturally want to protect them from any and all dangers, including making sure that their baby gear is safe.
The baby swing safety tips that I have discussed here will ensure your little one is safe, secure, and healthy in their swings. Keep your young infants in a reclined position and use infant inserts in the baby swing to protect their weak neck muscles.
Other than that, pay attention to the weight limit for the baby swing and the standard height of the swing. Remember, the two cardinal rules of using an infant swing: never let them sleep there, and never let them out of your sight.
Happy swinging!
