Can a Baby Be in a Swing Too Much?

It all depends on if you want him in there long term. My 10 mo old is a mostly day time swing napper and it makes things a tad hard if we aren't at home (I usually then have to hold him for his nap, which is fine by me too 90% of the time except some times a mom has to go potty or eat or help with siblings) but there really is no "harm" in swing napping. You just might want to toss it up with bed napping as well so that when you do "need" to have baby sleep elsewhere he won't startle at being laid down somewhere other than the swing :)

Edited to add: my son sleeps in his non moving swing, he just uses it for "snuggle factor"

R., my son was like your little one is now. He would really only sleep for his naps in his swing. He also always wanted to be rocked to go to sleep. My husband was gone a lot at nights so it left me to picking up my son after a fulle days work and still taking care of the baby and doing housework too. The swing saved my life(and kept me a little sane). Now my son is 2 and he's very active during the day and he goes to sleep for his naps by himself in his own bed. I think if it were laziness that was keeping him in the swing there would be a problem but it seems to comfort him and help him sleep. I don't think there is a problem with that.

I don't think there is anything wrong with it.. Just watch the back or side of his head- whichever he lays against the most that he doesn't get a flat spot.. I have a friend whos baby girl is about 4 months old and she would always turn her head a certain way when she slept(even on people!!) and it started forming a flat spot.. So we'd just turn her head and she's fine.. I used a swing with my first son but he didn't like it a lot so I'll probably try again with my 2nd due in October. If you're only putting him in his swing to nap I don't see anything wrong with that at all.. It's not too much and if it helps you and your other son out- all the better!!! Hope that helps you out!!
(Let me just say I think this is cool- your son Jake is 3 and my son Jake is turning 3 in a few days!!)

The biggest issue is that they become habituated to it. I have a neighbor for example that thought it was a great idea to keep the little guy in the swing all day because she was already chasing after a 2 year old. Now guess who can't get her baby to sleep any other way?

And it doesn't take all day to get it started. If they don't get enough experience falling asleep on their own, they just don't feel comfortable being put down to sleep. It's better to let them fuss a little and learn to fall asleep on their own. Also, when they wake in the middle of sleeping (when you know it hasn't been long enough), don't rush in right away. They will likely fall back asleep in a few minutes.

Some child development experts object to overuse of swings because they limit a child's ability to develop their muscles by stretching, wiggling, rolling. Cognitive development may also be affected when swings are used for more than a few hours a day, for similar reasons.

I was worried about that as well and I read in the "What to Expect the First Year" book that it is best only to let baby swing for 30 minutes at a time. What I did with my son, who is now too big for the swing we have, was I would let him fall asleep in the swing, which usually only take all of 5 or 10 minutes, and then transfer him the bassinet or crib once he was good and asleep. This may or may not work for you, but it's worth a try. When I just had to have some quiet time or get stuff done, though, I would let him sleep in the swing for as long as need be. I think it's pretty much a judgement call. Mommy knows best.

I would have never slept for the first three months of my daughters life if not for the baby swing. Unbeknownst to us, she had acid reflux - but the swing allowed her to sleep because she was partially sitting up, but also tightly cradled. And I gotta tell you, nothing but the very highest setting on that swing did the trick. I actually asked my ped about it, and he said that the baby could go ahead and be in the swing all she wanted, and that it would not hurt her.
My child lived in that thing.

So swing away, and no worries! Ask your ped, and he/she will likely say the same thing.

I used to do the same thing. My son would not go to sleep unless I was rocking him, dancing him to sleep, or if he was in his swing. As long as he is not in it when no one is around, I think it is ok.
As my son grew too big for the swing, I got him accustomed to a different way to fall asleep which consisted of me or dad reading him a book or singing to him softly while rocking with him on the rocking chair, and then as he nodded off, put him in his crib or bed. As he grew older, we just read him a book or sang him some soft songs and put him to bed. If he fussed after we put him in bed, we would rub his back or tummy and either softly talk to him, or sing him a song, sometimes we even put on some classical music and that helped him go to sleep also. It really depends on your baby's personality. Some take transitions easier than others.
Maybe you can try rocking him every once in a while or singing, reading a book, or playing classical music. Even if you do this gradually such as reading, playing classical music, or singing to him while he falls asleep in the swing. This might make the transition easier. Sure, you might end up having to sing, read a book, or play music every time before he goes to sleep, but there is nothing wrong with that. ^.^
If your son sleeps in a swing, let him, but try different methods that I had suggested (and maybe what other mothers suggested as well) so that there is not just one way he will fall asleep.
Another thing too is that when reading you can involve your three year old. Even with singing, you can ask if he can help sing with you so brother can take a nap. Even if he does not know the words and just hums along, that would be wonderful. Or if you can trust him to rock with his brother in the rocking chair with your supervision of course. Also, if you play classical music during nap time, tell your three year old that when the music is on, it is quiet time, or resting time, or nap time. Just try a few things and find out what works best.

M. *~

Dear R.,

I really do not know, but since you are aware that it might not be the best thing to continue for a long time, you will figure out something else soon.

I think that the baby needs to be accustumed to sleeping in his or her own bed in the long run.

You night go to that website www.drgreene.com or to Vincent Iannelli, M.D. a site for baby care. It seems like a good site like the Dr. Greene one.

I am getting ready to order 'The Fussy Baby Book' from the Vincent Iannelli site, it seems like my grandson may have a fussy baby - it looks like a good book, written by the parents of multiples.

Good Luck, C. N.

R., I see the three comments you have received before me all said that sleeping in the swing is fine and good, but I have a different story. My daughter was the same way as your son. She only liked to sleep in her swing. She started out just napping in it, but she ended up only being able to fall asleep in her swing. She was this way until she was about 16 months old! I was not able to get her to sleep any other way!! If I went on vacation or spent the night at someone else's house...I had to lug that god-aweful swing with me! What was a nice break for me when she was younger, ended up being a pain. Then, at some point, she was too heavy for the swing, so I had to resort to pushing it myself until she fell asleep. Once she outgrew the swing, she would fall asleep in her bouncer!! I guess she just liked to be in motion to sleep, but it was such a hardship on me.
I hope you don't let your son get that accustomed to the swing. I honestly don't recommend letting the baby sleep in the swing to any of my friends. It is so much easier to get them used to sleeping in their crib at a young age. My daughter was 16 months old before she would go to sleep in her crib, and by then she was standing up crying for "mommy" and I would have to leave her alone until she would fall asleep. It was such a hard time for me, and I really wish I would have done it differently.
My advice, use the swing as an AWAKE toy. He needs to sleep in a crib or bassinet. If he absolutely needs to be in motion, try rocking him in a rocking chair.
I know this probably isn't what you wanted to hear, but I hope you understand I'm just trying to save you from the same hardship I had for so long! Good luck.

I had a swinger! My daughter slept swaddled in her swing from 0-6 months. Then she started to get strong enough to roll over so we transitioned her to her crib. It took about 2-3 nights of some modified "cry it out", but she has been a good sleeper her whole life. She is also a twin and her brother liked to nap in the swing. He preferred his crib at night, but naps were always in the swing for about the first year. I don't see a problem with it.

You shouldn't worry about it too much. My son, Dylan, who is 6 months now, used to take every nap in his swing! He was the type of baby who needed to be held 24/7, so I bought him a swing when he was about 2 months old hoping that I could get some things done around the house and give my arms a break! It worked like a charm - he got his daily 3 hour naps and I could do whatever I needed to get done. (I should tell you that Dylan refused to nap in his crib until he was about 4 months old)

Down the road, when you and your baby feel ready, try the bassinet or crib for naptime. Keep trying because it may take a few days for your baby to get used to napping in something that doesn't move. I slowly weened my son into his crib for naps, it didn't happen overnight, but it happened!

But don't rush it, if it works don't fix it, right? I hope this gives you some comfort in knowing that you shouldn't feel guilty about using the swing, you are not alone!