So, paranoid new mom here - how much swing/bouncer use is too much? During the day, when I just need a moment to myself, I put him in the swing or the bouncer during his nap, maybe 45min to an hour per nap, maybe twice a day. I'm not worried about him getting used to it and being dependent on it but will he develop a flat head for being in the swing/bouncer too much?? I apologize if this is a stupid, uninformed question but i promise this isn't the dumbest question i have floating around in my head right now regarding newborn care. I am clueless and i honestly have never felt this insecure about a task before in my life!
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that doesn't sound like too much to me! Not sure how old your LO is but up until 2 mo I think my DD was in her bouncer at least that much if not more. She sleeps on a flat surface at night (PnP) and I have always alternated the way she sleeps (which end her head is on) so that she sleeps on both sides of her head.
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My first LO spent 1-3 hours a day in her swing for the first few months. She still did lots of tummy time and slept on a flat surface!
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I think you have to do whatever works for your child, my baby LOVED her RNP and her swing, she spend hours in it a day. I just made sure to make up for it with lots of tummy time & we had no issues with her head.
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How old is your LO? I don't think you can go wrong with a newborn. Especially if he is sleeping in a basinet or something at night time. My LO slept in the rock'n'play for all nights and naps for 5 months! I wouldn't recommend that, but it worked for us, she didn't get a flat head and she had an easy transition to the crib after that.
And don't worry about stupid questions! They're usually not stupid (like this one) and this is the perfect place to ask
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@MrsF: he will be 2 weeks old tomorrow - i hold him a lot and we do tummy time (btw how much time shoudl we spend doing tummy time?) but when i need a sanity break and DH isn't around i put him in the swing... like right now he's probably been in it for an hour or so for the first time today. he sleeps in the fisher price rock n play bassinet (not the inclined one) - is this ok?
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@chibee: I say if he's happy - enjoy it! I literally don't think my daughter was doing any tummy time at that point (she was super colicky and hated it so... yeah). She's a happy walking, talking 2 year old now, so I don't think it hurt her in the long run! It's great that you're doing tummy time already!
Give yourself a break and let him sleep wherever he's content for the time being. The first few months it's just survival mode. I'm sure you're doing a great job!
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Mine was in the swing for all sleep, including nights, until close to four months. We tried switching him to the crib at 3 months, but it didn't go well so back to the swing he went. When he was ready, the transition was easy. His head is fine; it might be a little flat but it's also shaped just like my husband's head, so I'm not sure.
He also always barfed during tummy time (still does!) so we didn't do it that much. Maybe a couple of minutes a day, if that. He hit his milestones fine -- don't worry about it.
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Totally fine! Mine was in the swing for all his naps plus half the night until around 3 months!
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Totally okay (as I sit next to swing as my baby naps, hallelujah)! A lot of babies are serious motion junkies and love to have the movement to fall asleep. My daughter is 4 months old and used to do all sleep in the swing, but around 3.5 months just didn't want to sleep in the swing anymore for bed. She still loves napping in it though. Like others have said, as long as they aren't in it all the time, you will be okay! My daughter hated and pretty much still hates tummy time so we do it sometimes so you are doing a great job!
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Thanks everyone! of all things i could worry about.. i worry about a flat head right??
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My kid spent so much time in her swing. She slept there at night until she was about 5 months old. That thing was a lifesaver.
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That doesn't sound excessive, they have to nap somewhere anyway!
My only concern would be him getting used to the swaying and then not wanting to fall asleep stationary, but newborns looove that motion! I would always alternate which side of my daughter's head she would sleep on, and I had one of these things for her chair: http://www.amazon.com/Boppy-Noggin-Support-Brown-Wheels/dp/B001O9F6M8 because I was also paranoid about getting a flat head! lol For tummy time I would do as much as they will take, my daughter hated it but I would try and distract her with books or a mirror which usually gave her about 5-10 minutes at a time until she would start screaming! Sounds like you are doing great
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2nd time mom here-- first baby loved napping/sleeping overnight in her rock and play. I don't remember what age that stopped, but I remember still using the swing until around 6 months for naps.
New baby takes all of his naps in the swing and the last part of overnight sleep in it (from 5am to 7am). Do what works for you! As other mamas have said, as long as you have baby out of the swing/bouncer and doing tummy time/holding baby while s/he is awake, it's all good!
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@chibee: it's totally ok! My son slept in his bouncy chair for 5 months and he never got flat head. DD is 2 weeks as well and she's been taking all her naps in the swing and rock n play. She's taken 4 hour naps in her swing. Last night she slept 4.5 hours in the rock n play until I brought her to bed with me. Give yourself a break and let him nap in the swing! And i wouldn't worry too much about tummy time right now. I count tummy time as her laying on my chest on her tummy. If I do it on the floor, I do it for however long she can stand it which is like a minute.
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Ds slept in swing pretty frequently! Napped exclusively in swing til five mths! It's just worked for us. We had no head issues and he transitioned to crib fairly smoothly.
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My LO napped in his swing until almost 6 months, and transitioned just fine to a crib. We started the crib at night around 3 months, but he wound up in the swing halfway through the night until 5 months.
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@chibee: I think ds lived in his bouncer as an infant. The only thing that ever took a toll on his head shape was him always wanting to sleep on one side in his crib so you're very safe. I would have died without bouncer time.
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My doctor said that, as long as you turn the baby's head to the side when they sleep (switching sides each nap), the baby won't get a flat head. Worked for us.
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Thank everyone for reassurance - why do I feel so guilty putting him in that swing?? He prefers the swing over the bouncer, i guess bc of the motion, but he is actually not too bad in the bassinet at night so all I can say is - thank you GOD for the invention of the infant swing/bouncer. And thank you hellobee community for answering all my insane questions as a first time mom! I don't know where else I could get such good feedback seriously!
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