I registered for and received both a Rock n Play and swing. Now I am debating whether to take the swing back. I can really see us using the RnP. It's light and portable. We live in a condo and although it's not tiny, the less stuff the better.
The swing was almost $100, and that could go towards more necessary items (diapers!).
So...should I take it back? Or was it so useful to you that you think it's worth it?
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We never had a swing, so I can't comment on the usefulness of one. But we did have a rock n play and I felt it was very different from my friends' swings. The rock n play doesn't have much motion, the rocking is very gentle and subtle. I felt like it was more of an inclined cradle than a bouncer/swing equivalent.
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If the RnP rocks on its own, absolutely return the swing. Worst case you can buy another swing. If you return it you could even find a gently used one for much cheaper. It it's just the basic RnP I might hold on to the swing.
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It really depends on your baby. My second is super easygoing and will hang out anywhere. We use the rock n play with her more often, and don't use the swing much. With our first, the swing was a lifesaver. She was a terrible sleeper and so fussy, and the swing literally kept me sane. For that reason alone I would hold onto it. If anything you could keep it in the box and return it if baby is chill and doesn't seem to need the swing.
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We were gifted a rock and play and W HATES the thing. We ended up finding a $40 swing on Amazon that he loves. It really depends on if your infant is a rocker or glider kiddo!
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I used both. I used the swing longer though.
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We were gifted a RNP and did not have a swing. But I loved being able to take the RNP with us when we traveled because it folds up.
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@mrsmacSLP: Our first hated the RnP too! I was so disappointed because everyone said their kids loved the RnP.
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Its hard to say.. depends on the baby .. my first LOVED his swing and would take 3 hour morning naps in it (while I napped too!) and my second hated it and never napped in it. It looks like my third also isn't a fan of the swing either so I might be packing it away since it takes up a ton of space. Maybe return it and you could always buy a cheaper used one if you find that you need it.
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We had a hand-me-down swing, and were gifted a R&P. I kept the R&P in the box until we needed it, and ended up selling it new after LO's first birthday. So, I don't think you need both, but as others have said, you can't know for sure which one (if either) will work for your baby. Can you return both and buy used ones cheaper? Barring that, keep them both in the boxes and make the call after LO arrives.
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I live in a condo, and we used both. Invaluable.
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@LemonJack: Yup! That's why we put it on our registry! Everyone said their kids loved it! W is just a glider lover!
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We had both the RNP and the My Little Snugapuppy swing, and in my opinion they're two different pieces of gear for two different purposes. Our baby slept in the RNP as his bassinet until he graduated to his crib at 6 weeks. We bought the swing when he was 3 or 4 weeks old, and he never got that into it--he liked the rotating mobile and it was another safe place to put him while I did dishes, but he never slept in it. Because the RNP doesn't move much and doesn't move at all on its own, it's just not the same thing. I guess in retrospect we could have done without the swing, but if he'd liked it like some of the pp's babies did, it would have been worth its weight in gold. No way to know whether your baby will like it, though, unless you try
ETA I live in a small NYC apartment and hate hate clutter and ugly crap; totally understand your desire to keep it minimal. you won't have either of these things in your home for long. -
Neither girls liked/used the RnP much. Never had a swing b/c the footprint is just too big for my liking.
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If you're going to return one, I would return the RNP. The swing was an absolute godsend for both of my kids and both napped exclusively in the swing for the first few months of their lives and we continued to use it until 8/9 months for both kids. I didn't have a RNP for my first and only used it for a few weeks with my second.
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We used both A LOT. DD basically lived in her swing during the day until she was a few months old. She took loooong naps in it. We used the RNP for night time sleep and I'd put her in it in the bathroom if I needed to take a quick shower.
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My kids never really liked the swing but LOVED the RnP, and we got a ton of use out of it...
It sorta depends on the kid.
Maybe keep them both until the baby is here and then if they don't like one or the other, return!
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@annem1990: I would keep them both, especially if they were gifted! We borrowed a RNP and my son hated it. We bought a swing when he was 2 weeks old and he used it daily for hours for 6 months! So you just never know.
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We never had a swing for DS1, and it was fine. My friends bought us a swing for #2 and it was convenient for such a short time. My DS2 was a big guy and quickly outgrew the weight limit. You'll be fine with a rock n play.
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The swing was one of the most essential things we had. Definitely keep it around. It's only a few months before she'll be past that stage and you can sell it at that point if it's taking up space.
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It depends on your kid. DD loved the RNP and barely tolerated the swing.
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My DD loved the swing. She would take nice long naps in it. We never used a rock n play and found no need for it.
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I would wait on both actually. If you can get your baby to sleep on a flat surface from the beginning, you will have a much easier time when they are older and need to go into a crib. With my first, we relied on the RnP and swing too much (admittedly, the swing felt like a lifesaver at the time), and it was a nightmare transitioning her to a flat surface when she outgrew them. With my 2nd, I think I did a better job of working with him to get him used to a flat/stationary space earlier. He still ended up needing a RnP, but mostly due to reflux. He never used a swing. His transition to a bassinet and then ultimately to the crib was far easier.
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I never used a rnp for either of my kids but I used a swing. I say wait and see!
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We had both and got a lot of use out of both. We used the RNP for "regular" sleeping until we switched to the crib at 3 months. The swing was great for getting him to calm down and/or sleep when nothing else was working (which was fairly often).
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We had a RnP that we used for night sleep in our bedroom, and a small "space saver" swing we used in the living room during the day for some sun and activity - he never slept in the swing. We also has a bouncer that he took all his naps in... that's just what he wanted as a newborn.
None of them had a big footprint. They all could be bought 2nd-hand (though, we bought the AUTO RnP and it was a-maz-ing. couldn't find it 2nd hand)
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We didn't have either! And no regrets. I'm super paranoid about SIDS so no matter what I sleep my babies on a flat, firm surface (even LO1 who was a horrible sleeper). We had a low tech bouncer for when we needed a safe or inclined spot to put the baby down, but didn't let her sleep in it. Other than that lots of baby wearing! Working for us so far with both LOs despite their different personalities.
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I didn't vote, I would wait and see. Start with the Rock n' Play and see if that works for your baby and then have the swing as back-up.
We did the opposite and the Rock n' Play ended up being the trick so it is hard to predict. I was one to keep things in boxes until I had met the baby ;).
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I would wait and see...I made my life much harder than it needed to be by not using any kind of baby container and I regret it.
We had a swing but it was a small one that just went front and back, not side to side, which seems to be the movement that babies prefer.
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With DD1, we lived in a small space so no swing and the rock m play was awesome. With DD2, we were in a bigger house and borrowed a swing as well, which was amazing when I had to put DD2 down to tend to DD1 and couldn't actively be rocking. If we have another, I will definitely borrow a swing again.
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If your baby likes the swing and keep your little one calm than keep it. If you aren't using it, than take it back.
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Wait and see. You never know. We personally could not have lived without the RnP. We borrowed a swing from a friend and used it as a baby containment device on occasion, but my son never slept in it or really liked it.
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