I seriously can't decide. I bought a swing for $110 because it was high off the ground (we have dogs) and because it plugged in. I'm now thinking I probably don't really need it. It was an impulse buy (still in the box and within the return timeframe).
Did you have a swing? Did your LO like it? What would you recommend (keep it or return it)?
pineapple / 12526 posts
Had one and it saw heavy daily use for 6 months. I probably would have died from exhaustion without it. It's an absolute must-have for me. It was worth every penny.
We had the Snuggabunny (also big, also plugged in) and it was so nice not to have to worry about batteries.
hostess / watermelon / 14932 posts
My LO loved ours (snugabunny). As she got older, she wouldn't nap in it but she was entertained by her reflection above her forever! she still likes to sit in it (6m wednesday).
pomegranate / 3729 posts
We had a hand me down swing. Although she didn't love it when she was tiny, starting around 4 months, it became very useful. We have a plug in one with a toy bar. Now, at nearly 11 months, I use it daily. It's in the kitchen, so while I am cooking or cleaning she is entertained. I also feed her in it while we are eating dinner. And, I take the seat part and put her in it while I'm in the shower.
Now, would I have bought it for myself? I don't know. I have other (cheaper) things I can safely sit her in when I need to get stuff done.
pear / 1895 posts
We don't have one. We have a RnP, and LO LOVES to be rocked in it, so I know he would really love a swing. So I would probably put him in it all the time. Then he would probably have a hard time sleeping anywhere stationary. So I'm glad we don't have one! I say if you're doing alright without it, it's probably not worth unpacking it now. Use that money for something essential!
cantaloupe / 6751 posts
Used ours pretty much daily for the first 3-4 months. That's where LO always took her naps. After that, though, she decided she hated it so it definitely had a short lifespan.
pomegranate / 3275 posts
DD never used her. DS used his a little (we had two different ones because we lent out DD's and never got it back and then moved across the country). I can't honestly say keep or get rid of it. If you aren't hurting for cash, keep it. If you are trying to be thrifty, get rid of it.
coconut / 8305 posts
Didn't have one & didn't miss it! To me they just take up alot of space.
coconut / 8279 posts
I really didn't want one but I caved and bought one before DS was 2 months old.
I wish I had found someone to borrow one from or bought one secondhand. It was AWESOME when I needed it and he napped beautifully in it. But it was for such a short amount of time.
nectarine / 2127 posts
We have an rnp and a pnp in addition to the crib so there are multiple safe places to put LO and multiple ways to entertain him so I'm worried it's redundant and might be a waste of space and he might totally hate it! But at the same time, it'd be nice to have a swing, that can rock him when I need free hands or just need a break.
I appreciate all the input! 
honeydew / 7687 posts
We tried anugabunny and mamaroo but he never loved them. If anything it was a bummer they weren't the magical nap machines I'd read and expected! My bouncer has been crucial though and it is way more portable so he can sit and be comfy while I cook or shower.
pear / 1699 posts
I loved my swing - it was Fisher Price and plugged in as well as moved front to back or side to side. DS loved it from about 6 weeks to about 4.5 months when he started to sit on his own and started to try to lean out. I didn't want him to burn the motor out so we put it away. For 3 months it was a big investment but I needed it those 3 months adjusting to motherhood! Plus now we have one for #2 if that ever comes.
grapefruit / 4923 posts
i didn't get a swing because of space issues and i didn't want to rely on it to get my LO to sleep.
having said that, with a 9 week old who struggles against sleep and only naps for 45 to 60 minutes, i have often wondered whether i should have gotten a swing, regardless of whether it's a "sleep crutch" that he would have to be weaned from (if he didn't do it on his own). at this point i think it's too late to get one because i think the chances of him developing a habit would be too high at this point.
cantaloupe / 6164 posts
We freakin' love ours. She sleeps/hangs out in it every night while we eat dinner, and I also put her in it while I'm cleaning or busy doing things around the house. She just discovered the mobile, so even if she's not asleep, she enjoys it. She's actually napping in it right now while I'm HB'ing.
We got the FP My Little Lamb, which was $180 at BRU. I would've never paid $180, but I found it on nobetterdeal.com for $80, and that seemed reasonable to me. If the money is the issue, you could always return it, and then keep checking nobetterdeal for one. They're on there all the time & they have new coupon codes every week.
GOLD / wonderful pea / 17697 posts
We have one but he never took to it. Screamed bloody murder until we took him out.
grapefruit / 4717 posts
We never got one, and we survived. He loved lounging in the vibrating bouncy seat.
hostess / wonderful watermelon / 39513 posts
We used it a lot the first 4.5 months! It look up a lot if space!
GOLD / pomelo / 5737 posts
@zippylef: exactly this!!
And LO weaned herself off the swing naps when she was ready, around 4.5 months!
pineapple / 12526 posts
@edelweiss: C was like that and the ONLY way she would nap was in the swing. Weaning her off of it wasn't too bad.
pea / 14 posts
I really think it depends on the baby. My daughter didn't hate it, but it certainly wasn't something I would say we needed. Our swing was a hand-me-down, which I'm glad about since we didn't end up using it much. (Who knows about the next kid, though!) All this to say, I would return it and if you need to, you can always buy one again later!
grapefruit / 4923 posts
@zippylef: thanks for your response! would you mind sharing how/when you weaned your LO from the swing? because seriously right now i'm ready to go on craigslist, find a swing, and go there in 15 minutes.
pineapple / 12526 posts
@edelweiss: Um... I think we started around 4 months? She was taking every nap in the swing. I just started putting her in her crib for the first nap and just gradually increased. Eventually, she started napping in her crib for all her naps. It's a process. I didn't force it. Honestly, I'm a proponent of doing whatever makes it easier for you. If thats a baby who naps in a swing, its a baby who naps in a swing.
bananas / 9973 posts
We bought the Snugabunny too and though we don't use it for the swing portion yet, our LO (2 1/2 weeks) does all her daytime sleeping and even night time sleeping last night in the swing. It's a handy place to put her when we need hands free or need to eat, etc. that being said, I also didn't want redundant products so we didn't get a RnP or a PnP. If ur lo enjoys this two, I think you're okay without a swing.
P.s. you might be surprised and get a hand me down swing or a used one for cheap on CL! We were passed down 3 other hand me down swings, but the Snugabunny is the best still because of the incline and power into the wall.
cantaloupe / 6630 posts
We borrowed one (and DH was pissed off about it because it takes up so much space) and A has always hated it. Seriously hated it. I'm glad we didn't spend any cash on it but I hear every baby is different where swings/bouncers are concerned. I was gutted, I'd been relying on that swing for nap times : )
pomegranate / 3872 posts
We have the snugabunny swing and LO has liked it from the beginning. She'll sleep anywhere so I don't think it's caused an issue in that respect. You mentioned dogs and that's one of the best reasons to have one I think. We have the bouncer, too but I can only put her in there when I'm sitting right there with her so I can make sure our dog isn't licking her head to toe! He can't reach her in the swing so I put her in there when I'm cooking, cleaning etc.
coconut / 8861 posts
We borrowed a swing from my brother and SIL. We used it for a limited time. I don't know if we really needed it or not. I found our RNP more useful than anything else that we purchased for the baby.
pomelo / 5628 posts
Ours is at least third hand...sometimes he's tired, but needs to be rocked to sleep (not always). The swing is essential at those times!
pomegranate / 3204 posts
We couldn't have gotten by without a swing! We used it till LO was 6 months. We definitely got our money's worth and will use it for baby number 2.
persimmon / 1035 posts
We were lucky enough to borrow one, but soon realized it was a MUST! First few weeks he didn't like it, but once he took it, it became my saviour. For a couple of months, if it broke down I would have went out and bought a new one that day! Now he is 4.5 months and seems to be self weaning as he has gotten really good at taking naps in his bassinet. For my next baby, if we don't borrow one, I'm definitely buying one!
persimmon / 1035 posts
Oh to answer your question: pro = naps. Cons = bulky. I say the pro outweighs the con
cantaloupe / 6146 posts
got one at 5 weeks--used it till about 6 months. it was an arm saver, for sure! we got a used one because we felt like we probably wouldn't use it--ended up using it a few times a day!
grapefruit / 4442 posts
We used one at my sister's house. DD loved it, I ended up buying a used one and we used it maybe 2xs LOL
Its good for little babies but when DD was about 3 months she didn't care for it. I think it was because the one we got the mobile did not move.
we lived without it and it was nice to use when we were at my sister's house.
hostess / wonderful persimmon / 25556 posts
Yes. She napped/slept in that for 3 months straight. It was wonderful.
pomelo / 5524 posts
We have a swing, and like some others, LO wouldn't really sleep in it, but around 3 months, took a lot of interest in it once he could see the mobile. It really started to entertain him, and now we put him in it if we have to do something like make his breakfast or dinner or make his bottles. Definitely useful, but not an absolute must have over here. LO is now 6 months.
GOLD / eggplant / 11517 posts
Wound up with two hand-me-down swings (Tall one that takes up a ton of space but is high off the ground, and a short, bucket-seat type one)
They are life savers. And a sure-thing if I need her to take a nap.
pineapple / 12793 posts
LO loves the swing. We have a 900sf apartment right now and space is definitely at a premium, but the swing is worth it for us.
GOLD / wonderful olive / 19030 posts
Yes and it was the best thing we had! She's almost 6 months and we still use it daily, she loves it. It's great you got one that plugs in (ours did too) I say keep it!
GOLD / cantaloupe / 6703 posts
We bought one off of craigslist for $30 and both agree that it's worth it's weight in gold. LO loves it and is napping in it right now as I pump. We never had a problem with her refusing to sleep in her crib even though she slept in the rock'n'play exclusively for her first 6 weeks. It keeps her entertained when we need our hands, and it can sit her up fairly straight which was nice when she had a cold. It does run on batteries, but we bought rechargables so that hasn't been too big of an issue. Yes it takes up space, but it's so worth it!
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