Wait. What? This hasn't ever happened to you? You thought swings were just suppose to be a baby decoration in the corner of your room? Well, you're not alone. Some babies are
not so easily tricked or wooed by the comforting position and motion of a swing.
not so easily tricked or wooed by the comforting position and motion of a swing.
Don't worry! There is hope for these swing-hating babies!
How do I get my baby to like the swing
A swing can be a great place for a baby to hang out for a few minutes to rest or to play. It shouldn't turn into an endless hangout, but it can be really handy for a few minutes here or there when mom and dad are busy. At my house, I actually have a routine that involves the swing everyday. After I get baby up in the morning and feed her, I have her play in the swing for a few minutes while I get dressed and quickly get ready for the day. If it wasn't for the swing, I might be in my pajamas until noon each day!
If your baby isn't taking to the swing, be patient and try again later. Babies change so much and if they don't like something one day they are bound to like it the next (or maybe sometimes next month). Only one of my babies has liked the swing early on. The other two were a few months old when they started to fall asleep in the swing if they woke early in the morning or had a short nap (they might have learned to sleep in it earlier on, but I only used it occasionally).
Whenever you introduce something new to a baby, or something that you aren't sure your baby will like, it's also a good idea to have baby well rested and fed. Food + Good Sleep = a happy baby that adjusts more easily to things. It's also a good idea to start with a super short period of time that you slowly extend out.
The tips below may also help to calm your baby in the swing...
How do I get my baby to SLEEP in the swing
Maybe you've got a really fussy baby, maybe you've got a baby that just will not sleep in any other way, or maybe you are just too dang tired and worn out to be available for a needy baby 24 hours a day (who isn't?).
Some babies will fall asleep the second you put them in a swing while with other babies you'll have to pull out all the tricks. I've found the Happiest Baby on the Block's 5 S's to be really successful, minus the tummy/side hold. You use them like the book/dvd suggests, but do them in a swing.
Start off by swaddling your baby (if he's a newborn or used to being swaddled). Make sure to do it snug.
Then get your white noise on and get your room all set up for sleep (dark, calm etc). Baby may or may not be sleeping in his future sleep location (i.e. his room) right now. With a really upset baby, I always do some more of my own shushing until he calms down a bit.
Around this time you'll possibly want to have baby start to suck on a pacifier, especially if he's fussy. If he's refusing in (but does 'take a pacifier), then calm him down a bit more with some baby squats or something before offering it to him.
You'll want to then put baby in the swing, either to fall asleep or to keep him asleep. I personally try to put baby in the swing awake but drowsy (awake but tired if he is past the newborn stage) so it is easier to wean from the swing, but do what you can. It's better for him to go in asleep if it means he actually gets some good sleep. When I place baby in the swing I will make sure it is moving from the moment he gets in. I kind of swing it with my arm as he's put down. I'll even swing it as I'm buckling him in. Unless your baby has proven he can sleep with it on low speed, make sure to put it on high for now. If you need some extra comfort action, then try the head jello-jiggle that I mention in the 5 S post.
Just like with all things sleep, don't rush in. Give your baby a few minutes to settle to sleep once he is put in the swing. At first you may need to help him get completely asleep or almost asleep in the swing before leaving him to swing on his own, but hopefully you'll be able to let the swing do more of the sleep work as time goes on (as in, you put him in the swing more and more awake).
Lastly, if you want results, you'll need to be consistent and work at it.
Start off by swaddling your baby (if he's a newborn or used to being swaddled). Make sure to do it snug.
Then get your white noise on and get your room all set up for sleep (dark, calm etc). Baby may or may not be sleeping in his future sleep location (i.e. his room) right now. With a really upset baby, I always do some more of my own shushing until he calms down a bit.
Around this time you'll possibly want to have baby start to suck on a pacifier, especially if he's fussy. If he's refusing in (but does 'take a pacifier), then calm him down a bit more with some baby squats or something before offering it to him.
You'll want to then put baby in the swing, either to fall asleep or to keep him asleep. I personally try to put baby in the swing awake but drowsy (awake but tired if he is past the newborn stage) so it is easier to wean from the swing, but do what you can. It's better for him to go in asleep if it means he actually gets some good sleep. When I place baby in the swing I will make sure it is moving from the moment he gets in. I kind of swing it with my arm as he's put down. I'll even swing it as I'm buckling him in. Unless your baby has proven he can sleep with it on low speed, make sure to put it on high for now. If you need some extra comfort action, then try the head jello-jiggle that I mention in the 5 S post.
Just like with all things sleep, don't rush in. Give your baby a few minutes to settle to sleep once he is put in the swing. At first you may need to help him get completely asleep or almost asleep in the swing before leaving him to swing on his own, but hopefully you'll be able to let the swing do more of the sleep work as time goes on (as in, you put him in the swing more and more awake).
Lastly, if you want results, you'll need to be consistent and work at it.
Can I still swaddle and use the swing?
Yes you can! Some swaddles actually have openings for swing and carseat straps. And some swaddles only hold baby's arms in place. Some people will swaddle the top half of baby but keep her legs out of the bottom half, or they will put baby in a bigger swaddle so that they are able to still buckle up her legs swaddled, making the bottom half of the swaddle into something that resembles baggy pants.
Are you seriously suggesting the use of a swing for sleep?
Why, yes I am! My twin sister's baby just spent the first few months of his life sleeping in the swing and I highly encouraged it. Now, I think that most of you know that I recommend teaching your baby to sleep without sleep props early on when possible. But guess what. Sometimes this isn't very possible. Sometimes you've got a baby that simply doesn't sleep well without some sort of sleep prop despite what you do so you have to have backup. It's important that baby gets sleep. If he doesn't sleep well, he won't eat well. If he doesn't eat well, he won't sleep well. It turns into one bad cycle. So if you can get your baby to sleep decently early on without a swing, then great. But if you can't, don't stress about introducing a swing. He won't be in the swing forever.
Promise. You may want him to be sleeping in his bed right now on his own, but you'll get there eventually. Plus, a swing is a lot easier to drop later on than many other props, like breastfeeding to sleep.
Promise. You may want him to be sleeping in his bed right now on his own, but you'll get there eventually. Plus, a swing is a lot easier to drop later on than many other props, like breastfeeding to sleep.
What swing do I recommend?
I find what works the best is a swing that swings nice and fast side to side and is cozy for baby. And hopefully one that isn't like 40 years old (yes, these are still around, I've seen them and they are not cozy!). I've never found all the extra functions that some swings have to be very helpful for soothing baby (although you may like some of them to entertain baby). I personally really love this swing, but any similar looking and functioning swing will likely be fine too. Unfortunately, swings are really pricey! You might want to borrow one for a short time before dishing out the money for one.
Thanks! My son can't live without it, but my daughter hated it. I actually came to get some tips to wean him after 3 months. Love the post as I don't feel so guilty anymore!!
ReplyDeleteCrystalrox15,
DeleteNah, no need to feel guilty if you need the swing! As for weaning, I will try to get a post up about that one. Pretty much just decrease the swinging speed until baby goes down awake in the swing then move to the crib (or wherever the bed is). Some fussing may happen, but shouldn't be tons.
best,
rachel
Hi Rachel, my seven week old is a motion junkie and would only sleep in the ergo/stroller/car seat while moving. I found your site and decided to give the swing a shot. One week in we are having some success but I have two questions. First, it takes about 15 minutes to get her down in the swing - I'm pulling out all stops including paci, swaddle, white noise, jiggle the swing until she gets sleepy. This is after a wake time of 40-50 min (I'm trying a range to see what works). Does this mean her wake time is too short/long? Second (and more frustrating!) she pops awake at the 25 min mark almost every nap. Sometimes I can get her to go back down with a lot of jiggling and shushing and paci reinsertion. Any other thoihhra on how to avoid this wake up? Thanks so much for your blog!
ReplyDeleteMJ,
DeleteAs far as taking 15 minutes to fall asleep and waketime, I can't really say right now. She could simply need a little while to settle to sleep or she may need an increased waketime. You'd have to trial and error different times to see for sure. Sorry I don't have a straight answer on that.
So she's waking at 25 minutes even with the swing going? I would make sure the swing is on full speed and consider going in before that time to start soothing before she even wakes up to see if you can help her through that sleep transition. make sure she's swaddled. She may be overtired right now and when she gets less overtired will sleep better through this transition. Practice and a little more time will help the situation out too.
best,
rachel
I'm also afraid I'm creating a jiggle monster as it takes a lot of jiggling for her to get sleepy!
ReplyDeleteMJ,
DeleteThat may be true, but if you can't get her to sleep without all the jiggles right now, then it's the best option. When she's a bit older you can eliminate all the jiggling and movement and she'll be better able to fall asleep without it (with a little practice).
Hi Rachel - for some reason my replies are not showing up on here, so I will try a new comment :) First, thank you so much for your fast reply - it means so much right now!
ReplyDeleteShould I give in and use the Ergo for a few days until she is back on track and not overtired? I have tried transitioning her while asleep from the Ergo into the swing, but she always pops awake. Any suggested times in her sleep cycle to make this transition?
As for the 25 minutes, she is swaddled and the swing is on full blast. I've been siting behind the swing waiting for her to make a move, so do you think I should start the soothing at 20 minutes regardless? Just shushing and hand on her belly?
Also, if she won't transition after 25 minutes, should I put her in the Ergo? The other option is let her stay awake until the next feed which guarantees me an overtired baby.
Are all babies this hard to get to nap?!?
Thank you so so much!
MJ,
DeleteYes, you can try to get her tiredness under control before doing jus the swing. Some babies transition while asleep, some do not. So you can try after 20 minutes ish or longer than say 50 minutes, but it may or may not work.
You can try the soothing before she wakes. Pressure to belly can be helpful for many babies along with the shooshing. See what seems to work and what doesn't work.
"if she won't transition after 25 minutes, should I put her in the Ergo?"----that is fine if it works. you might want to give her a few minutes of fussing before you consider it a fail though. If she doesn't go to sleep, then keep her awake for a short time before putting her down again. I would not wait until the next feed.
"Are all babies this hard to get to nap?!? "---not all, but many are.
best,
rachel
Hi MJ,
ReplyDeleteMy son is 4.5 months old and I'd like him to fall asleep on his own starting with the swing. He has transitioned to a zipadeezip so no more swaddling. He has a max awake time of 2 hrs so should I start by bouncing him (this is how we've been doing it so far), then put him in the swing drowsy but awake on full speed? Should I start with bedtime or nap time? He sleeps fine at bedtime between his bassinet and feeding between 6:30pm - 3am. Once we hit 3am, he needs constant motion which is when my husband and I struggle till around 7/7:30am.
Hi Rachel,
ReplyDeleteI have a one month old who is not napping well at all. Around 3 weeks, he started sleeping well at night and extending his night sleep to 4 hour stretches, but his day time sleep started suffering and will only nap for any lengthy amount of time if being held or in the Ergo. At week 4, we transitioned him from sleeping in our room in his rock n play, to his nursery, still in the rock n play, for night time sleep. This has been successful. I thought maybe one reason why he wasn't napping well in his rock n play during the day was bc I had him in the living room with too much light and commotion.'ive sense moved him into his nursery for naps as well, in his rock n play, but have no success for longer than 30 minutes before he wakes up screaming. We tried a swing this morning for his morning nap in his nursery, hated it. He's back in the Ergo and sleeping soundly. Where should he be sleeping? How can I get him to like the swing? We've tried putting him down drowsy, wide awake, and sound asleep. Is he too young to worry about at one month?
Hi Rachel, can you comment on the safety of baby sleeping in the swing? This, and other sites, recommend that babies not sleep for prolonged periods in a swing. The user guide for the swing you recommend also states this.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.babycenter.com/404_how-long-can-i-leave-my-baby-in-a-swing_10351368.bc
Thanks.
Mathew Kelleher,
DeleteThe swing is something, like a bouncer and carseat, that is best to not have your child sleep in. In an ideal world every baby would sleep great flat on their backs from the get go. BUT so many babies struggle sleeping and a swing gives them and their parents some much needed rest so everybody doesn't go crazy. So that's when I recommend it. When used reclined back, strapped in (assuming baby isn't wiggling much at his age) and without other blankets I personally find it safe (I also am one to use a snuza monitor). BUT this is something a parent will have to decide about on their own in regards to safety. I would definitely watch my child at first to make sure they are not slumping badly or have other breathing and movement concerns.
Thank you for writing this. We were trying to put my 13 week old to sleep in his crib for the past week (he's definitely a motion junkie.. even in the womb) and were getting up every hour to pat him back down (or nurse or rock or cry with him) I very guilt ridden stuck him in the swing again last night at 2am desperate for sleep and he slept till 6am, nursed and then slept till just a few minutes ago. I would love suggestions for weaning him though. We are going out of state next month and won't have a swing. I realize that's a lot if development time for him so maybe it will be easier by then but any suggestions are appreciated.
ReplyDelete