Swing Addiction!!

My daughter also loved the swing... I guess I just did what was going to keep her comfortable. Although it was pretty much in the daytime.. at night I kept her close by my bed that way if she woke I could calm her before she really woke up. I loved the swing though .. and used it until she outgrew it.

R.,
I too thought my son was addicted to his swing. He slept in it up until 9 months, and as soon as the warm weather hit, he wanted to be flat on his back, touching nothing (or as little as possible :)

He may like sleeping upright after eating - what may not be a problem big enough for the Doc to fix might still be a comfort issue as far as reflux. I know my son has some, just not enough for the pediatrician to worry about. He preferred sleeping upright to laying down. I didn't even have to turn the swing on sometimes - just putting him in it was fine - although swinging generally eased his teething issues too.

Teething can start at any time, though generally they give you xmonths as a starting point. My son started teething at 3 months, didn't have anything to show for it until months later.

There is no problem with letting him in the swing, IMHO. Some people out there say 'it's best not to do it, he'll want it all the time'. Yes, this is true, but I think in 99.9% of the cases, they grow out of it.

Peace is important for my husband, so into the swing he went.

Good Luck!
M.

I thought that we had the same issue - but with the bouncy seat. My son would only sleep in it and I was afraid that when he was a teenager I would have to buy an adult size one. I asked the doctor about it and he said that for infants, the important thing is that they sleep and it doesn't matter where. We kept trying the crib at night for a few minutes and now he only sleeps at night in the crib! During the day, I let him sleep in the swing or bouncy seat.

You might want to make sure that he burps well before going to sleep because sometimes my son wakes up if he has gas in his stomach, in which case, he wouldn't wake up if he was more upright making the bouncy seat more comfortable to sleep in.

I am mother of three and I have learned to choose my battles. Letting him sleep in the swing when home can't hurt him. I understand you may be going through a lot of batteries or maybe you lucked out and have a swing that plugs in. I realize the swing may not always be convienient, when you are out you may want to try . At night you could put a cradle next to your bed. When he fusses you could rock it until he puts himself back to sleep. This may take a while and several nights before it begins to work, but in the end you will succeed!

Because our new baby is the first for my husband, the last for me, the last grandchild on both sides, and has two much older brothers she was constantly being held. My husband took the first week off from work, one grandma stayed the second week, another stayed the third week, lots and lots of family and friends stop over to visit - she was constantly being held. Even when she was sleeping they would just pick her up. Needless to say when all settle and everyone went home our little bundle of joy was very content if being held, otherwise she grew horns, fangs and a pointed tail!!! It took a couple of weeks while it was just me home to change our habits and enforce them with the rest of family. She can fuss when sleeping and she will settle herself right back to sleep (no one needs to run in and scoop her up). She can sit in her carrier, swing, etc. (no one needs to be holding her). Honestly, especially with my husband I have to TELL them she is fine, do not pick her up! She is 8 wks now and we have settled into a much better routine.

Best of luck to you.

Have you tried swaddling, shhhing, swinging him? My daughter would not fall asleep if I put her down, I wore her in a sling for months 2-4 and she would sleep for hours in it. Swaddling her legs and body tightly worked well when I finally did lay her down. Just make sure his hands are free. Good luck!

Hi R., my son is 2 months old and we were having the same trouble with this glider thing. He would only sleep for long stretches in the glider at night and not his crib. I just decided one night to stop using it and rocked him to sleep myself and then would put him down in his crib. If he woke up again, I would pick him up and rock him again and then put him back down. I pretended that it didn't exist. Now I am so scared to use the thing, I don't even use it during the day, I don't want him to get used to it again. I am new at this all, but someone told me that if you want to change any sleep behavior, it takes 3 nights. Worth a try... On a separate note, my sister is a mother of seven and when I was stressed that he wouldn't sleep at night in his crib and only in the glider, she kept telling me not to worry and that several of her kids would only sleep in the swing for the first few months and eventually they just grow out of it. She said not to worry and that it would happen on its own. So if it is giving you some rest, I guess embrace it!

That was my 2nd baby, she slept that way until she was 6 months old. She had reflux issues and was colicky. The Dr. (and most of the moms on here) assured me that that was ok. As long as the baby is getting sleep it doesn't much matter how, and that they will grow out of it. (which she did) Hang in there!

our older one was like that (now 14 yrs old), and our younger (9 yrs old now) didn't like the swing at all.
my elder liked it because she had reflus and it kept her in an upright position. she was also one for rocking and that's kinda what the swinging motion is. it was our sacing grace. she eventually ourgrew and anad all was fined. good luck

Hi R. ... Had the same problem here! Finally, I gave in and let him take naps in the swing! But, there's hope ... once my son started becoming more mobile, he wanted nothing (NOTHING) to do with the swing--it was too confining, I guess! Around 5 or 6 months, he gave it up completely. My advice is to hang in there with the swing. If he enjoys it, I say, let him at it. He'll soon be sick of it, I'm sure! As for nighttime sleep, your best bet is to let him cry it out a bit in his crib. He'll soon realize that he needs to get back to sleep without the swing--that it's only for daytime. Your son is getting to that age now where he'll start making leaps and bounds in his development, and the things that he once enjoyed as a newborn will soon become obsolete--like the bouncy too!
Hope this helps! Hang in there!
-T.

Let him swing!!!!!! If not you will have one cranky baby.
If he is happy what difference does it make where he
sleeps as long as he sleeps.

Hi R.,
If your son is really craving this limited movement of the swing then your are right to take notice.

Really monitor his gross motor development..ie. when you place him on his stomach, can he tuck his elbows towards the front of his body to prop up and lift his head? Part of the swing 'experience' is that he is kept upright and probably not in the best posture once he is sleeping, and further misses out on 'tummy time'. Do check with your pediatrician about reflux.

When he is awake and content try to give him more varied movement experience that mimick rocking and swinging but holding his body fully supported on his side or on his stomach upper body elevated. This will help develop his vestibular system (balance) and should reduce the 'craving'. If the issue persists and or there is a lag in motor development or social development, consider and evaluation by by an experienced pediatric Physical or Occupational Therapist. A little professional help/guidance can make a big difference early on. This can be provided at no cost by your states' (NJ or NY)Early Intervention Program.
M. Kassover, MS, PT,PCS
Physical Therapist
Board Certified Pediatric Specialist

Do you happen to have an incline mat in the crib? I had one thing that my daughter couldn't sleep in it was a fold and go bassinet I don't know why but couldn't stay asleep in it. But her bed had an incline mat. I don't know if this has anything to do with it or even if it would help you but you never know what one little thing might help. You may already have one. If you don't they are good to have in case they are congested. Good Luck