Baby Swing
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 1,000 American infants are taken to emergency rooms every year for injuries sustained while using swings. This is generally a result of the infant's head or neck becoming trapped between the back rest and the bars the swing is suspended from. If figures like this concern you as a parent, then knowing how to choose a baby swing that is safe and durable, will be one of your first priorities.
A baby swing is a wonderful way to soothe a fussy baby or hold an infant while mom or dad sneaks a quick shower. Before you buy a baby swing, check out this list of handy must-have features that will make your baby swing more useful for you and baby.
Baby's safety is the top priority, so check all swings to be sure they have a wide base and a low center of gravity so they won't tip over if baby manages to lean in one direction. Just like in car seats, a seat belt is necessary and a 5-point harness is best. Newborns are particularly good at curling up and slipping around inadequate seat belt systems, so the hip straps are important even for babies who don't seem to wiggle a lot.
Even with an infant of six weeks, you'll want a wide, solid base to make sure there is no tipping. An adjustable seat is necessary, particularly for the infant who can't sit by themselves yet. But do make sure that it can't be accidentally released so that the seat lays down flat while the baby is in motion, allowing them to slide or fall out, backwards.
Every seat should have a combination waist and crotch safety belt. Older models had only the waist belt, which allowed babies to slide down, and out the bottom of the chair/seat.
While there are many “bells and whistles” to entertain babies, the main concern when you choose a baby swing, should be their comfort level. Providing extra safety features such as rolled towels to either side of an infant's head for stability, will avoid the type of accidents mentioned above.
Whether you choose a battery-powered swing or a wind-up variety depends on your personal tastes. Battery swings may add cost to the swing over time since the batteries need to be replaced, maybe frequently. However, battery swings eliminate the need to keep re-winding the swing, and are more convenient to operate. Wind-up swings can be noisy during winding, and won't allow you to get a very long nap before re-winding time. Battery swings also tend to feature more speeds and music settings to meet baby's preferences.
Battery operated or crank models should have quiet operation, so a baby is not frightened or startled awake as they begin to doze. Swings that have variable speeds are the wisest choice, to provide gentle motion for infants, and higher speeds for larger, more active babies.
As always, a baby should never be left alone in a swing, nor should the swing be placed near any hot object, or in a position where the baby could grab something that could be pulled over onto the swing and child.
A baby swing is a wonderful way to soothe a fussy baby or hold an infant while mom or dad sneaks a quick shower. Before you buy a baby swing, check out this list of handy must-have features that will make your baby swing more useful for you and baby.Baby's safety is the top priority, so check all swings to be sure they have a wide base and a low center of gravity so they won't tip over if baby manages to lean in one direction. Just like in car seats, a seat belt is necessary and a 5-point harness is best. Newborns are particularly good at curling up and slipping around inadequate seat belt systems, so the hip straps are important even for babies who don't seem to wiggle a lot.
Even with an infant of six weeks, you'll want a wide, solid base to make sure there is no tipping. An adjustable seat is necessary, particularly for the infant who can't sit by themselves yet. But do make sure that it can't be accidentally released so that the seat lays down flat while the baby is in motion, allowing them to slide or fall out, backwards.
Every seat should have a combination waist and crotch safety belt. Older models had only the waist belt, which allowed babies to slide down, and out the bottom of the chair/seat.
While there are many “bells and whistles” to entertain babies, the main concern when you choose a baby swing, should be their comfort level. Providing extra safety features such as rolled towels to either side of an infant's head for stability, will avoid the type of accidents mentioned above.
Whether you choose a battery-powered swing or a wind-up variety depends on your personal tastes. Battery swings may add cost to the swing over time since the batteries need to be replaced, maybe frequently. However, battery swings eliminate the need to keep re-winding the swing, and are more convenient to operate. Wind-up swings can be noisy during winding, and won't allow you to get a very long nap before re-winding time. Battery swings also tend to feature more speeds and music settings to meet baby's preferences.
Battery operated or crank models should have quiet operation, so a baby is not frightened or startled awake as they begin to doze. Swings that have variable speeds are the wisest choice, to provide gentle motion for infants, and higher speeds for larger, more active babies.
As always, a baby should never be left alone in a swing, nor should the swing be placed near any hot object, or in a position where the baby could grab something that could be pulled over onto the swing and child.
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