It’s not a secret that babies enjoy movements with rhythmic motions such as bouncing, rocking, swaying, and jiggling. Most newborns would also prefer to sleep in motion, in a baby swing, car seat, or rocker.
The only issue? These seats aren’t the most secure places to sleep. When used for sleep, paediatricians refer to them as “sitting devices,” and they’ve been connected to an increased risk of suffocation when used for sleep.
But, before you toss up your baby swing, keep in mind that when used appropriately, it can be an excellent, sanity-saving tool, such as soothing a cranky baby as you make dinner nearby. It’s not a replacement crib, and it shouldn’t be used as one.
If your infant has formed a habit of sleeping in the baby swing, here’s everything you need to know about why and how to break that habit.
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Can my baby sleep in a swing?
Baby swings do not meet the criteria for safe sleep, which states that babies should sleep alone on a firm, flat surface with no loose bedding or objects near them, according to Ben Hoffman, a paediatrician and chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Council on Injury, Violence, and Poison Prevention.
The first thing you should know about baby swings is that they are not dangerous if used properly. That is to say:
- Read the packaging insert for instructions on how to use your baby swing as well as any buckles or attachments that come with it. Take note of any height and weight restrictions for your individual swing; some babies may be too big or too tiny to safely utilise a swing.
- Do not leave your baby on the swing for extended periods of time. While a catnap under your watch is permissible, your infant should not spend the night resting in the baby swing while you sleep. If your kid falls asleep in the baby swing, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends relocating them to a safe sleeping spot.
- Recognize that the baby swing is an activity item, not a crib or bassinet replacement. When you need a break, use the swing to safely distract, contain, or comfort your infant.
These same guidelines apply to any seating gadget that your youngster may require. A car seat, for example, is widely regarded as the safest mode of transportation for a newborn. However, it is not a safe place for a newborn to sleep outside of a car.
Reasons why baby swing isn’t safe for sleep
New born baby with a plastic pacifier in his mouth lies still on a swing
It appears contradictory that a product created for comfort and enhanced with music is not a good location for newborns to sleep.
In a 10-year research conducted by the AAP, sitting devices (car seats, strollers, baby swings, and bouncers) were shown to be responsible for 3%, or 348, of the approximately 12,000 newborn deaths investigated. Approximately 62 per cent of those deaths occurred in automobile safety seats. The majority of the babies were between the ages of one and four months.
Furthermore, the seats were not being used as intended, with more than half of the deaths occurring at home. The study also discovered that when babies were being watched by a nonparent caregiver, these deaths were more likely (like a babysitter or grandparent).
Here are some reasons why a baby swing is not safe for sleep:
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You may put your child at risk of SIDS
Babies should sleep on their backs on a flat surface. Parents should be aware that babies are at risk whenever they are placed to sleep on anything other than a level, sturdy surface. Babies should sleep on their backs rather than their stomachs or sides because they are less likely to die from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) if they sleep on their backs.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), babies are put at risk when they sleep in a bouncy seat, baby swing, or carrier during their first year of life. This applies to both naps and nocturnal sleep. To lessen the risk of SIDS, babies should sleep on their backs in their own space.
AAP suggests that if your baby falls asleep in a car seat, stroller, baby swing, infant carrier, or sling, shift him or her as soon as possible to a hard sleep surface on his or her back.
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Baby sleeping in swing is bad for her back
Why is it so risky for newborns to sleep in a seated position? Because their neck muscles aren’t fully formed, they have this problem. Newborns lack the muscle tone required to keep their heads up and necks straight. The upright swing does not give the necessary back and hip support for a newborn.
As a result, sleeping in a semi-upright position might cause the weight of their heads to press against their necks, causing them to slump over. They can suffocate if they fall over in a seated position.
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Your baby is in danger of suffocating
When your infant falls asleep in an upright position, his or her head may sag forward. This position can obstruct their respiration and poses a suffocation danger.
“Using a swing when the baby is awake and supervised is OK, but once a baby falls asleep in the swing, it becomes dangerous,” Hoffman explains.
He also mentioned that when a baby is napping in a swing, his head can droop forward, obstructing its airway—a condition known as positional asphyxiation. If your kid is napping in an angled bouncer or car seat, he or she is also at risk.
If your baby falls asleep in their swing, transfer them to their bed or another level surface where they can sleep on their back comfortably.
It may appear difficult to wake a sleeping baby, but leaving a newborn in a swing while napping is dangerous.
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How to break the habit of sleeping in a baby swing
It’s understandable that you’re tired, your baby is tired, and everyone wants to sleep. If your baby sleeps best in a swing, you may not want to force them to sleep somewhere less comfy and go back to being a sleep-deprived zombie.
Now that you’re aware that a baby swing isn’t the safest location for your infant to sleep, here are some pointers to help you make the transition to a crib or bassinet:
- If your infant is under 4 months old, transfer him or her to a crib or cot after falling asleep in the baby swing. This may assist children in gradually acclimating to their crib for sleep.
- If your infant is older than four months, you may wish to attempt sleep training. Moving your sleeping infant from the baby swing to the crib at this moment may result in a sleep-onset association, which is a whole other headache you don’t want (trust us!).
- Practise putting your baby to sleep in the crib while he or she is drowsy but awake. To make the environment as sleep-friendly as possible, use a white noise machine or fan, as well as room-darkening curtains.
- During the day, keep your baby’s swing in a busy, well-lit, and/or noisy section of the house, reframing it as a place where fun things happen. This teaches your child that the baby swing is for playing, not sleeping.
If none of these tactics work or you’re too tired to function, contact your baby’s paediatrician for assistance. If your baby is having difficulty sleeping in the crib, there could be a medical issue, such as reflux, that makes a flat surface uncomfortable for them.
There’s no need to throw away your baby swing if you already have one. Baby swing, when used as an activity device rather than a sleeping setting, can keep your baby amused while you take a much-needed rest.
However, until a baby’s neck control improves, the only safe location for them to sleep is on their back on a hard, flat surface so their airways remain open for breathing.