Watching a baby happily engrossed in its favorite activities gives great satisfaction to parents. In addition to eating the favorite food, babies love to swing in the lap of their parents. However, parents sometimes dislike or find it painful to keep their baby swinging in their laps.
One of the best baby accessories that can help in such a situation is baby swing. It provides comforting movement for the little one and simultaneously relieves the parents from manual efforts for swinging. The inappropriate use of baby swings may pose a threat to the delicate body of a baby. So, let’s look at the safety guidelines for using a baby swing:
Always supervise the baby:
Make sure you never leave the baby unattended. Though you may have invested a lot of money on a decent quality baby swing, the baby may feel insecure anytime. While the baby is swinging, you can stay around so that it stays in front of your sight at all times. It is possible that the baby may get misaligned inside the swing and may begin to slip off if there is improper setup. So, make sure you keep the baby swinging under your supervision.
Age limit:
Those infants who are under the age of 4 months must be seated in the most reclined swing position. This will prevent issues like suffocation and slumping over. Your baby may seem quite healthy but it is not recommended to make it sit in the reclined swing position if it is under 4 months of age. It is important to first know the age of the baby and then make an appropriate seating arrangement.
Swing structure:
The swing structure should be such that it does not tip over or fold up easily. If you buy a cheap quality baby swing then chances are there that it can fold up easily or shatter easily. This may occasionally create a situation in which the swing breaks off while the baby is swinging inside. Consequently, it can harm the delicate body of the baby.
Begin swinging slowly:
Initially, you can begin the swinging practice slowly with motion settings. The majority of the baby swings come equipped with variable speed settings or motion settings. Begin with the lowest setting, specifically for very young infants. If you swing very rapidly or roughly right from the start, you may over-stimulate or distress baby. This may spoil the mood of the baby and may make it cry. It is important that you don’t push the swing but let the swing itself perform the work.
Shoulder straps:
If the seat is adjustable to more than a 50-degree angle then it must have shoulder straps. These straps prevent the infant from falling out. You can consider choosing a baby swing equipped with well-built shoulder straps to ensure complete safety.
Weight limit:
The parents or caregivers should check the baby is not heavier than the specified weight limits on the instructions or swing label. Before making your baby sit inside the swing, check out the specified weight limit and compare it with the weight of your baby.
Monitor baby’s sleep:
The soothing wind while swinging may make your baby fall asleep. The baby swings are mainly used to soothe your baby for a while and not meant for sleeping. If your baby sleeps inside for several hours, it can severely influence on its spinal growth and motor skills.
Some other safety guidelines:
- Avoid placing swing on the elevated surfaces. Instead, place it on the floor and make sure the swing does not tip over.
- Limit swinging time – not more than 30 minutes.
- Make sure the cradle surface of the swing stays flat while in motion.
- Stop using it if the baby can herself push or rollover or climb out.
- The harness must be fastened securely.
- Avoid including toys or blankets in the swing.
- The toys attached on the swing’s surface must not be pulled off easily.
- Regularly inspect the baby swing to make sure there is no damage. Doing this will reduce the risk of injuries.
- Don’t leave the swing outdoor for a long time because it may prone to cracking and breakage.
