Can anyone recommend me a good baby swing?

Ahoy :)

Well little Emily is 5 weeks old and is having a little bit more awake time during the day (and much to my dismay, nighttime)... problem is she doesn't like to just sit with me or be cuddled, she has to be bounced on a fit ball, or cradled while I stand up and swing her in my arms. I have a Fisher Price Papisan Seat which vibrates, but she doesn't seem to like it very much and cries... So I was thinking of investing in one of those baby swings i've seen around as my arms just can't take it anymore and I can't even put her down to go to the toilet without her screaming.

So does anyone have one they love? There are a few out there so i'd like one that others have used and found to be great. Would prefer one that plugs into the wall rather than a battery operated one if they exist?

Or, does anyone have advice on ones to avoid? Also, how long do they last (age wise) before baby is too big for them? I'd hate to fork out lots of moolah and only get a few months out of it.

Cheers in advance :)

Janine

Hmm I think the Fisher Price Power Plus swing is the only one with a wall plug in option but it doesn't have great reviews that I could find... I guess I could always use rechargable batteries anyway!

Has anyone used the Fisher Price Precious Planet Open-Top Cradle 'n Swing? It looks pretty good.

I have the FP power plus - got it bc it plugs into the wall... i dont have any complaints about it - dont RAVE about it but it does the trick and i have used it with both my boys. I think DS1 grew out of it around 8 months (cant remember exactly). I know i used it a bit also when we first started solids and he was too small to sit in high chair - i used to sit him in there for his solids... so obv it lasted til a bit after 6 months at least...
I dont use it ALL the time but they do like the rocking motion and it is another activity/position for them in these early days...

preagainpan - Thanks, yeah I read similar things about it. I also don't know if just the back and forth motion will suffice as when I swing her she's going side to side, which is why i'm thinking maybe the cradle n swing as it does both directions.

Would love to hear more suggestions of some others people have had success with!

We have Fisher price take along swing it has been great!!!

battrery operated have not had to replace batterys and use heaps.

Feeb - It's good to know the batteries last, I was worried i'd be replacing them every two days!

We have the FP rainforect cradle swing, you can rotate the seat so it swings side to side or front to back, some days DD would hate it one way but love it the other. It has been replaced with the Precious Planet version. We didn't get it until she was a few months old and sooo wish we got it earlier (DD only hit the weight limit of 9kg at 12 1/2 months!) The batteries lasted ages as well.

A friend lent me the FP carry along swing, I had it at my office but DD didn't like it as much I think is swung too fast (her son hated it :lol:) and I am not sure the incline of the seat was right, as the big one we had at home was adjustable :)

I didn't udnerstand why belly buddies were buying them... now I know why :lol: :lol:

i have an older fisher price cradle type swing i got second hand which i couldn't have lived without for the first six months or more.... she lived in it...
anyways all i will say is this, make sure you get the cradle type swing, not the type that just go forwards and backwards, as the forward backward ones have the frame very close to the seat, and when baby is older she will be able to reach out and grab the frame and stop the swing, thats what my friend's son did.... you will get alot more use out of the cradle type swing as the frame is no where near the seat so there is no chance of limbs sticking out and stopping the swing, cheeky monkeys. hope you know what i mean by the two different types of swings.

We have the Fisher Price 3-in-1 (I think thats what its called?) Where you can actually take the seat out and use it as a stationary seat, or a rocker, as well as put it in the swing.

I RAVE about this swing. Actually, I saw a couple look at it and another swing, and I actually spent 10 minutes showing them the 3-in-1, and raving about it LOL! I *LOVE* it! It was pretty much the only way she would sleep during the for the first 6 months (except in my arms lol).

It takes batteries, but we used it every day and only had to change them a few times in 6 months, so it doesn't chew through them, its actually really good. I wanted a plug one as well, but the fact that we could take the seat out and use it as a rocker was GREAT, so we traded off the plug featured for that.

we have the rainforest cradle swing (has been replaced by the precious planets) and i could not rate it more highly. it has been a life-saver. i use it everyday- have used it for both kids. ds1 used to actually sleep in it, ds2 hasn't had a sleep in it yet but is happy to sit in it for an hour while i cook/clean. it's fantastic.
both my boys have only liked the side to side cradle motion, so i would definitely get the precious planets cradle one if i was going to buy one brand new. we got our rainforest one during a sale at toys r us.

excellent thanks ladies.... i'm going show DF what you've said to convince him it's a worthy investment, lol!)

Leasha - i havent't heard of the 3 in 1, will have to google it for a looksie. Where in Brissy can I get it?

We bought ours from Kmart :) $130

Google 'fisher price smart stages swing' in google image, and you'll get loads of pics :)

Thanks everyone for your advice and help, you made my decision very easy! I pick up my new Fisher Price Precious Planet Cradle n Swing later this afternoon... can't wait! Fingers crossed she likes it and my back, arms and legs get a break! :)

you will LOVE it!

next purchase will be a FP jumperoo LOL

great - glad you found a good one!
Ginger - what is the jumperoo?

We had the FP power plus swing.. Bella just loved it and would be asleep in minutes when I put her in it. I paid about $200 for it but just sold it on e-bay for $50 - lucky lady got a huge bargain cause it was in perfect condition.

FP jumperoo is one of the greatest purchases we've ever made. they love it in there. google it mamapan, you'll love it.

aah had a look... love it! we have an exercauser so i guess pretty similar...

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FP jumperoo is one of the greatest purchases we've ever made. they love it in there. google it mamapan, you'll love it.

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We have a Jumperoo and DD loves it!! We only got it just before her first birthday, seeing as she is only just learning to crawl we are going to get good use out of it :D We bought it all as an investment for future bub's too ;)

Well I have the swing!! I put it together last night but she was already asleep so I didn't get to use it straight away :( I used it this morning, she was in it for half an hour quietly staring at the mobile. She did start to get upset after half an hour so I took her out straight away, I don't want her to associate the swing with being upset... so do you think she'll get more and more used to it and be able to spend more time in it at once? It only took 5 mins of fitball bouncing to put her to sleep after I took her out though, usually it takes me over an hour.

Also, she definately prefers the sideways swinging than forward and back so i'm so glad I got this one. can't wait til she starts smiling so I can actually tell if she likes it or not, at the moment she just looks mesmerised by it.

Yay, DD was a big fan of the side to side swinging too :D