sleeping in the swing

My DD Greta sleeps almost always in her swing. I know they say you can't form habits this young but I beg to differ. That is the only place she will sleep. I feel so bad, like a bad mom having her sleep there but it's that or no sleep. How hard is this habit to break?

 

Take it from a mom of 4 month old boys who got addicted to the swing almost immediately...they are still addicted!!
In fact, when the heavier of the 2 boys caused the motor on one swing to break, we were down to one swing for the both of them, and they had withdrawals NO LIE!
They would not sleep anywhere else, one would get the swing, and we'd have to hold the other one. Ugh...and if one was feeding while the other was swinging...that feeding baby would STARE DOWN the baby in the swing, it was hilarious.
We broke down and bought another swing. During the day they still get fussy for the swing, but lately their sleeping patterns have changed so drastically that they don't fight the crib at night anymore; so let it be said that there is light at the end of the swing addiction tunnel!! ha!
I've read on other posts that babies started coming out of the swings moreso when they get more mobile and didn't like to sit still...my boys do enjoy a good stretch and being laid out on a blanket on the floor to play; but they will still sleep the entire three hours between feeds in their swing! Sometimes longer.
I just thank God for swings on a daily basis and let them sleep there! At least they are asleep and content, who cares where! ha!
I'm sure they will outgrow before they're 30!

 

My boys took all naps and even some night sleeps in their swings for the first couple of months. By 12 weeks the swing was in the basement storage. They broke the habit without any major effort on my part. They just started sleeping in their cribs. Don't worry! But be very careful of flat head - I think the swings are a big part of our problem.

 

Emma slept in her swing all night for the first 3 months. Jake slept with me. You are still in survival mode, as I call it. If it gets you some extra sleep, I would do it! I transitioned them around 4 months and they did fine after the first couple of days. :lazy:

 

For several months the swing was the only place my son would sleep. i would say as long as he is sleeping go with it. they will out grow the swing. Good Luck

 

QUOTE(girls! @ Nov 6 2007, 05:23 PM) [snapback]484294[/snapback]
My DD Greta sleeps almost always in her swing. I know they say you can't form habits this young but I beg to differ. That is the only place she will sleep. I feel so bad, like a bad mom having her sleep there but it's that or no sleep. How hard is this habit to break?

My girls were both in them until 12-14 weeks. They survived it and so did I BECAUSe they slept there! I decided down the road I could cut them off and let the CIO if necessary when they were old enough but it was fine.

 

Okay, my girls are 8 months and Addison STILL naps in her swing!!

She's slept in her crib every night though since about 7 weeks.

 

mine slept in the swing from the time colic set in at a month till they were 4 mos old - at 4 mos I just thought "well we'll try the crib tonight" and they had no issues...at 2 mos you're still just surviving - so let them swing!

 

Savannah loved her swing, Beau liked it calm and quiet... She slept in it everyday for naps... SHe barely gets in it now... It was not a horrible habit for us... I sometimes wish she still liked it alot... she really dont and i mean that was teh ONLY place she napped...

 

My boys slept in their car seats and swing until 4 months. It took a coupleof days to transition them to their crib. I was so nervous. It was much easier than I thought it would be.

 

My James would only sleep in his swing, too and I was just like you - nervous I was starting a bad habit. The wonderful TS ladies reassured me it wasn't a big deal and you know what? It wasn't! He naturally got tired of being in his swing at night around 5 or 6 months or so and the transition to his crib was great!

 

QUOTE(becky5 @ Nov 6 2007, 05:33 PM) [snapback]484377[/snapback]
You are still in survival mode, as I call it. If it gets you some extra sleep, I would do it! I transitioned them around 4 months and they did fine after the first couple of days. :lazy:


Ditto!!

 

At that age, I agree with pp, you have to do what works. I decided about 3 weeks ago to start to work them out of their addiction to swing sleeping...we did so a little at a time. First moved the swings into their rooms for naps, then would start them napping in the swing and then turn the swing off, then let them fall asleep in the swing and move them into the crib, and eventually we just put them down in the crib. The slow transition seemed to work really well for them. For now, take napping however it comes!