Thoughts on weaning from the swing?

Ok - I know, if it ain't broke, don't fix it -- BUT, we are traveling to Michigan next month (mid-October) to see grandparents and we won't have our "magic swings" for naps. Right now, my girls' sleep great for naps in them (night time they are in a crib and sleep decently - we've had some setbacks), but if I lie them down in the crib for a nap it doesn't really work. I am not willing to do CIO for naps at this point. So, anyway, I'm trying to figure out how to wean them off the swing into a crib/PNP for naptime.

My first thought is to slow down the swing every couple of days until it doesn't swing for a few days, then transition them.

But, I'm sure someone on here has done this and was hoping for some expert advice!

(they are in separate rooms for naps because they will wake each other up -- I learned that on here too! -- and that has helped a lot in us getting better naps)


Thanks!

Erica

 

I successfully moved them from swings to cribs for naps! The swings were kept in the living room, so what I did was move the swings into the nursery and turned on mobile music instead of swing music, so they got used to being carried into the nursery to nap and got used to sleeping with mobile music, not the swing music. I put thier stuffed bunnies and blankets with them too. After a few days, I waited until they were really tired and put them in thier cribs, with their bunnies and blankets, and mobile music. Con took to it right away, Chase had to move to a whole new crib (we separated them at that point as well, from one crib to 2) so he took a few days but it worked out great. No real CIO needed, just some soothing for a confused Chase. Good luck!

 

QUOTE(kendraplus2 @ Sep 24 2007, 11:26 AM) [snapback]420839[/snapback]
I successfully moved them from swings to cribs for naps! The swings were kept in the living room, so what I did was move the swings into the nursery and turned on mobile music instead of swing music, so they got used to being carried into the nursery to nap and got used to sleeping with mobile music, not the swing music. I put thier stuffed bunnies and blankets with them too. After a few days, I waited until they were really tired and put them in thier cribs, with their bunnies and blankets, and mobile music.


I did this as well! Swings next to cribs really seemed to ease the transition. Although I STILL have one who isn't too happy about naps in cribs! But she'll sleep straight through the night without a peep in here crib!

 

We're in the process of transitioning too. They nap in their cribs about 90% of the time now...with an occasional snooze in the swing. They never had a problem falling asleep in their crib instead of the swing...it's just that they don't stay asleep--but that's a whole other problem! I hope it goes smoothly for you and that you have a great trip to see the G-parents in Michigan!

Reyna

 

We had this problem as well. I started off by not allowing them to fall asleep in the swings anymore. As soon as they were tired and they looked as if they were going to fall asleep I took them to their cribs. I am not big on the CIO method either so by doing it this way they were so tired they didn't care where they were sleeping. If they fussed I just soothed them by patting their little butts! It worked out great for me! Now my boys hardly ever want to be in their swings so be prepared for that once you transition. I found they really only liked it for the naps! Good Luck and If you have any questions let me know.

 

By they way I would put them in their swings and let them get tired and then move them from their swings to their cribs! Don't think I was clear on that from my first post

 

We are dealing with the SAME thing right now...they sleep great in their swings for naps--9am morning nap, 1pm afternoon nap and 4pm cat nap...but for the life of me I can't get them to do solid naps in their cribs (even though they sleep in them all night). I agree that if it isn't broke, why try to fix it, but for me, I am starting to feel like I trapped in my home because I depend on the swings so much for napping UGH! I appreciate all the advice as well and am going to try making the transition this week as well. I have several dates coming up where we will be spending the day/night out of the house, and need to make sure they will be getting their rest WITHOUT the assistance of swings. Good luck--keep me posted and let me know how it goes!