mom·bie [mom-bee]
a woman who has a child and becomes a different person than she was before; her conversations revolve around toilet training, feeding schedules, and cleaning products; there’s a glazed look in her eyes and she appears to have been brainwashed…she’s not – she just hasn’t slept in five years.
You have had baby glued to you all morning, your jumper is stained with something that resembles chocolate, but you have your doubts it is chocolate and you smell permanently of sour milk. You are exhausted and you haven’t even started the laundry or dishes today because every time you put the little devil down he starts to cry. What are you to do?
While we don’t promote replacing human contact with anything mechanical, sometimes a mom just needs a little breather and that breather could come in the form of a Plug In Baby Swing. But what about the health and safety issues around Baby Swings, you ask?
Don’t sweat it. Switch baby over to the other hip, take a deep breath and have a look at the lowdown on what could give you a few minutes of peace and not add to your guilt trip. Plug In Baby Swings have their place in a mom’s busy life, so let us show you what your options are and most importantly, what the health and safety factors are which you need to take heed of.
| Plug In Baby Swing | Competency | Price | Our Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graco Glider LX Gliding Swing | B | $$ | |
| Fisher Price Snugabunny Cradle ‘N Swing | B+ | $$ | |
| Bright Starts Plug In Sway and Swing | A | $$$ | |
| Graco DuetConnect LX Swing & Bouncer | A+ | $$ |
Why a Plug In Baby Swing?
Why not just stick your baby in front of an iPad or TV if its distraction and peace you are looking for? First and the only reason why that’s not a good option is that babies can’t focus on the graphics that a TV or iPad produce for very long. They may look interested for a while but it’s only because there are color and movement. This interest will wane in about 1 minute, leaving you with a bored and frustrated baby. Think gentle movement. Think soothing music. Think of a few minutes of lalaland bliss.
Please remember that the Plug In Baby Swing should be viewed as an alternative to you rocking your baby to sleep or soothing them to calm down, not a permanent babysitter. Let’s explore this in a little more detail.
Health and Safety Aspects to look out for in a Plug In Baby Swing
Stability and Durability
You want to make sure the swing has a sturdy frame; one that won’t tip over should your ever-growing and inquisitive baby move to the side. Check the joints of the frame to make sure they slot together firmly. In addition, ensure the paint or coating is low in a lead in case those little teeth get busy as baby gets older.
Harness
According to U.S. Safety regulations, swings are supposed to have a 3-point harness. If you can find one with a 5 point harness, bonus! You want to make sure the little guy doesn’t slip down and out, given that the swing will be moving.
Toy attachments
Make sure the toy attachments are secure, as baby will, as they develop their gross motor skills, be slapping his little hands on these regularly. Ensure that the small parts of the toy are firmly sewn or glued on. You wouldn’t want a little piece of a toy being inadvertently swallowed by your baby and cause possible choking. Another check would be to see whether the toys are made from safe materials. Surprisingly some manufacturers didn’t think of this when making the toys.
Music and Motion
Every baby is different and while some like loud noise and bright lights, others prefer soothing tunes and a soft glow. In addition, there are those little newbies that will fall asleep with a gentle rock and then those that like a bit more of a rumba beat.
So, be sure to look at the music options that the Plug In Baby Swing offers as well as the options on speed and movement. Some swings have your typical baby lullaby tunes and others come with custom modern songs. Whatever your baby’s fancy, we are sure you will find the right option here.
Which Plug In Baby Swing will suit you and your baby?
We have created an easy-to-choose table for you detailing a few popular Plug In Baby Swings on the market. Further down, we have also given you a point by point breakdown. Where we have a tick and cross there are mixed views.
| Plug In Baby Swing | Competency | Price | Our Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graco Glider LX Gliding Swing | B | $$ | |
| Fisher Price Snugabunny Cradle ‘N Swing | B+ | $$ | |
| Bright Starts Plug In Sway and Swing | A | $$$ | |
| Graco DuetConnect LX Swing & Bouncer | A+ | $$ |
Graco Glider LX Gliding Swing
Another Graco gem, this Plug In Baby Swing has all the features. Built to fit into small spaces, you can pack this guy away quite easily. With a soothing gentle motion to mimic mom’s cuddling rocking, your little buddy will be in dream land sooner than you can blink.
A nice feature, if your baby likes this, is its vibrating mode. There are 10 choices of classic melodies as well as 5 nature sounds to suit your baby’s mood. The seat is extra cushioned for added comfort and supports baby’s head as well.
For when the baby doesn’t need to sleep, the detachable toy bar with cute teddies will keep them busy. There is a power saving option that comes in the form of a timer and you can opt between batteries or plug in.
Fisher Price Snugabunny Cradle ‘N Swing
With many years of successfully providing us with innovative products, Fisher-Price has done it again with their Plug In Baby Swing. We love the soft colors and plush design, as well the fact that the material is machine washable. On the cute side, the My Little Snugabunny is shaped, as the name says, in a bunny design, bunny ears and all.
A two-swing motion allows you to choose whether the swing moves side-to-side or head-to-toe. You can toggle between 6 swing speeds and 16 songs, including some nature options.
We love that you can adjust the position of the seat to left, right or center, which is helpful as you may find that the sturdy legs won’t fit in all spaces. With good reviews, we can say that the spend is well worth it.
Bright Starts Plug-In Sway and Swing
Bright Starts have given us a real honey here.
With an 180 degree rotating seat, 6 speeds, and 3 swing directions, we are amazed at all this at a very reasonable price. There are 8 melodies, 3 nature sounds, volume control and a shut-off timer that can be set on 4 different times.
The comfort recline seat with 2 positions plus infant support bolster, AC adaptor saves money on batteries is one of its good features too.
A cute addition is a little mobile with 2 toy attachments. Although not ideal for traveling and no vibrate function, we found no negative reviews from the customers. All round a good design.
Graco DuetConnect LX Swing & Bouncer
Doubling up as a bouncer, this Plug In Baby Swing is a full house package. With 6 swing speeds, 2 vibration settings, 10 classic melodies and 5 nature songs, your baby is sure to be soothed in no time. Note that the vibration feature requires batteries while the swing can be plugged in.
Safety features include a 5-point harness and plush head support. The toy mobile is cute and can also be removed or replaced with other more engaging toys. We found the motor a little loud, which is the one downfall with this swing. Mixed views on this swing but at the average price of $150 or $134 on special as well as the practical aspects, we are happy to recommend.
So when you are feeling frazzled and in need of a little bit of a coffee and book time, slip your little one into a comfy Plug In Baby Swing and take a load off.
