How long can you use a baby swing?

Parents love to use a baby swing for their babies, and even a baby loves to spend time in it. The bad news is, you can’t offer a baby swing to your baby for the entire day. Some experts say a baby shouldn’t spend more than 1 hour/day, and he/she shouldn’t spend more than 30 minutes at a time in the baby swing. These time limits are enough because baby swings are made to make the baby relax, feel happy, and comfortable. You should only use a baby swing when he/she is crying or when you want to do other chores at home. When you are free and can give your baby time, forget the baby swing and hold the baby in your hand. There are various reasons for limiting the time. Let’s discuss them.

Reasons for limiting the time

It can flatten the head

Leaving a baby in a baby swing for a very long time in a fixed position can flatten his/her head’s backside. That’s why you have to keep changing the baby’s position frequently, even if he/she is not lying in the swing.

It can prevent developing the motor skills

Spending too much time in a baby swing can be a hurdle in the development of a baby’s motor skills. Motor skills are the muscle’s movement, like the movements of finger, wrist, hands, legs, and feet. These motor skills lead to crawling, cruising, sitting, and walking, etc. If a baby spends too much time in a baby swing, then it will take a lot of time to develop these skills, so your baby may delay walking, crawling, and cruising. That’s why limit the baby’s time in the swing and let him/her develop motor skills.

It increases the SIDS risk

If the baby spends too much time in a baby swing, he is most likely to fall asleep in it. Unfortunately, baby swings are not suitable for sleeping purposes. If a baby is sleeping in the swing, then the different swinging motions of a baby swing can increase the risk of SIDS. If your baby falls asleep in the swing, then don’t leave him/her in the swing anymore. Just bring him/her out of the swing and lie on the flatbed.

Guidelines while using a baby swing

Even if you are leaving your baby in a baby swing for only 30 minutes, you still need to take care of few things because these are necessary for your baby’s safety.

Always use safety belts

Safety belts are for the baby’s safety. They keep the baby in a comfortable position, and also prevent from falling off the swing. If the baby swing doesn’t have any safety belt, then never buy that swing. Depending upon swing to swing, some have 3-point harness belts, and some have 5-point harnesses. 5-point is more secure than 3-point, but still, 3-point is also acceptable. If you are getting a swing from a worthy brand, then definitely they will have safety belts in their swings, like these are some trustworthy swings that have safety belts because they all are made by top brands.

Always stay close to the swing

When the baby is in a swing, always stay close to the swing. If you are doing some tasks, then keep checking the swing frequently because a mishap can happen at any time. It is the best way to keep the baby swing in a swing.

Never exceed the weight limit

Most baby swings are made for a maximum of 6 months old babies because when the baby starts to sit or exceeds the weight limit, then the baby swing can be dangerous for him/her. Most baby swings have a weight limit of 25 pounds. If your baby is bigger than that, then never put your baby in the swing because a swing can break, and your baby can get injured. Also, when the baby starts to sit himself/herself, he/she may try to come off the swing and can make himself/herself injured.