napping in the swing- how bad is this?

[catmom]

My husband went back to work this week (gulp!), so I am trying to get the hang of caring for my twins (now 1 month old) by myself. So far, things are going okay, but I was having problems with daytime sleep- I would nurse a baby (or rock, or whatever), and as soon as I would put that baby down he/she would wake up and cry (or, they would wake up 20 minutes later). With two babies, I don't really have time to nurse them until they are in a deep sleep like I did with my older daughter. So a few days ago, I tried putting them in the swing once I got done nursing them, and it worked great- they still wake up right when I put them down, but they quickly go back to sleep, and nap nicely for a few hours.

Am I going to regret this later? I think I remember weisbluth saying that napping in the swing (or car, or whatever) is a bad idea and not "good" sleep. But I'm not really sure what else to do. They do sleep fine in their crib at night.

[Natasha]

I just got done reading Happiest Baby on the Block, and according to Dr. Karp, there's nothing wrong with it, especially this early in the game. I think, right now, with newborn twins, your sanity and their sleep is more important than anything. And, it seems that at this age, you aren't really building bad habits, you know?

[PookiePrincess]

I'd say if it works now and saves your sanity, go with it. For the first 8-12 weeks, I really would just do what works for you, especially if they are sleeping fine at night. They'll grow out of it and eventually take real naps.

[MtySheera]

I agree! We do the same thing during the day. If one won't go to sleep or is really awake, we put him in the swing so his brother can eat. It is too hard to deal with both at the same time. We turn the swing on for a little while until we know they are asleep and then try to turn the swing off.

Really, you need to decide what works for you. We have gotten so many suggestions from people, but we finally decided what was best for us and our boys. I said I wouldn't take a baby to bed, but after not getting sleep with 2, I do anything to get some sleep!

[TracyDP]

I say, swing away Catmom...swing away...:p

Seriously, use the swings. I'm a Happiest Baby On The Block fan too and I agree that the first 3 months are like the "4th trimester". Babies this age deserve and need all the comfort, sleep and snuggling they can get. If that means a swing then use the swing. I wish my DD had liked the swing, it would have helped us out but she never did. Swaddling was the only thing that would calm and put her to sleep.

[Pookie]

DS napped in the swing for the first 4 or 5 months. It was a lifesaver. He STTN in his crib at 10 weeks, so I didn't complain. Do what you have to do. Eventually they wouldn't fit anymore.;)

[Ellyn]

We used the swing for the first 4 mo. of my sons life to put him to sleep at night...nothing else worked. So we'd swing him until he was in a deep sleep, stop it and place him in the crib.

I'd say (even more so with twins) that the first few months are survival mode...do what works, do what saves your sanity, and remember...you can always fix it later. ;)

[jennylou]

I say do it. And this is from someone who had to break the swing habit way late in the game - I still wouldn't hesitate using it again. You have to do what works. :)

[Kanga]

I wouldn't hesitate a bit. You're in survival mode right now - just do whatever you need to do to get good sleep out of the,. I would probably try every now and again to put them in their crib, but not fret if they decide to stick with the swing.

dd1 slept on me for the first 3 months of her life. I'd just try once a week or so to see if she was willing to sleep in her crib. Usually not, but then one day she just did and we haven't looked back since (she always slept fine at night in her crib).

[cynder]

DD is 12 weeks and a strong napper in the swing and sleeps in the crib at night. I am still hitting my head against a wall for not getting a swing 3 years ago for my DS. Our first 12 weeks have been wonderful and a big part of it is due to the swing.

[merjmo]

Yep, swing is AWESOME. Weissbluth can kiss my large PP arse (I did steal that quote from someone, BTW) about sleep in motion "not counting." Whatever - if it works, do it. They won't sleep in the swing until they're 12, I promise (though it might feel like it)...

[Smittenk]

You are still in survival mode so however they sleep is great!!

If they are sleeping at night in their crib you are way beyond where I was with just 1 at one month (or 2 months!) Personally I think it is better that they learn to sleep anywhere during the day so in the future you aren't chained to your house. I have a friend who's DD can ONLY sleep in her crib. I loved that I could go out for the afternoon knowing that DS could sleep fine for an hour in a sling.

[Megande]

Actually, Weissbluth says that it is fine to let them go to sleep in the swing, but after they get into deep sleep, just to let them sleep in it motionless. Would that work for you? If not, I agree with everyone else that you just have to do what works. You can worry about sleep quality when they get older (and I'm a HUGE Weissbluth devotee).

[Mrs.Chappy]

jealous of you!! i wish my 7 wk old would sleep anywhere else including the swing..he only sleeps on me

[karlatta]

Absolutely, use it. I'm firmly in the "do whatever works for the first three months" camp. My DS only slept in the swing for the first 4 or 5 months, and we had no problem transitioning him out of it when he was ready.

[LDS Angel 19]

I'll confess. My twins still napped in the swing every now and then until they were 10 months old.
You gotta do what works for you.

[kindermom]

Ack. DD slept in her swing for naps and at night for the first 7 or 8 months. She transitioned naturally on her own to her bed. Swing away catmom!

[Tracie]

Whatever works, do it! My DS wasn't a huge fan of sleeping in the swing but wouldn't sleep in his bassinette at all. However, he slept great in his carseat/carrier (whether it was in the car or not). So guess where he slept every night for the first six months?

[Brady]

Ditto everyone else. Both my sons slept in the swing for naps and bedtime the first few months. My 2nd son transitioned himself out of there around 3 months. The first few months you just need to do what you have to do!

[lil_nance]

I agree whatever works especially this early in the game. My DD took most of her naps in her bouncer/rocker or the carseat until she was 8mo. We transitioned from the rocker to the pack n' play and finally around 10mo naps in the crib.

[DallasLady]

I say, swing away Catmom...swing away...:p

Me too!

My DD napped in her swing until she was 8 months. The transition to napping in her crib was surprisingly easy.

[VMB]

As a PP said - Swing away!!! My DD napped in the swing for the 1st 6 months exclusively. She slept (crappily) in her crib at night. We turned the swing on for about 20mins and once she was asleep, turned it off. If she woke up too early, we turned it back on and then off. She hated the swing for the 1st 8 weeks or so (it really sucked). She's my 2nd, and I really did not have the time to rock her to sleep during the day with an active toddler. I'm happy to report, that we started working on her transition at about 5.5months - she would start in the crib, then move to the swing if the nap was too short. She's only taken 1 part-time nap in the swing in the past 10days! So, I think you'll be totally fine. You have twins and a toddler - do whatever you need for everyone to get sleep and rest! Good luck!!!

[Renrel]

The swing was our magic bullet for months with DS. It almost always calmed him down. We lived in terror of it losing its magic. We had to drag a travel swing with us on the plane trip to Florida because we NEEDED it. I remember DS sleeping in that little swing all night on that trip a few times and DH and I waking every so often to check on him since we read somewhere that he was not supposed to sleep there or be alone in the swing or something, but that was the only way to calm him (other than tv which always grabbed his attention) during those super fussy weeks around the three month mark.

[Pine Tree]

DD napped in her swing until 9 months when she seemed to want to toss and turn more in her sleep. She was a great napper. Now at 14 months she's still a great napper in her crib. In fact, there was no transition issues at all.

We would turn it on until she fell asleep and then turn it off, mainly to save batteries.