Best bouncer/swing for naps?

[grace11]

I'm looking for a way to get my newborn off for naps in the day that saves me walking all day so I was thinking an electronic bouncer or swing would work. We have a static one - baby bjorn - and she'll go to sleep if you bounce it quite vigorously for ages. Can anyone recommend something that does the same job but powered by batteries/mains? I've tried a few that vibrate but that's not going to cut it!

[Kaz4755]

Hello, have you looked at a mamaroo? We have one for our little one and you plug it into the mains and also you can plug an iPod into it for white noise, worth a look! Good luck!

[FATEdestiny]

You really don't need to spend a lot of money on a bouncer. I find the ones with V-shaped metal legs and a cover best. I like Fisher Price but there are lots of similar ones available. Take the play arch off for sleep, obviously.

You mention wanting an electric one - please think that through before buying because it is not something I would recommend.

You would have no control over the bouncing (or swinging) in an electric one. Its either on or off and at specific speeds. This creates dependency and gives you no route to weaning baby off the bouncing. So you may end up with a 6 month old who is starting to lengthen naps, but is not very difficult to get to sleep in the cot because of reliance on the swing.

Whereas with the manual ones (I foot bounce mine while sitting on the sofa with my laptop), you get to control how much it is bounced and for how long. You can stop bouncing once baby is asleep (or at least aim for that end-point by slowing down bounces when asleep). Then if baby stirs you could do just half a dozen gentle bounces to lull baby back to sleep - rather than having to switch an electric one fully on.

Manually you can also work towards less and less bouncing needed. Maybe a newborn needs lots of bouncing and also gentle bouncing while asleep. A month later maybe just vigorous bouncing for 15 minutes to get to sleep then none while asleep. Then a month later gentle bouncing for 15 minutes may be all that is needed. Then less and less is needed until by 5 or so months old I have usually reached the point where very little bouncing is needed at all.

An electric swing/bouncer is all-or-nothing. Great for right now. But in my view this is short term gain for long term pain - it will create more problems long term than it solves now.

[Kaz4755]

Actually just realised this doesn't bounce, just rocks so perhaps not such a good recommendation! Sorry!

[grace11]

Ok thanks both. We have a manual but it takes ages to get her to sleep - too long for me. I was also counting on it as a distraction as I attend to dd1 and eat dinner. Maybe I need to rethink - I do not want a baby dependent on a bouncer to sleep!!