Sleeping and Napping in Her Swing and Bouncy Seat

Sara - posted on 02/03/2009

My daughter is 4 months old and she slept in her carseat for the first 2 months, she hated sleeping flat too. My doc suggested that we just get her used to sleeping in her crib and let her cry it out. So, we did when she was about 10 weeks. The first night she cried for over an hour. The second, for about 35 minutes and the third for about 15 minutes. It took about a week. Now, she just goes to sleep. She'll babble some, but I do have to say that letting them cry it out, while difficult, has worked for us. Your baby will get used to lying flat, just give her a chance to. You'll probably be surprised! She is old enough to learn to try and soothe herself, so you're not doing her any harm. Good luck!

Tarah - posted on 02/02/2009

My daughter is 3 1/2 months and is the same way. It's the swing or she won't sleep. In the swing she will sleep usually from 11pm to 10am but if you put her in her crib or her pack and play she wakes up right away or else if she does stay asleep she wakes up every few hours. I am a single mom, so I am gonna stick with the swing for awhile because I REALLY appreciate the extra sleep!

Susanne - posted on 01/30/2009

don't make them cry it out, my son wouldn't sleep in his bassinet either. I found the solution, chances are that your swing and bouncy seat are softer than the plastic mattress in his bed. . .took me a while to figure this out. . .I put a pillow (not too squishy) under his blankie that he sleeps on, and ta da hes sleeping in his own bed and through the night. Whish I had thought of it sooner.

Amber - posted on 01/30/2009

your house sounds exactly like mine..my daughter will only sleep in her swing or next to me on the bed, usually falling asleep after she breastfeeds, and my 3 year old son is so spoiled too and sleeps with us in our bed almost evry night...one thing you could do is put a toddler bed in your room so he can still feel close to you but get used to sleeping alone.

Jessica - posted on 01/29/2009

I am glad to know I am not alone!! My son is 4 months old and is spoiled to my arms in the recliner or his swing.  I have tried numerous times to put him in his basinett and the longest he has ever slept in there is an hour and a half.  I know everyone tells me to let him cry it out but I just can't bring myself to do it.  One reason is b.c..  when he cries really hard it gags him.  Hopefully he will outgrow this soon!  The swing can't swing him forever!! ha ha!

Micha - posted on 01/15/2009

My Son Has Reflux And He Loves Sleeping On His Back. Its Just A Case Of Liking It or Hating It.x

Micha - posted on 01/15/2009

My Son Was Like That And I Everytime He Had a Nap i Used 2 Put Him In His Crib. He Sleeps Alnight From Around 7pm Till About 9am In The Morning. Its Soo Much Better Let Her Cry My Son Did He Cried 4 Around 10 Mins Eachtime Then He Went Through The Night. Its Soo Much Better Because i Let Him Sleep In My Bed And I Usta Fall Asleep Its Scary.  Just Try it It Wont Take 2 Long.

Megan - posted on 01/15/2009

Well I'm glad to see there are other children and mothers out there that are doing the same thing. She just sleeps so much better in her swing and God knows I need the sleep too with her and her two year old brother. I've tried everything too and even for naps she wakes RIGHT back up in her pack and play or crib.

Vanessa - posted on 01/14/2009

It sounds to me like she might have reflux. Reflux babies dont like sleeping on their backs as it causes them pain. I would go and have it checked out, my little girl does the exact same thing. Good luck

Julie - posted on 01/14/2009

My daughter is the exact same way. I discovered she sleeps well on her tummy, which is of course a no-no. The longest I've gotten her to sleep in the Pack N Play was almost 4 hours one night. I think there's some security she feels in there being kinda tucked in (we have one of the fisher price cradle n swing ones). I've tried swaddling, sleep positioners, bumps to allow her to sleep on her side... I know eventually she will grow out of it. I don't know many adults sleeping in swings. But I just keep trying every nap to put her in cradle/crib/pack n play. Beyond that I don't know what else to do either besides wait it out.

Megan - posted on 01/14/2009

Thanks for all the answers so far guys... very good to hear!!

Catherine - posted on 01/13/2009

May baby does the SAME thing.  I feel like it isn't quite right to have her in the swing all night, but I certainly enjoy the sleep.  I put her in the swing about 7pm, then about 8:30 when I go to bed, I move her in to her crib.  She wakes at 12 or 1 to eat then I put her in the swing for the rest of the night.  For right now, it's where we are.  She needs it; I need it.

Lesley - posted on 01/13/2009

My little guy loves his swing too but is able to sleep in the crib.  We still swaddle him which I feel has a lot to do with it.  I think it makes him feel more secure and prevents him for startling himself awake.  We definately have to work at putting him down in the crib though...a song, rocking, pacifier...etc. Other things that might help could be a wedge to create an incline in the crib or one of those pillows you put under their trunks that has a bolster on either side of them to keep them cosy.

Good luck!

Melissa - posted on 01/13/2009

Well my daughter is now 3months and at the beginning I would have her sleep in a bassinett but then she wasn't liking it and wouldn't sleep in her crib right away. We had a rocker thats probably the same as a bouncer but only rocks and then reclines back into a bed but she isn't completely flat its still a bit curved and she loves it!! We had to give it back but she is doing fine now and will sleep in the crib but will also fall asleep in her new bouncer or swing but because her head isn't strong enough it will drop to one side or forward which scares me that is why i take her out and put her in her crib. I hope this helps. So I really don't see a problem with it but you just may have a problem getting her in her crib later on..

Chelsea - posted on 01/13/2009

Hi Megan. My son was like that too. If she likes sleeping in the swing/bouncer seat because of the security, you might try wrapping up blankets long ways and putting them on her side. It will make her feel more secure, but she will be sleeping in her crib. You might try it for a nap, first. That way she will get used to it before having to sleep like that all night. If that doesn't work I would keep with the swing/bouncer until she's a little bigger. Hope this helps!!