SOOTHING BABY ACCESSORIES

Finding accessories that will help to relax a colicky baby can be difficult. There are quite a few, so I have decided to add a section that will address this very thing. I mentioned things like vibrating seats and swings, so now we will use this section to look at these so that you can choose what is best for you and your baby. Let’s look at them now!!

A baby swing is a wonderful way to soothe a fussy or colicky baby. It is also a great way for the parent to hold an infant while mom or dad sneaks a quick shower. Before you buy a baby swing, you should look at this list of handy must-have features that will make your baby swing more useful and pleasurable for you and baby.

Stability & Safety First

Since baby's safety is naturally going to be your first priority, so you will have to check all swings to be sure they have a wide base and will not tip over on the baby should he to one side. You will also have to check to see that the swing has a safety belt system; especially if you have a smaller baby. Just like in car seats, you will want a 5-point harness system in your swings because it is safer. The shoulder and hip straps help to reduce the chance that baby will slide out of the swing or learn to climb out of it.

Battery & Wind-Up

Whether you choose to get a battery-powered swing or a wind-up swing is a matter of personal choice. Of course, batteries don't last forever, so it is reasonable to assume that these can be costly over time. However, battery swings will help to eliminate the need to keep re-winding every time the swing stops moving which is about every 15 minutes or so. The wind up for a manual swing is also quite loud. Battery swings also tend have more swinging speeds and music settings to meet baby's preferences.

Speed & Sound Differences

Some babies want to be rocked to sleep slowly, while colicky babies may like to be rocked with more force. For this reason, you must choose a baby swing that has several different rocking speeds. Your baby may also have strong preferences on music, so look for swings that play music at different volumes or with no music at all. Some babies just want peace and quiet!

Reclining

Small babies will not be able to hold their head up on their own or avoid slouching forward in an upright swing, so be sure your baby swing has at least two recline positions. It also helps to weigh down the swing with a blanket placed over the baby. One of the recline positions that will come with the swing setting should be a newborn recline that allows baby to lie back far enough to avoid slouching all together. The reclining feature is also handy when older babies fall asleep while still in the swing so that you don’t have to move him.

Open Top & Flip-Out Tray

You will want to have a flip-out or fold-up tray on a swing, so that a sleeping baby can be gently removed from the swing without going through a great deal of trouble. These trays are also more convenient for the parents. An open top swing makes it easier to lift the baby out of the swing without hitting their head on the swing's upper bar as well.