The road to a new family is a rollercoaster ride of emotions and full of anticipation, but of course also uncertainties. You want everything to be ready by the time the baby arrives and of course countless questions about baby equipment and different products come up. What is a nice-to-have and what is an absolute must-have? Finding the best for your baby in the jungle of baby products is not that easy. Finding safe and high quality products so they last longer (just in case you decide to have a sibling!) can be tough, so we have tried to save you time by helping with the research. We have asked our expert midwife Katrin Ritter to take a closer look at three popular baby products for you: A swing, a rocker and a baby bouncer. At first glance they seem very similar, but we know from parents' that there are big differences in everyday use.
What do you need a swing, a rocker or a baby bouncer for anyway?
In the first few months, babies' special anatomy makes it difficult for them to lie down on a flat surface. For sleeping, of course, this must be the case – sleeping baby on their back, as a prevention against sudden infant death syndrome. But if you need two free hands and cannot carry your child at that time, it is very practical to have a safe alternative, for example when cooking, showering, going to the toilet and much more. The baby product must be transportable, as you want to take it from room to room - and perhaps also on holiday, to grandma and grandpa's or to friends' houses. In the first months, it is an enormous relief for you if this everyday helper optimally supports your baby's needs and offers your baby a similar situation as it would in an ergonomic baby carrier or correctly tied sling. It can always be close to you, it grows with you, supports your baby ergonomically and, of course, provide cosy security. When complementary food is introduced, at the earliest after 4 months, it should also offer a more upright reclining position in which you can feed your baby while he or she is not yet able to sit. The developmental milestone of "sitting" is only reached at 8-10 months, when your baby sits down by itself from crawling.
The most important factors to look for:
- Ergonomic and developmentally appropriate positioning of the baby
- Easily transportable from room to room and on the move
- Developmentally appropriate soothing of the baby without overstimulation
- Back-friendly and ergonomic for the parent too
- Possibility to adjust the angle of the lying surface so that feeding is also possible as long as the baby cannot sit up
Swings, rockers and baby bouncers: a comparison of three everyday helpers
To help you make your decision easier, here is an overview of the advantages and disadvantages of each product.
- The Swing
This is a special form of baby hammock on a spring that is suspended from the ceiling, a beam or a frame.
Advantages:
- Swings through a spring
- Reminiscent of the womb
- Responds to the child's movements
- Can be used for a long time
Disadvantages:
- Mostly not ergonomic. The back is in a very curved position, legs not in a squat-spread M position
- No room for head rotation: the cervical spine cannot easily stretch backwards, consequence: the chin is pressed on the chest and the baby holds the head crooked, this can restrict breathing
- Heels are usually permanently supported on the base: For healthy foot development, it is important that the feet can move freely
- Not a substitute for a bed: Due to the cosy swinging, there is a risk of falling asleep. However, it is not suitable for sleeping (see Sudden Infant Death Syndrome recommendations: Sleep lying on the back, in bed on a firm mattress)
- Limited visual contact: You cannot see the child, nor can the child see you.
- Complicated placement: Can be difficult to use alone (placing the baby)
- Rarely transportable easily: Neither from room to room, let alone to take with you (depending on the suspension)
- Requires suspension: It needs a frame, door frame or hooks in the ceiling for attachment - so you have little flexibility
- Danger of overstimulation: Too much stimulation (movement) from the outside, can promote sleep problems and regulatory disorders (habituation effect)
- Lying position: Can promote increased spitting up
- Little air circulation: The baby hangs quite low in the swing
- Inflexible: No adjustment of the angle of the lying surface possible
- Not 100 % safe: Rarely does a swing have safety belts
- Not easy to clean: The fabric can usually be washed at 30 degrees, mattresses rather not. Bars have to be removed first
- Comparatively expensive: Depending on the type, equipment and installation, a swing can cost a lot of money
- Babies can see little and there is only one flat lying position
- Rocker
The motorised baby swing is a fixed swing on a frame that is powered by electricity (occasionally batteries) and moves smoothly, often in combination with music and sounds.
Advantages:
- Takes the rocking (moving) out of parents' hands
- Child is visible
- Optimal climate, good air circulation
- Play and fun through play arch
- Safe due to harness option
- Sometimes suitable for feeding, but not particularly practical as difficult to clean
Disadvantages:
- Often not ergonomic: back in a curved, even slumped position, legs not in a squat-spread position, often too upright especially for newborns
- No room for head rotation: the cervical spine cannot easily stretch backwards, resulting in the chin being pressed onto the chest and the child holding the head at an angle, which can restrict breathing
- Heels are usually permanently supported on the base: For healthy foot development, it is important that the feet can move freely
- Danger of overstimulation: Can promote sleep problems and regulatory disorders through too much stimulation (movement) from outside, especially through the use of a motor
- Constant rocking movement: increased spitting up possible
- Energy costs: More expensive due to electricity and battery consumption and less flexible in use
- More expensive to buy: as a baby bouncer
- Less flexible: Often no adjustment of the angle of the lying surface possible
- Not easy to clean: With some products, the headrest and covers are washable, with others only parts can be removed and washed
- Doesn’t grow with the child: Therefore, it becomes too small very quickly for the baby
- Not a bed substitute: Because of the cosy rocking, there is a risk of falling asleep. However, it is not suitable for sleeping (see recommendations on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: Sleep lying on the back, in bed on a firm mattress)
The Ergobaby Evolve 3-in-1 Bouncer is an ergonomic newborn recliner, fun baby bouncer and cosy toddler chair all in one.
Advantages:
- Ergonomic: grows with the baby and provides developmentally appropriate support for the head, spine, legs (squat-spread posture) and feet, including the newborn insert
- Sufficient space for turning the head: in the newborn insert and in the rocker
- Back-friendly for parents & child
- Heels and legs are free to move: due to the squat-splay position of the legs, natural posture & development
- No over-stimulation: the baby controls the rocking by its own arm and leg movements
- No batteries, no electricity needed
- Less spitting up and reflux: During the rocking movement, the head is always the highest point, as only the upper body rocks and not the whole child is moved back and forth
- Space-saving folding and quick to transport
- Can be used up to 13.2 kg (toddler age)
- 1-hand adjustment: 3 different positions, depending on age and development
- Suitable for feeding: until the child can sit (8-10 months)
- Super easy to clean: the cover can be put on and taken off in two seconds and machine washable. Tip: A second cover is worthwhile
- Eye contact possible: your child is visible to you and can also see the parents
- Optimal climate: good air circulation, three different materials
- Play and fun: through child-activated rocking movement and play arch (less danger of falling asleep)
- Safe: due to removable crotch strap with buckles
Disadvantages:
- Must be ‘bounced’ by parents until baby learns to do this
- Parents would need to sit on a chair/floor to interact with child