Do I really need a swing, a glider and a vibrating chair? Please help.

I went to BBB and was so overwhelmed with the 450 chairs that move, swing, buzz, order chinese food....

What do you suggest we get? I live in an apartment and really don't want all three.

Re: Do I really need a swing, a glider and a vibrating chair? Please help.

We have limited space as well. You need a swing. It was a life save when DS had trouble sleeping at night. We had a bouncy seat which we kept in our bedroom and I had DS in it when I got dressed in the morning. He has gotten too big for it now. We also got a jumperoo which he loves and still uses at 9 months old.

Re: Do I really need a swing, a glider and a vibrating chair? Please help.

For baby or for you?

Swing - god send - nice naps, good place to put baby down when you need two hands.

Bouncy Chair - god send - portable, moveable, calming for baby.

Glider - god send - comfortable place for middle of the night feedings, etc. But I have a two story house - for an apartment where you can just shuffle down the hall you can probably use a comfy couch or chair you already have.

Your other option is to get one of the smaller "travel" swings. That may work as a swing and bouncy chair in one.

Re: Do I really need a swing, a glider and a vibrating chair? Please help.

The problem is that you don't know what the baby will like until he/she is here. Everyone told me I HAD to have a swing. My DS hated it. If he spent a total of one hour in it during the first 6 months of his life I was lucky. The bouncy chair I couldn't have lived without. I didn't think I needed a glider, but someone got me one as a gift and I have used it almost every day/night since DS was home from the hospital and he is now 18 months.

Can you borrow any of these from a friend to see what you really need? If your space is limited, I would say get one thing that you can sit the baby in, and one thing you can rock the baby in and go from there.

Re: Do I really need a swing, a glider and a vibrating chair? Please help.

My parents got a swing from graco that the seat detaches and it's also a bouncer and vibrator seat. Ava LOVES it and it was about $100. Here's 2 different combo swings...

I also saw a 3 in one swing...




2 in 1 by graco

3 in 1 fisher price

Re: Do I really need a swing, a glider and a vibrating chair? Please help.

I would skip the glider, a nice comfy chair is just fine. As for the swing and bouncer, I would probably get them both. Either get a combo one, or get the portable size ones. They tend to fold up so you can tuck them away when you're not using them. We brought our travel swing everywhere. It was great for family parties/holidays because we could actually sit down and eat.

Re: Do I really need a swing, a glider and a vibrating chair? Please help.

every baby is different, but I definitely needed the swing and the bouncer.

For the first few months, when they are not mobile, you are constantly looking for a place to "put" them where they will be entertained for a little while, and they do get bored in the same spot/apparatus after a while.

The glider I don't think you need. I was just as comfortable on the couch.

Re: Do I really need a swing, a glider and a vibrating chair? Please help.

All 3 are necessities for us. I originally didn't get a glider and then got one after we had the baby. DS spends so much time between the 3. They are his favorite places to be. However, all babies are different. Some babies don't like to be rocked. DS likes to be in CONSTANT movement.

Re: Do I really need a swing, a glider and a vibrating chair? Please help.

When DD was born I lived in a small apartment and had a travel swing (never used it) a gilder (only used it for guests in the living room) and a bouncer (used that). I def. don't think you need all three.

Re: Do I really need a swing, a glider and a vibrating chair? Please help.

we don't have to much space.


I think a swing is a MUST Have. I can't imagine living without one now.

We got a glider ($175 from BRU). Love it!!

a vibrating chair? Why not, they take up no room and are cheap (ours was $30). DS did use it a lot for the 1st 3 mos. Now, he's too big for it.

Re: Do I really need a swing, a glider and a vibrating chair? Please help.

If you have the graco car seat there is a graco swing you can get I think it is $40 where the seat goes into a frame (similiar to the graco snap & go system). It folds very nicely and can go under a bed or in a closet.

I have the graco swing and the regular swing. My DD has been in each maybe once and she is 7 weeks old.

Her bouncy seat--I got the bjorn babysitter with the bar toy attachment and she loves it. It is so easy to move around and I bring it in the bathroom with me when I am taking a shower and she is awake. It doesn't have a vibration device in it as she moves it rocks her. She loves it too.

As for the glider I didnt use it too much in the beginning because my DD was in our room but now that I moved her into her crib I use the glider every night to feed her and sometimes during the day. I would look on craig's lists if you are interested in getting one but your living room couch may work just as well.

Message edited 6/9/2009 11:16:47 AM.

Re: Do I really need a swing, a glider and a vibrating chair? Please help.

I got bouncy chair and swing. I was in appartment too with DD.

When I have second baby, I will buy a glider. I wished I had one, but did't have space.

Re: Do I really need a swing, a glider and a vibrating chair? Please help.

I swear by the swing - it was a lifesaver. I also recommend the Fisher Price Newborn to Toddler Rocker (bouncy seat, vibration, rocker all in one).

Re: Do I really need a swing, a glider and a vibrating chair? Please help.

I agree with most, you'll not know what you're baby will like and IMO, I think all three serve different purposes. The glider I got from my SIL, it's small, and in great shape and is perfect for those late night feedings.

We use the bouncy seat often, DD likes it, she'll fall asleep in there or hang out while we're eating dinner or I'm washing dishes. It's more portable too.

The swing is nice as well, DD can take it or leave it at times. She has fallen asleep in that as well, it's just not as portable as the bouncy seat.

Re: Do I really need a swing, a glider and a vibrating chair? Please help.

It really depends on the baby. My DD hated and still hates all swings. She LOVED the bouncy chair. I enjoyed the glider but did not think it was a must have.

Re: Do I really need a swing, a glider and a vibrating chair? Please help.

If you are limited on space get the swing and the bouncer seat - forget the glider - you don't have to have one and you can use a regular chair or couch. The bouncer seat and swing are VERY much needed. The swing - most babies do like them - and many nap in them. The bouncer is great b.c it gives you a place to sit the baby when you shower, eat, or have things to do around the house.

While the glider is a nice item to have - and I love mine - it is NOT something that is really a must since you can technically sit anywhere in your home with the baby.

Re: Do I really need a swing, a glider and a vibrating chair? Please help.

You don't need a glider necessarily. We got one, and it's great for bedtime stories, but if our space was limited, we would have skipped it. I got a rocking chair actually, much less $$$ than the gliders.

DH never had a swing or a bouncer--he had the Fisher Price infant to toddler rocker and one of the play mats, which I think is important since you'll want to encourage DC to spend time on his/her tummy. He was fine with just the rocker, and sometimes we used his carseat.

If you are thinking of a bouncer or a swing, I would say the bouncer, I think most babies are okay with this. Some do not like the swing, and they take up a little space.

Re: Do I really need a swing, a glider and a vibrating chair? Please help.

We have a glider, swing & bouncer, and use all everyday. I feed DD in the glider, the swing is a god send, and we keep the bouncer on the first floor, so she has somewhere to sit when we're downstairs.
If you have space issues, I say skip the glider, and the bouncer, just get the swing. However, like other pp said, it really depends on each baby. My DD loves her swing, the bouncer she could or could not have, I don't think she cares

Re: Do I really need a swing, a glider and a vibrating chair? Please help.

I also say skip the glider. I rarely sit in mine. What I do do is sit on our guest bed and bounce them when they are fussy. You definitely need a swing no doubt. One of my ons slept in his bouncy seat until 5 months so I needed that. The FP infant to toddler rocker folds flat pretty easily so you could get that and store it under a bed or something

Re: Do I really need a swing, a glider and a vibrating chair? Please help.

yeah, each baby is different! mine could care less about the swing but we used the bouncy so often. We have a small, basic one that was so portable! I LOVE LOVE LOVE my glider! I couldn't imagine life without it! We have a Best Chair. Would it be possible to get one like this (upholstered style) and match it to your LR set? This way it get dual purpose.

Re: Do I really need a swing, a glider and a vibrating chair? Please help.

from our experience (we live in a 1 BR apt... space is limited):

a swing? HECK YA! But it has to have a papasan-shaped seat. the old-school upright seats were not appreciated by DS. We only began using it around 10 weeks. At 8+ months, we STILL use it daily. I dread the day he outgrows the papasan.

a glider? Nope. Don't have one, and didn't miss it one bit

a bouncy seat? We have one, but DS didn't go for it that much


Let me tack on one more item for 7+ months.... fisher price infant to toddler rocker.... PRICELESS

Message edited 6/9/2009 2:39:29 PM.

Re: Do I really need a swing, a glider and a vibrating chair? Please help.

DD is 1 month old. The swing and bouncer are necessities IMO. I have a glider in her nursery but since she is still in a bassinett in our room, I haven't used it once. Luckily we got the glider on craigslist for a great price so I don't feel so bad about not using it.

Re: Do I really need a swing, a glider and a vibrating chair? Please help.

Re: Do I really need a swing, a glider and a vibrating chair? Please help.

I have a very small place. I got a smaller glider and a bouncer (vibrating chair). I didn't get a swing. When he was two weeks old.. we got the swing. Everything is cluttered but, the swing is a godsend and ds likes it better than the bouncer. However, there are times that he needs the vibration. SO, yeah, you might want to get them. I got a travel swing so it takes up less space and folds up really easily. It sucks but I figure it is for a few months and then they grow out of them. I just had to let go of my non-cluttered house.

ETA: if you plan to bf the glider is wonderful. If not, then you could get along without it.

Message edited 6/9/2009 6:12:42 PM.

Re: Do I really need a swing, a glider and a vibrating chair? Please help.

I live in an apartment as well, and I say all three are a must. I use them all on a daily basis. I wasn't going to get a glider, and I'm so glad I do. It is great, especially if you are nursing.
You need something to put the baby down in, so you can clean, shower, or just relax for a minute.