23 Are Baby Swings Worth Studying?
If you had asked me three years ago before I had kids if baby swings were worth researching, I would have said no. Even prior to this class I depended on these nursery items in my daily life, but I don’t think I realized the full extent until I chose them as my topic to research. The research and self reflection I have done the past couple weeks has opened my eyes. There are many sacrifices and components that go into raising children, but it is important to still make yourself as the caretaker a priority. The baby swing is worth studying due to its positive impact on both the parents and baby.
When I first started researching and learning about my topic I found that for centuries mother’s have used rocking motions to soothe their children. Long before there was a swinging machine, mother’s would rock their babies themselves. I asked myself why the rocking motion was so calming to kids and discovered that it is the first feeling of comfort they feel inside the womb. I was curious if there were any other lasting effects it had on children. This curiosity led me to discover that baby swings not only comfort, but they stimulate a child’s body and sensory systems. There are two main sensory systems that swinging affects, the vestibular and proprioception systems. These systems are where we get our sense of balance and self awareness from. Building these systems as a baby can be a huge benefit in that child’s life.
After reading all the benefits swinging can have on the baby, I was determined to see if it had the same effects on other parents as it did me. If you are a parent you probably heard some people tell you that having kids is a huge commitment while also being a blessing. It is important for a parent to have good mental health for themselves and their children. As I was finding evidence to validate my feelings I came across an article that talked about mental health as a parent. The CDC posted an article about mental health of children and parents. In the article it states, “Caring for children can create challenges for parents, particularly if they lack resources and support, which can have a negative effect on a parent’s mental health.” (CDC Children’s Mental Health 1). This is important because stressful situations can overwhelm many people and create a hostile environment, which is unhealthy for children to be growing up in. It is known that many people feel anxious or depressed when they can no longer do daily tasks and feel efficient. The same CDC article says, “One in 14 children aged 0–17 years had a parent who reported poor mental health, and those children were more likely to have poor general health, to have a mental, emotional, or developmental disability” (CDC Children’s Mental Health 1). This explains the effects of poor mental health as a parent can not only cause poor mental health in their child, but also poor physical health and developmental delays. Many times when a mother leaves the hospital after having a baby they have her read a paper that gives suggestions of how to deal with the baby in the moment of having poor mental health feelings. A big suggestion is to place the baby in a safe comforting environment and walk away to calm down or get help. An article by Healthychildren.org supports this statement with, “If you start to feel you can’t handle the situation, set the baby down in a safe location and get help from a family member or friend” (Responding to Your Baby’s Cries 1). A baby swing is both a comforting and safe environment to be able to not only allow parents to have free hands to do daily tasks and keep a normal routine for their mental health, but also provide a designated place to leave the baby when tough moments of frustration arise.
Some may say that my topic of choice isn’t worth exploring because the price isn’t worth it. I may have even thought this once myself before giving in. While price may play a factor into whether you buy a baby swing or not the benefits outweigh that point. As a parent one of your top priorities is to make sure your children are safe, happy, and healthy, which is just what a baby swing gives them. While the machines range all the way up to $300, there are also some cheaper options that can be found around $40. Another counterargument some may have is that there are certain misconceptions when it comes to the safety of baby swings. I specifically wanted to know about the recalls we always hear about on the news. While there are recalls on these nursery items, they are in place to keep your child safe. The production industry is a lot of trial and error, and many products are overseen to make sure they are delivering their promise. Those involving young lives are especially overseen, and when they are not meeting specific requirements there are recalls. A product recall is, “a request to return or exchange a product after the discovery of safety issues or product defects”, states American Society for Quality. The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission posted information on their website about each recall. This information includes the product name, issue, date, and remedy. As long as parents are staying up to date on these recalls and using the baby swing as the directions say, it will offer many benefits to a growing family.
In conclusion, I am grateful I got to research and learn more about baby swings and how they can help both the parents and children. Baby swings have been a well sought after invention with increasing popularity through the years as more and more people are learning just how helpful they can be. It is imperative that parents stay informed as new information arises to keep their children safe. Overall in my eyes the benefits outweigh any costs to having a happy baby and a productive home. Researching this topic was a great learning experience as a mother and has given me very useful information to use as I continue to raise my kids and hopefully help my kids raise their kids.
Works Cited
“CPSC, Graco Announce Recall of Infant Swings.” U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 2000, www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2000/cpsc-graco-announce-recall-of-infant-swings.
The Genetic Science Learning Center. “Https://Learn.Genetics.Utah.Edu/Content/Senses/Proprioception.” Proprioception: Additional Information, learn genetics , learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/senses/proprioception. Accessed 6 Apr. 2024.
“Mental Health of Children and Parents -a Strong Connection.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 8 Mar. 2023, www.cdc.gov/childrensmentalhealth/features/mental-health-children-and-parents.html.
Norquist, Tom. “So, What’s the Big Deal about Swinging?” Playground Professionals, 2015, playgroundprofessionals.com/playground/swing-sets/so-whats-big-deal-about-swinging.
Purves, Dale. “The Vestibular System.” Neuroscience. 2nd Edition., U.S. National Library of Medicine, 1 Jan. 1970, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK10819/#:~:text=Overview,induced%20and%20externally%20generated%20forces.
“Responding to Your Baby’s Cries.” HealthyChildren.Org, Caring for Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5 7th Edition , 2021, www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/crying-colic/Pages/Responding-to-Your-Babys-Cries.aspx#:~:text=Taking%20a%20break,shake%20or%20hit%20the%20baby.
“What Is a Product Recall? Quality Recall Process | ASQ.” American Society for Quality, asq.org/quality-resources/recalls. Accessed 5 Apr. 2024.
