Fisher-Price Papasan Cradle Swing - Starlight Reviews

• Why this swing is better than the Graco 6-speed model

  
  By A2UYLD3M1LV4VY on 2004-08-17
  I had originally bought the Graco 6-speed swing, but unfortunately, the motor burned out on it after only two months of use. But that's fine, because it gave me an excuse to go buy the Baby Papasan Cradle Swing!
  
  Things I love about this swing are:
  1) The motor is EXTREMELY quiet. As mentioned previously, I had the Graco 6-speed swing, and the "clunk click clunk click" noise it made was unnerving. The Papasan Swing motor is so quiet that I can barely hear that it's even on!
  2) The mobile is soooo cute! Not only does the whole thing rotate, but each individual leaf and bird/bug actually moves, too! The leaves flap up and down, and the bird/bugs rotate and spin, as if they are actually flying! My baby coos at the mobile, and I think she likes the shiny mirror on the underside of the mobile.
  3) The seat seems like it is very comfortable for my baby. I call it the "Celeste Nest" because it looks so comfy and soft! It is nice and big and has plenty of room for her to spread out in it when she falls asleep. It even has a nice pillow so her head doesn't roll around.
  4) It has a completely removable toy tray. This is nice, because my baby sometimes gets "mad" at the toy tray because she's overstimulated and just wants to sleep. I can take it out of her way so she can get comfy to take a nice long snooze.
  5) Volume control dial for the music--need I say anything more?!?
  6) And, of course, the option to either have your baby swing straight ahead or from side to side (cradle) is very nice! The cradle swinging option really soothes my baby nicely.
  
  My minor gripes about the swing are:
  1) The mobile and music shut off automatically after seven minutes. So every seven minutes, I have to get up and press the reset button to start it going again. Whatever happened to the PARENTS getting to decide when to turn the music and mobile off?
  2) The big puffy headrest is nice, but it's not removeable. It is a little too puffy and restraining, and it bends my baby's ears forward. She also has a hard time turning her head, because it is so snug to her face. This frustrates her and she starts crying, because my baby loves to be able to look around and see what's going on.
  3) The seat only has two positions--reclined or upright. When I put the seat in the one and only upright position, it still doesn't sit my baby up very much.
  4) The toys on the toy tray are kind of lame--there are two plastic arched bars that each have two plastic toys on them (brightly colored flowers and bees). My baby likes this just ok, since they don't rattle or make noise, she loses interest in them fast. Then there is the turtle rattle toy in the center. It is attached by a strap that is attached to the underside of the toy tray. My baby inevitably drops this toy in her lap over and over, each time requiring me to dig it out of her lap and position it back in its spot on the tray. I wish the rattle toy was mounted onto the top of the toy tray so she could bat at it without dropping it. Hey, at least this swing comes with toys on the toy tray, unlike the Graco 6-speed model!
  
  All in all, this is a really great swing. The color scheme is neutral and should match any decor. Yes, the swing is pretty expensive, but I think for the quality of the swing, it is worth it.
  
  

• Better than her crib for a good long nap!

  
  By A17VIBT0O9LTPO on 2004-09-19
  Well just like the Baby Papasan bouncer, this was our daughters second swing. She also has the Ocen Wonders swing and adores it.
  
  We get this one because she has some minor breathing problems and sleep better in an upright type poistion. She would sleep in the fish swing but not for long. It was like it restricted her movement and she just couldn't get confortable. So when we say this one, we decided to bitethe bullet and get another swing.
  
  But, it has been a great buy. She will sleep in this thing for hours because the seat is wider and less confining. Plus it is so comfy! Just like our Papasan. It has all the same great features as the fish swing. Multiple speeds, multiple sound settings, mobile, light display, removable tray with toys, recline, and push button changing from cradle to regular swing.
  
  I would be hard pressed to pick between the two swings because she rests so much better in the Papasan but she plays longer in the Ocean Wonders. Luckily we had the room and the gift cards to have both. Maybe Fisher Price will come up with some sort of combo model by the time our next kid gets here! :o)
  
  

• Absolutely Worth It!

  
  By A372SIKOSTE255 on 2004-11-09
  I registered for the Ocean Wonders Cradle Swing (this one wasn't out yet) and my baby couldn't stand being in it for more than 5 minutes! I thought that maybe when she got older she may grow to appreciate it! Didn't happen...2 months later while visiting a friend's house (who was the proud owner of a Papasan Swing)I put her in it when she was fussy and immediately she was calm! I thought to myself she will cry anytime now.....next thing we knew she fell asleep! Are you kidding me! I told my friend I was going to Babies R Us to exchange my swing for the Papasan Swing as soon as I got home! The Papasan is wider for babies to lounge in and the saucer type bowl is padded with the most comfy cozy fabric complete with head rest! Both swings swing in the cradle position which is very soothing for infants but the Papasan seems to make her more comfortable. The Ocean swing is more like a bucket seat. No wonder she was fussing in there! I feel eventhough the Ocean Wonders Swing and Papasan Swing are both made by Fisher Price that the Papasan swings much slower and you can barely hear the motor unlike the Ocean one! The Papasan swing has the most soothing nature sounds and my baby loves watching the mobile. Not to mention the "bland colors" that the other reviewer was talking about, goes beautifully with any home decor! This swing is only $20 dollars more than the Ocean Swing and worth every penny!
  
  

• YES, IT SOOTHES THE BABY, BUT YOU NEED TO KNOW...

  
  By AFW08MX0CMD66 on 2006-08-23
  that this swing, if you don't use the optional bar that goes across the midsection (see picture) your baby can lean off to the side and swing sideways while the swing is still going. Very scary.
  
  My son is only 5 months old and even when he was younger, we would put him in this swing to calm him down. It IS great for that, but you can not leave your child unattended in this. A couple of times, my son has leaned over, and the only thing that kept him from falling out was the harness. It only takes for your child to lean to the side a little bit and he can be swinging with his head parallel to the floor without the swing stopping. They say this product is up to 24 months? I dont think so! I think I have about another month left in it!
  
  Buy with caution. I don't have a lot of trust in this product in regards to the safety features.
  
  

• Can't live without this swing!!!

  
  By ASCOZMT7QF40 on 2004-10-11
  I am the type of mother who read every review about products which is why I am making sure to type a review for my favorite swing! This swing is by far the best thing we could have purchased for our son. He is now 2 1/2 months old and still loves it. My neighbor has the Fisher-Price aquarium wonders and she wishes she had the Papasan! She and I agree it is much more comfortable and accomodating for little ones. My husband and I origianlly had the papisan chair which was terrible because it sat up too much so when I went to return it I saw this swing and had to have it.
  
  My son cried a lot when he was first born. He wanted to be held all the time, which was not possible! Some days he wouldnt nap or anything but since we got the swing all that has changed! He naps like normal, just in the swing. It soothes him and it is so comfortable for him, I wish they made them for big people! He loves the music and nature sounds. He doesnt really look at the mobile which is fine because it just eats up the batteries. But I have to tell you, the swing went 4 weeks on the same batteries! We didnt have the mobile on but we did have the music. This swing is a must have for every new baby. The toys on the removable toy bar are fun and provide easy access to add more toys and rattles on. I am getting one for my pregnant sister and we will use it for the next baby. In fact, as I type this he is in the swing, smiling away and looking at me! My husband and I agree it was the best $120 we invested and we would pay 5 times that for how much he loves it. Since it gets used all the time, its worth the money. TRUST ME, dont buy a cheaper version, this swing is by far the best and worth the extra couple of bucks!!!
  
  
• Great craddle but not much else
  By A363XUFNJKOE9R on 2005-01-19
  Up-date: After reading some of the other reviews, I noticed that other people talked about having an incline position. I talked to Babies R Us and found that our swing was missing the latch for the incline position so our swing was fixed in the lay-down position only. This was pretty upsetting & shows me the quality that Fisher Price puts in their products. Babies R Us gladly exchanged the swing & my son now LOVES it. I still think it's a bit ridiculous that there are only 2 positions. The pillow is not detachable - you can't take it off to wash it. Also the way it's shaped, it fits a newborns head nice & snug but an older baby (about 6 wks & up )cannot fully turn it's head from side to side. The toys on mobile & toy bar are kind of lame (as another reviewer also wrote) and we are on our 2nd swing and there still is little or no difference between the slowest & fastest speed setting. (and I still think it's way too fast for newborns)
  But.. I really like the side to side motion & shape of the craddle. It's really comfortable, fits him perfectly & he snuggles right in. SO... I cut off the pillow, added our oun toys with the linkadoo's both on the mobile & toybar. With the new incline position, we love this swing & use it everyday. I think I now would change my 3 stars to a 4 star rating.
  
  
  
  I recieved this craddle/swing for my baby shower & couldn't wait to use it - it looked like the perfect swing. After finally being able to put my newborn son in it, we became more & more disappointed. Now, after 2 & a half months of using it, I think it has more con's then pro's and hardly use it at all.
  
  First... It is only what its title is - a "craddle" and not so much a "swing". It doesn't have a reclining seat adjustment so the baby is always only on it's back. This works well for newborns or for napping but not good for babies (about 6-8 wks & up) who are ready to be propped up to play or look around during wakeful periods. This also defeats the purpose of the toybar in front. If the baby is always on his back, it's hard to see and/or reach it. (My son is now 11 weeks & has yet to discover it!) The other problem with only having the "lay down" position is it encourages the "Flat Head Syndrom"... You cannot incline the baby to take the pressure off the back of their heads when they're awake. Also..The way the seat is shaped, the baby cannot turn it's head to the side while he is sleeping so the pressure is always on the back of his head. This forced us to have to limit our use. Between sleeping all night on his back and using this swing, he started having a flat head (we only used this swing 1-3 hrs a day) I tried everything - neck wings, special pillows for "flat head syndrom" but nothing worked. By 7wks we were forced to run out and by a travel swing (I didn't want to house another full size swing!)We liked the little travel swing much better!! We recline it for when he's sleeping & incline it when he wants to play ( & he can reach the toybar) or watch his brothers...and best of all - his "flat head" is completely gone and he actually stays in the regular travel swing ALOT longer!
  
  My second complaint is that although this craddle/swing has 6 speed settings, there is not much difference between the lowest & highest setting. The lowest setting was WAY TOO fast for my son as a newborn. He flew in that thing!(I had several other moms tell me the same thing ) We weren't able to turn on the "swing" part until he was about 2-3 wks (12 pnds). Some people suggested maybe it was because as newborns they are a lighter weight making it swing faster ( but my son was 8pnds 15oz at birth). For $130 I think the speed should be able to accommodate a newborn - my $50 travel swing does. It has a 5 speed setting & low really is low!. I only wish I had it from the begining!!
  
  What I did like about it was the craddle seat. It's oval shape makes it supper comfy and the babies (especially newborns) snuggle right in. This did help with getting him to sleep & with those colickly/fussy periods (but I think my little travel one would have done the same thing - maybe even better because of its true low speed)
  I also like the natural sounds & mirror mobil.
  
  Over all I wouldn't recommend this because he could only use it for sleeping.. causing him to pretty much out-grow it by 6wks. We couldn't use the swing part for the first 2 weeks. He finally noticed the mobile at about 4wks & has never played with the toy bar...for $130 & with how balky it is..It is way to limiting ... I feel like we were hardly able to use it!
  
  
• Possible Fire Hazard
  By A36E46O5MBTXY on 2005-10-09
  I have read the other reviews prior to purchasing the Papasan Swing and I thought it was a good product in that the indivduals wrote excellent reviews. Last night, while our four month old was in his swing I noticed smoke coming from the "dial". This is the mechanism that controls the level of movement of the swing. I immediately took my baby out of the swing and had my husband turn the dial to the off position. My husband noticed a bright flash under the dial and it continued to smoke and the house smelled of burnt rubber. We have since disassembled and placed it in the trash. We only possesed this swing for nearly two months. Buyer beware and always supervise your child in this swing!
  
  
• Motor started to smoke while daughter was in it!
  By AID00AGHXD9H3 on 2006-03-18
  I read that this happened to someone else in another review. It has worked fine since December but today I smelled something funny and went in to find the top part smoking (my 3 month old was sound asleep in it). Thank goodness it did not catch fire or cause more harm. I called Fisher Price to report it. They should recall this item!
  
  
• Thank you Fisher Price!
  By A3306BSTT4RNOF on 2004-09-04
  I have a 4 1/2 week old daughter who loves to be carried all the time.The minute we put her down once asleep,she would wake back up.I received this swing as a baby shower gift and didn't really want it at first.One day my daughter just would not give me a break,so I put her in the swing and adjusted it to the birds dial.Like God had taken over,she quieted down and fell asleep! What! And to think that I didn't want this gift?I love the music and I think it's mainly the seat that is just so comfortable! I would definately recommend this item to anyone.For what it does,the price is right!
  
  
• A GREAT SWING!
  By A2601JY44NCTIF on 2004-09-24
  We are currently borrowing the Ocean Wonders swing for our third child. She loves it. But we have taken the Papasan swing for a test drive a couple of times in our local BRU. *I* like this one better. The colors are more pleasing and can blend with any decor. The seat seems MUCH more comfortable for our little girl. She has the Papasan bouncy seat and we love it too. The Fisher Price Papasan products are great for newborns. Finally, a baby item that is neutral in color!
  
  One thing I did notice is that the swing is only $99 at our local BRU. It is $119 on Amazon. I think $20 is a big difference!
  
  Now I just have to convince hubby to buy this one so we can give the Ocean Wonders swing back to our friend...lol!
  
  
  
• Sanity Saver!
  By A3TZ02GQ3EOFXM on 2004-08-15
  This is the 3rd swing we have purchased for our near 8 week old little boy, and up until now he has hated them all. Our little one didn't care to be set down but would much prefer that we carried him around all day. He would fall asleep in our arms during the day (he sleeps well at night) but would wake the moment we laid him in either his crib or bassinet. We also have 2 older boys so carrying him around ALL day was out of the question. Out of desperation and the need to set him down eventually we purchased this swing, even though it was a little more then we wanted to spend. All I can say is it's been worth every single penny, and then some! I think it's the extra cushiony seat is what makes this swing so special; it gives our little one a sense of security. The nature sounds and music are soothing, the moving mobile is just adorable, the extra head support is wonderful and I just love its neutral colors. It was a snap to put together and my husband had it assembled in minutes. I really can't say enough good things about this swing; I only wish we had purchased it weeks ago.
  
  
• Best Swing Ever! Worth every penny!!
  By A2OLRO4MNH12PL on 2004-08-19
  My 8 week old daughter has colic and is very fussy in the evenings. She did not like her regular swing and insisted she be held all the time. In an effort to give me 15 minutes without her in my arms, I bought the Papasan Cradle Swing. It was more than I wanted to spend but I figured if it worked then it would be worth it. The first day I put her in it and she stayed in it for 2 hours at one time. I could hardly believe it. I am now able to do laundry, clean the house or just have a little peace and quite without having her in my arms 24/7. Thank you so much to Fisher-Price for making this lifesaver!!
  
  
• Wonderful need I say more
  By A3THNBT10D54Y3 on 2004-08-25
  I bought this swing on Friday at 9:00pm at Babies R Us. I did have the Fisher Price Take A Long swing that I used for my daughter who is 23 months now. Loved that for when she was small as well b/c I could take her with me through out the house and take it with us when we went to friends homes. It was a hand me down to my son who is 7 weeks old and was starting to show its age so I felt that I owed hime something nice as well. Anyway my husband and I put the swing together that night and he slept for over 3 hours in it and then I said we need to wake him so that I can feed him. My son LOVES this swing and so do I....A must buy for any parent that wants some time to do things and not have to worry about the baby crying from being bored with something.
  
  
• The Cadillac of swings, sooooo worth the extra $$$!
  By A22R7GY9KI5MCK on 2005-04-10
  When my husband and I went to register for our son, we knew we would need to get a swing. When we saw this one, we knew this was it! I've worked in daycare with infants for years and have dealt with some very crappy swings. This one is fantastic for so many reasons. Whomever designed this swing put a lot of thought into it.
  
  1) To start off, the swing is so compatible with the decor of any home. A lot of really great swings come in weird colors, like turqoise; a lot of crappy ones come in decent colors. This is the best of both worlds.
  
  2) The seat is positioned so that the baby's legs aren't swinging in the wind. My sons legs stay warm the whole time, probably because his circulation isn't being cut off!
  
  3) The seat-belt/harness part has elasticized leg openings, so they comfortably fit any baby. I always felt bad for the little ones with super chubby thighs because they looked sort of pinched in other swings.
  
  4) The seat cushion is so soft and wide. Most other swing seats are much narrower, and the babies are stuck sitting in them with their shoulders touching the sides. They just looked so cramped. The babies in this swing look like royalty, just hangin' out!
  
  5) The mobile is so cute and it moves around, instead of just hanging there. You can turn the mobile on by itself, no music and no swinging. And it's positioned so that the baby can actually see it. Our little guy LOVES being in it. He gets excited when the bugs circle around; he coos and laughs the whole time! Plus, the mirror on the underside gives the baby something else to look at. (If you've ever looked at the underside of most crib mobiles, there's not much there most of the time. They are more for the parents to look at than the baby.)
  
  6) The toy bar is nice because it has something for the little guy to play with, that can't fall off and have to be picked up. It's also nice because it's totally removeable. You can attach it when the child is awake and wants to play, and take it off when you want to lay them down and tuck them in with a comfy blanket.
  
  7) We love the ability to change the swing from side-to-side (like a cradle), to front-and-back (like a regular swing). And there are six different speed settings. It's nice to know that we can adjust it to our son's needs at each time he's in it (sleepy, wide-awake, resting, playful, etc.). And he can just swing, without the mobile spinning or the music playing.
  
  8) Last but not least, it has music, but you don't always have to have it on because there's an on-off switch and volume control. Sometimes, Mommy just needs it to be quiet for a little while! It also has the ability to play the music without moving the mobile or swinging.
  
  This truly is the Cadillac of swings. All the controls and accessories work independently of each other, so each time the baby is in it, it's a different experience. I'd recommend this swing to anyone who is looking into buying a swing, whether for the first time, or as a replacement. It's by far worth the extra money. (If someone hadn't bought it for us as a gift, we knew we'd be buying it ourselves.)
  
  
• Potential FIRE HAZARD!!!
  By AACGHYIQZWVIL on 2005-09-12
  When we first got this swing for our big baby boy (3 months and 16 pounds already!!) I loved it. He had room to squirm around and he could swing in 2 different ways. It wasn't until I started putting him into it in the middle of the night that I noticed there is a MAJOR problem with this swing. When the room is slightly dark and I turn the motor on after sitting for awhile, the plastic behind the dial would glow. I was confused because there are no lights on this swing. It would only glow for a mili-second. As time went on, the glow would last longer and longer. Then I smelled something funny. The glow is the motor sparking!! It smells awful like the plastic is melting inside. I have spoken with other owners and they have had the same problem. Fisher Price doesn't want to admit there is a problem with the swing and only offers a small gift certificate for your problems ($25), which isn't even CLOSE to the purchase price. Something needs to be done about this before some innocent sweet child gets hurt. I often hang blankets over the swing, thank goodness nothing has happened so far. If anybody else out there has had the same problem, PLEASE contact Fisher Price about it and complain. I plan on getting with the Better Business Bureau to find out what more I can do since this is not a rare incident.
  
  
  
• Baby and I like this Swing
  By A3TP978RRJ6Y93 on 2007-01-25
  I recently received this swing as a gift for my 2 month old preemie. She LOVES the lights, the rotating stuffed animals, and the sounds. And she seems comfortable in the seat too. The seat snaps into two positions, a reclined position and a sitting position. Additionally, you can set the swing up to go from side to side or forward and backward.
  
  I did have an incident last week where we had some power surges here in the neighborhood WHILE we were using this swing. When the power came back on, I tried all the different switches to turn it on and it didn't work, then later on, it finally did work. This swing has so many switches on it and I admit to being too lazy to read the instructions for all of the functions that each of the switches perform. That said, I don't know if the failure was user error or a quality issue. It appears to be functioning just fine as of this writing so I think it was me.
  
  Another user cites instability of the stand on this swing. I have had no problem with this as I tested it carefully before putting baby in. Also, we leave the swing set up in one place in our house all the time, so we haven't had have to worry about not opening the stand up all the way beyond the initial setup. This might be more of a concern for someone who needs to put it away and take it back out a lot.
  
  I personally like the fact that the mobile, the rocking, and the sounds are independent of each other, so you have a lot of variety to entertain baby with. I LOVE the fact that you can use batteries OR the wall outlet to power this thing. Thank GOODNESS for not being held hostage to battery manufacturers anymore, but having that option if we wanted to use it where electricity isn't available.
  
  I would recommend this swing, but I would check for a reasonable return policy first before buying and keep the packaging for a couple of weeks after you receive it just to be sure you and your baby are happy with it.
  
  
• Colicky Baby Loves it, Need I say more!!
  By A7JRDV8KECGP5 on 2004-12-09
  I got this for my shower, we set it up as soon as the baby got home, and we relized the mobile was broke. We called fisher price, they sent UPS to come get it, and 5 days later we had a brand new one.
  
  This swing has been a life saver!!! Im so sad to see its not availible, as my sister is having a baby, and I'd love to get it for her!
  
  My baby is colic, but she just loves this swing.
  As another review says, the sounds and moterized mobile does turn of after 7 mins. But that honestly this swings only draw back. The seat looks super cozy and comfy, the head rest keeps babys head nice and streight, the two swing positions (cradle and regular) keeps the baby from getting board (I put her on regular during the day with her toy tray... And in the cradle position with out it when I want her to sleep)
  
  It really is a must!!
  
  
  
  
  
• Do not recommend this product
  By A6F7Q4FXKLJP6 on 2006-04-30
  Our son abosuletly loved this swing and was one of the few ways we could calm him down. Plus it was his favorite place to take his naps. He is now 3 months old and we have returned this swing 3 times. The music either does not work or sounds like a skipping record. Plus the mobile no longer revolves and the swing stopped moving despite that it was set on the highest setting. I've called a few friends who have children around my son's age and have found that they also had problems with this product and were not completly satisfied. This product is completely faulty and not worth the aggravation or the cost.
  
  
• The only place baby will sleep...
  By A2WATQGUMVS2TP on 2004-09-13
  This swing is wonderful. We purchased it when our daughter was 3 weeks old. Up until that point we were having a hard time getting her to sleep anywhere but in my arms. Now in the swing is the only place she will sleep. It can be set to swing like a swing or like a craddle. There is music and nature sounds that can be turned on/off and the volume is adjustable. The mobile can be set to on/off as well. After 7 minutes the mobile and music turn off so you have to hit the reset button to restart. Also, this swing was a breeze to assemble. At first I did think the swing was going quite fast even for the lowest setting, but she seems to like it. I don't think I would ever put her on anything other than the lowest though until she is bigger (it seems the higher speeds are more to keep the swing going when the baby is bigger than it really truly being 6 speeds).
  
  
• THIS SWING CAUGHT ON FIRE
  By A104AR9EEY39CX on 2006-02-13
  After about six months of use, the motor of this swing caught fire and melted. The only warning sign that we had was that the swing began to go need new batteries every other day. One day, WHILE THE BABY WAS IN THE SWING, we noticed the motor was smoking. I sent the swing back to Fisher Price but I have not seen a recall yet.
  
  
• Not a lot of quality for $159.99
  By A21BSUDY8QU6MH on 2006-12-30
  For the price of this cradle/swing, I'd hoped for a lot more quality and reliability than I got. First, the stand seemed a little wobbly--you really need to make sure that the feet are as wide as possible when setting it up as they don't lock into an optimal position. Even worse, however, is that after less than two days of use, the lights, sound, and mobile stopped working. Calls to "customer service" were a complete waste of time and I ended up returning the item. While the netting and other features appeared attractive and desirable, I'd have to recommend purchasing a less expensive Papasan cradle/swing.
  
  
• I Love the cradle swing, however.......
  By A1LYO33POFTMBA on 2005-01-23
  The option of the swing being able to swing in both directions is wonderful, however my son unfortunately would scream when I put him in the papasan chair! I went out and got the ocean wonders cradle swing and he loves it! I think the fabric on the papasan chair would get too warm and he would get fussy almost within a few minutes everytime! The headrest wasn't all that comfortable for him either, it would bend his ears forward and he and I hated that!
  
  
• Fisher-Price Cradle Swing: STARLIGHT
  By A3CMLFEBFKGVD0 on 2008-07-12
  After reading all the reviews on this site, I was a bit confused since Amazon has lumped together the reviews for several different types of swing in one area. This review is specifically for the Starlight swing.
  
  First, Amazon gets bonus points from me for getting me the swing in three days even though I chose the free shipping option (and I live in Hawaii!). I was so glad I didn't have to wait nine days for it.
  
  I have to say, I love this swing! It was easy to put together. It didn't take more than twenty minutes to assemble, which was fabulous since my baby was eagerly awaiting its completion so he could hop in it. He's almost four weeks old and has always been a difficult sleeper, so I was hoping this swing would be a lifesaver for me.
  
  So far he hasn't fallen asleep in it (although he's only tried twice), but if I get him to sleep and then put him in it, he sleeps so much more peacefully and a lot longer. Normally he falls asleep and I have to hold him through his entire nap because if I put him down, he wakes up and cries. That hasn't happened in the swing yet. A couple times he's woken up, started to fuss a little, then settled right back down. He seems to prefer the side-to-side motion of the swing to the regular forward rocking motion, so thanks to Fisher-Price for realizing what babies really like.
  
  A few things you might want to know about the swing but that are hard to find online:
  1. This swing is not blue (as it looks in some of the pictures). The fabric is a nice lavender accented with a cream color. I think it's pretty gender neutral and I don't feel at all weird about having my son in it, but some people might.
  2. The canopy around the swing is removable. I had wondered about this because it seems it might be cooler without it but I had trouble finding out whether or not it could come off. It can!
  3. This swing has a plug, as well as runs on batteries. When using it with batteries, it will shut off after seven minutes in order to save the batteries and you need to restart it. It does not do this when plugged in. This was important to me because I intend to have the swing running the entire time he naps in it and did not want to have to be going over to restart it every seven minutes.
  4. The built-in headrest is just perfect for my son. It cradles his head without confining him. I'm not sure if it will be more of a problem as he gets older, nor do I know if it comes off. I would check but he's sleeping on it right now and I am not about to wake a sleeping baby. Sorry! :-)
  5. Some of the reviews have mentioned issues with the motor and the 6 speeds. When using the side-to-side motion, the speeds are more distinct and high speed really gets a-going, although that's what I use because it seems to work best. My son does not get bounced around in it at all, even on high speed. When turned to rock forward, the swing hardly moves at all, even on high speed. If I give it a nudge to get it going, then it seems to start up but it never gets as fast as the side-to-side motion does. I'm going to call customer service to see if there's anything that can be done about this. Perhaps it is a motor issue, or maybe I assembled something wrong. Either way, for now it's totally worth having the swing just for the side-to-side motion.
  6. The swing does fold in somewhat for storing, but it doesn't really get much smaller. Don't expect to set it up and put it away after each use. And you have to fold up at least one leg if you're going to move it through a doorway, but it's really easy to do.
  
  All in all, I'm totally glad I purchased this swing. It was a great price and it does exactly what I'd hoped it would.
  
  
• BEST SWING EVER!
  By A2Y3B5OYA74LF on 2004-08-09
  This is the best swing ever! Just purchased it for our hard to please 2 week old son. He loves the cradle action of this swing. It puts him right to sleep. We also have a regular swing for him, but being so small it seems to go way too fast even on low. With this cradle swing the speed control is much better. The seat is extra large and so soft. The removable head support cradles his little head perfectly. The mobile is adorable with leaves, a bird, butterfly and bee. It plays sweet nature sounds. Great removable toy tray. Absolutly worth the extra money.After all, you get two swings in one!
  
  
• Compared to the Ocean Wonders Swing....
  By A1JL7T77T5Z4XZ on 2004-08-10
  This swing works just as well as the Ocean Wonders, which we borrowed from friends for a few months and absolutely loved! We got this one as the subtle colors looked better with the furniture in our baby girl's room. The chair is cushiony and comfortable, the head support and reclining choices are great, music & sounds are relaxing, it lulls her right to sleep. Though we love the cute mobile, it doesn't seem to capture our baby's attention as well as the hanging sea creatures mobile on the Ocean Wonders (which are also more colorful.) The interesting water bubble on the Ocean Wonders has also been replaced by a disappointing mirror on this one. Thus the focal point is 'blah' compared to the Ocean Wonders..which is why I have only rated it with 4 stars instead of 5. In terms of full size swings, Fisher Price is great!
  
  
  
• Highly recommended
  By A20I7UODPRUVZK on 2004-09-12
  I am a first time mom to a three month old son, and a family member bought him this swing. It is without a doubt his favorite thing and the only place he is happy for any length of time outside of mommy's arms. We put him in it and he immediately starts smiling and cooing, and after playing for awhile usually peacefully falls asleep.
  
  The swing's strongest attributes are its cozy seat (roomy, so makes baby feel nice and snuggled without feeling confined), the mirror above baby's head, and the music it plays--it is less shrill and tinny than most baby-toy music, a bit fuller sounding and thus much less annoying. Someone else noted that it swings very fast. I think there are a good variety of settings, but I like that it is able to go fast because my little speedracer loves the high speed. Also, baby *loves* the side-to-side motion, so even if you don't buy the papasan style, I highly recommend going with a swing that has that feature.
  
  I would say the negatives are the bland coloring; nice for blending in with the living room, but it isn't as visually interesting for baby as the Ocean Wonders swing appears to be. I like the removable toy bar but the toys are not all that visually interesting either. Finally, the mirror is so fantastic but the cozy headrest may make baby less able or inclined to stare up at himself--my son does it at times but not as much as I would have expected.
  
  I would say overall this swing is more soothing than stimulating, which is fine because you can always add more toys /colors to the environment, but it is harder to create a really secure and comfy spot for baby. I can't say enough great things about this swing!
  
  
• Fabulous Swing!!!
  By A104RTD0TEI6EF on 2004-09-16
  My daughter is four months old now and still LOVES this swing. When she is fussy I put her in the swing and she calms down within minutes. It's almost as if she melts in the seat, she just looks so relaxed. I like the soothing, mellow songs and nature sounds. The mobile is adorable and she likes to gaze at the above mirrow globe.
  
  I love the calming colors of beige and sage green. My daughter has so much stimulus throughout the day between her excersaucer, jumperoo, bouncey seat, that it's nice to know that she can relax in her soothing swing with its calming colors and delightful sounds without all of the bright colors and loud noises.
  
  I highly reccomend this swing to every parent of an infant. You won't regret your decision. I know its a little pricey but believe me you will think its worth every penny as my husband and I do.
  
  
• Best Investment Ever
  By A1LA813J16AKF6 on 2004-10-11
  My son is three months old and for the first 2 months of his life he had colic and refused to sleep in his crib. We have the clarion swing by graco but because it doesn't recline very far when we would put him in it he would fall over. I had seen this swing in the store and talked my husband into buying it and it was the best thing we ever did. My son will sleep the whole night in this swing he loves to be cradled and he loves to look at himself in the mirror dome at the top. If you have a child that is having a hard time sleeping or just doesn't ever seem to be comfortable this is the swing you should have.
  
  
• A little let down
  By A24J86G2VQ6C9A on 2004-10-23
  I was so excited to get this swing for my three month old. She has loved her other swing, but is beginning to bore of it. When I read all the wonderful reviews this swing had recieved, I knew this was it. I am pleased with all that the swing has to offer, but, I too agree, that the speeds are all too fast! Even the slowest speed makes me dizzy to watch. When I read the manual for trouble shooting, it listed "speed too high" as normal and to fix it, place a blanket under the baby and let the rest drag on the floor! Nice. If they could see this was going to be a problem, then why didn't they just build it to have a pleasantly slow speed... you can always crank it up a few notches if the baby likes it faster. I'll have to see what a few more days will bring. So far, I think it's a bit overwhelming to her.
  
  
• Fabulous product, absolutely a life saver!
  By A3FSNTTZPBLFO3 on 2005-01-28
  OK, I'm going to gush. Without this cradle / swing, my husband and I would be zombies. It is soft, cuddly, and totally supportive of our baby's whole body (and by that I mean, it's like a baby hammock in fully reclined mode). Other swings, like a less expensive version I bought and keep at my mom's, leave baby's legs dangling over the edge and he HATES that.
  
  With this swing, it cradles him in hammock mode, or can be turned 90 degrees to regular swing mode. The music is calming and very nice to listen to, not the usual harsh electronic sounding music that many swings have. There are nature sounds that sound totally realistic, like birdies and crickets, and the mobile that spins around the top is very appealing to baby, along with the mirror that he can look up at himself.
  
  Our baby gently nods off in this swing all the time, and even if he fusses some when first put into it, he calms down in minutes and enjoys the swaying motion and sounds.
  
  I can't say enough good things about this swing, except that Fisher Price makes wonderful toys and baby items, I am constantly impressed with the thoughtful touches they put into each product.
  In fact, we bought the Ocean Wonders Take-A-Long Swing, and he is entertained by the sweet melodies and lights and sounds of that swing when we go and visit friends and family. Fisher Price products ROCK!
  
  This swing takes 4 D batteries and they last about a month (regular Duracells, the Duracell ultras last about 1 1/2 months), which we think is pretty good power consumption.
  
  We have a long baby, 25" at 3 months, and he still fits in this swing in hammock mode.
  
  Don't skimp and buy a swing that doesn't support baby's WHOLE body, buy this swing and you will see it was worth every penny the first time you use it!
  
  

• Fisher-Price Rainforest Jumperoo
• Basic Comfort Contoured Changing Pad
• Fisher-Price Rainforest Bouncer
• Pampers Swaddlers, Size 2-3 (14-22 Lbs), Economy Plus Pack, 152 Swaddlers
• Kiddopotamus & Co Microfleece SwaddleMe® Ivory - Small