Are electric baby rockers safe?

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A calm, happy baby is priceless. And if you can catch a few hands-free minutes at some point in the day, even better! These are two of the reasons that many parents turn to baby rockers and the like.

But, as with all baby products, you need to know what you&#;re buying, how to use it safely, and what to take into account when making your choice. That&#;s what we&#;re here for.

In this article, we&#;ll go over the differences between baby rockers, baby bouncers, and baby swings. Then we&#;ll cover the most important topic: baby rocker safety.

Last but not least, we&#;ll also provide a few questions to ask yourself when you&#;re shopping for a baby rocker.

Baby Rockers, Bouncers, And Swings

With all of the baby products on the market, it can be hard to figure out what&#;s what. If you want to get a baby rocker but are confused about the differences between rockers and other items, here&#;s a brief rundown.

Baby Rocker

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A baby rocker is similar to the rocking chair you might have on your front porch, except it&#;s for little ones! Your baby reclines in the rocker, and the curved base provides a gentle rocking motion when you give it a push.

Baby Bouncer

This item does exactly what it sounds like &#; it bounces your baby.

Unlike a rocker, the base of a baby bouncer is flat, but the seat is designed to bounce up and down with a slight touch or simply when your baby kicks and moves.

There are also battery-powered bouncers that keep the bounce going for you.

Baby Swing

A baby swing consists of a little chair that swings back and forth with a push or with an automated swinging motion. You can find both battery-powered and plug-in swings.

Why Do You Need A Baby Rocker?

First, it&#;s important to note that while rockers, bouncers, and swings are nice to have, they aren&#;t must-haves. That category belongs to diapers, wipes, car seats, cribs, and the like.

While children can (and do) survive without them, rockers are convenient baby gear that offers a protected spot for a baby to stay put while mom or dad goes hands-free.

Anyone who&#;s ever looked after a baby can tell you how difficult it is to get a few minutes to do everyday things &#; like take a shower, get dressed, or even read a book &#; without your little one demanding attention.

Rockers make it easier to get a break from holding your baby all the time. Whether you&#;re cooking, doing some household chores, or just trying to relax (something all parents of newborns need!), having a safe spot to place your little one can come in handy.

Baby rockers are also great entertainment for babies. The repetitive motion and the music or toys usually attached to the chairs can be lots of fun. If you&#;ve ever seen a big grin as a baby rocks back and forth, you&#;ll know exactly what we&#;re talking about!

In addition, rockers are great for children because:

• Their ergonomic design gives babies the feeling that they&#;re being held. This helps provide them with the comfort they need.
• They&#;re portable and easy to pack &#; ideal for taking along when traveling.
• The rocking motion can help develop your child&#;s balance because swaying enhances the vestibular system.

Baby rockers can also help fussy babies calm down.

So, while rockers aren&#;t a necessity, they can be very valuable for both parent and child if you do have a budget for them.

What Ages Are Baby Rockers For?

Whether you decide to purchase a rocker, bouncer, or swing, it&#;s important to note that these are all best for babies from birth to six months old or until they can sit up by themselves.

All babies are unique and will naturally develop differently. That&#;s why it&#;s also helpful to check the age and weight specifications on the label to ensure that you&#;re using the right item for your child.

With that in mind, if you&#;re hoping to place your newborn in a rocker, you&#;ll want to pay close attention to them while they&#;re in it. That&#;s because newborns sleep a lot (14-17 hours a day) and the rocker position can increase the risk of suffocation, among other concerns.

Keep reading for more information on rocker safety.

Baby Rocker Safety

Keeping your little one safe is your number one priority! That means there are a few things to think about when using a baby rocker.

We&#;ll go over those safety considerations before giving you tips to choose the perfect rocker for your little one.

Don&#;t Let Your Baby Sleep In Their Rocker

We know &#; lots of baby rockers are marketed as a comfy, soothing place for your little one to nap. But the truth is they&#;re not the safest place for your baby to sleep.

The Delaware Healthy Mother and Infant Consortium says this:

&#;... rocker chairs are a popular item for new parents. Shop online or in stores and you will see the product with a picture of a peaceful, happy baby. These products claim to soothe your baby. They are usually soft and cushiony to keep your baby comfortable and happy. While this sounds like every parent&#;s dream, products like this are not safe for a sleeping baby.&#;

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, baby sleep safety means that they sleep on their backs on a firm surface without anything else in their crib (no pillows, blankets, crib bumpers, etc.).

Baby rockers simply don&#;t make the cut.

The main concerns are that your little one could get tangled in the straps or that their head might fall forward, increasing the risk of suffocation.

The bottom line is this: Don&#;t use your baby rocker as a place for your infant to sleep. If you do catch them dozing off, move them to their crib, which should be empty other than a crib mattress and a fitted sheet.

For the most peace of mind, opt for a breathable crib mattress, such as Newton Baby&#;s. Made with our Wovenaire® Core, this mattress is more breathable than leading organic mattresses.

At Newton, we also believe in safe sleep practices. Whether your little one is snoozing at night or taking a short nap in their crib, be sure to:

• Place them on their back and not their stomach or sides
• Ensure that the room temperature is just right (between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit)
• Keep their crib in your room for a year (or at least six months)

The above precautions will help keep your little one safe while sleeping. They will also help reduce the chance of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), which is usually associated with sleep.

Always Put The Rocker On The Floor

When you&#;re using a rocker or bouncer, it&#;s tempting to set it on the kitchen counter or table so your baby is on your level where you can keep an eye on them.

However, this isn&#;t safe. Never put a baby rocker on an elevated surface.

Similarly, make sure the rocker is on a hard surface so that it doesn&#;t tip over. Placing it on the couch or your bed, for example, is a no-go.

Don&#;t Move The Rocker When Your Baby Is In It

Another tip to avoid an unwanted accident: don&#;t move the baby rocker from one place to another while your little one is in it.

If you need to switch rooms, take your baby out before transferring the rocker.

Supervise Your Baby

A baby rocker is a great way to keep your little one soothed and happy, but that doesn&#;t mean you can leave them alone. Adult supervision is in order!

Keep an eye on your baby whenever they&#;re relaxing in the rocker.

Strap Your Baby In

Your baby rocker comes with straps for a reason! Strap your baby in to keep them safely in the rocker, and always check to be sure the straps are just right &#; not too loose and not too snug.

Check The Weight Limit

You might want your baby to stay tiny forever, but at some point, they will outgrow their rocker. And that moment might not be far away!

You&#;ll need to stop using the rocker once your baby exceeds the weight limit (check the packaging for this information) or learns to sit.

Put Newborns In A Reclined Position

Newborns don&#;t have the muscle development to hold their heads up properly (this is what tummy time is for!), which means sitting up isn&#;t a good option. Instead, they should always be reclined when you put them in a bouncer or baby rocker.

Trisha Korioth writes for the American Academy of Pediatrics and says, &#;Infants under age 4 months should be seated in the most reclined swing position to avoid slumping over and suffocating.&#;

Be Careful With Hand-Me-Down Baby Rockers

The minute you find out you&#;re expecting, you probably want to start shopping for all the baby items you&#;ll need for your little one. And, as you may already know, the list can really add up!

So, if a hand-me-down comes your way from a close friend or family member, this is often welcomed as it can help you save a little cash.

While second-hand items are great for extending your budget, they may not always be the best choice because it can be more challenging to know their safety features and ratings.

To be clear, there's no problem with previously used baby rockers. Just make sure that they have all the necessary parts and meet the current safety standards.

Before placing your little one in the rocker, check for any rough edges that may harm them and that the harness is still working correctly. This basic safety check will give you peace of mind when you place your baby inside.

And, if you're unsure about the chair's safety for any reason, you can use a baby doll to test it out first!

Choosing A Baby Rocker: Factors To Consider

Keeping all of those safety tips in mind, it&#;s time to choose a baby rocker for your nursery! Here are a few factors to consider for one that&#;s safe, fun, and works for your home and family.

How Long Will You Use It?

We&#;ll go ahead and answer this question for you: not very long. As we mentioned above, you&#;ll need to stop using your baby rocker when your little one can sit up. In other words, a few months.

While you should still choose a high-quality baby rocker, keep in mind that this isn&#;t a long-term investment.

Do You Want Gadgets?

Decide whether or not you want a baby rocker with gadgets like toys, lights, and music. There&#;s a wide variety of rockers, bouncers, and swings, so you have plenty to choose from!

Does It Need Batteries Or A Plug?

Some rockers are sleek and straightforward and require nothing more than a soft push to get your baby rocking. Other rockers, bouncers, and swings use batteries or a plug to play music, vibrate, swing, rock, or light up.

What kind you choose is entirely up to you.

How Much Space Do You Have?

Before adding your favorite baby rocker to your online shopping cart, make sure you have enough room for it in the nursery (or wherever you&#;ll be using it).

If you&#;re working with a small space, take that into account when choosing furniture and baby items.

Will You Travel With It?

If you&#;re on the go a lot and your baby will be along for the ride, think about if you&#;ll travel with your baby rocker. If so, take that into account when shopping around. You can find one that is light and foldable.

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Can You Clean It Easily?

There&#;s no doubt that babies are perfect and precious, but they can also be quite messy! As with all baby items, your rocker should be easy to clean.

At Newton Baby, we&#;ve made easy-to-clean a priority for all of our products. That&#;s why our Crib Mattress Cover is removable and 100% washable. But it&#;s not only that. Our Crib Mattress itself is washable from cover to core.

Bye-bye, mold, bacteria, and allergens!

Is More Padding Better?

When thinking of cozy baby rockers, you might assume that more cushioning is better for your little one&#;s comfort. But this is a false assumption and could actually endanger your baby.

To be on the safe side, search for a seat that is comfortable yet not excessively cushioned. You don&#;t want your child to turn their head and be in danger of suffocating from excess cushioning covering their face.

Is It Certified?

Any product intended to be used for or by children needs to adhere to strict safety measures. If you live in the U.S., Canada, or Mexico, look for the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) certification for any product you buy, including baby rockers.

The JPMA sample tests their certified products annually or after a material change at an independent laboratory to guarantee it meets the highest safety requirements.

If you have a specific baby rocker you&#;ve been eyeing, you can either check for certification from the brand or look on the JPMA website. If there&#;s a lack of transparency from a manufacturer, then this should be a red flag.

Does It Need A Sun Shade?

On sunny days when the weather conditions are just right, you may want to take your little one outside. But just because you're in the mood for some sun doesn't mean that your baby should be exposed to its harmful rays. This is where sun shading comes in handy.

Opt for baby rockers that come with sun shading because they are ideal for those hot summer days. It's important to note, though, that you might not need this accessory if you aren&#;t planning on being outside a lot or traveling for the first six months of your baby&#;s life.

Also, if your little one is too old to use their baby rocker by the time it is summer in your state, then this piece may not be necessary.

No matter how much time your baby will spend in the sun, always protect their delicate skin with sunscreen that's specifically designed with them in mind.

Do You Want Entertainment Features?

Different entertainment features can help your little one enjoy their time in a baby rocker.

Music is a standard feature for most baby rockers and can stimulate your baby&#;s brain and keep them entertained. You may have to hear the same songs over and over again, but your little one will love hearing the tunes.

Vibrating seats are also a great option. The gentle vibrations can calm infants and create a peaceful environment. Keep in mind these aren&#;t found in all models, so you may have to pay a bit more if you're searching for this particular feature.

Like vibrating, lights are also not found on most traditional rockers, and the ones that do come with them are usually more expensive. But little ones love to watch the different patterns and colors of light!

Rockabye Baby

Remember that according to sleep safety guidelines, a baby rocker isn&#;t the safest place for your little one to snooze. Always put your baby to sleep on their back on a firm sleep surface &#; ideally, Newton Baby&#;s Crib Mattress &#; without anything else in their crib.

But a baby rocker can come in handy if you&#;re using it to calm and soothe your baby or give yourself a little hands-free time! When choosing a rocker, take into consideration the questions we listed and, most of all, the safety tips.

Then sit back and relax as your little one happily rocks away!

Baby rockers and their cousin, baby bouncers, are often baby registry staples. After all, new parents need somewhere to put their precious bundle when they&#;re not sleeping in SNOO, chillin&#; in the stroller, or nestled in the baby carrier. But baby rockers have picked up a bad reputation lately&#;.and for good reason. In June , it was reported that baby rockers were associated with more than a dozen baby deaths. Does this mean you should dispose of your baby rocker ASAP or nix it from your baby registry? Here&#;s what parents need to know about baby rockers.

What is a baby rocker?

Baby rockers are inclined baby seats that have a curved base, so they rock when you give it a slight push. Some baby rockers also feature vibration or rock by themselves thanks to electricity or battery power. A baby bouncer, on the other hand, has a flat base, so it gets its bounce from a gentle touch&#;baby kicks.

Are baby rockers safe?

Baby rockers&#;when used exclusively as directed&#;are safe. But oftentimes, baby rockers are not used correctly&#;and that&#;s where the danger lies. Here are tips for using your child&#;s baby rocker safely:

DON&#;T let your baby sleep in a baby rocker.

Never (as in, never ever) use an inclined baby product, like a baby rocker, a baby swing, or a baby bouncer, for infant sleep. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recently finalized a rule requiring that infant sleep products have a sleep surface angle of 10 degrees or less, which further stresses that inclined baby rockers are never to be used for sleep. After all, between and , at least 14 infants died after falling asleep in Fisher-Price and Kids2 baby rockers. The only safe place for an infant to sleep is on their back and on a firm, flat surface in a crib, bassinet or play yard with no soft loose objects in their sleep space.

DO always strap your baby into the baby rocker.

When babies are not properly secured into their baby rockers, they can easily roll into an unsafe position. A baby&#;s weak muscles coupled with the baby rocker&#;s incline means it&#;s that much more difficult for a baby to roll back to a safe position. In addition, babies can simply slide right out of the baby rocker if they&#;re not properly secured.

DO supervise your baby when they&#;re in a baby rocker.

Another never-ever: Never leave your baby in a baby rocker (or any inclined baby product) unsupervised. If you are not watching, you won&#;t know if your baby has inadvertently dozed off or moved into an unsafe position. In some cases the restraining belt can potentially slide up and cut off your baby&#;s airflow, leading to suffocation or strangulation. And when babies sleep at an incline, their heavy heads can easily flop forward. Because babies&#; neck muscles are weak, they often don&#;t have the strength to pick their head up&#;which can cause suffocation. Baby rockers also sometimes feature plush sides, which pose an additional suffocation risk if your baby leans their face into the soft surface.

DON&#;T use bedding in a baby rocker.

Soft, loose bedding&#;and other soft objects&#;are big no-nos for the crib or bassinet&#;and they&#;re a no-no for the baby rocker, too. Again, babies can too easily turn their faces into a plush blanket or stuffed toy and suffocate. Even if you are supervising your baby with an eagle eye, it&#;s still best to keep the baby rocker free of extraneous bedding.

DO keep the baby rocker on the floor.

Never place your baby rocker on a countertop, table, or other elevated surface where the rocker&#;and baby&#;could fall to the floor. Same goes for soft surfaces like beds and sofas. Not only would this make it possible for your little one to fall onto the floor, but if the rocker tips it creates a suffocation risk as well.

DON&#;T use recalled baby rockers.

Before buying or using a baby rocker&#;or any product for your baby&#;search for it on recalls.gov to find out if it&#;s still safe to use. Recalled baby items (including inclined sleepers) can sometimes linger at secondhand shops, friends&#; basements, and daycare centers. Here&#;s a short list of recent baby rocker and inclined sleeper recalls:

• Fisher-Price 4-in-1 Rock &#;n Glide Soother

• Fisher-Price 2-in-1 Soothe &#;n Play Glider

• Fisher-Price Rock &#;n Play

• Delta Children Beauty Rest Beginnings Incline Sleeper

• Delta Children Deluxe 3-in-1 Activity Rocker, Feeder and Sleeper

• Disney Baby Minnie Mouse Incline Sleeper

• Graco Little Lounger Rocking Seat

• Kids II Rocking Sleeper

• Simmons Kids Beautyrest Deluxe 3-in-1 Activity Rocker, Feeder, and Sleeper

• Summer Infant SwaddleMe By Your Bed Sleeper

What if your baby falls asleep in a baby rocker?

While no one ever wants to move a sleeping baby, it&#;s very important to relocate your little one as soon as possible, notes the American Academy of Pediatrics. Not only will moving your baby to a flat and empty bassinet or crib help keep them safe, it&#;ll teach them that bassinets and cribs&#;not baby rockers&#;are for sleep. (When out-of-the-bassinet ZZZs regularly occur, your baby will start to learn that sleepytime happens in all these places&#;but not the bassinet.)

If you catch your sleepy baby before the ZZZs come, that&#;s even better: Take your baby out of the baby rocker when they&#;re calm and on the verge of sleep&#;and then gently place them in their bassinet. And if your baby dozes before you make the transition, gently rouse them with a slight tickle until their eyes open. After a few seconds, their eyes will close again and slide back to sleep. This wake-and-sleep practice is the first step to help your baby learn that they have the power to self soothe and sleep outside of the baby rocker.

What about baby swings?

Baby swings&#;much like baby rockers and bouncers&#;can be a great way for parents to catch a bit of a break, all while entertaining or soothing their baby. And, just like baby rockers and bouncers, it&#;s not safe for babies to sleep in swings. You should promptly move your little snoozer from the baby swing to a safe sleep space, like their bassinet. That&#;s because your baby&#;s head can fall forward, possibly obstructing their airway, and causing suffocation. And if a baby is accidentally left unrestrained in a baby swing, they can roll over and asphyxiate.

Is SNOO a baby rocker?

No. While the award-winning, pediatrician-designed SNOO does rock babies all night (and nap) long, SNOO is not a baby rocker. Unlike baby rockers, SNOO is designed for safe sleep. In SNOO babies sleep safely on a flat surface, securely swaddled on their backs, which helps prevent rolling to an unsafe position during sleep. SNOO is so safe, in fact, that over 100 hospitals all over the world place their smallest patients in SNOO. (Learn why rocking bassinets are fantastic at soothing babies.)

Do Leg Lifters turn SNOO into an inclined rocker?

No. SNOO Leg Lifters raise your baby&#;s head a mere 2.5 degrees to help reduce stuffy noses. That gentle incline is well under the 10-degree limit that the CPSC has deemed unsafe.

Learn more about safe&#;and unsafe&#;baby products:

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Disclaimer: The information on our site is NOT medical advice for any specific person or condition. It is only meant as general information. If you have any medical questions and concerns about your child or yourself, please contact your health provider.

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