Three Month Old, Acid Reflux, Bigger Swing

My swing went up to 25 pounds. I don't remember which specific one it was but I think it was a Graco. If your 3mo is getting close to 25 pounds you might need to find another way to get him to sleep. I've had 2 kids with severe reflux so I understand your pain. Do you have an infant car seat that attaches to a stroller? If so you might try walking him around in the car seat as it is a good angle for babies with reflux. You can also put something under the crib mattress to elevate it so he's not sleeping flat. Or you could try a bouncy seat that vibrates that also sometimes worked for us. Or you could get a carrier and wear your baby. My second loved our Ergo carrier and I could get a ton of things done because my hands were free and he would just sleep away. Good luck!

I let my daycare kids nap in the swing until about 5 months. However, around 3-4 months you are going to want to stop associating sleep with rocking, because as you've found, you aren't going to be able to do it forever. And once you no longer have that rocking, and he won't sleep without it...you will be in trouble. Best to start transitioning him to something else.

Instead, see if you can get him to sleep in a bouncer maybe? Or anything with a little incline that doesn't rock. Could even be a rolled towel under his matress if you are ready to transition him to crib.

Also, you will notice around 4 months that babies become MUCH more alert and their sleep patterns change dramatically. The kid that slept great in the swing may no longer like sleeping there, or may find it too stimulating.

Also, creating a bedtime routine will help him fall asleep faster, so he's not kicking/squirming. Give him a bath, read a book, let him nurse/bottle (all while lights are low and tv is off). Then once he's drifted off, gently lay him in the bouncer or carseat (which could be placed in his crib). Do the same thing, at the same time, everynight and he will get used to it. 3 months is young for any sort of set schedule, but the routine DOES help.

I wouldn't buy a bigger swing, because they really just aren't made for that and before you know it, your baby will be moving (possibly in a month or two!) and won't want to stay in there...and won't be safe to put him in there anymore.

Try watching the DVD (or reading if you want) 'The Happiest Baby on the Block' by Dr. Havery Karp...it is especially helpful for 'collicky' babies. May be able to get at library...or off Amazon.

Best of luck to you!

Have you tried a baby sling to hold him close to you? My daughter was quite a squirmer but using the sling she calmed right down and relaxed. You can try putting him into his carseat for sleeping, that works well for some babies.

Swings for the most part have an upper weight limit of 25 pounds, even the ones that convert to a high chair (where the high chair weight limit is 50 pounds. I've heard of one by Graco that goes up to 30 lbs but haven't found it.) But other factors need to be taken into consideration as well. As babies grow they can do more, one of my granddaughters, a tiny thing, would grab the front bars on her swing when it went forward, stopping it. Or some babies try to get out of it. Or the swing slows down from too much weight. When any of these things happen it's time to pack the swing away. I think that's why they're made for babies up to about 6 months, after that they become unsafe and impractical.