Benefits of swinging

WHY IS IT SO GOOD FOR BABIES AND CHILDREN TO SWING?

Children’s swings have endured over the ages and continue to be among the most popular of playground equipment. Swinging is not only incredibly fun and relaxing, but also has physical benefits, aiding your child’s development. These benefits have most effect when started as a baby. Children with sensory processing orders can also particularly benefit from swinging. 

The most obvious benefit of swinging for babies and children is that swinging is fun and exciting. To laugh and be happy is most beneficial to both our physical and mental health.

Swinging is a suitable exercise from the time they can sit up unaided (approximately 6 months). Swing your baby gently in the beginning to get them used to swinging. If you start your baby young be gentle in your swinging for quite some time. Swinging can be very soothing and relaxing for your baby and aid  both sleep and emotional regulation.

Both the excitement and the relaxation provided by a swing can be felt by a child and is what makes them run for the swings in the playground - there are hidden benefits also that they won't notice but parents will appreciate;

Swinging is one of the best activities to help develop  the vestibular and proprioceptive senses.

  • Eye development (focusing)

    The ability to change depth of focus has already started at 6 months and is basically completed during the baby's second year. Swinging is one of the best ways to help develop this crucial ability as the baby is moving back and forth, constantly changing the depth of focus. Activities with only one depth of focus (like screens) are best kept to a minimum during this time.

  • Balance and Proprioception

    Ears are also major organs when it comes to balance. When swinging it is not only the eyes that are trained and exercised but also the fluid in the inner ear is constantly swirling back and forth, which is great for the development of balance. When swinging, your baby is both leaning frontwards and backwards while also moving back and forth and up and down.

  • Coordination

    To get oneself swinging only by moving ones body is harder than it looks. Not until around the age of 4 years can a child can swing themselves. It is a very complex motion and phenomenal for training full body coordination. These skills are then transferable into other activities like learning to ride a bike and sports.

BENEFITS FOR THE PARENTS

There are times when you want to get on with a job without your baby/toddler wanting to be held or clinging to your leg. Just pop your baby in the swing close at hand where he/she can see you. An occasional push will keep baby entertained while you get on with the job.

An easy to shift swing can be of great help to those who work in and around the home and have to look after the little one too. We know of people using their swings in milking sheds and sheep yards. We are sure you can think of other situations you can use a swing and this versatile swing is easily shifted, just unclip and move.

When our daughter Solvej was a baby we found it extremely useful to have a baby swing at home. We used it as much inside as outside. One of the best places was in the kitchen. When it was time to cook it was great to have her up high so she could see what was going on. It is also great not to have your little one hanging on your trouser leg. It is also so much safer not to have them crawling on the floor so you can trip over them or spill something hot on them. An occasional push kept her happy and if tired the swinging often made her go to sleep. 

We really recommend having a swing that is easy to shift at home, but if you don’t have this luxury go to the local playground often and let your children climb and swing as much as possible.