Tuesday, September 28, 2010 Graco SweetPeace Newborn Soothing Center Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have owned and used the Sweetpeace for a little over three months now, waiting to write a review until I got to know it well.

I have a ten-year-old son.When I entered the market for baby products once again in 2008, I was amazed at how much more complicated things were.When a simple, battery powered open-top swing was the best you could get in 1998, a "Soothing Center" that promised everything next to changing the baby's diaper was on the market now!I was cynical about it all, but must admit that many of the features on this product claimed to make improvements to issues that I remembered learning by trial and error with baby #1 could use improvement.I decided to try it out as the one big nicety of my baby gear shopping.

First of all, the pros:

~ To address other reviews, I hear no difference between the motor noise on this and what I remember my battery powered Graco open-top swing sounding like.If it uses electricity, it will make some type of sound.Perhaps varying factors could affect this, I don't know, but mine is almost silent.

~ I find the music/white noise sounds to be wonderful; rich in sound with decent variation in selection.Someone mentioned as a con to this product that "Flight of the Bumblebee" (one of the song choices) was not a soothing song.It isn't supposed to be; despite the name of the product, not everything on it is there to lull a baby.There are two music buttons.One has slow, soothing music.The other plays upbeat, fun songs which one would use at a non-sleeping time (unless your kid can sleep through anything, like mine thus far).

~ Some have mentioned the volume being only a choice between loud and louder.I disagree!The lowest setting is hard for me to hear it on (and yes, even when my ten-year-old is away at school)!The loud is LOUD, though.Probably too loud for baby when IN the seat.But I've played baby's music for her while we play, and MY music through it while I clean.The sound is clear and rich...almost Bose worthy.

~ The white noise button has fantastic detail.For example, the mother's heartbeat choice not only has a heartbeat, but also the 'swishing' noise of the liquid activity the baby would have probably heard in the womb, as well.I own a few things that mimic my heartbeat for baby, but that is a first.

~ On a last note regarding sound, you are not limited to an I-pod if you want to plug-in to play your own MP3s, either; anything that uses a 3.5mm plug works.I've used my Rio MP3 player an even my laptop.Nice touch in a world where it's getting all too rare to find a product that gives more than a designated I-Pod docking station.

~ The control pad, by the way, is great.Intuitive buttons, backlit with a non-intrusive blue light.When you turn the swing/sounds off, it remembers your setting next time (i.e., if you had the speed set on four, four will be what it defaults to when you press the on button next time).

~ As others have stated, the Sweetpeace plugs in to the wall.That right there sold me, as batteries for my old open-top swing practically sent me to the poor house ten years ago.Unfortunately, the vibration on the seat still uses a D battery.However, that is necessary as the seat comes off to use other places and allow for a Graco Infant Carrier to be placed for use on the swing.

~ Being able to make the seat face backward, foward, right or left as well as in three different recline positions brings MUCH variety for baby.Just when mine seems to get sick of one view/movement, a new position of the chair makes it like a whole new swing.Sanity saver.

Now, though few, I count these as cons:

~ Some of the selling points for this product are gimmicky, in my opinion.Their idea of you sleeping with the swaddling blanket to give it your smell for baby is a sweet one.But my smell is already on much stuff she's near often, namely ME.The swaddle blanket was too cumbersome and small for use with my baby, anyhow...and she is small-ish as babies go...in the 30th percentile in baby size for her age (seven pounds at birth). The teddy bear looking head support (though adorable) was too big for my newborn's head and kind of got in the way.We took it out and used two tightly rolled security blankets on each side of her body to support her instead.I recently gave the head support another chance now that she's bigger.Now it places her neck/head in an uncomfortabe position.

~ It isn't easy to move around the room like I did with the old swing.I have a small living room with lots of furniture to maneuver around, so that tends to be an issue for me.If you are tight on space and need to move the swing to another location in the room in order to store/use it, take that into consideration.It feels very sturdy though, which puts one's mind at ease.

~ The other bother is the lame attempt at activity toys for baby.Mine is only three months old and is already bored.The toy bar consists of a mirror with a rattle that can't be held, and a teether that can't be chilled and will probably still be way too fat for my baby's mouth in six months.Oh, and a third spot that looks like it should have a toy, but which actually has/does nothing.I usually just remove the toy bar all together (maybe that will change when she is older).However, when you remember that this is not an Exersaucer--it's a swing--that drawback is a small one.

This swing is not perfect, but comes very close to it.I was hesitant to buy it, but am very glad I took a chance.

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Product Description:
Graco sweetpeace Newborn Soothing Center This is a truly remarkable product focusing on your baby's senses to calm them.The Graco sweetpeace Newborn Soothing Center will allow you to rest or get work done without upsetting the little one. Graco's Five Senses System: Motion: Motion replaces taste on Graco's list of senses, but every parent knows how often a child needs to be held and rocked.