The mechanical baby swing was seen as a novelty in 1955, the year that Graco first put out the Swyngomatic, which was invented by Graco employee David Saint. It has since become a necessity for new – and often exhausted – parents: The swing's motion soothes many infants long enough for parents to perform basic tasks, such as preparing a meal or tending to other children.

Swings are designed for indoor use and are usually lightweight and fairly easy to move from room to room. It's important to be aware, however, of a swing's limitations and proper usage. Most baby swings are designed for infants 6 months of age or younger, and manufacturers typically recommend that parents stop using swings when a baby weighs between 15 and 25 pounds (check individual swings for specific weight limits).

The use of a baby swing should be discontinued as soon as a baby attempts to climb out. Infants should always be strapped into a swing using the harness provided, and parents should never leave an infant unattended in a swing. In addition, baby swings should be used sparingly, as they are an inadequate substitute for human contact.

That said, swings offer many benefits to parents as well as infants, according to Jennifer Boyle, a parent, preschool teacher and Discovery Toys educational consultant from Cincinnati, Ohio. In addition to being a safe place for parents to put their children when they need their hands free for other tasks, swings can give a much-needed break.

"An infant swing is a nice place for an infant to sit while parents' eat because it lets the baby sit higher than a bouncy seat, so they feel a bigger part of the family dinner," says Boyle. She cautions, however, that babies need plenty of exercise and shouldn't be cooped up in a swing for long periods of time.

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