Fisher-Price Zen Collection Cradle Swing Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I will agree with the previous reviewer that the assembly instructions leave a bit to be desired. In particular:
1. The infant seat legs can be installed backwards (and it looks like it would take a screwdriver plus a lot of elbow grease to ease the locking "tabs" back out to separate the parts again -- I was lucky and guessed right the first time)
2. There's some white foam wrapped around the inner support bars of the seat frame that have a "do not cut" sticker on them. That does NOT mean "find some other way to remove this packing material besides cutting it off".. those styrofoam pads are supposed to STAY on the bars (as cushioning since they are right next to the baby under the seat material), so DO NOT REMOVE THEM at all. The tubes are white (i.e. don't match the rest of the swing) which makes it look as if they don't belong in the assembled product at first, so it would be easy to mistakenly rip them off in the initial frenzy of unpacking.
3. Yes, the mobile plug has 3 prongs and the socket has 4, but push firmly and everything snaps together fine. The mismatch prevents the mobile from ever coming back out. Fortunately, you can't accidentally install this part backwards. :-)
As for the swing itself, it's great! I didn't think we'd really use the removable infant-seat feature, but it comes in really handy: when kiddo has a wet diaper, I can just pick up the entire chair off the swing (with baby strapped into it), walk to the room with the changing table, and put him down while prepping the wipes and new diaper. The built-in, foldover blankets are a nice touch. The "Zen" music is just new-agey versions of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and a few classic pieces, but is still less jarring than standard baby-gear music.
Switching the swing direction from side-to-side to fore-aft direction is best done by picking up the infant seat out of the socket, rotating it, and then reseating it. It is possible to rotate the chair without picking it up, but it takes a fair amount of force and would be quite jarring to any child who was actually seated in the chair during that operation.
The swinging action is smooth and quiet. There's just the tiniest bit of sway in the frame itself with each swing because of the slight gap between the legs and the sockets in the motor housing where they snap in. It doesn't bother me (i.e. there's no accompanying rattling noise and the swing is still rock-solid), and could probably easily be remedied by shimming the gap with some paper.
The mobile doesn't move on its own. And the stripe pattern on the parasols is not reproduced on the bottom which seems a bit silly to me. (i.e. you and I see a high-contrast pattern from the top, but the baby just sees a uniform brown disc of plastic from beneath -- whose visual acuity is supposed to be stimulated here anyway?) It is nice that the mobile swings out of the way. Getting the baby in and out of the swing is a breeze.
Overall, very happy with this purchase. The design, materials and operation are solid. I withhold one star because the assembly instructions really don't cut it.

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Bring baby a sense of comfort with the motion he enjoys most - whether it's rocking side-to-side or front-to-back. Surround him in softness - soft fabrics, a variety of music and the soft, gentile motion of the toys on the mobile.
For you, the function is two-fold, because the plush seat is removable, with wood handles that let you take baby from room to room! Whatever room you and baby end up in, the rich textures, earthy colors and beautiful wood accents will help create harmony in your home. Additional features include three-point restraint, two-position recline and machine-washable seat pad, pillow and attached blankets.
Features:
2 swinging motions - side to side cradle motion or front to back swinging motion
Open top design with swing-away mobile for easy access to baby
Removable infant seat provides flexibility
Mobile with 3 patterned characters taht move gently on their own to soothe baby
Deep seat with soft blanket wrap, recline and 3-point restraint
6 speeds
14 songs in classical and lullaby style to Zen-like orchestration and 2 sound effect tracks
Volume control
Legs for storage
Requires 3 "C" batteries - not included
Dimensions: 30"L x 36"W x 44"H
Maximum Weight: 25 lbs.

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Fisher-Price Zen Collection Gliding Bassinet Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I chose to buy this after doing a lot of research and reading a lot of reviews on various sites. Unfortunately, I found a lot of reviews seem to gloss over the important to know flaws and focus on the not so important stuff. As a mom of three awaiting my fourth, I have been around the baby product block MANY a time. The reviews I've read seem to make light of the noticable functionality flaws and make this product seem like a better buy than it really is, no offense intended to other reviewers, just my opinon.
Positives:
1) Nice looking overall; fabric is not cheap, well put together (see cons as well)
2) Gliding motion works ok and the music is quite nice (see cons as well)
3) A sturdy product, you don't worry about it falling apart with baby in it
4) An ok price for a FULL size, BIG bassinet, especially with free shipping. If it goes on sale for cheaper after you purchase it contact customer service for a price adjustment...Amazon is notorious for doing this! (see cons as well)
5) Large size is great for larger babies (like mine) who tend to outgrow smaller, more portable size bassinets quickly.
Negatives:
1) (As another commenter mentioned) The sounds play only for a pre-set time, then you have to hit the button again, a remote would have been a good idea.
2) The gliding motion while it does glide, is a bit noisy and a little less than smooth for my comfort level.
3) The colors overall are misrepresented in the picture. The legs appear black and some of the fabric appear a yellowish color. In actuality the fabric is a lime-ish green and all metal is brown and wood almost a cherry/ brown.
4) This is a very big and heavy bassinet. Measure your space before buying and compare to the measurements listed. It is not one you will want to bring up and downstairs but rather leave in one place.
5) While it has wheels to roll it around on one side of the legs, they don't work very well and the legs scratched my laminate floor.
6) The mattress was my breaking point...it is stiff, thin and hard. The included sheet is scratchy even after washing. I would most likely have purchased one of those foam inserts that help with flat head syndrome as I don't feel this mattress is at all adequate. Anyone who says the mattress is good, comfortable or adequate...OY!? A serious oversight by Fisher-Price!
7) The fabrics do not come off easily in any respects. You will spend a lot of time unscrewing fabrics from the frame if you get anything on them and aren't happy with just wiping the stains with a cloth (think spit up, poop explosions, pet hair, dustiness etc.)
Overall ok, but just like in the past with other Fisher-Price products (and as I said, this is my fourth baby and have been through MANY a product change), I am certain they will fix these issues and come up with an overall better product.
I sold this bassinet privately to someone who was a little more happy with it than I was, and they got to see it in person/measure it and their space before buying it. I purchased something else; a large cradle by Green Tree Frog designs that came with a real Sealy mattress and gorgeous accessories, that I love for a similar price on sale.
Hope this helps...

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The Fisher-Price Zen Collection Gliding Bassinet is designed add rich textures and natural, earthy colors to your home while providing your baby with a calming and comfortable environment. Offering a gliding motion at a speed that's just right, along with music, nature sounds and simulated sounds of the womb, this bassinet strikes a harmonious balance between beauty and function for both you and your baby. Soothing Gliding Motion Calms Baby The key feature of this bassinet is the gliding motion that originates from the soothing motions glider, which is on a variable speed control knob that allows you to customize baby's experience. The rectangular tubing on the frame and the wooden accents offers a contemporary look while the plush bedding in premium textured fabrics combine with the sheer canopy to create a cozy, calming space for baby to relax. 16 songs, nature sounds or simulated sounds of the womb deepen and extend baby's soothing experience.Convenient, Portable Design The Zen Gliding Bassinet includes a large tray area that gives mom an additional place for baby items. And the two wheels make it a snap to move the glider from room to room. When it's time to clean up, simply remove the washable cover from the waterproof pad and toss it in the washing machine.Intended for babies who weigh under 25 pounds and who are not able to push up on hands and knees, pull up or sit unassisted, the Zen Gliding Bassinet measures 23.5x58x41.5 inches (WxHxD). It also requires four "D" batteries (not included).

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