A children's garden swing can be both the happiest childhood memory and a deep disappointment if they are not chosen well and it is obvious to everyone that it could be better. We have collected a number of criteria by which you can classify and choose a swing in order to make the choice as easy as possible for our readers.
Kinds
Already in their appearance and type of construction, swings for children are divided into bench and spherical. Benches are a whole bench suspended under a canopy, such a design is of the highest strength, allows the whole family or a group of friends to ride at once, most often it is equipped with a mosquito net, and even allows you to turn the seat into an almost full-fledged bed. The spherical swing is designed for a single rest, it allows you to swing 360 degrees, because it is fixed on one post, it is characterized by increased softness of the seats and a very aesthetic design.
Dimensions
The dimensions of the swing, like most other objects, are indicated by three values, but here it is important not to confuse: the first is the width (the distance between the posts), the second is the depth, and the third is the height, although logically the second and third indicators should be given in reverse order.
When installing in a gazebo, it is worth focusing on all the parameters - the product should fit freely without the risk of colliding with the walls.
If you plan to install the structure on the street, pay attention only to the width, which actually means the number of people accommodated. Note that the width shown is a good half a meter wider than the seat, as it indicates the dimensions of the uprights.
Nevertheless, children do not need much, in particular, for the whole family with one child, a width of 160-170 cm is enough.
Permissible load
Each swing indicates how many kilograms it can withstand - this indicator must be observed if you do not want to break the structure, and even get injured at the same time. When choosing a swing for a child, never be guided by his weight, because he is growing very quickly, he wants to take a blanket or a laptop on the swing, or even invite all his friends at once. Remember also that with strong rocking, the weight of the structure seems to increase due to acceleration, so do not expect to get by with a product that can withstand 40-50 kg.
Design features
Rack reliability
The entire structure always rests on a metal pipe, and although it is hollow inside, its thickness matters no less than the thickness of its walls. Naturally, the more massive and larger, the more reliable, however, high reliability translates into a tidy sum, but in fact, such precautions are not always needed. In particular, for pleasant reading alone, a pipe with walls about 1 mm thick is sufficient, while the diameter of the entire pipe is about 4 cm.For regular skating, cheerful companies will need walls of at least 1.5 mm and a pipe with a diameter of 5 cm and above.
Frame material
The swing itself is made either from the same metal or from wood. Both materials have good durability and are specially treated to withstand the harshest winters outdoors. At the same time, at home, both the one and the other design must be equipped with soft pillows, but if this is a public institution, where there are many children and they are constantly changing, then it is better to choose the wooden version - you can ride on it without pillows, which greatly reduces the cost of washing them.
The presence of a folding back
Buy a product with this option and you will have a whole bed swaying peacefully in the pleasant summer garden. Another thing is that such an opportunity also costs additional money, and it can be called practical only if the owners have time to relax on the swing for hours.
In fact, this is a really justified waste, except for mothers with the youngest children, and old people who are no longer in a hurry to work. More often than not, this luxury turns out to be practically useless.
Pillows and care
The pillow provides softness and actually determines how long you can endure while sitting on the swing. The main role in softness is determined by the filler: either synthetic winterizer or foam rubber... The first one is much cheaper, it looks voluminous, but by itself it almost does not hold its shape, it easily crumples under the weight of the passenger, and after use it needs to be whipped, therefore this option is not suitable for permanent use. Foam is much better for everyday use, who knows how to independently take the original form after they get up from him.
The upholstery, of course, is also very important, because the seat passengers touch it: it should be soft and delicate, but at the same time strong and durable. For small children, natural wool is best suited for softness and heat storage, but it is in vain to rely on its durability. Coarse calico is a little stronger, and even keeps cool, which is very good in hot summer conditions, but no longer looks like a big plus in cool climates.
For the most active use, you need to choose polyester: although it is noticeably rougher, but only it will withstand long-term continuous operation.
If the swing is chosen for small children, then the issue of maintaining cleanliness arises especially acute. Not all types of pillows wash equally easily. For example, synthetic winterizer does not provide for the removal of covers, but they are successfully washed entirely, but one-piece foam rubber pillows will have to be dry-cleaned. The most practical are those swing, in which the pillows are equipped with removable covers for maximum ease of washing.
Manufacturers
There is not always the time and desire to study in detail the characteristics of each model and compare them all with each other, sometimes you can simply trust trusted brands. From foreign ones, these include Garden4You, Ranger, GreenGard, TimeEco and Cruzo, from domestic ones - "Cheburashka" and "Solnyshko".
For information on how to make a children's wooden swing with your own hands, see the next video.
