I have to start by saying that I can't imagine why anyone would NOT want this wonderful invention. Talk about simplicity and convenience!

I put this item on my baby registry after reading some of the other e-pinion reviews. My friends asked "are you sure?", and I emphatically stated "yes", along with the following reasons for my deviation from the mommy norm.
1) you have to have a swing, or else you're just crazy.
2) you will need a high chair at some point, or else you're just crazy.
3) By the time your child can sit up in a high chair to eat solid foods (why would you bother with a high chair to give a bottle?), the baby is oftentimes too big for a swing.
4) So, most likely you won't have the need for a high chair and a swing at the same stage of the child's life.

The only problem with those statements applies to people who have more than one youngin' in the range of 0-2.5 years or so. If you have a newborn that you desperately want to drop in a swing, you will NOT want to undo the toddler's high chair in order to use the swing. By the time you got the chair to change your baby will have cried itself to sleep. No, it's not that bad, but it is not a one person, 10 second, one button kind of transformation from swing to high chair and vice versa. My husband and I had no trouble whatsoever changing back and forth, but notice it took both of us. There are a couple of those "push in" buttons that you need to get at one time, and that's a booger for one person, let alone one person with one arm (the other clutching a gagging, purple, screaming baby).

The base is a bit wide. This is great for swing stability, but when it comes to moseying up to the dinner table, this high chair will definitely want to be on the wall side of the table, or else you will be tripping on it all the time.
I can't quite figure out the speed control... OK, I just spent some time and figured it out. It's messed up! I mean it will work, but the "slow" speed is really the "fast" speed. I guess the medium has no choice but to be medium, but the other two are switched. I had always had my baby on the "slow" speed, at least that's what it indicated. I thought it might be a bit unreal if the swing got much faster than that, but I never really put her on fast since slow was just fine. I just checked it out and when I have the swing set to "fast", it barely wiggles back and forth. I'm assuming that's really "slow"? Now, that's a glitch, but a livable one, at least if you don't pay attention to the labels on the side.

******JULY 12, 2001 UPDATE****

I spoke with Fisher Price about the motor speed problem. They IMMEDIATELY sent out a new motor. I got it in 2 days, put it on, and now the swing has all three speeds working just fine. Fisher Price's customer service was wonderful, and I recommend this product even more based on this service.

I haven't had use for the trays yet, but it comes with a small one for toys and a larger one for food. Clean-up of the cushion has been easy. My Grace spewed milk all down the seat, and it even got underneath through the belt holes. I just took it off (super easy) and rinsed it in the bathtub. I hung it over the curtain rod and it was dry in a couple of hours. The other side of this reversible cushion is made for messes like that, and is a comfy, soft vinyl.
I have been using the swing for 5 weeks (apparently on high the whole time!), and I haven't had to change the batteries yet.

Another bonus is the price. The whole contraption was under $100 at Babies R Us. Calculate $80 for swing, $80 for high chair, and you have yourself a really good deal.
Overall, I think this is a really nifty gadget, one that I will use for quite some time, and few a couple of different stages. And in a south Texas house with no basement and an attic that you definitely don't want to venture into except in January, storage is a big issue. I won't have to stash the un-used baby swing under a bed somewhere, it will be transformed into another beautiful piece de resistance.
Along with our Pack 'n Play, this item is indispensable.

*****June, 2002*****

I'm back again. After 14 months (my, how time flies) of using the Fisher Price Swing 'n Meals I am STILL loving it. Grace has been using it as a highchair for some time now, and it has really served its purpose well. I admit that the legs are quite broad, but we put her at the corner at the end of the table and it isn't an issue. The tray is easily removable, although not with one hand, and the cushion is easily cleaned.

I would also like to mention that my husband quickly perfected the swing-chair switcheroo and didn't need my help, although you still can't do it one handed! He could switch from one to another in the blink of an eye.

This update was just to reiterate what a terrific contraption this is, and I'm honestly amazed that everyone doesn't own one.

************* November 1, 2003 UPDATE!! ******************
I am now on baby number two, Caroline, and we are STILL using the Fisher Price Swing 'n Meals. By still, I mean that we dragged it back out of the attic for use in this go 'round. Caroline has never been a swing baby (dang), so we switched it right over to the high chair. She is now almost 6 months and enjoying her first bites of rice cereal - from the Swing 'n Meals high chair. Once again I would recommend this product, as it survived over a year in a sweltering south Texas attic with nary a warped piece of plastic. However, our eating area has been rearranged to accommodate the feeding needs of a toddler and I am now experiencing more of a problem with the wide base being in the way.
Just thought I'd catch you up on how it goes, 2 years later!

Recommended: Yes