In the early weeks and months of motherhood, you’re going to be up a lot at night feeding your baby, then getting her back down to sleep. You can do this in your own bed, but eventually you’ll want a comfy seat for nursing/bottle feeding, snuggling, and rocking your little one, especially if he has his own room. A comfy upholstered club chair will do the trick, but most babies are more easily calmed by staying in motion. Wooden rockers have been around for ages, but gliders have recently taken their place as the favorite because of the more subtle, backward and forward movement. Plus, your butt will prefer sitting on a cushy, upholstered chair rather than sitting on wood or cane for long stretches of time. Thankfully, many gliders nowadays look like regular living room chairs and can be used as such after your nesting days are over. The one must-have feature, in my opinion: arm rests. Arm rests will support your elbows and thus, the weight of the baby. Trust me, your arms will get tired VERY quickly unless you have something bolstering them up.
I mention this because many of the fancy-pants, modern-ey chairs for nurseries don’t have arm rests. As with any new piece of furniture, gliders and rockers can be pretty expensive, so be prepared for sticker shock. Remember, if you can’t afford a new one, many of these are readily available for sale second-hand on Craigslist and such (seriously, that’s how I got mine). Many of these gliders come with optional ottomans that glide along synchronously with the chair. If you have the space, I highly recommend getting the ottoman as well, especially if you’re breastfeeding. At the very least, get a nursing stool that will help position your body ergonomically. We asked 84,000 of our closest friends what their favorite nursery rocker/glider is. Here are the results: This sleek-looking rocking chair from IKEA is the favorite in the budget category. Tried and true, this rocker has a nice, high back for you to comfortably rest your head (and doze off, you will). The cover is also easy to clean, which is great for spit-up.
Best yet, it’s great for everyday use once your baby (or babies) graduate/s from nursing. There is a foot stool available as well. Also in the economy category is the Shermag rocker/glider. A step down from Dutailier (#3), this seat has nice, padded arms (which I love) and a matching, gliding ottoman. I personally own this seat. My only complaint is that the ottoman is a bit top-heavy and will easily fall over on your older children (if you have any), who can’t seem to resist jumping and playing on it. This seat glides along on ball bearings, although a few readers had problems with the gliding or claimed it was too noisy (mine was not, FWIW). This chair glides or locks in a stationary position; the locked position helps you get in and out of it without falling on your ass. You can buy a Shermag almost anywhere: Target, Amazon, Babies R Us and Sears. *A cheaper knock-off of this chair is the Stork Craft glider ($146).The Dutailier is the Cadillac of “regular” nursery gliders (Shermag, Stork Craft, etc.).
Parents who own this chair love it and there are very few complaints. By all accounts, it is a higher quality chair than the Shermag, with an ultra-smooth gliding system and a six-position adjustment. Some models recline (others do not). This chair is generously apportioned, so there will be room for you, your babe, and your favorite nursing pillow. Widely available: Amazon, Babies R Us, Buy Buy Baby, Costco, Target, and local specialty stores. Moving on up the cost ladder is the beloved “Little Castle” Glider. Little Castle is a family-owned company that specializes in club-chair-looking nursery gliders and offers a VERY wide selection of styles and fabrics. Each glider is handmade in the USA (they also make really cute kids’ chairs). Their complete gallery can be found here. Many models are only available at exclusive retailers. Amazon carries select models as well. Otherwise, contact your local children’s furniture store. Best Home Furnishings makes gliders that moms are wild about;
the runaway favorite being the Storytime Series “Tryp” Recliner. The Tryp is a swivel glider/recliner, which can extend to a complete layout position (yeah yeah!) with the pull of a lever. The chair is customizable out the wazoo, with 700 fabrics and colors to choose from. Available only at local furniture dealers. Tips from owners of this chair: 1. Buy the microfiber (instead of cotton), it’s easier to clean. 2. Be careful when trying to unearth yourself and baby from the reclined position; the footrest comes slamming down with a bang – not great if you want a sleeping baby to stay that way! The Land of Nod, a Crate & Barrel company, makes a few favorites that are well-liked in the modern department. These include the Paramount, Luca, Mod Nod, Marley, Milo, and the Attractive American Rocker (pictured below). These chairs fall into the $700+ price range, but will last forever. I’ll be the first to admit, I’m a sucker for PBK. Their expert color coordination and overuse of monogramming tugs fiercely at my Southern heartstrings.
The Comfort Swivel Rocker is a reader favorite in the “pricey” department. High-quality club chairs tend to cost this much on a normal day. Just visit any department store or furniture store and you’ll see what I mean. This beautiful, traditional upholstered chair is custom made to get just the look you want. For an extra $400-$550(ish), you can purchase the matching ottoman as well (might as well, yeah?). These chairs swivel 360 degrees, so your older children will have a blast spinning each other around until they throw up (speaking from experience). Tip: If you register at PBK, you can get a 10% completion discount for anything you add on your registry (even if no one uses it…). Happy rocking, gliding, and swiveling!The Best Chairs Storytime Series is a program created for dealers who specialize in juvenile products. We have designed some unique chairs and finishes to tie in with fabrics that are tailored to children's rooms and nurseries. We feel that with our exceptional quality and comfort, our chairs are the perfect fit for any home.
Please look through our product selection and go to our dealer locator to find a Storytime Series Dealer near you. Best Chairs Amsterdam Recliner Best Chairs Devonshire Tufted Glider Best Chairs Montreal Swivel Glider Recliner Best Chairs Okee Rocker Recliner Best Chairs Roku Modern Recliner Best Chairs Taka Rocker Recliner Best Chairs Tryp Upholstered Swivel Glider Recliner Best Chairs Zurich Recliner Best Chairs Aspen Upholstered Swivel Glider Best Chairs Beckner Swivel Glider Best Chairs Braxton Swivel Glider Best Chairs Manchester Swivel Glider Best Chairs Mandy Swivel Glider Best Chairs Milan Swivel Glider Best Chairs Paris Swivel Glider Best Chairs Preston Wingback Rocking Chair Best Chairs Rio Swivel Glider Best Chairs Rome Swivel Glider Best Chairs Rotterdam Swivel Glider Best Chairs San Paolo Upholstered Swivel Glider Best Chairs Sheffield Swivel Glider Best Chairs Venice Swivel Glider