Home / Pregnancy / PlanningYou will log countless hours in your rocking chair feeding, shushing, singing and reading to your baby. Rocking chairs are not one-size-fits-all, and you'll want to pick one that suits you so you can enjoy your time there. Here are some chairs we love. ‹ prevnext › Best gliderAt first glance, it might seem that every glider in your local baby store is the same, but this Status Roma Glider has a few extra features that makes it stand above the rest. Its nice, high back gives you plenty of space to lean back and rest your head during those nighttime feedings. Pockets on the side give you places to stash your phone, magazines or a few burp cloths so you'll have everything you need when you sit down with Baby.Price: $255 Easiest to cleanWhether you love it or hate it, the Eames Style RAR Rocking Arm Lounge Chair definitely is a conversation piece. Your rocking chair will see it all, from spitup to diaper explosions. This chair wins our award for easiest to clean because you can simply wipe it off.
No muss, no fuss, no trips to the washing machine at 3 a.m? Price: $129.99 Most modernWe love the clean lines of this Nurseryworks Bungalow Rocker and that it doesn't scream "nursery." After you have logged numerous hours with your little one, you can easily transition this chair to another space in your home.Price: $399 Very vintageIf you are a mama with a passion for upcycling and DIYing, you might find your perfect rocking chair somewhere other than the local baby store. Check out your grandparents' home, garage sales or local thrift shops to find something that you love and is sturdy. The nice thing about upcycling a chair is that you can paint it to match your nursery theme exactly, and you can add fabric cushions to maximize the comfort level. Check out how Sherry from Young House Love revamped a rocking chair. Out of the boxWhen searching for your rocking chair, keep an open mind. Just because it was originally designed for living room use doesn't mean you can't drag it into the nursery.
A La-Z-Boy reclining rocker is super comfortable and a great place to sleep during nights when your baby is sick or extra fussy. Most comfortableThis Small Swivel Rocker and Ottoman from Pottery Barn makes us want to grab our littles and snuggle up for storytime. No matter what rocker you choose, comfort should always win. When it is 3 a.m., you have a teething baby and you haven't slept four consecutive hours in more than a week, a comfortable rocking chair is much more valuable than one that matches your nursery decor.Price: $749 Best for multiplesIf you are preparing for twins or more, you will need to increase the size of your rocking chair. This Eddie Bauer Chair and Half Rocker will keep your little ones from fighting for lap and chair space. The extra room will allow for more comfortable nursing, and the high back will support you as you support them.Price: $399.99 Best reclinerThis Little Castle Monaco Recliner is sure to help you and Baby get the most rest possible.
We love all the options: a reclining feature, a gliding motion and even extra-high arm rests to help with nursing. Admittedly, it is a little pricey, but we think we could easily transition this beauty somewhere else in the home after Baby outgrows it.Price: $869.98 Best swivelThis Babyletto Madison Swivel Glider had us at "hello." It glides and swivels, which can make navigating with a sleeping baby easier. Its curved shape can fit in a corner of the smallest nurseries, and it adds the perfect chic touch. We love that it's PBDE and formaldehyde-free, too. Just remember to purchase a footstool or ottoman to go with it if you want a place to prop up your feet.Price: $299 Most environmentally friendlyAvailable with or without upholstery options, this beautiful Amish Summit Glider is handmade in the United States from responsibily harvested wood, and it's durable enough to use after Baby is grown.With my first son, having a really great nursery glider totally saved me. Through sleepless nights and restless naps, I could count on the glider if I needed to nurse or just rock my son to sleep.
I slept in that chair more times than I care to count. So with baby number two, we invested in two upholstered nursery gliders that are also recliners. We placed one in our bedroom and one in the nursery. Both have been worth every penny already.I made sure to choose gliders with built in ottomans, and were stylish enough that I could keep them as reading chairs long after my sons were sleeping in their own rooms and beds. The best thing about gliders is that some are incredibly affordable. But when hunting for cheaper gliders, make sure they’re hitting all the must-haves on your list. For me, I needed arm rests at the right height to prop a boppy on for nursing, built-in ottomans (I didn’t have space for an extra piece of furniture), and the ability for it to lean back if I wanted to take a quick snooze in it.Check out the most stylish affordable gliders in the slideshow.More Nursery Decor Ideas:51 Clever IKEA Hacks for Kids’ Rooms & Nurseries31 Gender Neutral Nursery DIY Projects & Ideas51 Gorgeous Gender-Neutral Nursery Ideas Be a Momtastic InsiderGet Advice, DIYS, Free Samples & More!
Thanks for signing up! Five Acres Rocking ChairIn 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.