Best Nursery Gliders 2024

02 Sep.,2024

 

Best Nursery Gliders

Whether you&#;re feeding your baby or snuggling your toddler for story time, a comfortable nursery glider creates an ideal spot for soothing little ones. &#;Choosing a comfy chair for the nursery can be a big bonus when it comes to your [child&#;s] bedtime routine,&#; explains Amber LoRe, pediatric sleep consultant at Huckleberry, a baby sleep service. &#;Calm feedings in a cozy spot lead to drowsy babies with full tummies. In other words, it&#;s the perfect mix for a good night&#;s sleep.&#; We think the Babyletto Kiwi is the best nursery glider overall, because it&#;s sustainably made and is an all-around crowd-pleaser that&#;s easy to use and loaded with convenient features.

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The best nursery gliders provide a soothing and comfy seat for you and your little one.

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&#;Most parents spend many hours feeding their little ones, and having a dedicated and comfortable spot to do that can be really helpful. While each family must decide what items are essential to them, we think that a glider will give a special spot for parents and babies to bond for years,&#; share Teresa Boyd and Helena Finkelstein, owners and designers of Olive Hill Design Company.

Our recommendations for the ten best nursery gliders are below. If you&#;re still setting up your nursery, check out our other shopping guides on nursery essentials, which were researched and reviewed by our parenting team.

Best Nursery Glider Overall

Does It All At A Reasonable Price

Amazon

Babyletto Kiwi Electronic Swivel Glider

Materials: Wood frame, recycled yarn, polyester, foam cushions | Type of movement: Glider | Recliner: Yes | USB port: Yes | Certifications: Greenguard Gold-certified, CertiPUR-US-certified, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified | Key features: Stain-resistant, USB port, reclines, glides

Pros:

  • Reclines, swivels and glides
  • Charging port
  • Sustainably made
  • Stain-resistant and waterproof

Cons:

  • Limited colors
  • Some reviewers say it&#;s too reclined, even when upright

When it came time to select the best nursery glider, there was no competition. Of all the parents we spoke with, a majority named the Babyletto Kiwi Glider as their absolute favorite. It reclines with the touch of a button, glides and swivels effortlessly and includes a charging port to keep your pump and fully operational. It&#;s also Greenguard Gold-certified and uses FSC-certified wood for the frame, and has eco-performance fabric, so you know it&#;s sustainably crafted and free of harsh chemicals.

What the parents say: &#;I can&#;t get over how convenient the charging port is&#;prior to having a baby, I would never have understood just how many hours I&#;d spend sitting in this thing,&#; reports deputy editor and new mom Rebekah Lowin, who uses the Kiwi. &#;I also love the auto-recline button. In those sleep-deprived first months, it made feedings so much more relaxing. Oh, and the performance fabric really does come in handy: I&#;ve been able to clean spills in seconds. It&#;s clearly just a well-made chair; the whole thing, from the frame to the fabric and filling, feels heavy duty, sturdy and reliable.&#; &#;We have this one, and it&#;s the best,&#; says parent Stephanie, and mom Alani echoes the sentiment and also &#;high recommends this&#; pick. 

Best Value Nursery Glider

An Affordable, Space-Saving Option

IKEA

Ikea POANG Armchair

Materials: Wood veneer, polyester fabric | Type of movement: Rock | Recliner: No | USB port: No | Certifications: None | Key features: 10+ color options, optional ottoman available

Pros:

  • Affordable
  • Comfortable
  • Minimalist design

Cons:

  • No recline or glide
  • No padded armrests 
  • 242-pound weight limit

The well-known Ikea chair is an affordable alternative to the typical nursery glider. We love that the small footprint means it can fit in the tightest of nursery spots and, unlike some of the bigger, more prominent gliders, this one is easy to relocate to a living room or home office once its time in the baby nursery is done. Several reviewers mention that the chair&#;s narrow frame is perfect for small rooms or people with petite frames; others point out that the high back is nice for taller people to still feel supported. We like that there&#;s an optional ottoman to add to it (a footrest is truly a must when feeding or hanging out with little ones in the chair), and the Poang chair is available in 10+ colorways, so it&#;s easy to match nursery decor. The chair doesn&#;t scream nursery, and the arms are lacking padding, which may be a dealbreaker for some but can be remedied by using a pillow. 

What the parents say: Mom Helen shares, &#;I used the regular Poang through both my kids and found it provided enough bounce for me. And the arms were just the right height for feeding with a pillow.&#; Another parent shares that &#;We used the Ikea Poang (not the rocking version). Both my husband and I are tall, so a high back was essential. It "rocks," in that you can kinda bounce it with your legs if needed, but it was what fit in our teeny space.&#; 

Best Nursery Glider And Recliner

A Chic And Comfortable Power Recliner

Pottery Barn Kids

Pottery Barn Kids Charleston Swivel Glider Recliner

Materials: Plywood and pine frame, polyester-wrapped cushions | Type of movement: Glider | Recliner: Yes | USB port: Yes | Certifications: Greenguard Gold-certified | Key features: 3 manual reclining options or power recline

Pros:

  • Three recline levels, swivels and rocks
  • USB port
  • Plenty of fabric options

Cons:

  • Most fabric options take 10-plus weeks to ship

If you&#;re looking for something elevated and traditional that reclines at the touch of a button and has a built-in footrest, the Charleston is for you. This glider recliner is specifically designed for use in a nursery, so you can maneuver in it while holding a baby. For example, the chair locks in place while in recline mode. It&#;s crafted with longevity in mind to prevent sagging, wood splintering and stains. It also negates the need for an additional ottoman, which allows for more space.

What the parents say: Carlene Forkel, a teacher and mom to a 2-year-old, called this glider &#;expensive, but so chic and worth the splurge.&#; She went on to say, &#;I like that it rocks, swivels and reclines.&#; While it doesn&#;t get as much use now that her son is a toddler, she &#;will keep it for baby number two&#; because of the quality. Her one hang-up with the chair: &#;The white has gotten dirty, so I need a good performance fabric cleaner.&#;

Most Versatile Nursery Glider

A Recliner With Serious Customization Options

Nurture&

Nurture& The Glider

Materials: FSC-certified Birchwood, poplar plywood, polyester, nylon | Type of movement: Glider | Recliner: Yes | USB port: Yes | Certifications: FSC-certified wood | Key features: Reclines almost flat, adjustable headrest, power recline, performance fabric

Pros:

  • Built-in USB port
  • Adjustable headrest
  • Stain-resistant fabric

Cons:

  • Add-on options increase the price
  • Light assembly required

The Glider from Nurture& is meant to do it all. The chair reclines to an almost flat position so that you can lie down if you need to, which comes in handy in the middle of the night. The adjustable footrest and headrest are a rare addition, and yet they feel so necessary to avoid any extra strain. The fabric is stain-resistant and easy to clean, and you can choose upgrades like a matching pillow and a storage ottoman if need be. Further customize your pick by choosing from The Glider (it reclines and glides), The Glider Plus (it reclines, swivels and glides) or the Swivel Glider (it swivels only).

What our editors say: According to senior updates editor Karen Tietjen, who&#;s expecting her second baby, &#;The electric controls on this chair are a game-changer. The recliner I purchased for my first baby is manual, and bringing it back to its upright position takes some force&#;not ideal when you have a sleeping baby (or now, toddler) in your arms. Nurture&&#;s control settings aren&#;t just smooth, but they also allow for comfortable positioning with headrest and lumbar-support adjustments. And this is in addition to its recline, which you can set to any angle. The firmness of this chair is also comfortably supportive, and I&#;m so excited to use it with our newest addition.&#;

Best Nursery Glider For Twins

A 35-Inch Seat Offers Room For You (Plus Two)

2Modern Furniture & Lighting

Babyletto Tuba Glider

Materials: Wood, steel, spring coil and foam cushions, recycled yarn, polyester| Type of movement: Glider | Recliner: No | USB port: No | Certifications: Greenguard Gold-certified, FSC-certified wood, CertiPUR-US certified | Key features: Extra-wide seat, performance fabrics, environmental and safety certifications

Pros:

  • Extra wide 35-inch seat
  • Water- and stain-resistant fabric
  • Sustainably sourced

Cons:

  • Doesn&#;t recline
  • Backrest is not high enough for some

The top pick in our roundup of the best nursing chairs for twins, the Babyletto Tuba offers a roomy 35-inch seat for maximum comfort and space. For reference, it&#;s 6 inches wider than the aforementioned Babyletto Kiwi, meaning there&#;s plenty of cuddle room for two. While the Tuba doesn&#;t offer recline or power functions, the wide armrests provide adequate support for dual nursing (and are cushy enough to accommodate you, a toddler and a baby if need be). The textured fabric is stylish and stain-resistant, plus the chair&#;s eco-conscious credentials are clear: In addition to various green and forest-friendly certifications, the performance upholstery is made with recycled plastic bottles.

What the reviews say: Reviewers love the extra-wide construction of this chair. One reports, &#;The width is great for people who like to have pillows and blankets with them, and the material is super high quality. While some people [say] the backrest [isn&#;t] high enough, I&#;m 5 foot 5 and feel like it&#;s a good height for me to lay my head back.&#; Another mom shares: &#;We&#;re having twins, and I&#;m confident I will be able to rock at the same time comfortably with all the extra space.&#;

Best Nursery Glider For Multiple Kids

A Luxurious Recliner With A Seat Wide Enough For Siblings

Amazon

Nursery Works Sunday Power Recliner And Swivel Glider

Materials: Polyester, plywood, rubber wood base | Type of movement: Swivel | Recliner: Yes | USB port: Yes | Certifications: Greenguard Gold-certified, CertiPUR-US certified, FSC-certified wood | Key features: Multi-position power recline, swivels 270 degrees

Pros:

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  • Beautiful craftsmanship and design
  • Extra-wide seat
  • Reclines and swivels

Cons:

  • Fabric is not performance- or stain-resistant
  • Limited colors

The Nursery Works Sunday Power Recliner has a lot to offer, including a seat that&#;s wide enough to fit a parent and baby plus an older sibling. Additional comforts include a power recline&#;which is especially ideal when the whole family is snuggling together&#;soft sherpa-textured upholstery and a built-in USB charger for Mom or Dad&#;s convenience. Its chic aesthetic offers years of use, even if it graduates to the living room once the kiddos are grown, and the cherry on top is that it&#;s made with safe, nontoxic materials.

What our writers say: &#;As someone who writes about baby gear for work, selecting the ideal recliner for my second boy&#;s nursery was admittedly challenging,&#; shares Lex Goodman, Forbes Vetted contributor and coauthor of this story. &#;Ultimately, I went with the recently released Nursery Works Sunday Power Recliner because the seat is wide enough to accommodate myself and my toddler son while I&#;m holding the baby. I can personally verify that this chair is so comfortable, I&#;ve set up camp in it in my third trimester and have taken several naps in it. It&#;s also high quality enough to survive my toddler&#;s incessant pressing of the recline button. The charger works well, and the fabric is easy to clean.&#;

Best Splurge Nursery Glider

A Luxe Addition To Any Room

Pottery Barn Kids

Pottery Barn Kids Paxton Swivel Glider Recliner

Materials: Polyester-wrapped cushions, pine and engineered wood, steel springs | Type of movement: Glider, recliner, swivel | Recliner: Yes | USB port: Yes | Certifications: Greenguard Gold-certified  | Key features: Power recline, 240-degree swivel, 3-recline positions, plenty of fabric choices

Pros:

  • Swivels, glides and reclines
  • Tons of performance fabric options
  • Manual and power versions

Cons:

  • Most fabric options take 10-plus weeks to ship

Nursery gliders are generally expensive, but the Pottery Barn Kids Paxton Swivel Glider Recliner is more of a splurge than others. Parents who&#;ve made it a part of their household, however, say it&#;s well worth it. Not only is it luxurious in appearance and comfort, but it&#;s also available in a manual or a power recliner, has 45 color and fabric options, and comes complete with a 240-degree swivel and three recline positions. It&#;s also tall enough to accommodate taller parents and has no-sag steel springs in the seat, so it&#;s a forever chair. Parents also love the white-glove delivery but note that some of the fabrics have an extremely long lead time.

What the parents say: Two moms we chatted with spoke highly of the Paxton glider and say it&#;s worth the cost. &#;Beyond comfortable. Certainly the best we sat in,&#; says one. But another, who opted for the manual recline, admits that it became a little more difficult to recline after several years of use.

Best Classic Nursery Glider

A More Traditional Look

The Home Depot

Storkcraft Upholstered Glider And Ottoman Set

Materials: Solid wood frame, foam filling, polyester cover | Type of movement: Glide | Recliner: No | USB port: No | Certifications: None| Key features: Ottoman included, 19 colorway options

Pros:

  • Affordable
  • Durable wooden frame
  • Padded armrests 
  • Ottoman included

Cons:

  • Assembly required
  • Less stylish

This classic glider and ottoman set is a perfect all-in-one buy. The solid fabric upholstery covers the seats, arms, and back, and the button-tufted details add a bit of texture making this an inviting seat for you and baby. Full assembly is required, but reviewers note it&#;s pretty easy to put together. While it may not be the most stylish of our picks, many of the parents we talked to appreciated the classic comfort of this rocker, the affordable price tag and the durability of these kinds of seats. The need for a glider may only be a year or two, so for many families it makes more sense to invest in a practical seat that can then be passed on to someone else. This chair does not have a locking mechanism and is available in 19 different colors and wood combinations. 

What the parents say: &#;As a plus-size/pear-shaped woman, I found a lot of gliders tight. It reminded us looks-wise of a family heirloom rocking chair, but had smoother movement and was more comfortable,&#; says mom Erica. Coauthor Maya Polton also had a rocker like this for her two oldest kids&#;she appreciated that it could easily be passed on when she was done using it as opposed to making room for a gigantic chair in her already decorated and designed living room. 

Best Nursery Glider For Extended Use

Incredibly Plush And High Quality

Pottery Barn Kids

Pottery Barn Kids Dream Swivel Glider And Ottoman

Materials: Kiln-dried hardwood frame, down-blend cushions, polyester, foam | Type of movement: Glider, swivel | Recliner: No | USB port: No | Certifications: Greenguard Gold-certified | Key features: Down filling, 360-degree glide and swivel

Pros:

  • Simple swivel design
  • Extra plush and comfortable
  • Plenty of fabric options

Cons:

  • No recline or USB port
  • Most fabric options take ten-plus weeks to ship

For those looking for a stunning nursery glider that works alone or with a matching ottoman, the Pottery Barn Kids Dream Swivel Glider might be the answer. Not only is it beautifully designed, but it&#;s also unbelievably comfortable and comes in 48 color and fabric combinations. That means it suits any style of nursery or&#;down the line&#;living area. It also swivels 360 degrees, glides silently and is made from sustainably sourced materials.

What parents and experts say: Edward Ahn, dad to a 1-year-old, tells us that the down-filled padding &#;feels like a pillow.&#; While it does come with the option to add an ottoman, Ahn&#;s wife, Annelise Bamberg, points out that it provides enough leg support that you don&#;t really need one. We first spoke with the Ahn-Bamberg family about their glider when their daughter was 3 months old. Many months later, Bamberg assures us that she still loves it and uses it constantly. &#;We like the Pottery Barn Dream Glider which offers many options in size, function and fabric. It is also Greenguard Certified,&#; shared interior designers Teresa Boyd and Helena Finkelstein. 

Best Alternative To A Glider

Make Any Seat A Rocking Chair

Amazon

Ready Rocker Back Support Rocker For Chair

Materials: Plastic | Type of movement: Rocking | Recliner: No | USB port: No | Certifications: None | Key features: Portable at five pounds, two rocking functions

Pros:

  • Extremely portable
  • Works on nearly any chair
  • Affordable

Cons:

  • Not a true glider
  • Will need to move from seat to seat

If you&#;ve got a very finicky baby, a small space or just like the idea of a portable option, this five-pound Ready Rocker could be a great addition to your life. Unlike traditional nursery gliders, this turns any chair into a rocking chair. There are two positions, so it works equally well on deep or shallow seats. The travel-friendly support is useful beyond the baby years&#;many people find it provides back support and an added level of comfort to office seats or any household chair. 

What reviewers say: &#;We received this as a gift at our baby shower. Living in a small space and not wanting to buy another piece of furniture or a rocker we thought we&#;d try this out. It&#;s comfortable and versatile for nearly every sitting area in our home. It also folds down so we can travel with it,&#; shares a reviewer. 

Why Trust Forbes Vetted

The Forbes Vetted parenting editors who cover the kids and baby gear vertical have extensive experience testing, researching and reviewing parenting products, including baby and kids&#; furniture. We also consulted a number of experts for guidance around what to consider when shopping for a nursery glider.

How We Chose The Best Nursery Gliders

To find the best nursery gliders, we spoke with more than two dozen parents, scoured reviews and enlisted sleep and design experts to round up the best nursery gliders to make feedings and bedtimes more manageable. Our final list are the ones that came most recommended, had the highest value, garnered the best reviews and fit unique family use cases.

  • We tapped 25 parents we know for real-world feedback on the nursery gliders they use and love. We also checked in with those parents as their children got older to see if they still vouch for their nursery gliders as much as they did when their babies were younger.
  • We relied upon several pediatric professionals and other experts who contributed their insight to help flesh out this list.
  • We carefully analyzed the features of the most popular and well-reviewed glider chairs, as well as pored over customer reviews and star ratings, to ensure this list has a chair to suit every type of family.
  • We considered factors like recline function, performance fabrics and extra features worth noting (e.g., a higher back or a wider seat). We looked for special features like power reclines and USB ports where available, then balanced all of this against the each glider&#;s price.

What To Look For In A Nursery Glider

Julieta Hernandez, a NICU nurse at Northwell Health&#;s Cohen Children Medical Center, says that babies rely on their caretakers to help regulate their stress levels by creating a serene nursery environment. A comfortable nursery glider helps with this, particularly because it promotes skin-to-skin contact. And according to LoRe, a consistent bedtime routine often becomes a valuable tool for parents, as it can help set the course for healthy sleep habits for the whole family. Below are some of the most important features to consider when looking for the right nursery glider for you and your little one:

Comfort And Support

Comfort is key when it comes to choosing a nursery glider or chair. You&#;ll spend a lot of time in that chair, especially in the early months, while breastfeeding and during sleep regressions or cluster feeding. &#;Parents should look for comfort and function in a nursery glider. Designers Teresa Boyd and Helena Finkelstein recommend that parents consider whether they prefer an all-in-one glider that offers an option to recline or if they would like to pair their glider with an ottoman.

A great chair offers comfort even as your child becomes older and story time becomes an even more important aspect of the bedtime routine. Hernandez most values a nursing chair that reclines and offers good leg support so that moms have the flexibility to choose the most comfortable nursing position possible. If a recliner isn&#;t built into your nursery glider, you may want to seek out an ottoman to use with it.

Versatility

While it depends on your available space and your family&#;s needs, it&#;s optimal if a nursery glider is versatile in its movement options (who knows which sensation your baby will best respond to?). If it reclines, glides, rocks and/or swivels, then you&#;ve checked all the boxes. The interior designers we spoke with gave us this advice to increase the versatility and longevity of your nursery glider: &#;We recommend avoiding anything too baby or gender specific. Colors or prints that won&#;t last through the years or with another child limit the life of your glider.&#;

Functionality

You should note the functions your family requires in a nursery glider. Do you need a USB charging port? Do you need performance fabric or a slipcover to make cleanup easier? Be sure to ask yourself these important questions when investing in a glider&#;in addition to whether the chair suits your nursery&#;s style.

Boyd and Finkelstein advise, &#;Parents should look for performance fabrics so that these heavily used chairs can be durable and easy to clean.&#; If you&#;re breastfeeding, a footrest and padded armrests become important as well, helping you get into the right position over and over again.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is It Worth Getting A Glider For My Nursery?

Most parents we spoke with say that a glider is an integral part of a fully functional nursery, providing a comfortable and safe place to feed an infant, lull a child to sleep or read a story. &#;Gliding, rocking and swaying all provide a similar sensation to what babies experienced in the womb, which is why these motions are used universally by people to soothe and settle babies,&#; says Jada Shapiro, childbirth educator, lactation counselor and founder of Boober. Gliders can also be used beyond infancy, making them a lasting addition to a child&#;s room for story times, for example.

Are Nursery Gliders Safe?

Baby gliders are like a modern version of rocking chairs, but they glide more smoothly and seamlessly than rockers. Thanks to their stable base&#;as opposed to the curved legs of a rocking chair&#;they are generally considered safe if used properly. Boober&#;s Shapiro warns, however: &#;As babies begin to crawl, be mindful of any moving parts in the base that could pinch fingers.&#; Some gliders have a locking feature to prevent such accidents.

How Much Should You Spend On A Nursery Glider?

Nursery gliders come in a wide range of prices, with options from a couple hundred dollars to over a thousand dollars. They are an investment, so it&#;s important to consider your long-term plan with your glider. Maybe you intend to have multiple children or plan to move the chair into a shared space in your home once the nursery days are over. There is a strong resale market for gliders, with sites like GoodBuyGear, as an option to buy or sell gliders.


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