A glider is a nursery must-have, but how do you choose the right one?
Gliders, rockers, swivel recliners, mom chair…. a seat for cuddling and feeding can go by many names. If you need a good starting guide, look no further! I have done the stressful research and trial and error for you. I found some of the best nursery glider options for any parent, depending on your style, needs, and budget.
Best Gliders for the Nursery
The most spacious and comfortable glider is the Babyletto Tuba. But if it won’t fit in the nursery and you still want wide side arms, the Delta Emerson Glider is a good choice. For a 360 swivel, go with the Babyletto Madison.
Babyletto Madison Swivel Glider
For a rounder swivel glider that is good for smaller spaces, consider the Babyletto Madison Swivel Glider. Glide and swivel up to 360-degrees to conveniently face and grab whatever you need while rocking or feeding your little one.
Pros
The microsuede fabric is soft, comfortable, and easy to clean which is a plus considering spilled milk or spit-up (among other things) is most likely to get on a nursery chair at some point.
Babyletto meets safety and flammability requirements and is free of chemicals that are harmful to you and baby. It’s also GreenGuard Certified, meaning it is product certified for low chemical emissions.
The chair itself weighs 63 pounds so you can easily move it where you want it (e.g. moving from the master bedroom to nursery) and it can hold up to 300 pounds. Also, no assembly required!
Parents love this chair for their smaller spaces and say it holds up really well through the years.
Cons
Some buyers have mentioned that the “slate” color shown online is not the exact color they were expecting to receive; instead what they received looked to be a light grey color.
If you’re breastfeeding, you may not feel as comfortable sitting in a chair like this because you don’t really have a good flat spot to rest your arms on.
Some experienced creaking when rocking in this chair, but that should be easily fixed with some WD40.
Delta Children Emerson Glider
Sometimes a stylish and comfortable chair is the only thing that will do for the nursery. The Delta Children Emerson Glider is that chair. The tufted back is modern, yet classic. The rounded and piped edges look clean, but soft and inviting. I seriously can’t get over how stylish this convenient nursery chair is!
Pros
This chair glides, swivels, and rocks. The swivel is 360 degrees and all of those mechanisms are powered by steel, so the movements are smooth and silent.
The fabric is a soft microfiber that is super comfortable and cozy. You can easily remove the cushion for cleaning if there happen to be any messes or spills.
The frame is well-built to last, but it’s padded so that the back and armrests are comfortable. The seat cushion has pocketed coil springs, similar to those found in mattresses. They’re comfortable and they make the seat last longer than just a poly-fiber filling.
Cons
There are only two cons I noticed with this glider chair. One con is the potential for assembly to be difficult. Some buyers have found that parts were not manufactured well resulting in a difficult assembly.
The other con is that this glider does not come with an ottoman as some gliders do. You can purchase a compatible ottoman here.
Babyletto Kiwi Electronic Power Recliner and Glider
The Babyletto Kiwi Electronic Power Recliner and Glider is a swivel chair, glider, and recliner all in one. One of the best parts of this chair is that it features remote recliner buttons and a USB on the side! Welcome to the 21st century!
Pros
With this nursery chair, you are able to swivel 270°, glide back and forth, and recline with a raised footrest to get in the most comfortable position. Control the recliner with buttons found on the side of the chair. You can quietly recline with ease and minimal effort. No more slamming your legs down to recline back up!
There’s a built-in USB port on the inner side of the chair that allows you to charge your phone or whatever else when you’re rocking baby, nursing, or just chilling. If you’ve ever felt “stuck” in a nursery chair, you know this is a wonderful feature to have!
Parents love how comfortable this chair is and that it doesn’t look like a standard nursery chair. It fits in well with other furniture. The maximum weight is 300 lbs, which I believe is more appropriate than some nursery chairs that allow much less weight.
Cons
Unlike what the description says, some buyers claim this chair is more of a “rocker” than a “glider.” Many parents just want the movement of some kind, but if you are looking specifically for the forward/backward movement of a glider, keep looking elsewhere.
There are sometimes issues with the USB port not working well, so I would consider looking into the warranty to be safe. Some reviews say that the USB simply doesn’t charge their phone well enough to use it.
Baby Relax Mikayla Swivel Gliding Recliner
Maybe you want a glider, but you also want a recliner, and you kind of also want just a cute chair. You can get all three in one! The Baby Relax Mikayla Swivel Gliding Recliner is the best of all worlds.
It has the style of a lovely upholstered chair, the relaxing, kick-your-feet-up comfort of a recliner, and the smooth forward and backward motion of a glider. It really can’t be beaten!
Pros
This baby glider chair doesn’t look like a piece of nursery furniture, but it sure can function like one. It’s upholstered in either microfiber or linen-looking, easy-clean fabric with accent piping and button tufting on the back for a gorgeous look.
The track arms are at a great height for resting elbows that are supporting a sleeping baby or trying different breastfeeding positions. The seat has spring forms and foam for lots of comfort.
You can use the recline feature to prop up your legs, recline back a little, or fully recline to an almost lying position. The base of the Baby Relax Mikayla Swivel Gliding Recliner has a swivel design, so you can swivel all the way around when you need to turn the chair. The swivel base also allows for gliding forward and backward.
Cons
The biggest con for me with this chair is that it isn’t the highest quality. It’s certainly not the nicest chair I’ve ever bought for my house. I feel like it wouldn’t last beyond about 3 or 4 years of use. The fabric and frame just don’t seem up to the challenge.
Another problem: you can’t recline and glide at the same time. I understand that this is probably for safety, but it would be awesome for gliding both mom and baby to sleep at the same time!
The price tag is pretty big, and for the quality, I feel like it’s just a bit too high.
Check out the best night lights for the nursery.
Babyletto Tuba Extra Wide Swivel Glider
Once you get down to thinking about it, a spacious chair is a wise choice for the nursery. It gives you room for you, baby, blankets, and all the other gear you need while cuddling, feeding, or reading to baby. Plus, it gives a tired parent’s body room to rest and move. The Babyletto Tuba Extra Wide Swivel Glider is a chair-and-a-half, so it’s got the space you need. It’s the perfect nursery chair for twins!
Pros
The cool thing about swivel gliders is that you aren’t limited to just a forward and backward motion. This chair can move from the front to back, side to side, and can also rotate 360 degrees. You can move the chair however you need to in order to get in and out, grab toys or gear, and soothe a fussy baby to sleep.
The baby glider itself has really great dimensions to fit parents of all sizes. Not only is the seat of the chair about 26 inches wide, but the back of the chair is also about 26 inches tall. That means that tall and short parents alike will fit in this and rest their heads comfortably on the back.
If you are worried about fitting in this chair, you can use the included lumbar pillow for extra support or help.
The fabric is available in 2 colors, both in the grey-tone family. It’s a polyester-poly weave fabric, so it’s thick and sturdy without being rough. This fabric is free from chemical flame retardants, while still meeting all federal flammability standards.
It also features a stainless steel base and boasts being made by hand at Babyletto.
Cons
This chair needs considerable space in the nursery. It’s easy to assemble albeit heavy, and the back support folds down so that it will fit through doorways. But once together, it needs a lot of square footage, which is bad news for small nursery rooms.
Having something so large leaves less room for a baby crib or baby dresser.
Not all people will like the large size. If you are a smaller person and only have one baby, you might find this baby glider to be too big. The arms rests are far apart, which makes resting your tired arms awkward. Also, really tall users will find the back too short.
Finally, this nursery chair doesn’t recline. It’s not a huge deal, but also disappointing because that would have been the icing on the fabulous baby glider cake.
Best Glider and Ottoman Sets
In this category the Stork Craft and Angel Line Windsor gliders stand out because they are less expensive than other choices and the ottomans glide along with the chairs.
Stork Craft Hoop Glider
The Stork Craft Hoop Glider and Ottoman Set is the classic standard nursery glider and the best basic glider. It’s what people picture when someone says a “glider.” And it’s the baby glider that I used to rock my son to sleep when he was just a little guy.
This is a nice place to start if you aren’t sure you’ll need or use a glider yet. Some babies love gliders, some just don’t!
Since it’s made by Stork Craft, it’s a really popular choice with both first-time parents and seasoned parents. They know that they’re going to get a good product from a good company. Plus, it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg like some of the other options.
Pros
So what makes this baby glider so popular? It’s the basic staple of nursery gliders. This chair has been around for some time.
The chair itself is made from wood and is cushioned all around with padding and a microfiber sort of fabric. It’s got all the basic features a parent needs, like decent padding, a storage pocket on each side of the seat, and a matching ottoman.
It’s not fancy, but it does the job. Plus, the price tag just can’t be beaten.
However, be wary that with the Stork Craft Glider, you get what you pay for. There’s no locking mechanism for the gliding so that you can turn it into a standard chair when needed.
Also, it only comes in a limited variety of stains and pad colors, so you might not be able to match your nursery furniture exactly.
Finally, it’s not the highest quality nursery chair. It will almost guarantee to wear out after a few years as mine did. It’s good for about 8 or 9 months, then the bearings start to squeak and give out.
Once my son was a toddler and climbed and played on it, some of the wooden rails began to crack. We eventually ended up getting rid of it for a more updated glider when my daughter came around.
Also, be aware that you will need plenty of space for this thing to move. Its range of motion is surprisingly large. We quickly learned that it can’t be too close to a wall, even if it’s placed across a corner of the room.
Dutailier Sleigh Glider with Recline
The Dutailier Sleigh Glider with Recline is the top-of-the-line when it comes to baby gliders.
It has all the features for both use and comfort that you could ever want in a glider. It looks similar to all of the other standard baby gliders in that it’s made with a wood frame and fabric padding. But a deeper look shows the real quality of this nursery glider, which has a 5-year limited manufacturer warranty.
Pros
The padding is thicker and covers more of the seating area with this multi-position glider. Even the foam and stitching are wonderful! It’s handcrafted by Dutailier from sturdy Canadian plywood for construction that won’t fail even after years of use.
The reclining mechanism is adjustable up to 45° allowing you to recline back in the most comfortable way.
It has a multi-position feature that allows you to lock this best nursery chair into the perfect position. This means that you can glide as much as you want or not at all.
It also has a reclining backrest, which is wonderful for late-night feedings or those nights that you end up camped out in the glider until 6 am.
Cons
This is seriously the nicest baby glider I’ve ever seen. However, it is not cheap. Not even a little bit. It costs about 2 or 3 times more than what most people want to (and can afford to!) spend on a glider. But rest assured that it costs so much because you are truly paying for a quality piece of furniture for your home, not just a cheap chair for baby’s nursery room.
One other thing that I could mention is that my husband didn’t find it as comfortable as I did. I think it’s because he’s nearly 6 inches taller than me at 6’1, but he said that there wasn’t enough room in the seat for him and he had to use a pillow under his arm to help support the baby because the armrests were too low. Good to note if daddy is gonna be using the rocker more than mom.
DaVinci Upholstered Swivel Glider
While the classic gliders are great and do their job, most modern mammas want a more updated look for their nursery while still getting the benefits of a glider. Enter the DaVinci Upholstered Swivel Glider with Bonus Ottoman.
This gives you the gliding motion you need with the style you want. It’s fully upholstered instead of having a visible wooden frame. The lines are more straight and square to give it a fully modern look. A one-year warranty doesn’t hurt either!
Pros
This best nursery chair is cute! It’s upholstered in polyester that is really easy to keep clean. The back is made to be a bit higher so that your head and neck can be fully supported, and the included matching lumbar pillow helps your back stay comfy, too.
As for the gliding motion, I love that this nursery chair has options.
It’s got a 360-degree swivel design that can also glide forward and backward. This makes it so nice when you need to turn the chair a little to grab something off of the nightstand or mix up the motion from a traditional glide by swiveling back and forth for a minute.
The other thing I love about it? It can easily grow up with your child and become a big kid or even teenage furniture for them without looking old-fashioned or baby-like.
Cons
This DaVinci Olive Glider comes with a matching ottoman that’s equally as cute and modern as the chair. The problem is, the ottoman doesn’t glide. It’s just a stationary ottoman.
This sounds like a good idea in theory, because it gives you a base to push off from when you glide, but since it doesn’t move with the glider, your feet fall off. You’ll end up gliding with bent knees, which isn’t very comfortable.
The only other thing that is kind of annoying is the incline level of the back. It’s pretty deep, which is nice for when you want to doze off, but it’s not as comfortable when you want to glide with baby and read or watch TV.
The price tag is considerable, but it won’t completely break the bank.
Baby Relax Kelcie Swivel Glider Chair
The Baby Relax Kelcie Swivel Glider Chair is a higher-priced luxury chair with microfiber upholstery.
Pros
With this chair, you can enjoy the option to glide and swivel as you please. The cushions and armrests are comfortable and plush for sitting and relaxing in during whatever hours of the night and day.
There are a few neutral color options to choose from, allowing you to perfectly match your modern or classic nursery. Unlike some nursery chairs, this glider purchase includes a matching padded ottoman.
The look of this nursery glider is chic and modern, not mimicking a traditional nursery glider. It will fit in well in the nursery room itself or in the living room.
Cons
The size of this nursery glider may be inconvenient for some. It’s just a weird size that’s somewhere between a normal chair and a double-wide chair. If you are breastfeeding in this chair, you might have to move side-to-side while feeding to use the armrests for support.
If you have a second child, the width may be convenient for you and your other child to sit together while you hold baby.
Coaster Home Leatherette Glider Recliner
The Coaster Home Leatherette Glider Recliner is a padded vinyl and fabric nursery glider that comes with a matching ottoman. It has a contoured seat for comfort, which isn’t always the case for nursery gliders.
Pros
The reclining feature of this chair can be adjusted between 96°-121°, allowing you to rest in the perfect position. There’s a side storage pocket that is convenient for keeping magazines, burp rags, remotes, baby products, or whatever you may need at any given time.
Padded arms and seating help make this glider chair crazy comfortable. With the vinyl fabric, you can wipe down the chair and ottoman easily if there are any messes or spills (which is gonna happen at some point, trust me!). The color is neutral and will complement any nursery room well.
Cons
There is a weight limit of 250 lbs, which I think is kind of low for an adult chair, especially if you want to rock in this chair with an older child. Still, it should be enough for most adults plus baby.
Since this is a “leatherette” chair and not one constructed of real leather, some buyers found that the faux leather started to crack after a few years. At least they didn’t pay the real leather price!
The contoured seat is a hit or miss – it will either work quite well and be comfortable or it will lack the lumbar support that you need and want during the newborn days.
Angel Line Windsor Glider and Ottoman
The Angel Line Windsor Glider and Ottoman is a classic nursery glider that is available in over 15 colors and designs. Yes, that’s 15 colors!
Pros
If you’re looking for the right color or design for your nursery chair, Angel Line has you covered. They have quite a large selection to choose from and the designs are true-to-color from what’s pictured, so you can buy with almost total confidence.
The padded fabric helps make this nursery glider comfy and cozy. Momma or baby necessities can be stored in the pocket on the side of the chair for easy access. Unlike some nursery gliders, this product comes with a matching ottoman, so no need to purchase one separately.
One of the best parts? The cushions can be easily removed for cleaning. Yup, you can take them all the way off and vacuum and scrub the chair whenever it needs it!
The very best part of this glider combo is the price! For a very reasonable price, you are able to purchase a comfortable glider chair (in almost any color you want) that comes with a matching ottoman.
Cons
It’s unknown what the weight limit is on this chair, but some buyers have complained that the chair eventually broke after being used and is overall unstable. Given the inexpensive price, it is possible this chair doesn’t meet the quality of some higher-priced chairs.
The Best Baby Gliders Compared
The table below compares only the recommended products on this page. A low or high Price means it is low or high compared to the other products listed. The Popularity Score reflects how often readers click on and buy the product. The Quality Score is our assessment of the overall performance and satisfaction with the product compared to others in the table.
| Baby Relax Kelcie Swivel Glider Chair | 9.7 | 8.4 | 429.00 |
| Babyletto Madison Swivel Glider | 9.7 | 9.4 | 399.00 |
| Baby Relax Mikayla Swivel Gliding Recliner | 9.0 | 8.6 | 383.16 |
| Delta Children Emerson Glider | 9.0 | 9.0 | 359.99 |
| DaVinci Upholstered Swivel Glider | 9.9 | 9.2 | 329.00 |
| Angel Line Windsor Glider and Ottoman | 9.9 | 9.0 | 201.60 |
| Stork Craft Hoop Glider | 9.9 | 9.0 | 190.86 |
| Coaster Home Leatherette Glider Recliner | 3.9 | 7.8 | - |
| Dutailier Sleigh Glider with Recline | 9.7 | 9.0 | - |
| Babyletto Tuba Extra Wide Swivel Glider | - | 9.2 | - |
| Babyletto Kiwi Electronic Power Recliner and Glider | 5.2 | 9.4 | - |
FAQs – Baby Glider for Nursery
Do you really need a baby glider in the nursery?
No, you do not need a glider at all. The whole point of a baby glider is to have a relatively comfortable place to sit with your baby for nursing or just when your baby wants to be held. A sofa, recliner, or even a traditional rocking chair can work just fine.
That being said, a glider is nice to have. It offers comfort because of the padding and the high back and arms to help you support the baby while you hold or feed them. But mostly, it has the ability to move and rock to help soothe your baby. As a bonus, most modern baby gliders and rockers can recline, so you can doze off while baby is napping or eating (unless you need to keep baby awake during feeding). Just make sure a spouse or other adult can keep an eye on you both while you snooze.
As for having it in the nursery, the advantage is that you will be in a quiet place close to the crib where you will lay your baby once they go to sleep. You could still stick the glider in the family room so that you can keep an eye on other children or just enjoy the company of others (or binge watch TV…no judgment here!).
What’s the difference between a baby rocker and a glider?
A glider moves you forward and back in a single plane, while a rocker –well, it rocks you. To help understand, the seat on the glider does not move or tilt up or down, only forward and backward. The seat on a rocker tilts forward, then backward, then back forward again.
A glider may also serve as a recliner, while a rocker generally does not. A glider is upholstered, while a rocker may or may not be. Some gliders are oversized; while a smaller nursery may not be able to accommodate such size, the larger glider will better accommodate twins and may serve for a longer period of time as a reading/cuddling chair for you and your kiddo.
Which is better for the nursery: glider or rocker?
This is a subjective decision and totally up to each individual parent. Here are some things to consider:
If your nursery (or even another room) can accommodate a glider, then that might be the best option for you, especially during your baby’s first six months. That’s because you can sleep and recline in the glider while baby nurses and sleeps so often.
Personally, I’ve always loved a rocker. Wooden rocking chairs are both nostalgic and useful. Many parents have heirloom pieces that have rocked several generations of babies. That classic rocking movement just can’t be beaten!
Consider rocking in the chair for several minutes before making your purchase, to be sure that it doesn’t “walk” when you rock. You’ll thank me later.
Does gliding/rocking make babies happy?
Babies demand to be held. Babies need to be held. Beyond that, babies demand motion – rocking, bouncing, jiggling, even just plain walking. These motions soothe babies because it reminds them of jostling around in the womb.
Many babies just won’t let you sit still! They want to be moved or walked or nursed or something that isn’t just sitting stock-still.
Buying a rocker or glider can give you the opportunity to provide a calming motion for your baby while you, too, are able to be relaxed. This is the beauty of the glider or rocker. It will give you a chance to get off your feet and take a break from the endless walking and bouncing dance that you do to calm your fussy baby.
Are rocking chairs good for a baby?
There is some evidence that motion is necessary for development. This could be especially true for a baby that wants to be held 24/7.
Rocking and gliding motions may help your baby develop the perception of their own body in relation to the surrounding space.
Are rocking chairs dangerous?
Everything is out to get us these days, and rocking chairs are no exception. They can pinch little fingers underneath or be tipped over if climbed on.
They really don’t pose that big of a threat, as long as they are balanced and stable and as long as little feet or hands do not get underneath.
Just keep the rocker in a place where you can supervise it at all times, even if that means keeping it in the nursery so that you can close the door and keep it off-limits.
Also, don’t allow kiddos to stand or climb on the chair, only sit. Frequently remind them to be careful of the rockers (the curved pieces that allow the chair to rock) when the rocker is in motion to avoid injury.
Final Thoughts
After researching a bunch of baby gliders, my top pick based on quality, ratings, and the price is the Stork Craft Hoop Glider and Ottoman Set. We hope that the above list of the best baby gliders helps you make an informed decision on which baby glider will be the best chair for you and your little one(s)!
If you’re looking for more nursery additions, check out our list of reviewed nursery products here.
