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As a mom of two young boys, I know that if anything can turn a marathon midnight feeding into a less daunting, (somewhat) luxurious experience, it’s the right glider rocker chair. As opposed to traditional rocking chairs, gliders have seats that move forward and backward, with some models even made to swivel or recline, and that effortless repetitive movement makes lulling a fussy baby to sleep that much easier on Mom. Not only do they offer a smoother, more stable ride for baby, the best gliders give you a comfortable spot to sit in for those seemingly endless late-night nursing and soothing sessions. To find the comfiest, most reliable — and nicest-looking — glider rockers, I tested a few options myself and also spoke to over a dozen baby-gear experts and parents about their favorites. Below are the 10 best chairs that glide, recline, and swivel, plus a couple of rocking chairs for good measure, for almost every décor style and budget.
Update on August 15, 2024: Updated prices and checked stock for all products.
What we’re looking for
Movement
At its most basic, a glider chair rocks back and forth using a smooth gliding motion. Some of these chairs swivel, allowing you to turn around 360 degrees (though not all chairs offer 360-degree rotation). For the ultimate comfort experience, a few gliders even recline so you can put up your feet, lean back, and enjoy a rocking motion, all at the same time. It’s worth noting, however, that a manual recliner will take some effort to push down, especially with weakened postpartum core strength, and isn’t always the easiest thing to do when you have a sleeping baby in your arms. For those who prefer a simpler motion, I’ve included two (more traditional) rocking chairs.
Accessories
For chairs that don’t recline, an ottoman is often included or can be bought separately so that you can still kick up your feet if you so desire. Many of these models come with lumbar pillows, which, speaking from personal experience, actually make sitting in one for extended periods of time — when you’re feeding on demand or dealing with a baby that just won’t sleep — that much more comfortable. While only two of the chairs below are water-repellent and stain-resistant, those are two other features to look out for in something you’ll be spending a lot of time feeding in and will inevitably spill on.
Style
Many of these chairs come in at least two color options, with several of them offering total customization, from the type and color of fabric to trim to base options and more.
Safety
Finally, because we’re dealing with a piece of furniture that’s often used with a newborn, many of these chairs are GREENGUARD Gold Certified, which means that a product “has been tested and scientifically proven to have low chemical emissions,” according to UL, the global independent safety science company that provides this certification. In other words, “It’s guaranteed to give off only low levels of volatile organic compounds, or VOCs,” so you can rest knowing that you and your baby are not breathing in harmful chemicals.
Best glider rocker overall
Movement: Gliding base, with optional swivel | Accessories: Lumbar pillow, optional gliding ottoman | Style: Customizable/made to order with 31 upholstery options | Safety: GREENGUARD Gold Certified
The glider rocker that I heard about the most in my conversations with parents and experts was the Luca by Canadian company Monte. It was recommended by Strategist senior editor Winnie Yang and four other experts I spoke to, so I had to go check it out for myself. Yang told me that she was drawn to how streamlined it look, and the first thing I noticed was its relatively compact size compared to other nursery chairs on the market. As Ashlee Neuman, content director at the Bump, points out, that’s what makes the Luca great for families with limited space. It also looks really nice, with its slightly upturned ergonomic armrests, high back, and contrast piping detail. Most importantly, the gliding motion felt super smooth and pleasant. My feet were planted on the floor and I was able to easily move the chair back and forth.
It’s expensive, but dad Daniel Gordon notes that buying from Monte means investing in a piece that’s built to last. Gordon told me that even after using the chair daily for over six years with two kids, “somehow the chair still looks brand-new.” Yang, who bought it secondhand, agrees. Not only has it helped her rock three babies to sleep, “it has been a comfortable spot for pumping milk, has gone through three moves, and has been beaten up by two dogs and a cat, but most importantly, it cleans up really well,” she says. As for its construction and mechanics, she says that the gliding action is still smooth, and the cushions are in great shape and aren’t sagging or worn anywhere. It’s made to order and comes with nearly three dozen fabric and piping options, and you can even choose from four different wood finishes for the base, some of which swivel. The optional ottoman also glides and costs $495, if you want to put your feet up. For its durability, comfort, looks, and the ability to customize just about every detail, it’s my choice for best glider overall. Plus, as Micaela Birmingham of parenting website Scary Mommy adds, “It looks cool enough to use elsewhere in your place once you’re done using it in the nursery.”
Best (less-expensive) glider rocker overall
Movement: 360-degree swivel | Accessories: Ottoman and lumbar pillow | Style: Three colors | Safety: GREENGUARD Gold Certified
While I wouldn’t necessarily call it a dupe of the Monte Luca, this glider has a similar look in shape, piping detail, and general clean-line vibe as our overall pick. Neuman recommends it for its value: “You can’t beat it in terms of the most bang for your buck” — especially when you consider the fact that it comes with an ottoman. Like the Luca, it also has a high back and lumbar pillow, as well as a sturdy base that glides forward and backward and swivels 360 degrees. (You can customize the Luca with a base that swivels, but the basic model only glides.) Sandra Gordon, who reviews baby gear on her blog Baby Products Mom, adds that this chair — like the Luca and others on our list — benefits from having an upholstered glider mechanism, which not only makes the furniture nicer to look at but “safer if you have a toddler in the house, because there’s no way your toddler can get their fingers caught in the glider mechanism.”
Best reclining glider rocker
Movement: Recliner, with optional swivel | Accesories: Lumbar pillow | Style: Customizable/made to order with 31 upholstery options | Safety: GREENGUARD Gold Certified
While the Monte Luca rocker that leads this list doesn’t recline, the brand’s Grano glider does. Actor and dad Mike Colter told us it was the best thing he bought for himself during the pandemic. “My daughter was about 15 months old at the start of quarantine. Putting her down each night was tough,” Colter says. “This chair has been a game changer. From soothing, to rocking, to reclining, it really does it all.” David Jacobs, the owner of Brooklyn-based children’s store Mini Jake, told me the Grano is one of the most popular gliders among his parent clientele, too, thanks to thoughtful details like its hidden reclining mechanism, lumbar pillow, and high back that provides additional spine and neck support. Like the Monte Luca chair, it’s made to order and comes with dozens of fabric and piping options, as well as the option to add a swiveling metal base for $200 more (otherwise, it comes with a wooden base that is stationary).
Best (less-expensive) reclining glider rocker
Movement: Recliner, 360-degree swivel | Accesories: Lumbar pillow | Style: Six colors | Safety: GREENGUARD Gold Certified
If you’re looking for a more affordable glider that reclines (and doesn’t include a bulky ottoman), consider DaVinci’s Piper chair, which I personally own and love. It has a similar silhouette to the DaVinci’s Olive chair above, is exceptionally sturdy, and swivels 360 degrees. It also reclines with a pull of a hidden lever and lies almost flat, although you have to push with your feet to get it all the way back. Closing the footrest does take a bit of effort, but you get used to it after a few tries. It’s one of the most comfortable chairs in the house, and I spent many sleepless nights nursing both of my kids in it. Now that they’re 5 and almost 2, respectively, it has become a reading chair — both for reading with the children and solo grown-up reading. After five years of constant use with both kids, it still looks new. The gray upholstery doesn’t hold on to stains, and I’ve never even had to spot clean it. There’s no sagging, either, and all the physical mechanisms are smooth. I will note is that it’s a pretty big chair, but for how durable and comfortable it is, you can’t beat its value.
Best (electronic) reclining glider rocker
Movement: Electric recliner, 270-degree swivel | Accessories: Lumbar pillow, USB charging port | Style: 11 upholstery options | Safety: GREENGUARD Gold Certified
Neuman’s favorite reclining glider is a bit higher-tech, with an electric recliner button that means you have even less of a chance of waking the baby if you decide to prop your feet up. (And will require less effort on your part.) “High tech meets high comfort in this state-of-the-art nursery chair,” she says, noting that the chair can swivel up to 270 degrees. “There’s even a built-in USB charging port, so you can recharge your mind, body, and electronics all at once,” she adds.
The Kiwi is a favorite of the Tot Squad’s Jennifer Saxton, who appreciates its modern design (I happen to think its wingback style makes it among the prettiest of chairs on this list) and calls out the electric recline function that “silently and seamlessly leans back without a jolt.” Plus, she adds, “It beautifully rocks and rotates and is wide enough for me to do story time with both girls on my lap.” Vox Media senior engineer Kathryn Beatty agrees that the Kiwi is “so comfortable to nurse in and to sit in during middle-of-the-night wakings,” adding that it’s a chair that can grow with her daughter. “It looks really nice in her room and I can see us keeping it in there as she gets older for reading books,” she says.
Best wingback glider rocker
Movement: 360-degree swivel, Ottoman included | Accessories: Lumbar pillow and ottoman | Style: 3 colors | Safety: GREENGUARD Gold Certified; Water-repellant and stain-resistant
If you like the look of Babyletto’s Kiwi chair but don’t necessarily need the fancy electric recliner functionality, consider the brand’s Toco chair, which Babylist gear editor Jennifer LaBracio recommends. “It’s really stylish and it has a small footprint so it’s great for small spaces, but doesn’t sacrifice comfort,” she says. While it doesn’t recline, it includes a stationary ottoman, so you can still put your feet up. (Even with the included ottoman, it’s $300 cheaper than the Kiwi.) Plus, it’s made from water-repellant and stain-resistant fabric.
Best glider rocker with storage ottoman
Movement: 360-degree swivel | Accessories: Storage ottoman and lumbar pillow | Style: Three colors | Safety: GREENGUARD Gold Certified; Water-repellant and stain-resistant
LaBracio also recommends this swiveling glider from a collaboration that DaVinci did with children’s clothing brand Carter’s. It has a more rounded wingback style and armrests than Babyletto’s Toco that LaBracio says “works with any décor — modern, traditional, etc.” It’s water-repellent and stain-resistant (like the Toco), which she calls “two must-have features in a glider.” It comes with an ottoman that doubles as extra storage, so you can keep extra blankets, bibs, and snacks always within arm’s reach.
Best wide glider rocker
Movement: 360-degree swivel | Accessories: Lumbar pillow; optional gliding and swiveling ottoman | Style: Three colors | Safety: GREENGUARD Gold Certified
There’s nothing worse than sitting on a glider — or any chair — only to find that the seat is too snug. For those concerned about this, and who have the space, Karen Reardanz, editorial director of Babylist, suggests this glider with an extra-wide seat that should accommodate any body, no matter a person’s size. “It’s roomy enough for feeding or soothing twins, or if a toddler wants to climb up and join the party while you’re with the new baby,” she explains, adding that the glide is “smooth and very quiet.” It doesn’t recline, but Reardanz does note there is a matching gliding and swiveling ottoman you can buy separately. If you’re not the matchy-matchy type, she says you could simply get “a cute pouf that is less expensive but will be just as comfy.”
Best glider with slipcover
Movement: Gliding base | Accessories: None | Style: Customizable slipcover and fill | Safety: Nontoxic
All of the gliders on this list are made specifically for nurseries, but there’s no rule that says you have to get one that’s just for use with infants. Sixpenny, maker of our favorite slipcover couch, recently released a glider version of its popular Esmé chair, and I’ve been using it in my younger son’s room for the past five months. Plush with rounded armrests, it’s got the soft look of something appropriate for a baby room but has a distinctly grown-up feel, thanks to its soft, textured slipcover and overstuffed cushions. It’s also extremely comfortable. I got it with feather down fill and a washed cotton-linen cover, and I love sinking into it each night for story time (the baby enjoys climbing into it as well). I haven’t had to fluff the seat or the back cushions since I’ve gotten it, and the gliding mechanism is also smooth and stable. And, perhaps most important, the chair looks really nice and, again, not like a “nursery” chair at all. I could imagine bringing it downstairs to use as an armchair in the living room when my son gets older. While I still love my DaVinci recliner for those early-infant days, the Sixpenny Esmé is my new favorite place to perch with my kids.
Best traditional glider rocker
Movement: Glider | Accessories: Gliding ottoman | Style: 20 colors
Traditional gliders look more like your standard rocking chairs and have more exposed wood parts, but they still offer the basic functionality of any of the options mentioned thus far. Sandra Gordon recommends this glider from Storkcraft that comes with an ottoman that also glides. The most affordable of the options on this list, it’s available in 20 different colors and includes storage pockets on both sides of the armrest.
More chairs we like
A gliding chair can be too much movement for some folks, in which case a traditional rocking chair might be a better option. After reading a lot of reviews, publicist Alisa Richter, bought this boucle-covered rocker from Nursery Works for her younger daughter. “The rocker is super comfortable, and I’ve spent countless hours rocking our baby daughter in it,” she says. She appreciates the ivory boucle upholstery that she calls “soft” and “pretty,” because it “integrates seamlessly with almost any décor style.” (Her daughter’s nursery is decorated with a botanical-wallpaper mural and blue-velvet curtains, and the chair completes its soothing, sweet aesthetic, she says.) Keeping the chair clean is not a problem either. “We have spilled on it multiple times, and it’s pretty easy to clean with a standard vinegar-and-soap solution.”
Here’s another rocking chair that costs a little less but still looks quite stylish. It’s recommended by Jeanne Y. Sun, founder of beauty studio Soft Arches. When considering a chair for her now-1-year-old, Sun was looking for “something sturdy with good reviews” and a tall back, so she could rest her head on it during long nights. She bought this one from Wayfair for its “minimal look and clean lines” and the fact that it was on the narrow side, which she points out is great for smaller rooms. “It’s comfortable, durable, and easy to clean,” she says.
Some more Strategist-approved products for nursing and feeding
Our experts
• Kathryn Beatty, Vox Media senior engineer
• Micaela Birmingham, Scary Mommy
• Mike Colter, actor and dad
• Daniel Gordon, dad
• Sandra Gordon, Baby Products Mom
• David Jacobs, owner, Mini Jake
• Jennifer LaBracio, Babylist gear editor
• Ashlee Neuman, content director at the Bump
• Karen Reardanz, editorial director Babylist
• Alisa Richter, publicist
• Jennifer Saxton, founder of Tot Squad
• Jeanne Y. Sun, founder of Soft Arches Studio
• Winnie Yang, Strategist senior editor
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