Getting your baby’s nursery in order is one of the best ways to take care of those nesting urges. It can also be a stressor. When I was prepping for my first baby, I was hit with a major bout of decision fatigue. Along with waves of endless nausea and sciatica, trying to figure out whether trendy boucle or sturdy performance material and 300-degree swivel function or lumbar support were more essential felt like scaling Everest: impossible. Now, on my second kid, and second nursery glider, to boot, I'm here to help hand-pick a glider for you—decision-fatigue be damned! The selection of nursery gliders below have all been tested by myself and my colleagues. Is price point most important? My colleague loves her Delta Children babyGap Cloud Recliner with LiveSmart Evolve Fabric. Got a small space? Consider the Monte Design Grano Glider Recliner. Whatever it is you're looking for, put your feet up and relax, you got this.
The 6 Best Nursery Glider Recliners, Tested by Real Parents
Whether you've got a baby or a big kid
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The 6 Best Nursery Gliders, at a Glance
Best Overall Nursery Glider Recliner
Nurture& the Glider Recliner
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Best Nursery Glider for Tall Parents
Nurture& The Glider Plus
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Best Nursery Glider for a Small Nursery
Monte Design Grano Glider Recliner
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Best Affordable Nursery Glider
Delta Children babyGap Cloud Recliner with LiveSmart Evolve Fabric
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Best Patterned Nursery Glider
Namesake Crawford Swivel Glider
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Meet the Expert
Rebekah Kimminau has been a baby product expert for more than 10 years. She is an international board certified lactation consultant, a CPST (car seat expert), postpartum doula and newborn care specialist. After helping parents in-person working at two different baby products stores, Kimminau launched her own online consulting business, The Baby Gear Consultant, working with clients worldwide.
How I Chose the Best Nursery Glider Recliners
I compiled this list based on the accounts of eight babies, 16 parents and over ten years of gliding our kids to sleep. Gliders can be expensive, so I wanted to include pieces that could fit in a home longer than one phase of a child's life. The picks in this list include a selection from parents who have used the chairs long-term, through pregnancy, infancy and on as well as for multiple functions—like how i sneak into my son's room sometimes to just recline in all that zero-gravity glory. Of course, I took into account each glider's comfort, function (swivel, glide, recline, support), noting each chair's material, construction, assembly and any extra features that add to its comfortability (like, for example, a power lumbar support or USB charging ports). In order to meet the needs of every budget, we also picked pieces at a range of price points. Baby product expert, Rebekah Kimminau, informed of me of the important of certain safety and environmental certifications to consider as well.
The Best Nursery Gliders, Tested by Real Parents
Best Overall Nursery Glider Recliner
1. Nurture& the Glider Recliner
What We Like:
- adjustable headrest
- built-in USB
- power adjustment
- stain-resistant material
- glider locks when reclined for safety
What We Don't Like:
- no swivel
- traditional design may be boring for some
Nurture&
With my first baby, I went with style over substance. The glider was boucle and chic (and backordered for half a year, of course), but after 9 months of nursing, I wound up with a knot in my neck that would not go away. SO, with the second baby, I wanted the a chair that could support a tall girl (5' 8") throughout nursing, and I'm so happy I landed on this glider.
The Nurture& Glider Recliner was delivered in two big boxes, one with the back piece and one with the base. As I was very pregnant and couch-ridden (by choice), my husband and a friend carried the boxes up our twisty stairs. My husband was able to assemble the glider with ease, and I was immediately happy with my new chair, replete with juuuust the right amount of bells and whistles: It glides seamlessly (and silently), and the power recline and electronic adjustable headrest have helped me soooo much with the neck problems—even if I'm in a reclined position, I can adjust the neck position to be more upright, instead of straining my traps for 30 minutes or more. It feels like zero gravity. In fact, before I even had the baby, I would post up on the glider to feel light as a feather in the depths of my pregnancy (and sure, get out of dish-cleaning duty).
Also, nobody talks about what a mess feeding a baby can be, so I love that the material is easy to clean, since it was designed with real people—and lots of spit up—in mind.
Today, I use the nursery glider even more than was the baby was first born since my now-8-month-old basically needs to be in a sensory deprivation tank to eat, and, honestly, I look forward to my super comfy feedings—as does my fully supported neck.
Fast Facts
- Dimensions: 33.3" W x 38.2" D x 42.1" H
- Color Options: 3 (ivory, gray, navy)
- Fabric: stain-resistant, non-toxic 96% Polyester 4% Nylon
- Swivel: none
- Certifications: Wood: FSC Certified Birchwood and Poplar Plywood. Nurture& products meet and exceed ASTM Safety Standards Made with non-toxic materials Prop 65 compliant TB117-2013 and UFAC (fabric compliant) TSCA Title VI compliant. Does not use any fire retardant chemicals.
Best Nursery Glider for Tall Parents
What We Like
- free fabric swatches
- adjustable headrest
- power lumbar support
- built-in USB
- power adjustment
- stain-resistant material
- glider locks when reclined for safety
What We Don't Like
- boucle fabric tougher to keep clean and spot clean
- USB port not updated to new iPhone charger
Nurture&
The Glider Plus from Nurture& is like the aforementioned model, but pimped out. In nursery talk, that means it's got swivel capabilities and additional power lumbar support, making it a clutch choice for tall parents who still want good, supported cuddle time with baby. “I have an almost 9-month-old and have used my Glider Plus frequently in each stage of his life. But when I was breastfeeding him for the first three months, I basically lived in this thing. From pumping to nursing, to contact naps, it was just an essential,” shares new mom, PureWow Commerce Editor, Olivia Dubyak. “Now,” she continues, “I use it multiple times a day for rocking him to sleep for naps or bedtime, as well as story time before bed.”
The Glider Plus is delivered in two boxes and straightfoward to assemble, however quite heavy. So do not attempt to lift up a flight of stairs yourself.
- Dimensions: 33.3" W x 39.7" D x 42.9" H
- Color Options: 3 (ivory, gray, boucle)
- Fabric: stain-resistant, non-toxic 96% Polyester 4% Nylon
- Swivel: 200°
- Certifications: Wood: FSC Certified Birchwood and Poplar Plywood. Nurture& products meet and exceed ASTM Safety Standards Made with non-toxic materials Prop 65 compliant TB117-2013 and UFAC (fabric compliant) TSCA Title VI compliant. Does not use any fire retardant chemicals.
Best Nursery Glider for a Small Nursery
3. Monte Design Grano Glider Recliner
What We Like
- hand-crafted in Toronto
- streamlined
- arrives assembled
- free fabric samples
What We Don't Like
- pricey
- longer lead time
Monte
Design-buffs, this one's for you. This Monte glider and swivel recliner is streamlined (the handle to activate pop-up foot rest is smartly nestled between seat and arm rest), customizable (you can build you own chair on their site), and it arrives to your door assembled. If you're shopping with longevity in mind, look no further. "I've had this chair for 10 years, and despite being barfed on multiple times, it—honest to god—looks as good as the day I got it," says PureWow Editor-in-Chief Jillian Quint. In fact, when Jillian sent me the photo for this story, I was shocked at how new it looked! "I also love that it transitioned from a nursing chair to a reading and snuggling chair to a grownup reading chair." Its modern design makes it versatile, so it doesn't come off as kiddie, and you can customize its look with 25 performance fabric options and four base colors, making it wildly durable and customizable.
Fast Facts
- Dimensions: 28" W x 32" D x 39" H
- Color Options: base: espresso, walnut, gold, brushed steel
- Fabric: performance fabrics (heathered, weave, velvet, boucle, microfiber, sheepskin), brushed cotton-linen, premium wool
- Swivel: 360°
- Certifications: GREENGUARD Gold Certified
Best Affordable Nursery Glider
4. Delta Children babyGap Cloud Recliner with LiveSmart Evolve Fabric
What We Like
- good price point
- full swivel
- stain-resistant
- easy to assemble
What We Don't Like
- no USB port
- no power functions
Delta Children BabyGap
“I'm currently 34 weeks pregnant,” shares Executive Editor, Alexia Dellner, “so I haven't had the chance to use this glider with my baby *yet* but I had a similar glider with my first and used it from birth (nursing, rocking, resting) well into toddlerhood (snuggling, reading books before bed). It's especially useful during those middle-of-the-night wake-ups when it can sometimes take ages for baby to fall back asleep so mom might as well get comfortable!” Dellner also shares that she loves how comfortable this glider is and the way it looks (the not-too-wide base and white fabric make it look chic and cosy!), especially considering it's one of the more affordable options out there. “I predict this will get used all the time—morning, noon and night feeds, snuggling together throughout the day, and those inevitable middle-of-the-night wake-ups. If my next kid is anything like my last, he's going to hate every single surface that isn't mom or dad (my daughter would *not* let me put her down in any swing, pillow, mat—she loathed them all!). And by the time my daughter came around, we had gotten rid of my son's glider, so I didn't really have a good place to sit down with her (which is all she wanted—that and the carrier) apart from our living room sofa. It's going to be great to have a chair dedicated to sitting down with baby where I can lean back and kick up my feet comfortably.” The only thing she'd change? “This would certainly increase the price point, but it would be nice to have a USB port to charge my phone in the chair like some of the fancier high-tech chairs do.”
Fast Facts
- Dimensions: 29.25”W x 36”D x 40.25”H
- Color Options: 5 (white, blush, grey, black, sailor)
- Fabric: LiveSmart Evolve fabric that is durable, stain-resistant, and sustainably designed using fabric made from recycled plastic bottle
- Swivel: 360°
- Certifications: NA
Best Patterned Nursery Glider
5. Namesake Crawford Swivel Glider
What We Like:
- beautiful pattern
- stain-resistant
- fabric samples available
- Greenguard Gold-certified
What We Don't Like:
- doesn't recline
- not all patterns available at certain retailers
Namesake
Some people don’t want or have the space for a recliner, but still want the ability to rock (glide and swivel) baby to sleep. This number from Namesake offers a smooth back-and-forth gliding motion, 360-degree swivel and plush cushioning for arm and lumbar support to do just that. And while the stunning blue lattice pattern initially caught our editors' attention, it was a staff member's endorsement that really sold us: "Greenguard gold-certified, super comfortable, easy to wipe down and never squeaks," says Gallery Media Group Senior Director of Brand Strategy Liana Iglesias. What more could you ask for?
Oh, you'd like to put your feet up too? You're in luck—there's a matching ottoman to pair with it.
Fast Facts
- Dimensions: 36.25" L x 32" W x 39.5" H
- Color Options: 7 options (cream, grey, tan gingham, green lattice, blue lattice, blue gingham, fog chatham stripe
- Fabric: performance styles are water repellent and stain resistant
- Swivel: 360°
- Certifications: GREENGUARD Gold Certified; CertiPUR-US® certified, Wood: FSC Certified Birchwood
The Expert Pick
6. Babyletto Kiwi Glider Recliner
What We Like:
- classic style
- easy to assemble
- performance fabric
- recliner option and foot rest
- phone charging ports (USB-C included)
What We Don't Like:
- has to be plugged in (and near an outlet) for use
- a bit pricier than other options
Babyletto
It was our tester’s intention to be the first one (plus, baby) to sit in this chair, but her six-year-old—who she states has pretty discerning taste after quite a few in-store trips to try out gliders—was on the case. “He laid back, he tinkered with the buttons that elevated the foot rest, he stretched out. His review? This glider is ‘absolutely perfect,’ — his words, not mine,” says Rachel Bowie, Senior Director of Special Projects. Baby product expert Kimminau agrees, stating that this electronic glider recliner from Babyletto is a favorite, thanks to its lumbar support pillow for your back and the very smooth glide motion. (Bowie attests, “It’s so seamless and quiet to electronically adjust your position, you can easily power it on without waking baby—a win.”) Outside of its great tech features, it’s also plenty roomy, and we love the range of base and finish options—from neutral to bouclé.
Bowie—who did ultimately trade places with her son to put this glider to the test—found it to be comfortable and spacious, regardless of her sitting position. Also, worth noting is the ease in pivoting electronically to a position that feels exactly right: “The precision of the Babyletto glider when it comes to adjusting to your posture needs is impressive,” she notes. “I also found the performance fabric to be very resistant to stains even in a lighter material and color. All around, I’m super impressed with the quality of this glider.”
Fast Facts
- Dimensions: 41" H x 29" W x 36 " L
- Color Options: 4 (cream, beach, ivory boucle, olive boucle)
- Fabric: performance style polyester
- Swivel: 270°
- Certifications: GREENGUARD Gold Certified; CertiPUR-US® certified; FSC Certified wood
What to Consider When Buying a Nursery Glider Recliner
While comfort, aesthetics and price are obvious considerations, our parents cited a few other things they wish they thought of when they were shopping for nursery chairs, which we used in our research:
- Size — Double-check the dimensions for the chair itself, when seated upright and when it's fully reclined, so you have a sense of how much space it will take up in the room
- Performance fabric options — Seek out easy-to-clean options, such as polyester or a performance-washed canvas or boucle, so you can wipe them down without issue, should spit-up occur (and it will)
- Ease of recline — Bonus points if there's an electronic recline, but overall, we searched for reviews that mentioned how easy it was to lean back and relax, without fighting the chair to change positions
- Overall squeakiness and noise levels — We vetted reviews to see whether people complained about how noisy the chair was, because nothing's worse than finally getting your baby to sleep, then moving an inch and...waaaaaah!
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are the Benefits of a Nursery Glider Recliner?
“A nursery glider recliner has a host of benefits for both the baby and their parents or caregivers,” says our baby product expert Kimminau. "The glider allows a comfortable spot for their parents to bond with them. Most people use a glider for feeding, singing, putting to sleep and comforting in the middle of the night.”
Kimminau also says that having a consistent spot for parent and baby to sit and feed, or rest, is beneficial to the family’s well-being. “The glider provides a space where both the baby and their caregiver feel comfortable, which leads to better rest for the baby and less levels of stress for their parents.”
A glider recliner is also a great spot to properly support your little one during breastfeeding or bottle feeding, as you can hold them in the optimal positions. Kimminau says this helps reduce rates of reflux, colic and general gassiness that can come after feeding if done improperly. “If a caregiver's arms and back are well supported during feeding, they are more likely to keep the baby in an optimal position the entire [time].”
Is a Glider or a Rocker Better for a Baby’s Room?
Though gliders and rockers can be very similar, the one that’s best for your nursery really just depends on your preferences. “Gliders offer more variety, allowing you to move in more directions and face the chair towards many parts of the room, where rockers move in one motion and only face one direction,” offers Kimminau. She adds that rockers can be more reliable, as the mechanism that allows them to move tends to last longer than that of a glider (although, of course, that’s not true in all cases). “Another factor to consider is that a lot of gliders recline, while only a few rockers do,” she says. However, “rockers can be more compact, so [they] may be better for smaller spaces.”
How to Pick a Glider for a Nursery
When picking a glider for a nursery, nail down what your priorities are. Is it comfort for a bad back? Smooth and silent motion? A stylish silhouette? Decide what's important to you first. From there, think about its cushioning, sturdy construction and glide, recline or swivel capabilities. If ease and functionality are what you're after, look for easy-to-clean performance fabric. For an infant phase, consider armrests at a comfortable height for feeding or holding the baby. If you want something to enjoy story time with a toddler, consider a wider seat.
Is a Glider Worth It for a Nursery?
Do you absolutely need a nursery glider? No. One of our editors instead just used a medicine ball for bouncing her baby to sleep. I didn't think I would use mine often, and I was surprised to learn that both chairs have become mainstays in my children's rooms—first for feedings and then for nurseries. So yes, you can certainly live without a glider, but a supportive chair that soothes both caregiver and baby is, in my opinion, worth it.
Are Nursery Gliders Affordable?
Nursery glider recliners come in a wide range of prices, but it’s possible to find one for just about every budget. One of our favorites is under $450, while some can run all the way up to almost $2,000.
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