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From feeding your newborn to reading with your toddler, these rocking chairs are staples that will last for years. Folding Table Frame
We carefully reviewed this article in May 2023 and stand by our top-rated picks.
A glider is one of the biggest purchases you might make for your baby's nursery. It becomes any new parent's sort of "base of operations" where you can nurse or bottlefeed, page through storybooks and sing lullabies as part of your child's bedtime routine. That means you, the adult, are likely to be sitting in it for hours a day during the newborn period. It's worth it to choose something comfortable so you can be as relaxed and destressed as possible, given the reality of around-the-clock feedings and newborn care. You want to love your glider!
The experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute test all kinds of baby must-haves, from crib mattresses to high chairs to the best car seats. To find the best gliders and rocking chairs, our Lab experts looked at some two dozen bestselling chairs and considered a range of factors, from price to stylishness to size and functionality. Whenever we could we had our consumer testers use a glider at home and provide us with feedback.
After our picks, scroll to the end of our guide for a list of things to consider when looking for the right glider for your family. For more baby gear, check out our guide to the top items to add to your baby registry as well as our guides to the best baby bouncers, baby swings and baby bassinets.
For years, parents have told us how comfortable the Babyletto Kiwi Glider is, and now it comes with a USB charging station built into the arm. If you use an app on your phone to track your nursing sessions or your newborn's sleep schedule, this lets you do so without worrying about losing power.
The Kiwi swivels far to the left and right — not all the way around, but enough so you can turn to face toward or away from a window, for instance. The recline function is electronic: When you press one button the footrest pops out, and when you press another the back goes down. (It can recline almost flat.) To use these electronic features and the USB port, you'll need to place the chair near an outlet and plug it in.
When you order this chair online it comes in a few pieces and requires assembly, but we did not find it to be difficult to put together. It also comes with a pillow. The fabric is stain-resistant.
The charming piping trim elevates the look of this glider and makes it an attractive addition to any nursery. Size-wise it's very much in the middle of the recliner world — neither the largest or the smallest that we tested. This affordable chair glides and reclines though it does not recline fully flat, and it does not swivel.
Light assembly is required and some users complain of lingering gaps between the sides and the seat, but they note that it's not keeping them from using the chair gratefully and often. This one manually adjusts, so you push back on the armrests to recline and use a lever on the side to bring the footrest up. Parents noted it's very comfortable if a little bit noisy when you push the footrest back in place.
While it does not recline, this swiveling glider has a high back with a full head pillow for parents who want a bit more ergonomic support. The glider swivels fully around in a circle.
It arrives in two pieces, the base and the back, which are not hard to put together. Pro tip: Build the glider, and your baby's crib, in the nursery room so you don't then have to maneuver either one through the door! But if you do need to move it from room to room, it's only 27 inches wide so it will fit through standard doorways. Because it has no recline or footrest, it can tuck close to the wall in your nursery and still have room to glide back and forth. Parents say it's comfy and fits well even in a small room.
The soft glow from underneath really got us: This baby recliner aims to take care of you night and day, with a nightlight to help you find a soft landing spot in the dark. It plugs in and reclines fully at the touch of a button that's on the outside of the recliner; a footrest comes up as well. Like others on this list, it also has a USB port to charge a device.
The chair is hugely customizable. You can order it in colors such as rose, olive or navy, and in fabrics including velvet, chenille or various performance fabrics that resist stains. At the time of this writing, two upholstery choices were in stock and ready to ship immediately; many others could be ordered with at least a 10-week wait.
The glider recliner operates almost silently and very smoothly. If the price is too much, you can also get a manual-recline chair that will save you hundreds of dollars but it lacks the nightlight and the USB charging port as well. It arrives via UPS at your door or you can have it delivered to a store and pick it up there. Just note that this is the heaviest piece of furniture on our list at 133 pounds, thanks to all of its features. You'll likely want help if you need to get it to an upstairs room.
If you prefer a separate ottoman to a built-in footstool on a recliner, we like this cute matching set for a nice price. Just note that the glider itself is slightly smaller than the others on our list so far — the backrest, for instance, is half the height of the West Elm glider. That said, if you're a short parent or you need this to tuck into a small nursery, you'll be happy with this choice.
You may not be able to lean your head all the way back, but you'll be able to comfortably rock your baby and rest your tired feet. The glider can spin in a full circle but does not have any reclining ability. We appreciate that it comes fully assembled and ready to go out of the box.
It's available in three performance fabrics that are stain-resistant and water-repellant, but there's also a trendy boucle fabric available if you want a more textured look.
If this looks like the kind of comfy recliner your dad would command while watching a game, it's because it is probably designed to be in the living room. It even has springs under the seat, like a chair that wants to be a mattress. Just note that this chair does not glide back and forth — this is for parents who want to recline and are okay with not rocking at all.
A button tucked inside by the right arm powers this into a recline position with the footrest up. Another button sets it upright again. Though the manufacturer does not tout it, the button panel also has a USB port for charging a device. The chair comes with two throw pillows which come in handy when positioning your baby comfortably.
This chair spins a full 360 degrees and can hold at least 250 pounds and its wide, thickly padded seat will provide hours of plush, supported comfort with baby as they grow. It is a little over 100 pounds, so have that in mind when you need to accept this chair and get it into the nursery, where it will need some light assembly. You can also opt for Wayfair to deliver it directly to your room of choice for an additional fee.
This well-designed glider impressed us so much it earned a Good Housekeeping 2022 Parenting Award. Buttons on the side activate the power recline, gently easing you and your baby into a laying-down position with the footrest up. We can totally see spending some first nights at home pretty much sleeping in this chair.
This is another glider with a USB port built-in, which is perfect for charging your Kindle or cell phone during long feeding sessions. One thing to know is that this is a tall, wide chair, so if you have shorter legs, be warned that your feet might not touch the ground when you sit. On the other hand, it's perfect for larger parents who want a roomy seat that is fully supportive.
This chair glides and fully reclines but does not swivel side-to-side. The headrest on this chair is somewhat adjustable, a unique feature we did not see on many other gliders that we tested. A tester mom told us, “I have been living in this while breastfeeding and recovering from my C-section."
When shopping for a glider, you'll notice most styles are only available in shades of grey, taupe and cream. What we liked most about this sturdy, attractive chair is that you can choose from over 10 different colors including blue, green and pink, and from fabrics such as velvet, linen or boucle. If you're going all-out on a nursery design, this might be the dream glider because it's so customizable. Of course, ordering a custom color and fabric does mean you need to give it about six weeks to arrive, so plan ahead.
Though this chair glides back and forth like a dream, it does not swivel or recline, and there's no pop-up footrest. If you want to be able to put your feet up, there is a matching ottoman sold separately. The supportive high back of the chair works great, even for tall parents.
We do like that these chairs are built in the US and there's zero assembly from the customer required. This nursery glider arrives ready to go with its included lumbar-support pillow, and the West Elm delivery team will set it up for you.
Here's a classic rocker, not a glider, so if you're going for a mid-century modern nursery, this chair nails the look. It's another great choice from Babyletto, and we're fans of the fabric that looks high-end and resists stains.
It's got beautiful wooden rocking legs and sticks to its primary function — it rocks. There's no recline, swivel or glide with this one. Assembly takes only a few minutes, and caregivers say it's extremely comfortable. Consider it low-tech chic — the very same rocker our grandparents wish had come upholstered with high-tech fabric back in their day.
This is our favorite for small spaces because, with no recline, you can move it closer to the wall than most recliners can go — just make sure you account for the backward motion of the rocker. With no footrest that pops up, you also don't have to worry about what's in front of it. It's only a few inches bigger than the Adrian Swivel Glider, but because there's no ottoman, you'll use less space.
Okay, this gadget isn't exactly a glider, but it transforms any regular chair into a way to easily rock your baby back and forth. It's definitely not the same as having a big, comfy chair to slip into, but this small device is lightweight (only 6.3 pounds) and easy to use on the go. Take it to grandma's house or on an airplane when you need to comfort baby away from home.
This is a single piece and does not look like much when it arrives. But it's both very supportive and super flexible when you want a rocking motion. It was, unsurprisingly, invented by a set of parents who used their two young babies as testers while they worked to perfect the product. Now it's a popular baby shower gift.
No one needs a glider — not like you need a child's car seat by law — but a nice glider can certainly make parenting a young child easier and more pleasant. Despite being pricey and taking up space in an often-small room, most parents who own a glider will tell you that they get their money's worth out of it. Not every parent keeps a glider in the nursery, either; it's possible to set up a rocker or glider in the living room or wherever is most convenient for your baby's routine.
A glider is different from a rocking chair; with a rocking chair, the entire piece of furniture tips forward and back. A glider base stays stationary, while the seat sways gently back and forth and often side to side. The soft motions more closely mimic being in the womb, which is why a glider is great for calming your baby.
✔️ Size: Consider both how much space it takes up in the nursery as well as how much space it has for seating. If you plan to use a nursing pillow or have a toddler sit next to you, you’ll need a wider seat and/or arms with a bit of give.
✔️ Comfort: If you can try it out in a store, we recommend it! You'll spend a lot of time in it, so it's nice to make sure it feels good.
✔️ Fabric: If you’re worried about spilled milk or spit-up, consider one that’s easy to clean and designed to resist stains. "Performance fabrics" are best for this.
✔️ Noise: Some gliders can creak or squeak when you move, which is obviously not ideal for a sleeping baby. This is another great reason to test one in a store, if possible.
✔️ Spin: Some gliders swivel and can rotate 360 degrees, while others have more limited mobility. This is a matter of personal preference. If the glider is near a wall, you probably don't need to spin around. But sometimes it's nice to turn toward or away from a window or door.
✔️ Recline: Think about whether you’ll want a glider that’s also a recliner so you can prop up your feet or lie nearly flat. Just note that while it’s reclined, it won’t glide. You can also opt for one with an ottoman if you prefer to put your feet up but don't need to tilt back.
✔️ Special features: Some gliders come with built-in USB chargers to charge your iPad or phone, which can come in handy if you want to read or scroll without getting up and disturbing your sleeping baby.
At the Good Housekeeping Institute, a robust team of engineers, scientists, specialists and journalists combine forces to test a wide range of consumer products and provide recommendations based on careful analysis.
Our parenting product coverage is overseen by Chief Technologist & Executive Technical Director Rachel Rothman, a 15-year veteran of the Institute and mother to three children age 6 and under. She leads major programs including our Best Toy Awards and Kids' Book Awards.
A previous version of this article was written and reported by writer Ingrid Meilan. Most recently this roundup was updated by contributing writer Jessica Hartshorn, who has covered the juvenile products industry for the past 25 years, notably with American Baby magazine and Parents magazine.
Ingrid Meilan is a Los Angeles, California based writer and reporter. She hopped off the plane at LAX with a dream and a cardigan back in 2007 and has been loving life in Southern California ever since. Wife, mom to a wild little boy, amateur crafter, proud Disneyland Annual Passholder.
Jessica (she/her) is a freelance writer with several decades of experience writing lifestyle content and evaluating home and parenting products. A mom of two teens and two cats, her previous work can be seen in American Baby and Parents.
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