The Best Nursery Gliders to Rock-a-Bye Your Little One in Style

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We know that when you bring your baby home, the adjustment can be physically and mentally taxing. So, it's a good idea to have a place where you and your little one can relax and unwind. Having a great rocking chair gives you a safe space to feed and soothe your baby while you lounge in comfort.

There are many excellent rocking chairs on the market, and the key is finding one that you wouldn't mind spending hours sitting in as you nurture and calm your baby. The sky's the limit regarding style, too: Whether you want something hip and modern or a cane rocker like your granny had, the perfect chair for your family is out there. Trust us.

Gliders are also an incredible baby shower registry item or family gift. If you want to get a wow gift for a friend or loved one, you could not do better than a glider.

The Best Gliders/Rockers

• Best Overall: Babyletto Sigi Glider

• Best Budget: Delta Children Emerson Glider

• Best Modern Swivel: Babyletto Nami Glider

• Most Color Options: Crate and Barrel Harbour Swivel Glider

• Best Traditional Rocker: Harriet Bee Rocker

• Best High Weight Limit: IDZO Rocker

What to Consider

When you're decking out your nursery, there are a few components that are must-haves: a crib with a great crib mattress, carpeted flooring or a soft (ideally washable) rug for quiet steps, a baby monitor, a fan (per the American Academy of Pediatrics), and a white noise machine. Though some may disagree, I am of the belief that a glider or a rocking chair should be on that list if it fits in the room. As a seasoned mother, auntie, and parenting editor, I would argue that there's no easier place to chill with baby, feed them, get them settled, and maybe catch a nap for yourself than in a glider — especially if you also have the matching footstool or if it reclines. It makes life so much easier and overall makes the nursery a more comfortable place. Buy one in a neutral tone that you wouldn't mind having anywhere in your house so that when you need to move it out of the space, it won't just be a piece of furniture you need to get rid of.

When you're buying a glider, there are a few major considerations that you need to make before you begin:

• Size: How big of a space you have will determine how big your glider can be. You want at least a foot of space in all directions away from the glider so you don't damage walls or furniture. Also, if you're a taller or bigger person, you don't want a tiny glider that makes you feel like you're sitting in a child's library chair.

• Weight Limit: Inclusivity and accessibility have been slow coming in the nursery furniture market. Some of these gliders have surprisingly low weight limits, making them unusable for many.

• Materials: Look for options made of durable materials that will stand the test of time and that can be cleaned easily, as babies are going to baby all over them. Other factors, like being FSC-certified or organic, are bonuses.

• Footstool or Recline: If you have the room, you'll likely want to put your feet up at some point. Personally, I like recliners, but others like footstools so they can continue rocking.

• Swivel: The ability to swivel makes it much easier to grab another bottle or burp rag from a nearby surface.

• Colors: Does it come in a color you love or that works in your space?

How We Chose

Every glider on this list has been personally chosen by myself or members of our team and our group of testers. We have put these gliders through their paces with late-night feedings, dumb cats who like to use their claws even though their cat towers are literally right there, hours of reading books, and kids with sticky hands. We all have very different tastes, so we chose gliders and rockers in a variety of styles from a variety of manufacturers. We have lived with these chairs and determined that they are great. And yes, there were some that simply didn't make the cut. They weren't comfortable enough or durable enough to make this list. But the nursery gliders on this list are the cream of the crop.

Why Trust Us

The team at Best Products has been testing and choosing the best goods for you and your home for years. Personally, I've been in the parenting space since 2011, testing products, talking to manufacturers, and speaking with real parents to learn all about what parents want. I stay on top of current safety regulations, product recalls, and all of the trends to help you make the best decision for your family.

Check out the 6 best nursery gliders below!

Sigi Electronic Power Recliner & Glider with USB Port

I have had this glider in my house for a few years now, and I could write sonnets about it. It's a gliding recliner with a USB and USB-C port on the inside of the arm of the chair. The fabric is soft and luxurious, but it's still easy to clean.

The seat itself is fairly deep, making it a great choice for parents with longer legs. I love how cushy the back cushion is and the fact that it's attached to the chair, so it doesn't become too squashed down over time (although I will admit, I have no idea where our lumbar pillow for our chair has gone. I expect a child used it to build a fort at some point, and it now lives in a closet somewhere).

It's a power recline, which feels safer than the quick-closing recliners we had when I was growing up that more than once almost squashed our cat. The power recline is a bit slower to use, but it's smooth and comfortable. You're not going to jerk your baby awake when you close it and move them.

I love especially that this glider doesn't substitute utility for comfort or comfort for utility — both are excellent. Yes, it's designed to last a lifetime, but it feels like a plush glider that you expect to only use for a little while. It's gorgeous and useful and comfortable in the same measure.

Unlike other gliders, even those on this list, it never looks too "lived in." It looks essentially the same now as it did when I first got it. Also, it is probably the most-classic, timeless looking glider on the list, and that is no small feat.

Emerson Glider

This stylish tufted budget glider is very well-made and moderately priced, making it a great gift option. It's covered in a super-soft microfiber that borders on a micro velvet texture, so if you're like me and you're a little "meh" about the feeling of a lot of microfibers, this one isn't as bothersome. In the years that I owned this glider, we never had any issues cleaning around the piping or the tufted buttons because nothing really sticks to this fabric.

The whole thing is a cinch to put together, and the glide and swivel are really smooth. The only bone I have to pick with this model is that the floor protectors on the bottom of the base get worn down pretty quickly and need replacing, but those are cheap and easy to put on.

Nami Recliner and Swivel Glider

There's a certain elegance in the Nami by Babyletto. It's playful, sure, and the lines are made to be modern, but it's not kitschy. It's modern and classic in the same way as an Eames chair is. And thank heavens for that, because this swivel glider and recliner is a chair you're going to want to have in your house for years to come. This is going to be something you cherish.

It has a power recline and a USB and USB-C charging port just like the Sigi, but where this differs is that this one swivels as well. Honestly, the only reason this isn't our top pick overall is that the style isn't quite as universal as the style of the Sigi.

One thing I didn't mention for the Sigi is that even though the Babyletto chairs aren't white glove delivery like the Crate and Barrel, they're reasonably light, and they don't require tools to set up. You literally just slide the back into place into the base of the seat and it's done — other than plugging it in.

Our SEO Editor, Sean Abrams, has this glider and says: "The Nami glider does not sacrifice style for comfort. It looks great in our daughter’s nursery and the grandparents love using it while rocking her to sleep, crediting it’s comfort and support."

Harbour Nursery Swivel Glider Chair

If you're looking for something with a bit more of a casual modern style, look no further than the Harbour Natural swivel glider from Crate and Barrel. It is made to look as though the pillows were sort of thrown on there in a relaxed way, but the comfort is unmatched. The deep, soft cushions cradle your body while the easy glide of the chair softly moves you and your baby back and forth silently.

The arms are cushioned with more padding than the photograph would have you believe. However, it's not so much that the edges start to get crushed, causing the chair to age prematurely, making it look sloppy instead of merely casual.

This chair is a bit lower to the ground than the Sigi from Babyletto, which may be appealing in a room with more retro styling. There are tons of custom colors available, but the oatmeal color is the quickest to ship. The ottoman for this chair is $500, but it's not a mere ottoman; it's a deep storage ottoman.

Our Deputy Editor, Joana Mascioli, has this glider at her home, and she's a huge fan. She says: "This chair isn’t just aesthetically pleasing — it’s incredibly comfortable, too. It provides me with the lumbar support I need, whether my kids opt for one book or 10 books before bedtime, and the arms have the perfect amount of cushion to support me and my littles. It looks stunning in their nursery and glides seamlessly with every gentle push of my feet. The fabric is durable and has not pilled one bit throughout my testing, either."

Japanese Single Sofa

I get it — you want a more traditional rocker, not a glider. Say less. This model from Harriet Bee has it all: storage, softness, durability, and hardwood rails on the bottom.

It doesn't look like a grandma's rocker (though we love grandmacore). It looks like a lounge chair, and it feels like one, only it's taller and it rocks. I truly can't put into words how soft the fabric is — I don't know how they spun it, but it feels like the softest hoodie you've ever owned. Overall, the glider worked perfectly, is super cozy, and is also easy to wipe up.

There's a storage pouch on the side that seems almost superfluous, but our tester has been using it to hold extra burp cloths for her baby with reflux, and if you've been there, you know how fast you're going to need those cloths. I can see using it for remotes or your phone or your current read when you move it out of baby's room.

The whole thing feels like a hug, and the rock is lovely. If you want something more traditional in feel, go for this one.

Premium Club Rocking Chair

Our tester for this chair is a huge powerlifter who weighs about 365 pounds most of the year. When he had his first baby a few years ago, the pickings were slim for modern-looking rockers with a weight limit that could comfortably fit him and his child. This chair not only looks great, it has a 500-pound capacity, and the cushions are soft and sturdy.

And his wife, who is very petite (yes, we laugh about their size difference all the time, it's like a fantasy novel), also loves the chair. Not only because the cushions are easy to clean, but because it fits in with her home's style so much, and she can sit criss-cross applesauce with her baby in her lap and her gigantic mutt beside her in the chair, and they're all comfortable.

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