9 Best Nursery Gliders, Recliners and Rocking Chairs, Tested by Parents

The Bump has been testing gliders, recliners and rockers for two years now, and during that time we’ve identified a few fundamental features that parents look for. As with any piece of furniture it’s got to be comfortable and attractive, but the best nursery chairs are also fully adjustable and offer a wide range of movement. And we’re happy to report that the Nurture& Glider Plus fulfills all of the above requirements. “It has wonderful features and adjusts into many perfect feeding positions,” shares product tester Kayla, who used the chair with her 3-month-old. High tech truly meets high comfort in this state-of-the-art chair, which reclines, swivels 200 degrees and glides back and forth. “This chair performed the motions effortlessly and silently, while my child and I remained comfortable,” confirms Kayla. She described the gliding motion as smooth and peaceful, saying that “my partner and I both find this chair very soothing for ourselves and our kiddos.”

As it’s a “power recliner” this chair is operated via a control panel and cannot be used manually. “This chair has an automatic control panel, containing buttons for three different sections of this chair,” explains Kayla. This section also features a built-in USB port along with a C-cord insert. “This feature works great, and I find it extremely useful as I can charge my devices while completing other tasks such as feeding or bedtime stories,” says Kayla. Unlike other chairs we tested, the control panel is positioned on the exterior of the armrest rather than on the interior, which makes it easy to reach down and press the buttons when your hands are full. And Kayla agrees that the buttons are “positioned in a great spot for quick and simple access.”

So what does this control panel actually do? “I can adjust the chair accordingly all the way from my head to my feet,” explains Kayla. With the touch of a button, you can recline the seat and raise or lower the head pillow and leg rest. According to Kayla, this feature “allows you to get yourself into the perfect position” every time. The chair reclines to a near flat position, and our product tester says she could comfortably lie back and nap on it, if needed. Plus, it has a built-in lumbar support panel designed to take the pressure off your lower back and—yep, you’ve guessed it—it’s adjustable. “This chair contains a button so you can adjust the middle portion of the chair to fit your lower back comfortably,” says Kayla, who has recently experienced back pain and believes this chair helped to relieve it.

In terms of comfort, this chair has a firm yet supportive feel that’s perfect for extended feeding sessions. “This chair is very comfortable to sit in for long periods of time. I have spent up to an hour and a half to two hours in it without needing to stand up to stretch,” says Kayla. She was also a fan of the armrests saying: “The armrests are located at a very comfortable height […] perfect for bottle feeding.” The chair also has an extra high backrest (42.5 inches to be exact) and earned a 10 out of 10 score for size, weight and height. “The seat is a great length for both me and my partner, who is 6 feet tall,” says Kayla, who is 5'5" and notes that her feet can touch the floor when the seat is in an upright position. Kayla added that the height of the backrest is perfect for her. As for her husband, he “wishes the top head portion was positioned just a few inches higher for those who are a little taller, [like him],” but nevertheless he finds it comfortable.

The only real drawback Kayla experienced was the bouclé fabric, which easily showed stains. However, The Glider Plus is available in a stain-resistant performance fabric, which eliminates this concern.

Dimensions: 38″ (L) x 33″ (W) x 42.5″ (H) | Weight: N/A | Capacity: 330 lbs. | Movement: Swivels 200 degrees, glides and reclines | Color options: 5

Our community says:

Need a good nursing chair to breastfeed baby in? The Babyletto Cali Pillowback Chair fits the bill. For starters, the seat is one-and-a-half times wider than that of an average chair—a feature Spadola says is particularly helpful for breastfeeding as you have space to spread out and get comfortable. Aside from the wide seat, this glider offers total body support for nursing sessions. “The chair gave good back support, and the armrest height worked well for football holds, and learning how to breastfeed a new baby,” confirms Haley V-B., who tested the chair with her 5-month-old.

One reason why this chair works so well for breastfeeding is the position of the armrests. “The armrests were comfortable for resting my elbows,” says Haley. “It seemed like they provided enough height to keep my shoulders relaxed while nursing in the football hold position,” she continues. Speaking about this nursing position, Haley told us that “the armrest height and the chair’s overall stability made it simple to hold the baby with one arm while supporting the back and head with the other.” While Haley liked the height of the armrests, she felt they could have been slightly wider for even more support. The high, pillow-back design is another great nursing-friendly feature. “The chair gave good back support,” says Haley, adding that the back rest was high enough to comfortably lean back.

The extra-wide seat also came in clutch. “The width of the seat is very comfortable, more than enough space to comfortably feed and read books to my 5-month-old,” shares Haley. With this roomy chair breastfeeding parents can spread out, shift positions and comfortably use a nursing pillow for added support. “The space around the chair’s sides allowed me to adjust the baby’s position comfortably and I didn’t feel cramped,” explains Haley.

Unlike some chairs we tested, this is a true glider. Our tester described the back and forth motion as very calming. “It’s one of the quietest chairs I’ve rocked in,” adds Haley. “I was confident that my baby would remain asleep while getting in and out of the chair, as it is very quiet and the rocking is very gentle too.” The chair doesn’t recline or swivel, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. This feature (or lack thereof) supports breastfeeding safety by reducing the risk of dozing off during late-night feeds.

Finally, the eco-performance fabric is water-repellent and stain-resistant, making it ideal for easy cleanups during the newborn stage. “I found it really easy to clean the chair, which is a huge bonus,” gushes Haley. “Overall, the chair felt comfortable for most nursing sessions,” concludes Haley, who adds that she would recommend it to other parents that are exclusively breastfeeding.

Dimensions: 36.75" (L) x 37" (W) x 41.25" (H) | Weight: 83 lbs. | Capacity: 300 lbs. | Movement: Glides | Color options: 3

No doubt about it, buying a nursery chair is a big investment. While quality is paramount, over 57 percent of parents surveyed said that price was a major factor when choosing a nursery chair. And in fact, many of the parents we surveyed said the Storkcraft Hoop Glider was the best nursery glider for parents on a budget, so we decided to put it through its paces. Our product tester Mia H. used the classic hoop glider with her 6-month-old twins and, for a chair that cost less than $200, it surpassed her expectations. “It offers excellent value for its price, combining comfort, functionality and ease of use,” says Mia, who gave it a 10 out of 10 score for value.

Aside from affordability, 73 percent of survey respondents stated that comfort was their number one priority when shopping for a nursery chair. Fortunately this affordable option performed well in this area too. “As a mom exclusively breastfeeding my 7-month-old twins, I found the chair to be supportive and comfortable enough for tandem feeding,” shares Mia. The chair has a padded backrest that our product tester said felt like memory foam, allowing you to sink in slightly for added comfort. Meanwhile, the cushioned armrests “were at a perfect height, making it easy to rest both my arms and the babies.” It also comes with an adjustable ottoman that can be used to prop up tired feet. “While the lumbar support was standard, it helped keep my posture aligned, relieving the neck pain I often experience from breastfeeding in less ergonomic seats,” says Mia. It's worth noting that although our primary product tester is petite, her partner, who is 6'3", also found the chair comfortable. “The high back provided good support for him, while I appreciated that my feet touched the ground—something I like for feeling more grounded,” explains Mia.

Unlike other nursery chairs on this list that offer a wide range of movement, this chair only glides forward and back. While our product tester would have appreciated a recline feature, she was pleasantly surprised to find that the gliding motion is “exceptionally smooth and effective.” She gave the chair a top score for ease of use, saying: “It’s very easy to get in and out of the chair with both babies, and its operation is intuitive—just lean slightly forward or backward, and the chair smoothly glides without much effort.” Mia added that “both my babies and I found the gliding motion to be soothing and relaxing.”

Another selling point of this nursery chair is the compact size. “The glider takes up about the same space as a standard dining chair, making it a great option for smaller rooms,” says Mia, who placed the chair in a corner of her home. She also loves that the ottoman can be moved aside when not in use in order to maximize space. While this chair won’t match everyone's style aesthetic, our product tester concluded her review by saying that this glider is a reliable and affordable option that she would recommend to other parents.

Dimensions: 34.8″ (L) x 26.5″ (W) x 38.5″ (H) | Weight: 45.5 lbs. | Capacity: 250 lbs. | Movement: Glides | Color options: 21

Our community says:

A lot of parents would say that comfort is a key feature in a good nursing chair—but it usually comes at a price (literally). With a price tag just under $400, the daVinci Suzy Recliner and Swivel Glider is by no means cheap, but it does offer excellent value for a chair of this type. It’s one of the best nursery gliders under $500, offering the comfort and motion features many parents expect from models twice the price. The Bump product tester Audrey, a mom of two, gave this nursery glider a top score for size, comfort, quality and effectiveness as well as materials and design.

A critical but often overlooked consideration for a nursery glider is its seat-back height: You want it to be high enough that both you and your partner can lean your head back. Audrey, who is 5'3", said that “the height of the back of the chair was perfect,” and noted that her husband, who is 6', had no issues with the fit of the chair either. The chair is nice and compact while in an upright position. However, Audrey notes that “to allow it to fully recline, it does need to be about 3 feet away from the wall, which could be an issue in a room that's tight on space.” When the chair isn’t reclined, Audrey said it was easy to get in and out of the chair while holding her baby. But “it was a little more difficult getting out of the reclined position and standing up while holding my child because I had to really push my legs against the chair to make the foot rest fully close,” remarked Audrey.

This nursery chair also checked the box in terms of comfort thanks to the footrest, cushioned headrest and wide armrests. “I was very comfortable when bottle-feeding my baby,” says Audrey although she does wish that the armrests were a little higher. The upholstery is soft and stain-resistant, which is a major plus point for new parents. Audrey shared that she spilled formula on the chair, but said “it was easy to swipe off and did not leave a stain or mark.”

The reclining chair has a manual gliding motion and swivels 360 degrees. “I was very happy with the range of motion of the chair,” says Audrey, noting that “the chair moves very smoothly” and never felt stiff. “This was one of my favorite qualities of the chair,” she adds. “It did a great job soothing my child,” and her 4-month-old son “quickly fell asleep and didn't wake up after I stopped rocking the chair.”

Dimensions: 36" (L) x 33.5" (W) x 40.5" (H) | Weight: 86 lbs. | Capacity: 300 lbs. | Movement: Swivels 360 degrees, glides and reclines | Color options: 3

Searching for a classic nursery rocking chair? The Delta Children Hanover Rocking Chair delivers impressive comfort and performance for under $300. It’s a great fit for parents who crave simplicity over fancy features. Mom of three, Erin P., who primarily used the chair to breastfeed and soothe her 11-week-old says: “I love this chair’s rocking [motion] and think it was the perfect amount to soothe our little one (and us!).” Another benefit of this traditional rocking chair is that it’s completely silent when in motion. “The chair made no noise at all, even on my hard wood floors,” gushes Erin.

According to Erin, the Hanover was comfortable from the very first use. “It’s so easy to sit down and get out of the chair,” she shared, noting that she could nurse, rock and settle her baby easily. Some rocking chairs can jolt too far forward when you try to stand up, but Erin didn’t have this problem. “The chair doesn’t tip forward too much, just enough for you to stand out of it and it pops right back,” she explains, adding that her feet could reach the floor when she sat right back. While she would have liked a little extra padding or the addition of a lumbar support pillow, Erin says: “I was able to comfortably nurse my baby and even hold him for a nap of 45 minutes without any back pain or discomfort.”

This chair has a slimmer profile, which is great if you’re short on space. “You’re able to squeeze it into a smaller corner or space really well if you’re looking for something to fit into an apartment style home or smaller bedroom,” shares Erin. She also noted that the backrest was high enough for herself and her husband 5'11", although she felt that the armrests were a little too low. “The arms could be higher a little bit to get a better hold, but I think that depends solely on height for this chair and a shorter mom it would be perfect for,” explains Erin.

Erin also loved the “sleek” design and the easy to clean material. Her toddler got chocolate all over the chair on day one, but thankfully it cleaned right off. “We were able to get it off with just water and a good scrub with a soft rag,” reports Erin, who said this was a huge plus. Speaking about the overall aesthetic she said: “I love the simplicity of this chair and think it is so sleek and elegant.”

Dimensions: 40" (L) x 27.25" (W) x 39.25" (H) | Weight: 61.7 lbs. | Capacity: N/A | Movement: Rocks | Color options: 3

For parents expecting twins or just looking for an extra-roomy option, this nursery glider is a standout option for the nursery. The seat itself is 32 inches wide from arm to arm, meaning it can comfortably accommodate caregivers of any size or parents tending to multiple children. In fact, it has the largest seat of any nursery chair we’ve tested. “The seat is large enough for me to nurse both twins, sit with my toddler or sit with my husband,” agrees product tester Lynsey B.

Despite its substantial size, assembly is quick and simple: just slide the back into the base, no tools required. Lynsey assembled the chair on her own in under 10 minutes, but due to its weight and size, she needed her husband's help to move it into position. “It just barely fits down our standard size hallway, so I would recommend putting it together in the room that you are going to use it in,” she notes. Lynsey says the chair takes up a lot of room in their living space, but is a practical addition that her whole family enjoys sitting in. Her toddler likes to perch beside her while she nurses the twins and “my husband appreciates the size of the chair being large enough for him to be able to sit with me and bond with our babies and toddler.”

The chair’s 360-degree swivel and smooth, quiet gliding motion make it easy to soothe babies, rotate toward conversations or shift your attention across the room. These features are especially appreciated by parents juggling multiple children. As Lynsey notes: “I'm able to easily rock and spin the chair around if I need to.” Although the seat is certainly wide, the depth is just right. “I'm able to easily stand up while holding my babies because the seat is not too deep,” confirms Lynsey. Thick, padded armrests, a deep-yet-grounded seat, and a supportive cushion make long nursing sessions or family cuddles comfortable. “The back of the chair was very comfortable and tall enough to lean my head against while the seat was shallow enough to be able to touch my feet to the ground at the same time,” explains Lynsey. The stain-resistant performance fabric not only looks high-end but also stands up to daily use. We love that water beads right off the fabric, making it practical for life with babies and toddlers.

While the chair doesn’t recline and has a large footprint, its comfort, durability, and generous size make it an excellent investment for families who want a glider that can serve as both a nursery essential and an everyday family-room chair. For twin parents or anyone who wants maximum space to snuggle, the Bellini Stowe is a standout pick.

Dimensions: 39.8" (L) x 40.75" (W) x 41.25" (H) | Weight: 124 lbs. | Capacity: N/A | Movement: 360 degree swivel and glide | Color options: 2

If you’re tall, finding a nursery chair with adequate head and neck support can be tricky. The Namesake Willa Plus Power Glider Recliner has a backrest that measures in at 28.5 inches, making it a full head taller than other chairs we tested. Product tester Carrie D., who is 5'10" used the chair alongside her husband who is 6'1", and they both found the chair exceptionally comfortable. “The chair is the perfect size in my opinion,” says Carrie who considers herself and her husband as above average height. “The height of the back of the chair could accommodate someone even taller in my opinion,” she continues.

The nursery chair also boasts high armrests that make it easy for long-limbed parents to rest their forearms at a 90 degree angle. “I like how high the arm rests are as well. It makes it easier to prop up as someone who is taller than average,” explains Carrie, who found the chair very comfortable to sit in while breastfeeding.

This nursery recliner glides back and forth and our tester says the motion was “extremely smooth” and quiet. “There were no sudden movements or stops that caused my daughter to stir [and] she fell asleep very soon into our nursing session,” says Carrie. The chair also swivels 270 degrees, so you can turn around or grab an item nearby without getting up and disturbing your baby.

Another great asset is the “power” headrest, which can be raised or lowered at the touch of a button. “My favorite feature is the power headrest,” gushes Carrie, who noted that the adjustability made it easy to get comfortable when sitting upright or in a reclining position. Speaking of adjustability, this chair has a control panel on the interior of one armrest that allows you to recline the seat and recharge your devices. Plus, this chair is unique in that it has a “reset” button that automatically moves the chair back into a standard, upright position. Our tester loved this feature and said: “This will be good for middle of the night use when there is not a lot of light in the room.”

Aside from the practical features, this recliner is lovingly-crafted and beautifully designed. “The design is very minimalistic, but also modern,” says Carrie, who appreciated the neutral upholstery. “I will definitely be moving this chair in my master bedroom or living room once we no longer need it in the nursery,” she concludes.

Exclusive offer from The Bump: New customers receive 15 percent off orders of $100 or more with code THEBUMP15 on Maisonette.

Dimensions: 40.5" (L) x 31.5" (W) x 41.5" (H) | Weight: 116 lbs. | Capacity: 300 lbs. | Movement: 270 degree swivel, glide and recline | Color options: 3

Back pain is an occupational hazard of parenting, so having a supportive nursery chair is a must. After all, you’ll be seated for extended periods of time, and the last thing you want is to be constantly shifting position in an attempt to get comfortable. While it’s not technically classified as a nursery chair, the La-Z-Boy Pinnacle Power Rocking Recliner is an excellent choice for new parents grappling with aches and pains. The seat features a cushy headrest and a built-in lumbar support panel, both of which can be adjusted at the touch of a button. “To say this chair is comfortable would be an understatement,” says Calihan, a first-time mom who tested the recliner with her 3-month-old. She gave the chair a 10 out of 10 score for comfort, and explained that “the added support from the lumbar and headrest adjusters made finding a comfortable position to bottle-feed or nurse my baby super easy.” Better yet, a unique feature of this chair is that you can save your preferred settings, meaning Calihan and her husband could easily find a comfortable position with “minimal effort” each time they took a seat.

This chair also earned a top score for features despite the fact that it doesn’t have a swivel base. Unlike other options that swivel in place, it’s a true rocker-recliner, meaning it only moves in a back-and-forth motion. The chair comes with a convenient remote that magnetizes to the side of the chair, and Calihan says the “automatic control panel for operation was quiet and so easy to use.” Our product tester adored the recline feature, saying “I could nurse my baby in one position and easily adjust to a comfortable recline once she fell asleep without waking her.” Calihan reported that this chair did have a slight squeak, an issue that was also noted by some survey respondents. However, she felt that this squeak could easily be fixed with a little WD40 saying “it didn’t disrupt my baby’s ability to rock to sleep, but would probably be annoying over time if left untreated.” The chair also has a built-in USB charging port, which Calihan says is “a huge plus for those days where I’m nap-trapped and need to work on my phone.”

While our product tester wished the seat was slightly wider to accommodate more than one child in the future, in general she liked the size of this chair. “The height of the back of the chair was great and could be adjusted as needed. I’m 5'6" and could comfortably lay back in the chair when reclined,” says Calihan, who noted that her feet could touch the floor making it easy to rock. “My husband is 6'3" and felt the chair was a great fit for him as well.”

Our tester felt the overall aesthetic was a little lacking, but she said “the upholstery of this chair is super-soft and luxe.” It also passed the spilled milk test, as Calihan said it was easy to mop up breast milk that splashed onto the chair. “While not the most modern looking chair, its features and support make the balance of aesthetics and functionality worth it in my opinion,” concludes Calihan.

Dimensions: 40" (L) x 33" (W) x 40" (H)| Weight: 90.5 lbs. | Capacity:N/A | Movement: Glides and reclines | Color options: 382

Our community says:

Need a nursery chair that’ll fit in a tight corner or small space? The Mercer Electronic Power Recliner and Swivel Glider is the narrowest chair on our list, and 2 inches narrower than the next smallest option we tested. And despite the compact frame, product tester and mom of three Christine says “there is enough room for either myself or my husband to sit in the chair while holding our baby.” (She is 5'6" and her husband is 5'10".) In fact, Christine gave this chair a 10 out of 10 score for size, weight and height.

This pick also earned a spot among the best nursery chairs thanks to the advanced features and relatively affordable price tag. The chair is on a swivel at the base, so it easily rocks and glides from side-to-side when it isn’t reclined. “This is my preferred motion for sitting in the chair with my baby, since I can easily get up and rock my baby to sleep as necessary,” says Christine, who noted that the chair moved in a smooth and quiet motion. The chair has a control panel on the outside of the armrest, which allows parents to recline the chair as well as raise or lower the footrest. While our product tester preferred to sit in an upright position, she said “I do like the option to recline the footrest when needed, which was smooth to do with the two buttons on the side of the chair.” Christine also appreciated the built-in USB charger, saying “I find /[it] useful when sitting for longer periods of time to feed my baby.” Although, she would have preferred a longer power cord so she wouldn’t have to place the chair right beside a power outlet.

The recliner also earned a top score for comfort, quality and effectiveness. Christine and her partner used the chair for long periods of time while bottle-feeding their 3-month-old and said they were “surprised by the back support, which was very nice and felt ergonomic.” The chair has a supportive, firm feel and the “the armrests are cushioned and sit at an appropriate height for myself and my partner.”

Christine also loved the neutral gray upholstery and said it fit in well with the decor in her new construction home. She noted that the fabric was “soft to the touch,” while being easy to clean with a damp cloth. All in all, our product tester said that the “quality, comfort and features were above my expectations,” adding that she would purchase this chair for herself and recommend it to other parents.

Dimensions: 35.5″ (L) x 26.2″ (W) x 39.2″ (H) | Weight: 103.75 lbs. | Capacity:N/A | Movement: Swivels 240 degrees, glides and reclines | Color options: 2