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As you begin to design your baby’s room, you’re probably starting with the big-ticket items: the crib, the changing table, the dresser, and, of course, the glider.

Choosing a glider for your nursery is probably the most fun out of all the larger pieces you’ll select to complete your baby’s room.

It’s the chair that you’ll spend most of your time in — probably in your entire house — and where you’ll make precious memories feeding, rocking, and reading to your baby.

A nursery glider is a chair that glides back and forth on a fixed track. Unlike a nursery rocker, many of them also swivel in a full circle. So, do you really need one?

Sure, you could throw just any ol’ chair in your nursery, but a nursery glider is meant to be both comfortable and functional, allowing you to glide back and forth and swivel as you feed and entertain your baby during those sleepless, groggy moments.

While a glider or rocker isn’t necessary in the same way that, say, diapers are, you’ll likely find it to be worth the extra investment when you’re going on your 101st sleepless night. A plush and comfortable nursery glider can make the whole experience just a bit cozier.

To create this list of the best nursery gliders, we reached out to new parents to find out the brands and styles that worked best for caring for their child(ren) in their first year. We also relied heavily on customer reviews and ratings to understand what features parents liked most and what features they felt needed improvements. Here are some specific factors we considered:

  • Materials. We looked for nursery gliders that are Greenguard Gold certified to ensure they’re free of harmful chemicals.
  • Functionality and noise. Does it rock? Does it glide and swivel? Is it designed to do both quietly? Quiet motion was a prerequisite to making this list — something all parents can appreciate.
  • Reviews. We combed through customer reviews to find nursery gliders with high praise from other parents, and to flag any potential negatives.
  • Comfort and style. You’ll be spending a lot of time in this chair, so comfort was an important factor. But so was appearance: Nursery gliders can be an investment, so you should also be a fan of the aesthetic, too.
  • Brand integrity. All the products we recommend go through an internal vetting process to ensure they’re safe and made using standard industry practices, and that the company doesn’t have impending lawsuits.

Pricing guide

  • $ = under $150
  • $$ = $150–$300
  • $$$ = $300–$500
  • $$$$ = over $500

Best rocker nursery glider

Million Dollar Baby Classic Miranda Wingback Rocker

  • Price: $$$$
  • Dimensions: 36.75 inch (in.) x 28 in. x 37.5 in.
  • Material: textile
  • Delivery fee: free

Why we love it: If your list of must-haves for your nursery glider includes a rocking feature, this is a great choice. It’s designed to rock gently without making any annoying sounds that could wake up your baby. It’s also made responsibly.

It’s both water-repellent and stain-resistant and also Greenguard Gold certified, which means it’s been tested for over 10,000 chemicals that could be potentially harmful to your baby. The foam inside is CertiPUR-US certified and made without polybrominated biphenyl ethers (PBDEs) or tris flame retardants, heavy metals, formaldehyde, or chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).

Even the wood for the base is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), which means it comes from responsibly managed forests. And each rocker is made using 30 plastic bottles.

What you should know: This chair doesn’t swivel or come with an ottoman. If that’s a priority, this may not be the chair for you.

Best upholstered nursery glider

Delta Children Emma Nursery Rocking Chair

  • Price: $$$
  • Dimensions: 34.75 in. x 35.75 in. x 39.5 in.
  • Material: wood rocker, microfiber upholstery
  • Delivery fee: free unless you opt for expert assembly, which costs $84.99

Why we love it: This fully upholstered chair would make a charming addition to your baby’s nursery, but it can also be used in other rooms of your home once your little one is older. It has thickly padded armrests and a plush seat cushion for extra comfort. The sturdy wooden frame provides stability, and it’s designed to prevent squeaking during gentle rocking.

Delta Children is a family-owned company whose chairs are nontoxic and made with renewable materials.

What you should know: Some reviewers commented that they had trouble putting together, but just as many found it easy to assemble. Additionally, if you’re over 6 feet tall, it may be too small for you and won’t support your head and neck. This chair also does not include an ottoman.

Best nursery glider with ottoman

DaVinci Olive Glider and Ottoman

  • Price: $$$
  • Dimensions: 31.5 in. x 25 in. x 39.25 in.
  • Material: polyester
  • Delivery fee: free

Why we love it: If you love the look of a glider that comes with a matching ottoman, the DaVinci Olive Glider is a great choice. It has a gentle 360-degree swivel motion and a comfortable headrest, and it offers lumbar support, which not all gliders do. Parents also love the fact that it’s GREENGUARD Gold certified.

The foam is CertiPUR-US certified and does not include harmful chemicals such as PBDE or tris flame retardants, heavy metals, formaldehyde, or CFCs. The wood used on the frame comes from FSC-certified forests that are managed responsibly.

What you should know: One potential downfall is that it may not support your head and neck if you’re taller. One reviewer commented that she was 5 feet 8 inches tall and had to send it back.

Best modern nursery glider

Babyletto Kiwi Electronic Power Recliner and Swivel Glider with USB Port

  • Price: $$$$
  • Dimensions: 35.5 in. x 29 in. x 39.75 in.
  • Material: polyester
  • Delivery fee: starting at $119

Why we love it: Though on the pricier side of nursery gliders, you get a lot of bang for your buck when it comes to the Babyletto Kiwi Electronic Power Recliner and Swivel Glider. Keyword: recliner. That gives this nursery showstopper some bonus points.

This model does pretty much everything that you’d hope a glider would do — it swivels a whole 270 degrees, glides back and forth, and reclines. It also comes with a built-in USB port so you don’t have to make sure your glider is situated next to an outlet. Queue sneaky selfies of you and your baby as you soak up some snuggles (OK and maybe a little Instagram scrolling, on mute of course).

The chair is Greenguard Gold certified and is free of chemical flame retardants. It’s also made with at least 50 recycled plastic bottles.

What you should know: While some reviewers felt it was good for larger and taller adults, others wished it had an additional headrest.

Best swivel nursery glider

CANMOV Swivel Rocker Recliner Chair

  • Price: $$$
  • Dimensions: 37 in. x 30 in. x 41 in.
  • Material: textile
  • Delivery fee: free unless you opt for expert assembly, which costs $84.99

Why we love it: This is a manual swivel rocker chair that also reclines, so it’s great for a baby’s nursery. It can be reclined from 90 to 150 degrees and has three different modes to choose from so you can match the position with whatever you’re doing. It also rotates a full 360 degrees. It’s got moves, to say the least.

CANMOV provides a 1-year warranty and free installation support.

What you should know: It wasn’t designed as a nursery chair, so it doesn’t carry some of the same certifications as other nursery gliders on this list. And some reviewers have commented that they wish the reclining function was a little smoother.

Best nursery glider for small nursery

Delta Children Kenwood Nursery Glider Swivel Rocker Chair

  • Price: $$
  • Dimensions: 26 in. x 31.5 in. x 37 in.
  • Material: wood rocker, luxe polyweave fabric
  • Delivery fee: free unless you opt for expert assembly, which costs $84.99

Why we love it: This slim glider may take up less room, but it’s still comfortable for those unexpected nap traps (e.g., when baby falls asleep on you, and you’re forced to rest… maybe the best part of having a baby!). It’s a great choice if you’re working with a smaller space but still want a stylish piece.

This glider rocks and swivels and comes in gray, light blue, and charcoal. It’s made with nontoxic and renewable materials.

What you should know: This chair went through a very rigorous testing process to ensure its durability.

Best colors on a nursery glider

PB Kids Comfort Slipcovered Swivel Glider & Ottoman

  • Price: $$$-$$$$
  • Dimensions: 20 in. x 24.5 in. x 18.5 in.
  • Material: variety of upholstery options
  • Delivery fee: unlimited flat-rate delivery (varies by location)

Why we love it: This gorgeous nursery glider can be totally customized according to your color preference — and the best part is that you can purchase a few different slipcover hues so that you can switch them out when you’re ready to put the glider in a new room.

It’s a great choice if you want a comfortable nursery glider that doesn’t show off all its hardware. The base is sleekly tucked away so no tracks are visible. Despite its clean look, it will glide and swivel, and you can purchase a matching ottoman.

It’s made from eco-friendly materials that are Greenguard Gold certified, and Pottery Barn Kids even has their products tested at the Consumer Products Safety Commission.

What you should know: Depending on how you customize this chair, it does run on the more expensive side.

Best classic nursery glider

Babyletto Madison Swivel Glider

  • Price: $$$
  • Dimensions: 29.75 in. x 29.75 in. x 33.5 in.
  • Material: velvet
  • Delivery fee: free unless you opt for expert assembly, which costs $84.99

Why we love it: If your baby’s nursery has an old-school, mod feel, you’ll love the look of this mid-century-style glider. It brings an old Hollywood glam to your baby’s room thanks to its luxurious velvet fabric and rounded shape.

It’s Greenguard Gold certified, meaning it’s been tested to ensure it only contains safe ingredients for your baby and meets all flammability requirements. In addition to being super chic, it’s also smaller than many other gliders, so it’s great for small spaces.

You can choose from seven colors. Material options include velvet, bouclé, and microsuede. But only certain colors are available in certain materials.

What you should know: Its smaller size means it may not be the best choice for taller parents.

Most affordable nursery glider

Storkcraft Hoop Glider and Ottoman

  • Price: $$
  • Dimensions: 24.75 in. x 24.75 in. x 39.5 in.
  • Material: polyester
  • Delivery fee: free unless you opt for expert assembly, which costs $84.99

Why we love it: Working with a teeny tiny room for your baby’s nursery? Not to worry — this glider is the perfect fit for small spaces. It’s super comfortable, reviewers say, thanks to the padded arm cushions and footrest.

It even has convenient storage pockets on either armrest so you can store swaddle blankets, bibs, books, and pacifiers. It’s a multifunctional nursery glider at a great price point. It also comes in more than 10 different colors so you can match it perfectly to your baby’s nursery.

What you should know: Because of its simpler design, it’s also lighter weight than other chairs on the list. There is some assembly required, and reviews were mixed about how easy that process was.

Most comfortable nursery glider

Delta Children Dylan Nursery Recliner Glider Swivel Chair

  • Price: $$$
  • Dimensions: 34.5 in. x 35.75 in. x 40.25 in.
  • Material: ‎alloy steel; woven fabric
  • Delivery fee: free unless you opt for expert assembly, which costs $84.99

Why we love it: Here’s a glider that you can plop right into your living room without it looking like it was a leftover from your baby’s nursery (even though it is).

This recliner is gorgeous, featuring pocketed coil spring construction and a farmhouse-style design. It swivels 360 degrees and has a gliding mechanism made from durable steel so it shouldn’t squeak as you rock back and forth. It has two reclining positions.

Like all Delta Children chairs, it’s made with non-toxic and renewable materials. Reviewers have commented that it’s still suitable for parents who are taller than 6 feet.

What you should know: If you’re on the shorter side, the footrest may be harder to push down. Some reviewers commented that it was hard to close.

Best reclining nursery glider

Baby Relax Mikayla Swivel Gliding Recliner

  • Price: $$$–$$$$
  • Dimensions: 30 in. x 37 in. x 41.75 in.
  • Material: metal, linen-look fabric
  • Delivery fee: free

Why we love it: This gliding recliner goes all the way back, offering three functional positions so you can be at the right angle for feeding, rocking, or reading books. It swivels and glides as well and has a square silhouette for maximum comfort. Parents rave over its easy set-up and 1-year limited warranty.

What you should know: It’s available in five colors: light or dark grey, dark blue, mocha, and white. However, the materials vary per color from microfiber to linen. At 95 pounds, it’s one of the heavier chairs on the list. This chair also doesn’t carry the same certifications as other chairs.

Best overall nursery glider

Carter’s by DaVinci Arlo Recliner and Glider

  • Price: $$$$
  • Dimensions: 38 in. x 29 in. x 41.5 in.
  • Material: polyester blend
  • Delivery fee: free unless you opt for expert assembly, which costs $84.99

Why we love it: This swivel glider has everything you need in a nursery chair — it’s comfortable, has a classic design, and lets you prop up your legs and recline back when you need a new position. The fabric is water-repellent and stain-resistant.

It’s crafted in New Zealand from pine and engineered wood that’s compliant with Toxic Substances Control Act standards, and it’s also free of chemical flame retardants.

It’s Greenguard Gold certified and CertiPUR-US certified. It’s also FSC certified, which means the wood used comes from responsibly managed forests.

What you should know: Some reviewers cautioned that getting out of the chair takes some getting used to.

  • Comfort. The most important feature when selecting a nursery glider is, without a doubt, comfort. If the chair isn’t comfortable, you won’t want to spend that much time in it, which will be problematic when you realize how long it can take your baby to fall asleep (especially during those middle-of-the-night crying spells).
  • Size. You also want to pay close attention to the dimensions of each chair, particularly those that recline. It’s important that your glider fits in your nursery and doesn’t cause you to trip or have to sneak by it to get to other areas of the room.
  • Materials. If nontoxic fabrics matter to you, look for nursery gliders that are Greenguard Gold certified and CertiPUR-US certified. Additionally, read the fine print to see if the chair fabric is stain-resistant and easy to clean.
  • Noise. When your baby is finally sleeping (and maybe you, too) the last thing you want is a noisy glider or footrest that creaks at you. You’ll want a chair designed to be silent as it glides.
  • Special features. Consider what you’re looking for in special features, whether it’s having a built-in USB port or ensuring the chair swivels a full 360 degrees. If you don’t care so much about swiveling, then you may be just as happy with a comfortable rocker.

Nursery gliders and rockers both serve a similar purpose — a place to rest as you feed and comfort your baby. But a few key features set them apart. Nursery gliders move back and forth on a fixed track, and many also have the option to swivel in a full or partial circle. Rockers have curved legs that allow you to rock back and forth.

Gliders also tend to have wider seats and reclining functions that can make them more comfortable than a basic rocker.

What is the best nursery glider for small spaces?

We think that the best nursery glider for small spaces is the Storkcraft Hoop Glider and Ottoman. It has some of the smallest dimensions of any glider we featured, when factoring out the ottoman, and has built-in features that allow you to save space, including a storage pocket on both sides of the arm cushions.

While this glider comes with the ottoman upon purchase, you could opt to leave it out if your nursery doesn’t have the space or use it in another area of your home.

What is a good price for nursery gliders?

As with any big-ticket baby gear item, the price of nursery glider can truly run the gamut. On average, you can expect to pay anywhere between $200 and $1,000. While the best price is one that works for your budget, we’ve found that a “good” price is anywhere in the $200–$500 range.

Do babies prefer rockers or gliders?

When it comes to deciding between a rocker or a glider, it’s really about your preference. So long as a chair moves back and forth, your baby is unlikely to prefer one over the other. You, on the other hand, will be the one seated on the actual chair, so it’s important that you’re comfortable sitting for long periods of time.

One important difference to consider is that rockers tend to move back and forth at a faster pace and may be less sturdy than gliders. For this reason, many parents opt to go the glider route as opposed to purchasing a rocker for their nursery.

A nursery glider is a nearly necessary addition to your nursery when you consider the comfort it offers you and your baby during those sleepless nights. Whether you want to splurge on something with special features or buy a simple chair that merely glides back and forth, it’s something you’ll be glad you invested in.