We Found the Best Nursery Gliders for New Parents (2024)

Parents rave about the comfort of the Babyletto Kiwi Glider, which 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. New parents say it is worth it because it's so easy to operate the buttons without waking a baby.

"I spent many hours during the baby stage in the Kiwi and loved it," a parent told us. "It was always comfortable and has lasted for almost four years, now as a cozy place to read." The Kiwi comes with a built-in USB charging station. 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. However, some online reviewers say that having the port on the inside of the chair makes it prone to bumps and possible breakage.

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 performance fabric is both water-repellent and stain-resistant. The company, Babyletto, also makes our choice for best overall convertible crib.

The charming piping trim elevates the look of this affordable glider and makes it an attractive addition to your nursery. Size-wise it's very much in the middle of the recliner world — neither the largest or the smallest that we tested. It both glides and reclines though it does not go back fully flat, and it does not swivel left or right. You manually release the footrest with a lever outside the right arm and push back to recline.

Light assembly is required (mostly just sliding the backrest into the back of the seat). 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. Parents say it's a little bit noisy when you push the footrest back in place. Baby Relax is a brand from Dorel, which also makes cribs and nursery furniture. This chair is covered in polyester linen, which is not especially stain-resistant but can usually be cleaned with a damp cloth.

This well-designed glider impressed us so much, it earned a Good Housekeeping Parenting Award. Buttons on the side activate the power recline, gently easing you and your baby into a lying down position with the footrest up. We can totally see spending some first nights at home pretty much sleeping in this chair. (Note that the chair doesn't glide if you're fully reclined, only when you are sitting up a bit.)

A USB port is built-in, perfect for charging your tablet 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, your feet might not touch the ground when you sit. On the other hand, it's perfect for tall parents who want a roomy seat that is fully supportive.

This chair does not swivel side-to-side. The headrest is somewhat adjustable, a 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." The Nurture& collection has grown since we first tested this chair and now it's possible to add an ottoman to this purchase, or to bundle this glider with the brand's crib.

The fabric is a polyester and nylon blend which you can generally clean with a damp cloth; there are cleaning directions on the brand's site. "I have been doing the rounds online, and this glider is now at the top of my list," an expectant mom told us.

If you prefer a separate ottoman to a built-in footstool on a recliner — sometimes you can customize the fit a little better by moving the ottoman closer in or further out — we like this cute glider set for under $500, and it comes fully assembled.

The Olive Glider can spin in a full circle and rock back and forth but does not have any reclining ability. The seatback, however, sits at a fixed recline position that allows a parent to put their head back. Some parents like that, others wish that the seatback was a little less tilted back.

The back is a smidge shorter on this than on the first three gliders in our list, and the seat depth is on the smaller side. Some parents say it's still super comfortable for those over 6 feet tall and others claim this is not the best glider for larger people. It does come with a pillow in addition to the ottoman. The fabric is polyester that can be spot-cleaned. DaVinci also makes our top pick for best value convertible crib.

Here's a classic rocking chair, 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 performance fabric that looks high-end yet 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 back in their day.

The exceptionally deep seat can make this a good choice for large caregivers who want a roomy rocker with a small overall footprint. It's 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.

If this looks like the kind of comfy recliner a sportsfan would command while watching a game, it's because it is probably designed to be in the living room.

But that doesn't mean it can't work in your nursery! It even has springs under the seat, like a chair that wants to be a mattress. Just note that this does not glide back and forth — it's a recliner for parents who want the option to lay back flat but are okay with not being able to rock.

A button tucked inside by the right arm powers this into a recline position with the footrest up. Another button sets it upright again. 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. The fabric is polyester.

This chair spins 240º. Its wide, thickly padded seat provides plush, supported comfort and can hold up to 350 pounds. It is a little over 100 pounds itself, so have that in mind when you need to accept this chair and get it into the nursery, where it will need some assembly. You can also opt for Wayfair to deliver it directly to your room of choice for an additional fee.

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 some others on this list, it also has a USB port to charge a device. "At first I thought the idea of a chair with a USB where you can plug in your phone was a little unnecessary," a new mom told us. "But it’s actually great."

The Dream is hugely customizable. You can order it in colors such as chambray, olive or navy, and in fabrics including velvet, chenille or various performance fabrics that resist stains. At press time, two performance-fabric choices were in stock and ready to ship right away; 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, parents also like the manual recline option that saves hundreds of dollars but lacks the nightlight and the USB charging port. Either way, this rocker can 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.

For a nice, affordable price, the Chatham does all the things: glides back and forth, swivels in a full circle and reclines back nearly flat. The recline requires you to manually pull up on the bar on the side, which on one hand is a little tricky while holding a baby but also on the other hand, you don't have to worry about placing this chair near an outlet. It's got a relatively small footprint and can fit well even in a small room.

The fabric here is polyester and it's not performance fabric, so it's more susceptible to staining than others on this list. The glider arrives needing some simple assembly (basically, attaching the back to the seat) and no tools are required; you just need scissors to snip off some straps used for shipping. Overall, most parents report that this is a good budget choice.

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 and glides back and forth in a rocking motion.

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 fabric is polyester.

Okay, this gadget isn't 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 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. Or if you just want to stay in your own adult bed during a nighttime feeding, such as the months when you're using a bedside bassinet, you can use this behind your back as shown.

This is a single piece and does not look like much when it arrives. But it's supportive and 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.

Our Good Housekeeping Institute Lab pros, many of whom are parents themselves, have evaluated at two dozen best-selling gliders and rockers over the past five years.

When deciding on the best ones we considered functionality first but also style, price and certifications for components such as fabric, foam and wood. We also surveyed consumer testers who have used a glider at home for their feedback. Lastly, we poured through online reviews to be sure there was nothing we were missing.

✔️ 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 tablet or phone, which can come in handy if you want to read or scroll without disturbing your sleeping baby.

At the Good Housekeeping Institute, a robust team of engineers, scientists and specialists combine forces to test a wide range of consumer products and provide recommendations based on careful analysis.

This guide was overseen by our former Chief Technologist & Executive Technical Director Rachel Rothman, a 15-year veteran of the Institute and mother of three young children. Rothman founded the Good Housekeeping Parenting Awards.

A previous version of this list was written and reported by writer Ingrid Meilan. Most recently this roundup was updated by contributing writer Jessica Hartshorn, a journalist who has covered the juvenile products industry for 25 years, including with Parents magazine.