Rocking Chair v. Gliders

Charla1224 · February 2016

All of these damn chairs are so expensive and I'm really struggling to decide what I want in Elizabeth's nursery.

What should I be looking for in a chair other than general comfort? Arm rest height for BF?
Is there reasons I should choose upholstered v. wooden? I like the look of upholstered better but I worry about it getting dirty (they all seem to be light colored).
I read that kids pinch their fingers in wooden gliders. Are rockers more difficult to get moving? Is one motion more natural than the other?
Oh! And is this something I should consider getting second hand or does that sound too germy?

Help! What did you choose and why? My H is over furniture shopping and refuses to try out another chair.

kami09 · February 2016

I say go for comfort over anything. We have a beautiful glider...that I have never used. Sitting right next to it is a pretty ugly, yet completely comfortable recliner. It looks ridiculous having both in there lol and I know a recliner doesn't exactly have that cutesy, "nursery" look...but I have been so comfy sitting in that thing for feeds, holding him while he slept, etc.

A couple weeks ago DS got sick so DH slept in it during the night. It's just so convenient to be able to actually relax and/or sleep in it if need be.

ETA: I know you said other than general comfort...but honestly, you can have a perfect chair in every other way, but if you aren't comfortable- you'll be miserable.

DanandVan · February 2016

Gliders are nicer to have than rocking chairs in my opinion. I bought a lovely one off craigslist for my last baby - I think I paid $60? Turned out I rarely used it though - safe cosleeping and nursing was a much safer choice for us as I knew I would fall asleep with baby in the glider during night nursing. I sold it for exactly what we paid for it, so yeah we are skipping having one this time around!

finnybooboo · February 2016

We have one of the upholstered wooden gliders and it's very comfy. I used it less for breastfeeding and more for rocking to sleep and haven't used it for maybe a year or so (DD is 2). They are really expensive but we got super lucky and found one on Craig's List from a nice family that had it cleaned, and barely ever used it. It was a steal!

Depends on your comfort, but a totally wooden rocking chair would be so uncomfortable to me. The ottoman also makes it more comfy since I'm vertically challenged and keeping my feet on the floor would be difficult

kbrands7 · February 2016

Definitely try them out if you can to see what you prefer. We have a recliner with more tightly upholstered arms in the room because DH wanted to be able to easily kick his feet up, and I wanted something a little cushy for breastfeeding without being too pillowy. It's not the prettiest chair, but it's not awful on the eyes either. It rocks and reclines.

Ours has tan microfiber fabric and we've never had trouble spot cleaning it effectively. There are no stains or smells after nearly 2 years and this thing has had all sorts of things spilled, dripped, or projected onto it.

vinerie · February 2016

We are having the same issue. Have been told by numerous people that this is the place to splurge. We are considering a Dutilier, but they are not cheap. Went to BBB yesterday and sat in some nice chairs for half the price of a Dutilier. Sitting in a bunch with a nursing pillow helped, for sure.

ideally I want one with good back support, wide and high armrests and also chic looking!! IMO, many of these chairs look dowdy.

yogahh · February 2016

Dumb question, but can you buy glider chair covers and pads separately? I am still on the fence on if I want one as the room is tight as it is. But if I could find a cheap used on, and just switch out the cushions if the chair fits in the room ok, this might be an option.

missnc77 · February 2016

I suggest to try them out, and if you find one you like in store, take measurements of it if you want to go back home and find a better deal online. I was all aboard the glider train, especially after trying out a few rockers. However, when I finally went back to PB to make the purchase, they had one rocker I hadn't tried yet. I LOVED it. It felt smooth like a glider, but it fit my back perfectly. I found that the chairs that stopped at my neck so I could lay my head back slightly were more comfortable than the larger chairs with the higher backs that I could only press my head against -- I was thinking about late night feedings and how I'd be half asleep.

We ended up getting a linen fabric that would be easy to clean. It was definitely a splurge for us mainly due to the additional cost of the ottoman, but we think we picked a versatile enough fabric and feel good enough about the quality that this chair will be with us for many, many years. We may even get another one for the living room.

Unrelated to our nursery, we had to go furniture shopping yesterday for a new bedroom set. All the furniture places are doing their President's Day sales right now. Ashley has 25% off, and we got 35% off at Bassett. Maybe try to talk your husband into *one* more weekend of shopping in honor of Valentine's Day and check out some of the more traditional furniture stores. Also, I'm super picky about used furniture. The idea of some of it grosses me out, but if you find a used chair and look it over, you should be able to make a pretty good judgement call on if it's clean enough for you (i.e. does it smell like smoke? See any stains?). And a new slip cover for a chair wouldn't break the bank either.

dsmith211 · February 2016

We ended up going with a rocker vs a glider. We got it for a pretty good deal and it's cushioned and upholstered so it actually is pretty comfortable. Even considering I am getting a pillow and ottoman for it too so I'm hoping it will work out. We were both also happy with the lack of moving parts for LO to get stuck in.

KidShrink · February 2016

I bought this one: https://www.kidiway.com/en/products/view/bermuda-rocking-chair-charcoal

It's a reclining, swivelling chair, and quite comfortable. We also went for a fake leather considering that's easier to clean. Much cheaper than Dutaillier, but not sure how easy it is to get in the US (we're in Canada). I got it on sale a few months ago for CND$300, which these days would be US$200-225.

doozer1345 · February 2016

I'd definitely go with comfort over anything. I have both a glider with ottoman and a rocking chair. I prefer the glider hands down when it comes to babies. DD has never pinched her fingers on the glider but I've never let her examine it too closely either to have the opportunity. My glider has really squishy cushions on it and seems to kinda fit the curve of my back. The rocker is nicer now with DD since she's older and I am not having to support her as much as when she was an infant. I got my glider second hand but it still had the tags on it so I'm not sure if it was used much if at all. BRU seems to be having a lot of good sales on gliders lately.

ETA: I think if you get a glider/rocker secondhand you could just sanitize the frame of it and buy new cushions. You should be fine doing that.

Charla1224 · February 2016

@yogahh others have told me that you can but idk where I'll find them. The only cushions I can think of are lawn and garden and when I googled glider cushions I found a bunch of diy upholstery blogs... No thank you.

I'm glad several of you have said that comfort is best and not style or glider/ rocker. I'll adjust my search focus to size and comfort.

@missnc77 thanks so much for your suggestion of checking out President's Day sales. I don't know how I missed that as it's usually my go to furniture purchasing strategy.

vinerie · February 2016

Quick FYI:,we were told at BBB yesterday that chairs take 12 weeks to get in. I'm 13 weeks out, so if we want a chair before the baby (is supposed to) gets here, we have to order one ASAP!

nerdymama15 · February 2016

I have a glider that I use as my work/office chair. I would love to have another for the nursery. It is super comfortable. It even reclines and has a swivel seat, and came with an ottoman. Got it at Big Lots when they had their 20percent off sale. It cost around 200 dollars which was not bad.

mello13 · February 2016

I agree with going for comfort. You'll spend a lot of time in that chair! From feeding, to teething, to sickness and story time. I highly encourage a recliner. So much more comfortable!

That being said, we got ours second hand. It was in great shape and I just used upholstery cleaner for my own peace of mind. You could also always add a slip cover (which is helpful if baby makes a mess/gets sick). Ours originally sold at BRU for around $300 (depending on color). We paid $40 second hand and it had barely been used.

Jenly17 · February 2016

I bought a glider and gliding ottoman from babies r us. It's a cream color and just like you, @Charla1224I was really nervous about it getting filthy! But after using it for 2 years now, it's still in good shape and very clean. I sprayed it with scotch guard before DD arrived and I think this was key. I should really reapply it sometime soon. I attached a picture of it..This was right after my baby shower

eta: it's comfortable and aesthetically pleasing enough that it could easily be used in a living room or a den after the baby stage.

JoMunson · February 2016

We got a glider from Goodwill for $75. It's wood with dark brown cushions so it's easy to clean. We pretty much got it on a whim and then we're told by everyone how great gliders are. It's really comfortable for both myself and DH- who is about 6 feet 240. Anything that can keep us both comfortable is a great thing!

Astraphobic · February 2016

We got an Ikea rocker. I adored the one my mom got when I was born my entire life and you just can't find wooden rockers anymore. Thankfully ikeas felt just about the same but more comfortable to me. I even fell asleep in it earlier today while my husband put the crib together lol.

Overall though...get what you like and feel comfortable in. Otherwise you won't use it or will hate every minute you do.

laurenmdrn16 · February 2016

Honestly, I used MH's old beat up La-Z-Boy overstuffed rocking recliner. It looks horrible, but I just throw a cute quilt over it for pictures and visitors. It was nice because it smells like MH (weird, I know, but he was working a lot when my son was really little) and I liked that it sort of propelled you up, especially post CS when my abs were shot and I couldn't use both arms to help get up because I was holding a baby.

Sounds crazy, but when you are trying out chairs, grab something about 10lbs and cradle it while trying to get up. Having a big ol bump can sort of approximate the lack of ab strength you may have after birth (vag or CS) so you can get a feel if you can easily get up. I looked like a fool cradling a bag of flour in Target, but I realized there was no way my sizeable backside was getting out of some of those chairs while holding a "baby" without a crane!

kp90 · February 2016

Yes they are super expensive but its one of those 'You get what you pay for' type things. Think of it this way... you are going to be spending a massive amount of time in that chair most likely (nighttime feedings, cuddling, rocking baby to sleep, etc etc.) We bought a glider from buy buy baby and even ordered the ottoman also but it reclines as well. Its super comfy and I can see myself being able to fall asleep in it if I have time. I really think its worth it purchasing what YOU will be comfortable in.

dsmith211 · February 2016

laurenmdrn16 said:

Sounds crazy, but when you are trying out chairs, grab something about 10lbs and cradle it while trying to get up. Having a big ol bump can sort of approximate the lack of ab strength you may have after birth (vag or CS) so you can get a feel if you can easily get up. I looked like a fool cradling a bag of flour in Target, but I realized there was no way my sizeable backside was getting out of some of those chairs while holding a "baby" without a crane!

I actually did this at home. Thankfully I'm able to get up easily out of the chair we got bc that wasn't something I thought of before we ordered it.

saraleigh2 · February 2016

I am really short/petite so it was important for me to try them out there was only one model that I tried where my elbow's weren't up to my ears on the arm rests, and I could put my feet on the floor and still sit back far enough to use the back rest... It's a rocker ( upholstered ) so that's what I went with. Definitely recommend trying them out !

okcountrygirl · February 2016

Like 90% of my mom friends have told me to buy a small recliner. I have found a nice gray one from Ashley that's only $220. A lot cheaper than the original glider and ottoman i was looking at.

osmama456 · February 2016

I have both, but only because they are both family heirlooms. My first rocker (wooden) was a gift from my husband, a beautiful antique that just fit nicely in my son's nursery, so I used it. Now I have my grandmother's wooden glider on the first floor, and my grandfather's beloved wooden rocker for this new little one. The antique rocker now resides in our bedroom.

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