How to Choose a Glider

The glider is always everyone’s favorite spot in the nursery. It’s crucial to any functional nursery, and your selection process should be thorough so that you end up with something that is comfortable and soothing. Here are some tips on how to choose a glider.

Take it for a test drive. While shopping online is great for lots of items, the glider is not one of them. This is one piece of furniture that you must try out. Bring your husband and let him take it for a spin (this is sure to be his favorite part of the shopping experience). Relying on style alone is not wise because things like comfort and a great fit are so individual that you need to take a glide to find out what fits your body type. It’s so important to make sure that the back is the right height, the seat is the right depth and the cushion is the right firmness for you. I also suggest doing your test run with a baby doll to see if you can position yourself comfortably for feeding.

Monaco II Glider by Little Castle

Monaco II Glider by Little Castle

Consider the features. From reclining to swiveling, gliders can do lots of fun tricks these days. Make sure you test out these features to make sure they are easy to operate and the motion suits you. Ottomans are also a great addition to the glider and help with pushing off to get a great glide.

Empire Rocker Glider and Ottoman by Angel Song

Empire Rocker Glider and Ottoman by Angel Song

Don’t forget about style. When I first started decorating nurseries, the glider selection was not fabulous. But with the introduction of the upholstered glider, we can kiss the standard wooden rocker goodbye. Gliders do not need to look the part. Find one that fits into your decor and can be used as a chair in the space once feeding is done.

Ayla Glider by Best Home Furnishings

Ayla Glider by Best Home Furnishings

What’s your favorite glider?

Check out the rest of our Baby Furniture series:
How to Choose a CribHow to Choose a Changing Table
 and How to Choose a Dresser

Bellini

Bellini

Michelle resides with her family in Upper Saddle River, NJ. Mom to Stella and Nate, Michelle is the owner of Bellini Baby & Teen Furniture in Greenwich CT, and Manhattan, NY, as well as the founder of baby gifting site TheBeansCloset.com. She is also a licensed clinical social worker.

Comments

  1. Jacqueline

    April 24, 2014

    What is so hard is that many truly stylish gliders are only online, so you cannot try them out. We have tried at least 50 gliders and none fits both me and my husband. We know we have to both like the one we select. Add to this, the price tag is so high that I really don’t want to spend over $1000 on a chair that may not fit or be comfortable.

  2. teneisha

    April 24, 2014

    Trying it out with a baby doll is the best advice on here. We grew out of our glider before my maternity leave was up.

  3. marek

    March 6, 2015

    Great article, but I think it is missing two important points when it comes to choosing a perfect nursery glider. Considering the hours you’ll be sitting in it you need to pay attention to cushioning, before buying one just make sure it is thick enough. Also you’d want one that is easy to clean, as you can imagine those ‘spit and spill’ moments will happen, so you’d want easy to clean and stain resistant fabric to keep you nursery chair clean and fresh all year long.

  4. Betsy

    September 7, 2015

    Great suggestion to try the glider out. I suggest trying a glider or rocker in your local baby center, but cross check prices online as they may be lower. Thanks for sharing these gliders, I hadn’t seen these previously.

Add a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You may also like

Girl's Room Gallery Wall

My nine-year-old daughter Stella just spent her second summer at overnight camp, and she left with one request: “Please redo my room!” Just like the story of the shoemaker’s child, since I’m in the children’s design business, my kids’ rooms are not always the projects I feel like tackling in my downtime. […]

My nine-year-old daughter Stella just spent her second summer at overnight camp, and she left with one request: "Please redo my room!" Just like the story of the shoemaker's child, since I'm in the children's design business, my kids' rooms are not always the projects I feel like tackling in my downtime. But with her tenth …

Boy/Girl Twins Nursery - Project Nursery

Planning a nursery for one baby can be overwhelming enough, but throw in the multiple factor and that’s a new challenge altogether. I like to help my clients keep their shopping for twins simple and streamlined. Here are my best tips for decorating for twins. […]

Finding just the right flooring option for your baby’s nursery is crucial. In fact, sometimes I love to use the area rug or carpet as the starting point or the inspiration for the rest of the room. Here are some tips on selecting fabulous flooring for your nursery. […]

When you shop for your nursery, you can forget about the fact that one day your unborn child will need a big bed—or a desk for that matter. Those steps seem so far off that planning for them can slip your mind. […]