The 6 Best Nursery Glider Recliners, Tested by Real Parents

With my first baby, I went with style over substance. The glider was boucle and chic (and backordered for half a year, of course), but after nine months of nursing, I wound up with a knot in my neck that would not go away. SO, with the second baby, I wanted the a chair that could support a tall girl (5' 8") throughout nursing, and I'm so happy I landed on this glider.

The Nurture& Glider Recliner was delivered in two big boxes, one with the back piece and one with the base. As I was very pregnant and couch-ridden (by choice), my husband and a friend carried the boxes up our twisty stairs. My husband was able to assemble the glider with ease, and I was immediately happy with my new chair, replete with juuuust the right amount of bells and whistles: It glides seamlessly (and silently), and the power recline and electronic adjustable headrest have helped me soooo much with the neck problems—even if I'm in a reclined position, I can adjust the neck position to be more upright, instead of straining my traps for 30 minutes or more. It feels like zero gravity. In fact, before I even had the baby, I would post up on the glider to feel light as a feather in the depths of my pregnancy (and sure, get out of dish-cleaning duty).

Also, nobody talks about what a mess feeding a baby can be, so I love that the material is easy to clean, since it was designed with real people—and lots of spit up—in mind. Today, I use the nursery glider even more than was the baby was first born since my now-8-month-old basically needs to be in a sensory deprivation tank to eat, and, honestly, I look forward to my super comfy feedings—as does my fully supported neck.

Fast Facts

• Dimensions: 33.3" W x 38.2" D x 42.1" H
• Color Options: 3 (ivory, gray, navy)
• Fabric: stain-resistant, non-toxic 96% Polyester 4% Nylon 
• Swivel: none
• Certifications: Wood: FSC Certified Birchwood and Poplar Plywood. Nurture& products meet and exceed ASTM Safety Standards Made with non-toxic materials Prop 65 compliant TB117-2013 and UFAC (fabric compliant) TSCA Title VI compliant. Does not use any fire retardant chemicals.

“This glider is extremely comfortable!" Shares PureWow Executive Editor Alexia Dellner. "I have spent many hours here snuggled up with my baby fast asleep (and have even dozed off myself—shhh)." And comfort is exactly where this recliner delivers: The seat cushion features pocketed coil spring construction for lasting support, while the thick padding on the armrests and included lumbar pillow add to the overall coziness. “I didn’t think I would need the included pillow, but it’s actually great to use as back support—or even on the side so I can rest my son’s head on it when he’s fallen asleep, instead of having him rest on my arm for 45 minutes.” She also calls out the ease of use when it comes to the manual recline: “Using the lever to flip open the leg rest is easy (even my 5-year-old can do it), and I like that the leg rest is sturdy when up—my other kids have stood on it on occasion (very annoying) and it hasn’t collapsed, something that my previous glider couldn’t handle.” Not to mention that it’s upholstered in LiveSmart Evolve performance fabric—a sustainably made, water-repellent, stain-resistant material crafted from recycled plastic bottles—so it’s designed to handle the inevitable spills and spit-up that come with newborn life.

That said, however, Dellner notes one key downside: “While the leg rest is easy to flip open, it’s not so easy to close. In order to shut it, I really have to push my legs down hard—something I’m not willing to do in the middle of the night when the baby has fallen asleep post-3 a.m. feed. As such, I don’t use the leg rest for nighttime feeds, lest pushing it down wakes him up (and it’s impossible to get out of the chair with the leg rest up—trust me, I’ve tried).” She also mentions: “I do wish that the glider had head rests on either side so that I could lean my head against it—but that’s a minor complaint.”

Fast Facts

• Dimensions: 29.25”W x 36”D x 40.25”H
• Color Options: 5 (white, blush, grey, black, sailor)
• Fabric: LiveSmart Evolve fabric that is durable, stain-resistant, and sustainably designed using fabric made from recycled plastic bottle
• Swivel: 360°
• Certifications: N/A

Design-buffs, this one's for you. The Monte Grano glider recliner is fully customizable with 25 fabric options—including high-performance velvets, bouclé, felt, and heathered weaves—all designed to resist stains and wipe clean with a damp cloth. Even the natural fiber choices, like cotton-linen blends, come with removable, machine-washable covers for low-maintenance care (a major perk when you factor in spit-up, snack spills, or general wear and tear). You can also choose your base finish: espresso, maple, or walnut if you’re going glide-only, or brushed silver and matte gold if you want the swivel function in the mix. “I've had this chair for 10 years, and despite being barfed on multiple times, it—honest to god—looks as good as the day I got it,” says PureWow Editor-in-Chief Jillian Quint. “I also love that it transitioned from a nursing chair to a reading and snuggling chair to a grownup reading chair.” When Jillian sent the photo of her chair for this story, I was genuinely shocked at how new it looked—proof that both the materials and the design are built to last.

Size-wise, it’s also one of the more compact gliders on the market (28 inches wide by 32 inches deep), making it ideal for smaller nurseries or tight apartment corners without sacrificing comfort. It reclines to a generous 64 inches with an ergonomic high back, lumbar pillow for support, and a cleverly hidden handle between the seat and armrest to maintain its sleek lines. The chair supports up to 350 pounds, arrives fully assembled (no tools necessary), and is handcrafted in Canada using sustainably sourced wood. Bonus: It’s GREENGUARD Gold Certified for low chemical emissions and ships in 6 to 8 weeks, plus 1 to 2 weeks for delivery.

Fast Facts

• Dimensions: 28" W x 32" D x 39" H
• Color Options: base: espresso, walnut, gold, brushed steel
• Fabric: performance fabrics (heathered, weave, velvet, boucle, microfiber, sheepskin), brushed cotton-linen, premium wool 
• Swivel: 360°
• Certifications: GREENGUARD Gold Certified

It was our tester’s intention to be the first one (plus, baby) to sit in this chair, but her six-year-old—who she states has pretty discerning taste after quite a few in-store trips to try out gliders—was on the case. “He laid back, he tinkered with the buttons that elevated the foot rest, he stretched out. His review? This glider is ‘absolutely perfect,’ — his words, not mine,” says Rachel Bowie, Senior Director of Special Projects. Baby product expert Kimminau agrees, stating that this electronic glider recliner from Babyletto is a favorite, thanks to its lumbar support pillow for your back and the very smooth glide motion. (Bowie attests, “It’s so seamless and quiet to electronically adjust your position, you can easily power it on without waking baby—a win.”) Outside of its great tech features, it’s also plenty roomy, and we love the range of base and finish options—from neutral to bouclé.

Bowie—who did ultimately trade places with her son to put this glider to the test—found it to be comfortable and spacious, regardless of her sitting position. Also, worth noting is the ease in pivoting electronically to a position that feels exactly right: “The precision of the Babyletto glider when it comes to adjusting to your posture needs is impressive,” she notes. “I also found the performance fabric to be very resistant to stains even in a lighter material and color. All around, I’m super impressed with the quality of this glider.”

Fast Facts

• Dimensions: 41" H x 29" W x 36 " L
• Color Options: 4 (cream, beach, ivory boucle, olive boucle)
• Fabric: performance style polyester
• Swivel: 270°
• Certifications: GREENGUARD Gold Certified; CertiPUR-US® certified; FSC Certified wood

Between the plush pillowback, wide seat, and added lumbar pillow, the Namesake Crawford Glider is built for next-level comfort—whether you’re nursing, rocking, or simply stuck under a contact-napping baby for hours. The silhouette strikes the perfect balance between structured and soft, with a high, cushioned back for head and neck support, track arms that are ideal for propping up tired elbows, and a waterfall skirt that keeps the look feeling polished. Inside, the seat features high-resiliency, CertiPUR-US certified foam designed to maintain its shape without flattening over time (read: no sad, saggy cushions six months in). The gentle 360-degree swivel and smooth glide motion allow you to rock forward and backward effortlessly—even with one hand free and a newborn in the other.

Of course, all that comfort would be meaningless if the chair couldn’t stand up to the messes that come with parenthood. The fabric is water-repellent and stain-resistant, designed for easy spot cleaning (think: gently blotting spills with a clean, damp cloth—no harsh scrubbing required). Plus, while the eye-catching Sarah Flint x Namesake Blue Lattice pattern may have been what first caught your attention, it was the lived-in seal of approval from my tester that truly sealed the deal: “Greenguard gold-certified, super comfortable, easy to wipe down and never squeaks,” says Gallery Media Group Senior Director of Brand Strategy Liana Iglesias. “What more could you ask for?” (And if your answer to that is somewhere to put your feet up—yes, there’s a matching ottoman available.)

Fast Facts

• Dimensions: 36.25" L x 32" W x 39.5" H
• Color Options: 7 options (cream, grey, tan gingham, green lattice, blue lattice, blue gingham, fog chatham stripe
• Fabric: performance styles are water repellent and stain resistant
• Swivel: 360°
• Certifications: GREENGUARD Gold Certified; CertiPUR-US® certified, Wood: FSC Certified Birchwood

If the standard Nurture& Glider is the workhorse, The Glider Plus is the tricked-out, fully loaded SUV. Designed for maximum adjustability, this recliner offers power lumbar support, a motorized headrest and USB and USB-C ports built right into the armrest—because the last thing you want during a contact nap is to lose battery on your phone mid-scroll. The chair also measures 33.3 inches wide by 39.7 inches deep by 42.9 inches high, and the fully reclined depth reaches 60 inches—making it especially well-suited for tall parents or anyone looking for more room to sprawl. Add to that a smooth 200-degree swivel (ideal for pivoting between the wipes, bottle and baby without waking anyone) and stain-resistant LiveSmart performance fabric that wipes clean with a paper towel or dry cloth.

And of course, what sells this chair most are the parents who swear by it. “I have an almost 9-month-old and have used my Glider Plus frequently in each stage of his life. But when I was breastfeeding him for the first three months, I basically lived in this thing—from pumping to nursing to contact naps, it was just essential,” shares former PureWow Commerce Editor Olivia Dubyak. “Now, I use it multiple times a day for rocking him to sleep for naps or bedtime, as well as story time before bed.” Like the original Glider, the Plus arrives in two boxes and is relatively straightforward to assemble—though Dubyak recommends not attempting a solo staircase haul. Its construction also features FSC-certified birchwood and plywood, so it meets ASTM safety standards and is free of harmful chemicals or fire retardants.

Fast Facts

• Dimensions: 33.3" W x 39.7" D x 42.9" H
• Color Options: 3 (ivory, gray, boucle)
• Fabric: stain-resistant, non-toxic 96% Polyester 4% Nylon 
• Swivel: 200°
• Certifications: Wood: FSC Certified Birchwood and Poplar Plywood. Nurture& products meet and exceed ASTM Safety Standards Made with non-toxic materials Prop 65 compliant TB117-2013 and UFAC (fabric compliant) TSCA Title VI compliant. Does not use any fire retardant chemicals.