One of the most difficult choices around planning the baby’s room has been the dreaded rocker/glider decision. Do I really need a chair that rocks? How much should I spend? Should I look for a style that we can use for many years, or focus on what will work for our immediate needs? Will the baby even like being rocked?
One thing is for certain, I want something with clean lines and a mid-century design. Those of you who’ve done any furniture shopping can attest to the fact that hunting for decent-looking modern pieces generally means one of three things–expensive as hell, thrifting or Ikea. Why the middle ground is a rarity is a mystery, to me.
Rockers
- Nurseryworks Sleepytime Rocker, $900 (1). This style is popular among new parents. It’s also expensive. I love the base and generous width of the chair. Pros: Clean design, good quality, roomy but compact, can sometimes be found on sale. Cons: Pricey.
- Monte Low-Rider Glider, $900 (3) and Alto Rocker, $800 (2). This company is a new discovery, and I am pretty impressed. It’s damn near impossible to find a glider that doesn’t look dumpy and traditional, but they managed to design a few clean-looking models. They also make adorable cube chairs and loveseats for kids. Pros: Beautifully designed gliders, great fabric options. Cons: Expensive.
- Blu Dot Buttercup Rocker, $850 (4). I love this chair as an alternative to the Eames rocker. Pros: Great design, good for lifetime use. Cons: Expensive, unsure of comfort level.
- Eames Molded Rocker, $480 (5). It’s a great chair, but it seems like everyone is buying this for their nursery. I’m not 100% convinced that it would work in our craftsman, and I think it looks best on hardwood or concrete flooring (the baby’s room has carpet). I’m also not sold on the price, but Overstock and other sites sell the knock-off version for $140-$200. Pros: Classic design, good for lifetime use, fabulous colors, knock-offs available. Cons: Expensive, cliché, major guilt associated with buying a knock-off model.
- EQ3 James Rocker, $400 (7). Okay, so I would never buy this for the baby’s room, but I still absolutely love it. Pros: Unique design, great fabric choices. Cons: Unrealistic for a nursery.
- Urban Outfitters Mid-Century Rocker, $300 (6). I’m loving most everything about this chair; the color, the frame, the price. However, I am a little nervous about the quality of the cushions (they look like patio furniture cushions). Pros: Great design, decent price. Cons: Unsure of quality.
- Ikea Poang Chair, $140 (8). Another style that’s very popular among new parents. Pros: Good price, great word-of-mouth, modern design. Cons: Bulky and casual-looking.
Non-Rockers
- Jonathan Adler Mrs. Godfrey Chair, $1500 (1). Never, in a million years, could I afford this chair. But I am still in love with it. Pros: Perfect color, clean and whimsical design. Cons: Way out of my price range.
- CB2 Parlour Chair, $700 (3). If I were to splurge on a chair, this would likely be the model I’d choose. It seems to provide the best in design/quality for the price, and I love that it’s substantial but not overpowering. Pros: Great color, perfect design. Cons: On the pricey side.
- Chiasso Firenze Chair, $640 (2). I’m not entirely sold on this chair for a nursery, but I am not opposed to it, either. Pros: Excellent design. Cons: Pricey.
- Target Lucy Chair, $430 (4). I was pretty shocked to find a chair this cute at Target. But I am not sold on the price. Pros: Fun, great color, good design. Cons: Seems expensive for a Target chair, not sold on the quality.
- Scandinavian Designs Enzo Swivel, $350 (5) and Gilmore, $375 (7) chairs. I always think that Scandinavian Designs is my family’s little secret, even though it’s clearly not. For years my parents have bought their desks, bookshelves…and I believe a couch or two from this company. The quality is stellar for the price. Pros: Good quality. Cons: Designs are only so-so, not sure of comfort levels.
- Urban Outfitters Parker Chair, $300 (6). Like the mid-century rocker shown above, I am loving this chair. Again, just worried about the quality. Pros: Nice design, good color, price is right. Cons: Concenred about quality.
- Ikea Tullsta Chair, $100 (8). You can’t get much better than this for the price (with the exception of thrift finds). The chair is simple, comfortable and inexpensive. Pros: Comfy (I always test it out when I am at Ikea), great red color, price is right, compact. Cons: Likely cheap quality, kind of boring.
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
I would go with one of the first three rockers… You’ll want something with arms that are comfortable for you to rest your arms on, and I’m sure the rocking will be soothing for the baby. Of the three, I like I like #3 the best.
I’m going to say one of the first three. You are going to be tired and are very likely to fall asleep in the rocker on numerous occasions, so I think that arms and some softness must be given their due importance.
My vote – Rockers: #2. Comfort-wise, it seems to have it all. Good arm rests and a high back. Non Rockers: #4, 5. Non rockers have a bit more longevity since they could ultimately be moved out of the nursery and into a living room setting. But, you still want that comfort factor since you may be sitting in the chair A Lot. Whether the half-pence likes to be rocked or not, you and Dan are going to want to hold him all the time. :)
I have to vote against the Eames rocker. I love my Eames shell chair, but I get a majorly sweaty butt sitting in it for a long time. I did use it in my work from home office for a while, but couldn’t deal with the over heating issue. For me I don’t think it would be comfortable for long rocking sessions.
Im 23 weeks pregnant and we have the Urban Outfitters Mid-Century Rocker. Gotta say, I don’t think it would be comfortable to nurse in. It awkwardly tips forward naturally – so you have to actively lean back to feel level.
Get a rocker. Seriously. I know it seems fussy and not a great long-term purchase but the minute you’ve got a late-night, sick, fussy, can’t calm down baby who wants to be held and walked but you just are so exhausted you’ve got to sit, you’ll want a rocker. It’s worth it, even for just ONE of those nights.
I think you should get something that reclines. You will be sleeping it till they are 5 then when in high school you will be sleeping in it waiting for them to come home ;}
I want to veto the Ikea rocker – both my husband and I tried it at Ikea last week for the new baby’s nursery and agreed it wasn’t the right height/arm rest configuration for rocking or nursing. I also veto the Ikea non-rocker as a nursery chair for the same reason. I’ve actually tried nursing in it before and would rather sit on the floor. I think #2 and #3 in the rocker category both look perfect.
A rocker was the one thing I didn’t think we needed and spent very little money/time on and I regret it. We use our ugly Babies R Us rocker EVERY day, at least 2x a day. I’m bookmarking the page for Monte Designs for baby #2′s nursery.
A comfy rocker is a must if you plan on nursing in the middle of the night. Unless you’re as crunchy as I am and you simply sleep with your baby. Rocker tip: Make sure it’s easy to get out of with a sleeping babe in your arms.
I work in a store that sells Monte gliders and while they are gorgeous and incredibly well-made (we’ve had our floor model of the Luca for almost 2 years and it shows no wear and tear at all — and it’s seen more traffic and gross than anything the average household could produce) it WILL be uncomfortable if you’re taller and/or have back problems. The seat is quite shallow, so anybody over 5’8″ has their legs dangling at an uncomfortable angle. The back is also angled, so it forces you to sit oddly (like a backslash looks: / ).
Test drive a glider (and I absolutely recommend a glider/rocker, since babies love to be bounced or rocked) if you can, and get something that will transition nicely out of the nursery. You have a great eye, so no worries there.
Get a rocker if anything. Unless you are really regimented, you will nurse wherever and that will more than likely not be in the babies room. Full disclosure, my babies never had rooms or cribs. Our rocker ended up in the living room when we turned the unused nursery into an office and I used it every night when I nursed after work. I was never able to get a fussy or crying kid to stop in a rocker. You have to be walking, and nearly at your wits end, to do that. Fathers do it very well.
I wasn’t sure we needed one, so we borrowed an upholstered, comfy, but boring looking rocker and THANK GOD we did. You have amazing style, but comfort is crucial here. The rocking element was at least as soothing for me as it was for the baby. I like (1) and (3) of the rockers best. I also like (6) and it looks like you could replace the cushions with something beefier later, like after the spit-up phase is done and you want to replace them anyway. Heh.
i’m crunchy like Amberly and sleep w/ my baby close but still broke down and bought a slightly used glider/rocker from craigslist when we moved into our house and had enough room for one in our bedroom. before the rocker i found myself nursing in bed a ton, which has its time and place, but it’s nice to have a chance of scenery. i would suggest a rocker/glider with a high back, perhaps something that reclines, and durable upholstery – you’ll want to rest in it a bit and it will get spit up on.
While I love the look of the Ikea Tullsta chair, a friend has two, and they seem somewhat small to me after a while, as well as a little low-slung (I’m 5’7″ and I usually end up feeling cramped or slumped when trying to get comfortable in one). When I have spent time in it, I usuall end up with my legs sprawled out, and by the end of an episode of Mad Men, I’ve invariably migrated to the floor.