As you’re setting up your baby’s own gentle nursery, you might be wondering whether you should buy a glider or rocking chair. Some families don’t get much use out of a rocking chair, while others use a glider multiple times a day.
To me, having a glider is essential and I have probably used mine multiple times each day with both kids, since the day my first baby came home.
It’s nice to have a place to cuddle with your little one and to get comfy during feedings. (It’s also where I love to sit and read with my kids, as young as a few weeks old.) Also, keep in mind that the gliding or rocking motion is soothing to babies.
If you’re going to purchase a glider for the nursery, I recommend investing in a non-toxic glider to avoid having a chair that off-gasses toxic chemicals the air in the nursery (and in your home). Below I’ve listed some recommendations for non-toxic gliders and rocking chairs that are Greenguard certified and made with better materials. Please note that these manufacturers frequently change their inventory, so if one model is no longer available, you might find an updated version or a different model for sale.
What Should You Look for in a Nursery Glider?
Look for a glider made with solid wood, low VOC finishes, and flame-retardant-free foam (if any at all). For example, you might find an unfinished solid wood rocking chair and pair it with some cotton cushions; this would be a great option. You could probably even have the cushions made for you on Etsy. This would be a great way to choose a truly non-toxic rocking chair for your nursery. (Just be sure to find out what glues are used and what kind of finish is on the chair before buying a wooden rocking chair.)
But, in my experience, most families prefer a cozy chair to a hard wooden rocker. For this reason, it’s important to choose a manufacturer that does not use toxic flame retardant chemicals in their cushions. Additionally, you’ll want your glider to have low VOC emissions overall, so a certification like Greenguard Gold is ideal. However, please note that most gliders are not Greenguard certified, yet, though some are. I’ve seen a few brands that are starting to use CertiPUR-US certified foam, which is a step in the right direction. (But please remember that any polyurethane foam, even “soy” foam, is still polyurethane foam, even if it has a certificate for lower emissions.)
Preferably, the glider would be made with fabrics that are GOTS-certified organic or even Oeko-Tex certified, but again most are made with polyester that is not certified. If you do end up buying a polyester glider, you could place a cotton blanket or quilt over the seat.
Another thing to consider is whether you’d want a recliner. Personally, I didn’t like the idea of using a recliner in the nursery, because I worried it would be too convenient to recline the chair and I’d end up falling asleep there with the baby in my arms. And that wouldn’t be a safe space for a newborn to sleep in. So instead of buying a recliner, I opted for a glider with an ottoman.
Price should also be a factor. For example, there is an amazing latex glider that contains no polyurethane foam, but it costs $1,800. That was out of budget for me!
Still, I can’t emphasize enough how non-toxic gliders or rocking chairs are worth the investment given that you’ll spend hours sitting on one with your little one.
The Best Nursery Gliders
Here are the brands I would shop when selecting a Greenguard Gold-certified glider for the nursery.
1) Dutailier
A Canadian company, Dutailier manufactures a variety of non-toxic wood gliders. Their chairs are of excellent quality and feature a beautiful, modern design. They have a ton of different styles, colors, options, and price ranges. Please note that their higher-end, higher-priced gliders are free of flame retardants (and are CertiPUR-US certified), while their sleigh gliders and more of their lower-priced options are made with polyester. However, their glider frames are made with hardwood and the finish is non-toxic. I also love that they offer a special nursing ottoman just for breastfeeding mamas.
2) Monte Design Group
Also based in Canada, Monte Design Group was formed by a husband and wife team wanting to furnish their own son’s nursery. The company uses high-density foam that is free of chemical flame retardants (and CertiPUR-US certified), wood that is LEED certified and contains no formaldehyde, water-based paints and finishes that are lead-free, and glues that are water-based and biodegradable. Their fabrics are Oeko-Tex Standard 100 compliant (meaning no hazardous chemicals are used in the manufacturing process), even when polyester is used.
The company sells most of their gliders through children’s stores, but you will find some options available for purchase on Amazon and some on Crate & Kids.
3) Pottery Barn Kids
With a growing selection of Greenguard Gold certified furniture, Pottery Barn Kids is a welcome addition to this list of non-toxic nursery gliders. They have several stylish gliders and rockers to choose from, but our favorite is the LOLA Swivel Glider and Ottoman, made with GOTS-certified organic fabric.
4) Babyletto Swivel Glider
The Babyletto Tuba Slider Swivel Glider is an extra-wide glider chair. And most exciting of all, it is made without any chemical flame retardants. It also does not contain formaldehyde. The material on this chair is 100% polyester; just remember to drape a blanket over the chair if you are trying to stay away from synthetic fabrics.
Should You Buy a Used Nursery Glider?
One way to reduce your exposure to off-gassing is to shop secondhand.
I considered being a secondhand glider when I was pregnant with my first baby, but I’m so glad I bought a new one. Here’s why: my kids spit up a lot. And I spent a ton of time nursing them on our glider.
So, as you can imagine, there was a lot of spit up on it. And their diapers leaked, so there were other fluids on there too. Of course, the cushion covers can be washed, but they spit up all over the place (on the armrest, on the seatback, down the sides, etc.). Because of this, I can’t imagine using a secondhand glider. I know that not everyone will agree with me on this, but I personally can’t recommend that you buy a used glider.
Did you find the perfect non-toxic glider for your nursery? It’s one of those items I use every day with my kids. I hope you found the right one for your budget and your nursery!
While you’re working on creating your own gentle nursery, be sure to check out my guide to non-toxic bassinets and non-toxic nursery furniture too!
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Hi!! Thank you for your guide. Do you know anything about Karla Dubois? They make a Greenguard Gold certified crib, but wasn’t sure about their reclining chairs.
I’m looking for a arm chair/ recliner for my 2 year old . Toxic free.
I got him a keets organic chair , but it smells strong. … I’m looking to replace asap.
Sorry to hear that. What about a children’s wooden rocking chair?
Do you know anything about how safe Baby Relax recliner/ rockers are? Made by Dorel Asia…in china
Hi Sean, what a nice chair! I don’t know about the materials and they didn’t disclose any info on their site. I’ve sent them an email and will report back what I find.
They’ve said there are no flame retardants but I have replied asking for more info, and on whether the chairs contain formaldehyde. Please stay tuned!
Hey there! Curious as to what was the conclusion on these?
They didn’t respond further. What’s your budget for a glider?