Best Easy Assembly: Stork Craft Hoop Glider and Ottoman

Stork Craft’s Hoop glider and ottoman are super easy to assemble and have one advantage over other chairs: a taller back and deeper seat. That makes it a better bet for taller folks, who sometimes find the smaller dimensions of affordable rocking chairs to be a tight fit. Here’s more on why we recommend this pick:

What We Liked

• Simple to assemble.

• Lightweight yet has a generous 250 lb. weight capacity.

• Taller back and deeper seat great for taller parents.

• Padded armrests with storage pockets on side.

• Affordable.

What Needs Work

• Sometimes squeaky. We didn’t notice this on a chair we tried out, but we see reports that chairs can start squeaking after long-term use.

• Thin cushions. Yep, the cushions could be more cushy! But we thought they were adequate.

• Missing hardware. There are occasional reports these chairs can ship with missing parts—good news, Stork Craft’s customer service is usually good about fixing this glitch.

Best Recline: Evolur Raleigh Glider Chair

This chair doesn’t come with an ottoman, but it does have one trick up its sleeve: it reclines with an extended footrest. That is impressive: we measured it at five feet when the back is reclined and the footrest is extended . . . perfect for that 2am catnap in the nursery. 

What We Liked

• Comfortable cushions.

• Soft fabric.

• Smooth swivel.

• Recliner with extended footrest.

• Weight capacity 250 lbs.

What Needs Work

• Heavy at 84 lbs.—it won’t easy to move from room to room.

• Can be hard to close.

• Might not be as ideal for smaller nurseries, as it takes up a good amount of room when reclined.

Best For Small Spaces: DaVinci Gabby Pillowback Swivel Glider

This is one of our favorite brands for rocking chairs for nursery—DaVinci has a good quality reputation and offers strong value. Take the Gabby swivel glider, for example. This model is perfect for that smaller nursery, as it is just 33″ wide. And it is super comfy.

What We Liked

• Easy to assemble.

• Soft cushions.

• GREENGUARD Gold.

• Headrest is comfortable.

• Perfect for smaller nursery, thanks to small footprint.

What Needs Work

• No included ottoman.

• Narrow seat not ideal for bigger parents.

Best Budget-Friendly: Angel Line Windsor Glider and Ottoman

Here’s our pick for best budget-friendly glider chair: the Angel Line Windsor.

This chair has a curved back and tufted upholstery that ties on. We liked the wrap-around padding on the arms and think the price is right! Here’s more on why this one earns our recommendation:

What We Liked

• Side storage pocket. 

• Padded armrests. That’s nice for nursing baby.

• Good quality. The metal bearings provide a smooth glide, compared to other budget chairs we tested.

• Easy to assemble. The ottoman is pre-assembled! And the chair doesn’t take that long to put together either.

• Affordable.

What Needs Work

• Durability could be better. We see occasional reports that spindles on these chairs can break after long term use. Use care when moving this chair around.

• Defective parts (sometimes). We didn’t have a problem with this, but we see a few reports that chairs sometimes ship with parts that don’t fit together correctly. The best advice: be sure to assemble the chair upon delivery, to make sure everything is correct.

• Cushions could have more padding. In our testing, we thought the cushions were adequate. Yes, there are other choices on the market that are more cushy . . . but they often cost much more than this chair.

About the Authors

Denise & Alan Fields are consumer advocates and best-selling authors. The Fields have authored 12 books with three million copies in print, including the best-selling guide to baby gear, Baby Bargains.

The Fields have been featured and quoted in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times.

As consumer products experts, the Fields have been guests on the NBC Today Show, Good Morning America and ABC’s 20/20.

How We Pick Products To Recommend

We often turn to our readers (3 million strong!) to find products to recommend. We ask our parent readers for their favorites and consider their real-world experiences in our recommendations.

When we test a product, we always purchase it with our own monies. We do not take free samples, as we believe that compromises our independence.

We also fact check manufacturer information with our own measurements. If a maker claims a product weighs X pounds, we will weigh it to make sure. If the battery life is supposed to be six hours, we will see how it stands up in the real world.

In some cases, we will do interviews with experts in the field to get additional feedback on products.

To get hands-on time with products, we regularly meet one-on-one with gear companies and even tour manufacturing facilities. (When we do this, we pay our own travel expenses).

Why Trust Us

We’ve been rating and reviewing products for the home and families since 1994. We do extensive research, evaluating products with an eye toward quality, ease of use and affordability.

We make our living from affiliate commissions, but we always recommend what we think are the best bets for our readers (not the ones that are the most expensive). We are always looking for products that offer the best bang for the buck.

Our independence is a key reason why we have been doing this so long. As we mentioned above, when we purchase a product for hands-on testing, we do so with our own money.

Here’s another key point: we don’t take money from the brands we review. No free samples, no sponsors, no “partnerships.” Our work is 100% reader-supported!