Nursery Gliders and Rockers

Rockers

Rockers, or rocking chairs, have been around for centuries. They date back to the early 1700's and were referred to as garden chairs. These garden chairs were actually regular chairs that had rockers attached to them. True rocking chairs were not built and sold until around the turn of the next century, however, and one of the original companies is Duncan Phyfe, a well known name in furniture manufacturers.

Since that time, rockers have been a staple in many family homes. Rockers continue to decorate the front porches of houses throughout the country, and new parents continue to visit baby stores and furniture shops searching for that perfect rocker to use in their baby's room.

Gliders

There is no doubt that rockers make life easier for parents of newborns, but the newest craze among rocking chairs is the nursery glider. Nursery gliders and rockers serve the same purpose. They are designed for motion, and parents learn quickly that motion can go a long way in soothing a fussy baby. Rhythmic and repetitive motion comes naturally to moms and dads, and it's evident anywhere you go as you witness daddy's bouncing their babies on their knees and moms swaying back and forth with babies on their shoulders.

Nursery gliders are the more modern version of the old rocking chair. One of the biggest complaints against rockers is the fact that many of them "walk" across the room when being used. In other words, many rockers, especially the wooden and wicker versions, don't stay in one place, requiring the user to constantly scoot the rocker back to its original position on the floor. Nursery gliders have solved this problem with a simple design. Instead of having a curved base, the nursery glider has a flat base, with the chair moving backwards and forwards on tracks. While the chair moves freely on its base, it doesn't "walk" across the floor. A nursery glider also offers an easy range of motion, requiring only a gentle push of the foot to set it rocking to and fro. Some nursery gliders have a swivel base which allows the chair to actual rotate as well.

Purchasing Nursery Gliders and Rockers

Purchasing nursery gliders and rockers is much like purchasing any other piece of furniture. You want it to look good and feel comfortable. Keep the following points in mind:

• Backrests-Choose a chair that has an ample backrest to support your body.
• Arms-While there are some rockers that don't have arms, think carefully before purchasing one of these. You'll want some place to rest your arms while feeding and holding your baby. When purchasing a rocker with arms, be sure the arms are at a comfortable height for you to use.
• Construction-There are many different nursery glider and rocker designs. You can choose from upholstered, wooden, and wicker styles. If you choose a wooden or wicker design, make sure there are comfy cushions to use with the rocker.
• Appearance-Don't forget that eventually your baby will grow up. If you are investing a lot of money in a nursery glider or rocker, you might want to purchase one that will function well in another room once your baby has become a young man or woman.

Where To Buy

Finally, you can buy new or used nursery gliders and rockers just about anywhere. Search your local classifieds, neighborhood yard sales, and consignment shops for nursery glider and rocker bargains. Check out the following sites as well:

• Net Kids Wear
• Baby Catalog
• A Baby
• Target
• Walmart
• Ebay
• Rocking Chairs