The Debate: Do You Really Need a Glider?

08. Oct, 2010 0 Comments

glider Okay, so it’s not as heated as the bottle or breast debate and in actuality, few other moms or dads care what you decide, but for some mothers it’s a problem – the question of the glider. The question many mothers wonder is if you really need one. Sure, we all want to be able to rock and soothe baby to sleep when she’s tired, but (okay I’ll say it) gliders are ugly.

If a glider was an attractive piece of furniture we’d all have one in our living room already. A rocking recliner isn’t particularly attractive, but even that looks a bit sharper than the gliders that seem to be dominated by odd fabric choices and heavy wooden bases. Do the gliders work? Absolutely. They are wonderful to sit in and if you have the rocking footstool, you’ll be able to rock both you and baby to sleep almost instantly – it’s a smooth, soft and comfortable ride.

The Conundrum of the Glider
The trouble with the glider is that it’s not attractive in the most general sense and it doesn’t really fit into any particular decorating theme in most cases. Of course, neither do the brightly colored toys and swings and bouncy seats strewn across your living room, but people have a hard time committing hundreds of dollars on a chair that will be used for about two years and then relegated to a back bedroom somewhere.

If you are lucky enough to find a lovely glider that is pretty and fits your furniture style, you’re just that – lucky. For the rest of us, consider putting the glider in the den rather than the living room or leaving it in baby’s room where you can have better luck making it match…something. This traps you in these rooms, which might not be where you want to be for hours while rocking or holding a sleeping baby, but at least your contemporary living room isn’t home to the ill-placed glider.

Alternatives to the Glider
There are alternatives to the traditional baby glider. You can buy a nice rocking recliner that looks a bit more in-line with your existing furniture and simply rock your baby in that. The recliner is nice because you can also throw your feet back and sleep with baby on your chest once he’s asleep. There are also beautiful wood rocking chairs that aren’t as comfortable as the glider, but are a bit easier to look at. You can also shop extensively to find a glider that actually works for you and we’ll all be just a bit envious of your good fortune –a glider that is both attractive and comfortable.

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