apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Here is one I found on Babiesrus - it's not bad and it's $399.
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3096520
The Dwell Studio Mercer glider at Target is a more modern take on the wood glider (although I couldn't find it on their website anymore). Target has some other options, so does Walmart. Check ebay and Craigslist for used options too - you might find something vintage that is fabulous. The Eames rocker is $479 at Room and Board, although not the most comfortable looking, it is stylish!

I have the Monte Luca and I LOVE IT. It was a big splurge item, but I have rocked my son to sleep in it every night and for every nap since he was born 13 months ago. It is really comfortable and since it's stylish, I can use it in other rooms in my house later. Good luck!

You can also get cheaper knock-offs of the eames rocker:

http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Vinnie-White-Cradle-Chair/3351579/product.html?reviewpage=1&reviewsort=0

I'm thinking about getting one and lining it with a sheepskin from ikea since we are expecting baby #2 and with a crib and a twin bed in the room there will be no room for anything bigger. (And there isn't room any where else in the apt either.)

The big downside is not being able to rest one's head during 4am feedings.

I also have the Monte Luca and also LOVE it. Definitely pricey, but really worth every penny. We have used it every single night at bedtime for 19 months now and I'm looking forward to eventually moving it to another room in my house. I was hesitant to spend the money, but am glad I did.

I don't think this is the design you're going for, but I saw it in some nursery photos and it looked really nice -- and the price is about $250-300 US, I believe.

Off Your Rocker custom rocking chair company in Canada

I could've sworn that I was seeing the Nurseryworks Sleepytime Rocker available for $450 or so. Everywhere I look now says $900. Someone tell me I'm not crazy.

scottu - a few colors of the Nurseryworks rocker were on clearance about a month ago, but every time I tried to order one, they would mysteriously be out of stock.

We had the exact same problem... we ended up with the Streeter from Crate and Barrel. Although it's not ideally what we wanted design-wise, it's modern enough and I was just thrilled to find something without the traditional rolled arms. It's also very well-constructed and comfortable. We lucked out and scored a floor model for 65% off so we were pretty happy. Retail price is $769 (with the full swivel/glider function) Check it out here:
http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=948&f=12898&q=streeter&fromLocation=Search&DIMID=400001&SearchPage=1

Hi Gracie. The Monte Alto, Luca and Volo are definitely on the pricey side, but soooo worth every penny. Depending on your budget, I'd strongly encourage you to spend a good portion of your baby budget to the rocker/glider as you'll be logging many hours in it and it can certainly have another life outside the babies room. So well constructed and so comfortable. You can find some actual fabric samples here http://www.shopgenes.com/brand-monte.html, which is helpful.

There are also a few Nurseryworks fabrics still available at a sale price...best bet right now is the Empire Rocker. Very comfortable, although quite large. Could be an issue if space is limited. http://www.shopgenes.com/nurseryworks-empire-rocker.html

Good luck!

We scored a microsuede Nurseryworks goodnight glider for $600-700 when they went on clearance this spring. It's terrific. We also have the Dylan rocker from Land of Nod for our son's room and while not quite as modern, it's super comfortable.

We love our rocker -- it is so handsome, it has never made it out of the living room (had it custom upholstered in a Designer's Guild turquoise fabric).

It's Finnish -- the Moderno Rocker designed by Yrjö Kukkapuro in 1959-1960. I bought it directly from the manufacturer in Finland, Lepo (they were also able to source the custom fabric at a reasonable price).

http://www.lepoproduct.fi/pics/tuotteet/L66.pdf

Because I was able to buy it directly from the manufacturer instead of a retailer (it used to be sold by several in the US, but was terribly expensive), it was quite reasonably priced. I have also heard that shipping rates have plunged in the past year.

Nonetheless, I am sure that it is not in your budget target, but I will say that it is really worthwhile getting a piece of furniture that outlasts the baby stage... children are little for such a short time, and even if you have 2 or 3, you will be surprised at how quickly it goes.

So my advice is to get a piece of furniture that *really* works as a baby rocker -- ie., I measured the height of a comfortable rocker back (sorry, but the Eames rocker is too short), and looked for upholstered arms (at first I had borrowed a friend's rocker, and it had wooden arms that always cut off the circulation in my arms, and gave me ulnal tunnel syndrome) -- *and* is a piece of furniture that works in its own right.

If you don't want to waste money, it is really important to get something that doesn't look like re-purposed nursery furniture.

It was really hard to find -- which is how I ended up with something from Finland!

Good luck in your search!

Save on the crib, and splurge on a good rocker. The monte rockers are by far the best one's you can buy, and so worth it!

This is my best list of gliders, although you have inspired me to add rockers to the list as well...
http://homepage.mac.com/rosenfeldesther/buymodernbaby/buymodernbabyseats.html#Rockers
or you can get there through buymodernbaby.com and go to "seating"

whoa!

Just checked out the prices of the gliders on the list in the last post, and don't feel so bad about how much we spent on our Moderno rocker!

I think it was around $800 shipping (which came to around $200 if I remember) -- and that was with the special fabric. (at the time we were buying, I think the cheaper fabric option was around $650. Hopefully, I haven't mixed up US$s with Euros)

All of the rockers on that list though, except for the Crate & Barrel one, look like nursery rockers to me -- very nice, well-designed ones, but repurposed nursery rockers nonetheless. I'm sorry, but to me they do...

That is the great thing about the Eames rocker though -- it doesn't say "we are trying to justify the purchase of this nursery rocker and so are using it in our living room" -- it works as a great piece of design in its own right. Too bad it doesn't come with the option of a higher back.

I just emailed Lepo yesterday about the Moderno rocker. If it's anywhere under $1000 I will be happily surprised. My philosophy is save on the crib, skip the changing table, re-use the dresser from my master bedroom, and splurge on a rocker!

Another option is to buy a regular ol' nursery glider on craigslist -- you can find them for $100 or even less if you're lucky -- and then sell it back for half the price when you are done with it. That way you don't have to worry about it blending in with your living room decor.

That is what I did the first time around. We live in a small space so when it came time to give him more play space in the bedroom, I just sold the rocker and ottoman back on craig's list. It went in two days. (It would have cost me $100 a month to rent a storage unit in my building so it made more sense to sell and eventually re-buy when we had a another kid.)

I would do the same thing now except that our kids will be sharing a room and a traditional glider will not fit in the bedroom. I love the luca glider too, but I don't have the space for it and I choke on the price since we are saving our pennies to buy a house.