There are two things I’m really super proud of purchasing – one is my ice cream churning machine and the other is a nursery glider. It’s comfy as a cloud and makes feeding my little one a less hectic endeavor.
I got to tell you that as a 5’2” petite woman, I had a hard time finding a chair that won’t make me feel like King Kong’s Ann Darrow.
After some digging around, I found that the ideal glider seat height for short mamas should be less than or between 15-19”. Of course, this is a ballpark figure just for your reference.
Sadly, when it comes to gliders for short moms, decent options are fairly limited. After hours of hair-splitting analysis of features and value for money, I was able to narrow down my options to 7 models.
So without any further ado, here are my top 7 picks for the best gliders for short moms with in-depth reviews-
Images | Brand | Seat Height (from the floor) | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|---|
 | DaVinci Olive Upholstered Swivel Glider | 19" | |
 | Angel Line Monterey Glider | 16" | |
 | Delta Children Glider | 18.75" | |
 | Namesake Linden Electronic Recliner | 19" | |
 | Babyletto Madison Swivel Glider | 18" | |
 | Storkcraft Premium Hoop Glider | 14 ½" | |
 | Babyletto Toco Upholstered Swivel Glider | 18.5” |
7 Best Nursery Gliders For Short Moms – 2023 Guide
Contents
- 1.DaVinci Olive Upholstered Swivel Glider
- 2. Angel Line Monterey Glider
- 3. Namesake Linden Electronic Recliner
- 4. Babyletto Madison Swivel Glider
- 5. Storkcraft Premium Hoop Glider
- 6. Babyletto Toco Upholstered Swivel Glider
- 7.Delta Children Emerson Upholstered Glider
- A Short Guide to Buying the Right Glider for Short Moms
- In Conclusion
1.DaVinci Olive Upholstered Swivel Glider
Okay, first things first, I was absolutely swooning over the elegant minimalistic design of the glider. I’m pretty sure this ivory-hued beauty will be visually compatible with any room decor one can think of.
Great aesthetics aside, it’s also one of the most thoughtfully designed rocker chairs for short moms. With a seat height of 19”, anyone between 5’1” to 5′ 7″ will be able to have their feet touching the ground and rock comfortably sitting on this glider.
The backrest with a dedicated head support is high enough to keep your neck and shoulders relaxed while you’re nursing your baby, reading a book, or taking a nap. Also, the armrests are at the perfect height for adequate elbow support. It’s that kind of comfy chair you would love to curl up into for a good part of the day.
Although the chair is a bit narrower than what would have been ideal, it’s still a decent enough glider for petite moms with twins below 9 months.
My favorite bit of the rocker chair has to be the ottoman. If you are someone like me who feels numbness in the legs if you sit down for too long, you will be thankful for the ottoman.
Unlike the chair, the ottoman doesn’t glide which some users find a bit of a turn-off. Not me though. I personally feel I can glide and rock more easily with a stationary ottoman. But to each their own. Brownie points for arriving fully assembled.
I’m not much of a DIY-er and putting together furniture pieces is one of my least favorite things to do. The whole unit will easily fit through standard-sized doors. But if it’s too tight, you can remove the metal base to make some room.
As far as the build quality is concerned, it is simply one of the best I’ve come across during my research. The fabric is easy to spot clean with a laundry stain remover spray and water.
2. Angel Line Monterey Glider
The second model to make it to this meticulously curated list of the best gliders for short moms is just as suave-looking as DaVinci. Its wooden frame will potentially hold up well for years.
Unlike most similar-looking gliders, this one doesn’t make a constant creaking noise when you move on your seat. Even though it’s not a particularly spacious chair, it’s comfortable enough for a mother or caregiver who wants to use it for feeding her newborn twins.
I was also able to fit my boppy nursing pillow between the arms. My heavily built dad was able to comfortably rock his 2-year-old grandson on this chair. The unit comes halfway assembled. You just have to tighten 8-10 bolts to get this glider ready for use.
The seat height is around 16” which is perfect if you are a petite woman like me, your feet won’t be annoyingly dangling off the chair. It even comes with a small pillow for enhanced lower back support.
However, the seat and back cushions could have been thicker. To avoid getting sore after sitting on it for too long, I’d suggest putting an extra pillow underneath. The gliding motion is smooth like butter.
One real drawback of this otherwise decently built and aptly priced glider is that the cushion covers aren’t removable. That means you are stuck with only either spot cleaning or dry cleaning them. However, I was able to successfully wipe down soup and juice spills with a damp cloth.
The zipper mentioned in the description is only on that small lumbar pillow and not on the seat cushion – something that should have been clarified by the manufacturer. Nonetheless, all things considered, this chair is a pretty decent bang for the buck despite certain shortcomings.
The ottoman it comes with is not worth writing home about. It doesn’t rock which isn’t a huge deal-breaker for something whose main purpose is to act as a footrest.
3. Namesake Linden Electronic Recliner
The next model on my list of the best gliders for short parents has an automatic reclining feature. Manual recliners aren’t always easy to operate for moms during the prenatal and postpartum period.
Automatic recliners/glider chairs like these are ideal for feeding the little one and napping. It allows you to stop the recline at any point for optimal comfort. The height from the top of the seat to the floor is approx 19” which should allow 5’2’- 5’5” tall people to sit while having their feet touching the ground.
My only gripe with the glider is that the seat cushions aren’t thick enough. You will most definitely need a throw pillow or you’ll feel sore after some time. The cushions are not removable or reversible. But on the bright side, stain removal is a breeze with a mild cleaner and hot water.
It’s not a very spacious glider. You will probably not be able to sit with your toddler side by side on it. But I guesstimate two toddlers can comfortably sit on the chair to watch TV.
The assembly work is easy but you might need help in getting the chair out of the box as it’s quite heavy. The box is about 32” wide, so it will easily fit through most doors.
4. Babyletto Madison Swivel Glider
Perfect for small nurseries, this chic and suave glider comes with a 21” wide, 18” deep seat, providing much-needed comfort to nursing moms. The seat height is approx 18.3” and my 4’11” tall cousin is able to sit on it with her feet touching the floor.
The seat and back cushions are thick and plush. It perfectly hits the sweet spot between soft and firm. Add a throw pillow for a more comfortable and fatigue-free sitting experience. It doesn’t have a dedicated reclining mechanism.
The back tilts a little bit when you rock, as most reading chairs do. I found the metal base to be immensely stable. It feels very stable when you glide back and forth. It doesn’t come with an ottoman or footrest but you can always purchase one to amplify your comfort.
The cushion cover is microsuede, therefore, it doesn’t catch stains easily. A fabric cleaner or soap and damp cloth are all you will need to clean up the spit-ups and milk spills. You can also steam clean it, if necessary.
5. Storkcraft Premium Hoop Glider
Aesthetically pleasing and available in several color options, the next entry on this roundup of the best glider for short people is quite a decent bang for the buck. I am particularly impressed by the design of the armrests on this model.
They are amply cushioned raised to a convenient height and feature deep storage pockets for magazines and stuff. The back doesn’t recline, just glides, as is the case with most rocker chairs in this price bracket.
But when you use it with the included ottoman which also glides. The height of the seat from the floor is 14 ½”, making it a comfortable seating option for 5” or shorter mamas.
The seating area isn’t wide enough for a large person and a toddler to sit side by side. However, anyone with a large body frame can comfortably sit on it with a baby on the lap.
The seat and back cushions are the plushiest I’ve seen but with an extra pillow, it will be generously comfortable. Spot cleaning the microfiber upholstery is a breeze. Moreover, the cushions are removable as well for deep cleaning.
6. Babyletto Toco Upholstered Swivel Glider
Concluding this extensive search for the best nursery gliders for a short mom with this charming offering from Babyletto. The height of the seat from the floor is 18.5” combined with a 27” backrest.
Judging by the dimensions, I reckon anyone within the height of 5’2”- 6” will feel quite comfortable on this chair. Besides having a great height that caters to both short and tall people, the glider also comes with plenty of room for a large adult and toddler to sit side by side.
Also, you shouldn’t have any trouble fitting a large nursing pillow between the arms to spruce up the comfort while nursing.
The head and neck support it offers is adequate to keep fatigue at bay while feeding and rocking a baby. The manufacturer has used poly foam as cushion stuffing which seems durable and provides decent support.
It’s just the right amount of firm and squishy – which is exactly how I prefer my couch cushions. It even comes with a removable lumbar pillow for added support. Overall, it’s a versatile glider/reading chair for both petite and large individuals with an attractive price tag.
7.Delta Children Emerson Upholstered Glider
With a seat height of 18.75” and depth of 23 inches, Delta is by far one of the most appropriately sized nursing chairs for short moms. A 5’1” mama can sit on it with adequate neck and head support, thanks to the 26.5” backrest height.
Unlike the Angel Line glider which suffered from the lack of thick cushioning, Delta is lined with 6.5” thick, semi-firm cushions which make long hours of sitting less strenuous on the tailbone and back.
I especially loved the height and plush padding of the armrests of this glider. They are raised high enough to offer proper elbow support to mommies while they are nursing the baby.
The chair glides smoothly and silently but sadly, the backrest doesn’t recline even one bit. Therefore, taking a sweet nap on it might not be possible unless you get the matching ottoman which is sold separately.
I would strongly recommend buying the ottoman to maximize your comfort. It swivels with the chair to elevate your comfort. I’m quite happy with the build and size of the glider. It’s neither enormous nor extremely heavy, so you won’t have a hard to moving this chair around.
The seat is 20.5” wide which should easily allow petite individuals to sit with a toddler side by side. You can also fit a boppy pillow on one side to make bottle-feeding easier.
The seat cushions are thankfully removable for deep cleaning. For spot cleaning stains, just use a damp cloth and a mild cleaner. The fabric is soft microfiber and therefore, very easy to wipe clean.
A Short Guide to Buying the Right Glider for Short Moms
Don’t worry, I am not going to leave you with reviews alone. Shopping for such an important piece of furniture involves a lot of considerations. So here’s a quick rundown of what to look for when traipsing through your options:
Height
It goes without saying that height is the first thing to take into account when specifically searching for the short mom glider. Any model with a minimum seat height of 16” and a maximum height of 21” will keep your feet glued to the ground.
Seat Width
A chair that’s primarily built for nursing should have enough space to let a mother comfortably hold a baby at an angle. The minimum width I would be aiming for is 20” as it will allow you to fit a nursing pillow between the arms.
Footrest
Legs could get crampy and numb when you sit down for too long. That’s why a stool or ottoman is a must-have accessory for a rocker chair. To save some bucks and hassle, opt for a glider-ottoman combo.
Some ottomans would glide while others are stationary. I personally find the stationary ones more to my liking as it gives me more control over the gliding motion.
Armrests
Armrests should be at a height that prevents your shoulders from shrugging or slouching. The firmness and density of the armrest padding are also equally important to consider.
Ease of Cleaning
Babies are cute. Their spit-ups and poop? Not so much. Therefore, make sure the cushion cover fabric can be wipe down with just a wet and some soap or mild cleaner. Even better if the glider comes with reversible and well as removable cushions.
Some fabrics support dry cleaning and steam cleaning as well. If you’re super worried about stains and smells, you should go for a glider with removable cushions/cover.
In Conclusion
Now that you have the basic idea of what to look for, I hope you can find a glider that suits your needs. It’s difficult to rock a chair when your feet are dangling. Therefore, height is extremely crucial when shopping for a glider chair for moms.
All things considered, DaVinci glider remains the perfect glider for short moms – both in terms of value for money and aesthetics. The frame of the chair is impeccably sturdy and the headrest is a brilliant touch.
More importantly, it’s too bulky, therefore, easy to move around. Moreover, it doesn’t require any assembly, making it a perfect choice for people who don’t want to deal with the installation hassle.
