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The rocking chair has been part of our lives for hundreds of years. Most of us have memories of the old nursery rocker our mothers' raised us in.

These classic, simple pieces of furniture hold sentimental value for so many. Imagine how you will feel rocking your very own baby to sleep in one - time really flies!





Despite the fact that this is a fairly basic piece of baby nursery furniture, it does come in a fairly varied range of styles.

Which one you prefer, will depend on your personal taste, but don't forget to make sure it's comfortable.

The style of the traditional nursery rocking chair basically depends on what type of back it has. The back of the chair can be:

• Square or rounded
• Flat or curved
• Spindled, slatted or solid

We all know that change is inevitable - this is true of even the humble nursery rocker. If you prefer something with a little more zing to it, there's no shortage of choice.




Don't forget to consider a folding nursery rocking chair if you are short on space!





A nursery rocker can be found in virtually any finish you can think of.

There are baby rockers made of wood, wicker, rattan, aluminum, plastic, pvc, fiberglass and wrought iron...

Rocking chairs are available in a huge range of stains and colors.

In addition rocking chair cushions are available in hundreds of different fabrics.



Finding a chair to match your decor should not be difficult. However, if you can't find one in the finish you want, you can always buy an unfinished wooden rocker and stain or paint it.

You can also make your own cushions.



There is an advantage to sticking with good old, traditional, wooden rocking chairs. They have a classic style that will fit anywhere in the home, indoors or out.

You won't want to part with your beloved rocking chair just because baby is grown - young (and not so young) children love to be rocked by mom too!

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Your nursery rocking chair will soon become your favorite place to be - if it's comfortable! And the last thing you want is for it to start falling apart after you've become somewhat sentimentally attached.

Looking out for a few things while you are out chair-hunting, can minimize the risk of you ending up with an uncomfortable, or worse yet, rickety or wobbly chair.

• A nursery rocking chair should be sturdy and well made. Make sure that all surfaces are smooth, and check spindles, slats and joints to see if they will withstand a little shaking, leaning and bumping.
• If you are buying a wooden baby rocker, choose one made of hardwood such as maple or oak. Softwoods dent and mark easily, whereas a chair made from hardwood has the potential to become a well-loved family heirloom.

• Nursery rockers should be quiet, and by quiet, I mean really quiet. If you think a little squeak when you rock won't bother you, think again!
  
  To start with, a repetitive squeaking is enough to keep some babies awake, which defeats the purpose of a nursery rocking chair somewhat.
  
  Secondly, peace and tranquility will not be the first things you associate with your rocker after listening to it eek and squeak for ten minutes or so, in the middle of the night. Believe me, it won't take long for that little squeak to take on the dimensions of a shrill screech, bursting in and out of your head! It may just be enough to drive you off your rocker!
  
  Also remember to check for any unwanted noises when you get up out of the chair. The last thing you need at 3am, is to awaken your finally sleeping baby, with a noisy creaking when you're ready to put her down.





There is nothing worse than having to interrupt those precious, blissful moments of bonding, because you have a sore neck.
• Check that the rocking chair is the right size:
  • Your legs should reach the ground comfortably.
  • The armrests should be at a comfortable height and long enough to support the full length of your arm.
  • The back should be high enough to support your neck and head.
    
    
• The rocker should be well balanced. Check for a smooth, effortless rocking motion. No jerking or tipping sensation.


• The backrest must be comfortable:


Slightly curved is best. Flat backrests soon give you a back-ache and no rest.

It must support the middle and lower back while you are rocking.

It should be inclined at the correct angle to distribute weight evenly to all parts of your body. You don't want certain parts of you going numb!



• Practice sitting down and getting up out of the chair you choose. Is it easy to get in and out of, or does it slip out from under you?
  
  Remember you will have a wriggling baby in your arms when you sit down and, hopefully, a sleeping baby when you get up. Getting up with no hands can be quite a challenge if you don't have the right chair.





If your rocker does not have padding, a thick blanket thrown over the armrest will also do the trick. Nursing pillows also help.
• Some nursery rocking chairs have padded armrests. Since you will be supporting an ever-increasingly heavy baby, (even newborns get heavy if you hold them for long enough), this is a feature you will come to appreciate.

As always, this should be your first priority in the baby nursery. Bear the following in mind:

• Rocking chairs are notorious for pinching little fingers and toes under the runners. Be careful if there are other small children playing in the room while you are rocking baby.
• Try to place your rocking chair on nice thick carpet. This will minimize the injury to fingers if they do get rocked on. If you do not have carpet in your baby nursery, a thick rug will work just as well.

• Make sure that the runners of the nursery rocker are shaped correctly. This will prevent your over-zealous toddler from tipping the chair over backwards, while he picks up enough speed to attempt a launch to the moon!

A nursery rocking chair can cost you anything from as little as $80 to well over $5000.

If you can afford it, $5-6000 will buy you a custom-designed, handmade work of art...

If you can't, don't worry...

Rockingchairs.com and csnstores.com both have a broad range of nursery rocking chairs, in a variety of styles, at reasonable prices. They also have regular sales and shipping specials. Many other online baby outlets also stock rockers, but the range tends to be fairly small with the emphasis being on gliders rather than rocking chairs.

When comparing the prices of various nursery rockers, remember to take the rocking chair cushions into account. Some rockers include them, others don't.

If your budget is restricted, see our discount baby furniture page for money saving ideas.



A rocking chair is one of those pieces of nursery furniture that you can quite comfortably buy second hand. What could be more satisfying than refurbishing a classic old rocking chair ready for your new arrival. Watch out for those squeaks though!

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There are two accessories that you need to be aware of when it comes to nursery rocking chairs:


1. The Nursing Stool - This is a nice optional extra for those long night hours - you may want to put your feet up - who could blame you?

Some nursing stools have a rocking motion, others are stationery. Try the stools out with the chairs to see which type you prefer. If you are on a tight budget, a simple wooden footstool is an inexpensive option.


2. Nursery Rocking Chair Cushions - The great thing about the traditional rocking chair, is that it can be dressed up to fit any room, with a few well chosen pieces of fabric. Nursery rocking chair cushions are a great way to pick up the accent color in your baby room.

If you buy a rocker with cushions included, make sure that they are detachable, otherwise you'll lose this great benefit.

Also look for:

• A firm cushion that supports your neck, middle and lower back.
• Soft, cottony material.
• Removable, machine washable covers or a machine washable cushion.
• Bear in mind, that if your nursery rocking chair has a dark finish, light color cushions will work best.

Unfortunately, nursery rocking chair cushions do not seem to be that easy to get hold of. I found the best selection at homevisions.com - Ababy.com and Amazon.com also stock a fair variety.

If the price for a rocking chair cushion seems a bit high, why not have a go at making your own? If you look for your fabric at clearance sales it will cost you next to nothing for a stunning cushion.

























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