The Best Swivel Glider for a Nursery (My Oilo Review)
As an interior designer, I’ve sourced furniture for hundreds of rooms over the years. When it came time to design my daughter’s nursery, I thought choosing a glider would be easy. I was wrong. Most nursery chairs force you to compromise. They’re either comfortable but bulky- or beautiful, but impractical. I wanted both and wasn’t willing to settle. Since I knew we’d spend countless hours feeding, rocking, reading books, and soothing our daughter to sleep in this chair, I was determined to find the best swivel glider. Comfort was non negotiable, but I also wanted something that felt on par with my design aesthetic. After months of research, fabric sampling, and comparing options, I landed on the Oilo Studio Swivel Glider. We’ve used it every day since bringing Greer home, and it’s one of the few nursery purchases I’d buy again without hesitation. If you’re considering an Oilo glider or searching for the best nursery chair, here’s my honest review after living with it and using it daily!
If you missed our initial pregnancy announcement or want to hear a bit more about our infertility journey, you can read about it in this post: our nursery makeover and design plans for baby Gibson. Otherwise, for a full tour of the nursery, here’s how I designed a timeless room for baby girl!
Why I Chose the Oilo Swivel Glider
When I design a nursery, I approach it the same way I would any other room. I want it to be beautiful, functional, timeless, and thoughtfully curated. The glider is often one of the largest pieces of furniture in the space, which means it has a huge impact on both the room’s appearance and how it functions day to day. Before making a decision, I had a list of requirements…
- Comfortable enough for late night feedings and bedtime stories
- High quality upholstery and construction
- Greenguard Certified (rated safe for babies)
- Performance fabric that could withstand real life
- Made in the USA
- Classic silhouette or clean lines
- Quiet motorization when reclining
- An aesthetically pleasing base (which proved tricky to find)
The Flynn gliding swivel nursery recliner checked every box. Unlike many nursery chairs that feel oversized or overly utilitarian, this one felt like a well designed piece of furniture that happened to function perfectly in a nursery.
What I Look for in Upholstered Furniture as a Designer
One thing I always tell clients is that good upholstery reveals itself over time. Almost every chair looks good on a showroom floor. The real test is how it performs after months and years of daily use… and when I’m buying upholstery, I want it to last for the long haul. I pay close attention to frame construction, cushion quality, tailoring, fabric durability, and the overall proportions.
The Oilo glider is beautifully tailored, the seams are clean and precise, and the cushions have maintained their shape while providing good support. Nothing feels loose, flimsy, or poorly constructed. These details may seem minor, but they’re often what separates furniture that looks great for a few years from furniture that still looks appealing a decade later. As someone who notices these things professionally, I genuinely appreciate the craftsmanship. While not my typical thing… I can also attest to the electrical components, and having a phone charger has been SO nice (we listen to music while we rock).
The Fabric Selections Are Really Good
Let’s talk about the fabric …because if you’re a parent, you know this matters. Spills happen. Spit up happens. Sticky toddler hands happen. Performance fabric was a must for me! Our Oilo glider is upholstered in a performance bouclé fabric that feels luxurious without feeling precious. I know what you’re thinking… a textured fabric and kids don’t mix, but this fabric was recommended to me by SO many friends who have this same swivel glider.
It has held up remarkably well despite daily use, and the fabric hides everything. It hasn’t pilled, stretched, or developed visible wear patterns. It still looks identical to when it was delivered. That’s not something I can say about every upholstered piece in our home.
Comfort During Everyday Life
Of course, none of the design details matter if the chair isn’t comfortable. Thankfully, this is where the Oilo glider really shines. The seat is supportive without feeling stiff. The back cushion offers excellent soft support. The arm height feels natural whether you’re holding a newborn, feeding a baby, or reading bedtime stories to a toddler. Some nursery chairs feel comfortable for a few minutes, but this one remains comfy during long stretches of sitting. Trust me, you’ll appreciate that during those middle of the night wake ups… I’ve even slept in this chair, since it reclines to nearly flat.
Why the Swivel and Glide Functions Matter
Being able to rotate toward a side table, lamp, or sound machine without standing up is incredibly convenient. The glide motion is equally impressive. It’s soft, smooth, quiet, and consistent. There are no squeaks or jerky movements, even after daily use. That reliability speaks to the overall quality of the chair’s construction. I also like that with the touch of a button, it quietly reclines (without waking her). That was high on my priority list.
Why I Chose Oilo Over Other Popular Nursery Brands
I researched many popular nursery gliders before making my decision- including options from Pottery Barn Kids, West Elm, Crate & Kids, and Babyletto. While there are plenty of good options available, Oilo stood out for a few reasons. First, I preferred their overall silhouettes. The proportions felt more refined and furniture driven rather than nursery specific. Second, the upholstery quality and fabric options felt elevated. That versatility ultimately made the investment feel worthwhile. Here are some of my favorites from them…
Click directly on each glider within the collage to shop…
Is This Glider Worth the Investment?
In my opinion, absolutely! As both a designer and a mom, I’ve found it incredibly difficult to find furniture that delivers equally on comfort, aesthetics, quality, and functionality. The Oilo glider manages to do all four. It’s beautiful enough to satisfy my designer brain and comfortable enough to support the realities of everyday life with a baby. I’d say go for it, if you’re on the fence!
Questions?
Very! The arm height, seat depth, and supportive cushions make it ideal for feeding sessions and extended periods of sitting.
I actually wanted two bolster cushions for our built-in window bench seat… but I ran out of fabric. My workroom only had enough leftover for a single bolster, so I decided to style it on the swivel glider. It was purely an aesthetic move, but I’ll say this- we love having it there! It was a happy accident. Since the glider is a wider chair, I tuck the bolster to the side, and rest her on it while feeding. I’ll also use it under her head in my lap. I do think it has added versatility for us and would be a fun and functional addition! We haven’t used our Boppy pillow at all, since we use the bolster, and I think it looks MUCH better. I just donated the Boppy.
Ours has held up beautifully with daily use. It still looks new and has resisted wear exceptionally well. Being a performance fabric, liquids also bead up on the surface, which makes cleaning and care easier.
Happy to. It’s actually a budget find from Amazon… you can see it here! It’s under $90 and it’s solid.
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There aren’t many nursery purchases I feel strongly enough about to recommend as a new mom, but this reclining swivel glider is one of them! As a designer, I appreciate its craftsmanship, proportions, upholstery, and timeless design. This thing has been so comfortable during late night feedings, bedtime stories, and all the quiet moments in between. If you’re searching for the best swivel glider for your nursery and want something that feels like real furniture rather than temporary baby gear, this is the chair I’d choose. Without question, it’s been one the hardest working piece in Greer’s room and one of my new favorite furniture purchases for our home. I hope this helps!