Few things capture the romantic image of motherhood quite like a rocking chair. Those images of nestling newborns and bedtime stories are what I think of when I want to forget how many times I've scrubbed chocolate milk out of the carpet this week. But much more than being a romantic ideal, a rocker or glider is an essential piece of furniture for me…
If you are looking for a rocker or glider, here are a few things to look for:
- Padding. I cannot stress this enough. Although an old wooden rocker may seem nice, I guarantee you will not think so after falling asleep while nursing in one. Get one with a lot of padding or make pads for the one you have (I'm sure there are people out there, brilliant crafty people who could tell you how to do that, but alas, I am not one of those people)
- Arm padding. I put this in a separate category because many padded chairs do not have padded arms. Ladies, let me tell you, that is where you rest your arms while nursing or reading books, and probably your child's head when they are older. Get cushy armrests. Just do. You'll thank me.
- Quiet: Some babies may be lulled by a squeaky rocker, but unless you can rock at exactly the same speed all the time (not gonna happen), it's going to wake your child when the tempo changes. Get one that's quiet.
- Ottoman or Foot Rest: This is really essential to me. It helps me relax, which is enough reason to sit in the chair. Plus, if your toddler insists that you stay in the room while they sleep, you can stretch out between the ottoman and chair and sleep pretty well.
- High Back: I have seen many rocking chairs that don't reach high enough to support your head. Depending on how tall you are, this task may be easy or not, but try to find on that is tall enough to support your head so you can lay back, relax, and mother!
- Durable Fabric: That white satin rocker may look luxurious, but nothing is luxurious about not being able to get the milk/marker/puke stains out of it and having it look dingy. Get a rocker with a thick, durable fabric, preferably in a darker color. Because, you know if you can't see the dirt, it's not there.
I have a fabulous glider, and have used it every day I have been a mother. It is so comfortable, it feels like a big hug just to sit in it. I have fed my children in that chair for their first months of life, rocked them gently when they were sick, comforted them when they were sad, read to them, sang to them, and sat there in the dark to chase away the "scary eyes". I've fallen asleep in that chair too many times to count. And sometimes, we rock because mama needs to just rock and take a breath.
It really is where I feel so much of my mothering takes place, in those moments where only a mommy will do, those are in the rocking chair. I hope that my children grow up remembering that a good rock always helps and heals the heart. I cherish the times that I get to rock my little ones, and I hope that as they become not-so-little, I can still get them to rock with me.
(Photo Credit: Abbey Hendrickson)
Come visit Laura at mommy menagerie, where she blogs about parenting when she's not in a rocking chair or scrubbing milk out of the carpet. Click here for a link to the company that made her own fabulous glider!
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That orange chair is fabulous!!!
Thanks! I might have made an expensive mistake without your expert advice.