IKEA POÄNG + Footstool
The bentwood armchair that has been bouncing babies to sleep since 1976 — a natural flex that soothes like a glider, at a fifth of the price, and a chair you'll keep for decades.
Last reviewed: September 17, 2026
Why this one
The Poäng's laminated bentwood frame has a gentle natural bounce — sit, and it rocks you and the baby without any mechanism, which is the whole trick of a glider delivered by physics instead of hardware. Nothing to break, nothing to creak, nothing to plug in.
The practical detail: the covers are washable and replaceable for a few dollars, which matters in a chair that will meet spit-up nightly. Add the matching footstool for feeds; it's the one addition that makes the difference for long sessions. It doesn't recline, and tall parents may want the high-back version.
At $150 with the stool, it's the nursery chair that costs less than most changing tables, lasts twenty years, and moves to the bedroom or study when the nursery closes — the reason it's a real pick and not a consolation prize.
What we considered and rejected
Babyletto Kiwi Glider
Our main pick: silent electric recline and footrest for one-finger operation with a sleeping baby.
Still a good pick for: Households that can put four figures into the chair they'll use most.
Bouncer-style nursery rockers
Cheap and cozy; foam bases sag within a year and they're single-purpose.
Still a good pick for: Nurseries planned for one child only.
Where to buy
We earn a commission if you buy through these links — it never affects our picks.