The exact weekend after we wrapped up our big bathroom makeover, we hightailed it out of town. It wasn’t that we were over staring at our new bathroom (we actually found ourselves going into the room just to ogle our newly spruced surroundings) but it was more like we needed a self-imposed “vacation” after such hard work. Especially my main tile man John. He really deserved a nice little weekend getaway. So we drove five hours up to the family beach house in scenic Rehoboth, Delaware (we know it’s weird to go to the beach in the dead of winter, but we love how quiet and sleepy the off-season is… and we always seize the opportunity to play a lot of board games, eat some great home cooked meals, and watch hours of Law & Order and rental movies that we’ve been meaning to see for months). We usually also make time to swing through the outlets ($9 shoes? yes please!) and this year we even got to grab some cute baby girl clothes on the cheap.
John also initiated the “nursery chair search” since he reasoned that we might find something comfy and perfect for the corner of our modestly sized nursery while at the beach since the area is pretty much brimming with home decor shops, thrift stores, and even salvage places like this one that we always drop in on. At first we didn’t have much luck when it came to finding something soft and cushy to stick in the corner of our nursery for late night feedings and general baby gazing, but we did find a pillow that looked just like Burger…
Not to be deterred, we found the strength to put down the funny little chihuahua accessory (although somehow we think our little girl is going to be obsessed with her furry big brother so a pillow in his likeness would always be welcome in her room) and continued our search. After dropping in on about six to eight places without any success (they either had inflated beach-front price tags or stiff uncomfortable chair options) we found ourselves walking into the All Saints’ Parish Thrift Shop. And that, my friends, is where we hit the motherlode.
But perhaps we should explain what it was that we were looking for in a nursery chair. You see, at first we had looked into gliders, and while many moms swear they’re the best thing about being a parent, we’re actually surrounded by people (John’s two sisters and one of my good friends) who have regular ol’ chairs in their nurseries- and they all love the cozy and inviting options they chose. No regrets among any of ’em. So after looking at a bunch of gliders that didn’t really do it for us from an aesthetic point of view (or boasted an $800 price tag when they did) we quickly moved on to the idea of a comfy chair and ottoman combo. I guess this is another one of those personal mom decisions that differs for everyone, but I knew as long as I could put my feet up and sink into something comfy I’d be a-ok.
Plus we’re pretty good at evaluating how we’ll use our house, and we knew that I would do the majority of my nursing on the sofa with the help of a Boppy. Since I work from a small desk in the den (which is also where our only TV lives and is strategically placed right off of the kitchen) we recognized that between checking the blog, watching some tube, and generally hanging out with the beanette in her first few weeks and months, beyond midnight feedings I probably wouldn’t be spending much time in the nursery chair (I definitely didn’t see myself walking back across the house into the nursery every three or four hours for feedings). So it really helped to realize that we’d use the chair in the nursery probably once or twice a day, but it wouldn’t be my primary nursing location (which made paying $800 for a chic little modern glider or even a big overstuffed chair seem like more of a waste the longer we thought about it).
And of course as paranoid and clueless first-time parents-to-be, we like to do our research to put our nervous minds at ease. So we made a few calls to all those sisters/friends who had babies in the last year and asked what they liked about their non-gliding nursery chairs. Everyone kept saying the same thing: just get something comfortable and add an ottoman. And don’t go armless (aka: be seduced by a sweet slipper chair) since it’s nice to have some “chair boundaries” to keep the Boppie or your grip on the bambino a bit more contained (so you’re not straining to hold your arms in a certain position while the chair provides no support whatsoever). Of course we realize that many of you out there might have a different “must have” chair criteria, but we felt good with the comfy and supportive shape/no-lack-of-arms advice that we got from our friends and family so that’s what we went with. I guess that’s one of the signs that we’re getting ready to be parents: we did some research and made a decision that seemed right for us. And with that knowledge, we confidently embarked on our chair hunt to end all chair hunts.
Which takes us back to the All Saints’ Parish Thrift Shop. We walked in and immediately saw the most cozy and enveloping egg chair. The bucket-like construction hugged us like no other chair we tried (and we must have sat in literally 30 chairs that day) and although it hardly looks plush and inviting (pictures don’t do it justice) this baby practically conforms to your body. So much so that although John wasn’t convinced by my blissed out expression while I sat in the chair, once he took it for a spin himself he declared that he never wanted to stand up again. Victory! Plus the small scale size is perfect for our smaller-than-average nursery and it’ll be even more heavenly when we give it a little love to get it looking brandy new again. Especially when we add a fresh coat of paint, a soft little lumbar pillow and a nice ottoman for even more bliss-inducing comfort (if that’s even possible). And the price tag? Twenty beans. Sold!
The only issue we had with the chair was that it was vintage. The shopkeeper assumed it was actually an original from the 60’s/70’s thanks to the shape and the construction, so naturally we had a major lead paint concern on our hands. Not to worry, we knew we could use a soy-based wet stripper to remove the paint if it did contain lead, and we actually had a strong suspicion that the chair was painted way after it was made (we thought it was probably left au-naturale for a while and then painted white within the last ten years with more modern lead-free paint). But when it comes to our baby bean, nothing but the cold hard facts can ease our nervous-new-parent minds… so we headed to Home Depot and grabbed a less-than-six-dollar lead test kit called Lead Check.
After carefully reading the directions we learned that all we had to do was snap the lead stick two times and shake it a bit (we heard some goo get released, almost like snapping a glow stick) and then rub it for about 30 seconds on an area of the chair with a bit of a paint chip (just so in case the paint was “sealed” with some sort of poly that didn’t have lead we could still access the paint beneath it and get a true read).
So I gently rubbed side to side on a few different chipped areas of the painted chair- and a small dribble of yellow goo came out which I massaged into the chair with the tip of the test stick for around 30 seconds a pop. We even checked the legs, which appeared to be unpainted but you never know (you can reuse the stick in a bunch of different places as long as it doesn’t indicate that there’s a lead reaction, at which point the test is dunzo).
The directions explained that varying amounts of lead could be detected by this method, so a soft pink hue on the chair or the tip of the lead stick would indicate trace amounts of lead while a brighter pink tip of the stick or mark on the chair would warn us of higher concentrations of lead. And lookie here- not even a smidge of pink. In fact the tip of the stick and the chair stayed soft yellow- the exact same color of the goo when it doesn’t have any reaction at all. Happy happy joy joy. No lead!
Of course we still plan to give our chair a nice fresh coat of no-VOC paint (along with those stark black legs while we’re at it) but for the time being we can’t bring ourselves to break out the paint because we enjoy sitting in the chair so much that the whole waiting-for-it-to-dry thing might kill us. Seriously, when the house is quiet and one of us is wondering where the other one is, we can always be found sitting in The Chair. Sometimes even in the dark with our feet up. It’s the most comfortable thing in the world, I’m telling you. Pictures just don’t do it justice.
And just to be sure that our $20 steal was up to the breast feeding challenge, we actually had John’s sister come over and nurse her three month old baby boy in our chair (of course we closed the door while she put the chair to work and we fed her lunch afterwards to show our true appreciation). The verdict: she proclaimed that it was very cozy and even mentioned that the arm support was perfect. And she’s a mom of three so her endorsement means everything to us.
So in the end we definitely could never have guessed that we wouldn’t end up with an overstuffed arm chair or a glider in our nursery but we’re so excited about our comfy and supportive $20 thrift store find.
And yes I was jealous of John while I snapped these pictures because he was the one enjoying the bliss that is our new nursery chair while I slaved away taking photos…
Stay tuned for updated pics of our new chair once we get the chance to paint it (and add a plush little lumbar pillow). Until then you can find me sitting in the nursery with the lights off and my feet up. Life is good when you’re pregnant.
But enough about our groovy vintage lead-free twenty dollar chair. Do you guys have a favorite place to sit in the house? Do you have any cheap-o thrift store scores that you’re dying to brag about? Does anyone else vacation in Rehoboth? Did anyone purchase that adorable chihuahua pillow that we sadly put back on the shelf? Spill the beans.
Psst- Wanna see our nursery progress from the very beginning? Here’s our painting post, our big shopping spree, our crib hunting rundown, and our curtain-making tutorial.
erin says
Oh and thanks so much for the info on the lead paint testing kit! I had no idea anything like that existed! Definitely something to keep in mind for anything used we bring into your home. Especially seeing where our 6 month old will lick, suck and chew on anything that comes in contact with his mouth. Yup at this age it is kind of like having a puppy.
julie says
Be careful trusting the lead test kits at home improvement stores. While Sherry did say that the test should be conducted on a chipped area, that lead test will only test the surface layer of paint. If lead paint is present below the surface layer, the kit will not detect it.
Kim says
I am from Delaware, Dover actually and I spend all of my summers at the beach. We got a house every year in Bethaney and we did day trips to Dewey as we got older. My senior week was in Rehoboth. I live in North Carolina now but I get back to the DE beaches every chance I get!! Love it there!
Anne says
Sherry,
Can’t believe you posted about your parents’ beach house in Rehoboth today! We recently moved about an hour and 45 minutes south of Rehoboth to Chincoteague, VA, after having lived in Pocomoke City for 32 years. We vacationed in Rehoboth and then Bethany when our children were young, then Ocean City, MD as they got older. I know Rehoboth well, but did not know about the great places to look for cheap loot there! I’ll be heading up the highway soon, for sure. Thanks!! : )
I laughed when I saw you mention your parents’ beach house today, as just this morning I was wondering if you and John were “beach people”, due to the colors you have choosen to use in your home. They are the same as we are using in our townhouse near the beach. This morning I had finally decided on the paint color for one of our two guest bathrooms, BM Dune Grass, just as in your newly renovated bathroom. That’s what led me to ponder: “beach people?” LOL
Love your home and enjoy reading every post, especially since my daughter and her new husband are living in their “new” 1970’s brick rancher and also working on having a baby as soon as they can! You and John give more inspiration and guidance to your readers, in so many areas, than you really know. And for that, a BIG THANKS!!
Anne
Sarah says
Omg! I found a version of this chair at diversity thrift, and it was SO (and surprisingly) comfortable. Unfortunately, it was priced too expensively to purchase.
Cindy @ The Flipping Couple says
Can I just say that Sherry, you are the most patient person I’ve ever “met”?? I know everyone means well, but I can imagine it’s frustrating to hear everyone critique your chair choice. I’m sure it’s hard to live with your life out there for the web to read, but thanks for continuing to share it with us. We love you guys and we love seeing snippets of your life.
I would also LOVE a vacay on the Eastern coast right now, even if its a little chilly. Sounds like a fantastic get-away!!!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Cindy! We’ve definitely learned that getting lots of advice and “constructive criticism” comes hand in hand with putting a lot of our life out there on the internet, but we honestly wouldn’t have it any other way. We love to hear what people think and we never expect that everyone who reads our blog will agree with us 100% of the time, so going into each post with that expectation really helps us when it comes to getting those varied responses about everything that we’ve purchased and every project that we take on. I guess we just love keeping everyone posted and we’re confident in our choices so we just can’t wait to share all of our latest adventures and undertakings!
xo,
s
Meredith says
Please tell me you bought that pillow???!!!! That is too funny!!!!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Meredith,
Unfortunately the $60 price tag scared us off, but we’re so glad we snapped a picture to remember it by!
xo,
s
Claire says
We too decided to avoid purchasing a glider for our nursery. We have a heirloom wooden rocker in there, but truthfully it is not that comfy, so I usually ended up nursing my 7 mo old daughter on the living room couch. I do have to second Andrea’s tip that you will be bouncing the baby A LOT, especially if she has colic, but we sit on one of those inflatable exercise balls to bounce baby to sleep. It is cheap (around $20), portable, and gives us a good workout in the process!
Angie says
I love the chair and the nursery thus far! I can’t wait to see the end result. You won’t have to worry about stains on it or how much fun that rocking it into the wall would be when the “bean” was big enough to try it out herself!
Lisa says
Nice chair!
My husband and I were vising some friends on a summer day few weeks after we bought our house and we were completely broke (we had borrowed some money for the down payment). Our house was virtually bare. Our friends lived in a rented house, and their next door neighbors, also renters, had a front yard that perpetually looked like a yard sale, since they were making a living out of collecting furniture and other useful stuff from back alleys and selling it on craigslist.
I spotted two cream chairs that looked very decent. We decided to “buy” them but the seller offered them for free since we were friends of their neighbors. We felt bad to take them for nothing, so our friends suggested that we would buy the guy some cigarettes. We ended up paying two packs of cigarettes for two IKEA Tullsta chairs. We barely had time to load them in our car when a huge storm started, which would have probably damaged the chairs badly.
Back at home we noticed that one chair had a broken base, which my handy husband quickly replaced by cutting a new one from a piece of plywood. The cream covers were not removable and were kind of dirty, so we had to remove the staples to wash them. Unfortunately they didn’t clean completely, but we still stapled them back and on our next trip to IKEA we noticed that they had removable covers for our chairs.
We bought two removable covers for $50 each (Canadian), so we ended up paying $120 (the cost of two covers plus two packs of cigarettes) for a pair of chairs that looked like new and would have cost at least $300 new. They are my favorite chairs still, so comfortable yet easy to fit in a small house like ours.
Leigh says
I love the chair! My husband has a similar one in his “man room” that he sits in when he plays video games and I just about can’t get him out of it. It really is comfortable and the pillow behind your back will make it even better.
Prost to the Host says
Love your chair choice! I hope it is not hard to get in/out of. I am short and kinda clumsy, so I would see myself struggling to get out of something like that with a babe. Not a safe choice for me. Thanks for including the lead test. So cool!
The dog pillow is hilarious. But $60?! ARE YOU SERIOUS?!
YoungHouseLove says
We’re happy to report that we’ve done some holding-Burger-test-runs of getting in and out of the chair and it’s a-ok! Plus John’s sister did the whole nursing test and had an easy go getting in and out with a baby in hand so we think we’re all set. Of course we’ll share a how-we-like-the-chair update after we get a bit of use out of it once the bean comes this May! Stay tuned…
xo,
s
Dana @ House*Tweaking says
Love your egg chair. And what a metaphor…being the beanette came from an egg and all. Thanks for sharing the ‘journey’ of finding your perfect nursery chair. Sometimes it’s hard work hunting down great finds. But that makes it sooo much more rewarding in the end. As for where I like to sit…my favorite spot is the sunroom at the back of our house that overlooks a bunch of farm land. (Not my farm land though.) The room is full of windows and makes you feel as if you’re outside.
Oh! And happy to see that you changed your registry. I wanted to mention something but didn’t want you to think I was imposing on your decision-making. I had the same problem with the Boppy hole and ended up lying down to nurse most times – without the Boppy. Wish I would have had some more insight into the matter!
Have fun sitting in your new chair dreaming of what it will be like in just a few short months!
Ericka says
I just had to chime in with my 2 cents worth! You can take it or leave it:)
My baby girl (who I love to bits!!!) was the type who did not like the swing or bouncy seat and only wanted to be rocked or bounced by mommy or daddy. I hope that your beanette won’t be that high-needs (we love our babies no matter their temperment, of course), but if she is – prepare yourself! You may find yourself searching for a rocking chair/glider to save your sanity!
By the way, I LOOOOVE your little one’s room!
Deb says
Karaoke in the Purple Parrot and the best happy hour oyster specials on the East Coast. We have friends that have a place in Rehobeth and we visit for a weekend every summer :)
(Of course it’s covered by 2 feet of snow now, so you picked a good time for your little weekend getaway.Ha!)
Love the chair! And yes, arm support is a requirement. But the important thing is that it works for you and the bean (which is what we also called our first baby girl – in utero). No one else has to sit in it or look at it, so if you’re happy with it that’s what matters – Looks like you’re all set!
Deb
Ana says
My dad’s parents didn’t get to see my cousins (their first two grandkids) very much so they were beyond thrilled when I was on the way. My grandpa went to Sears and bought an awesome swivel rocker with a pop-up foot rest for my mom and me. My parents had no idea it was coming until the delivery guys knocked about a week before I was due. That chair is now more than 30 years old and has been loaned out to various family members when they needed it. It’s extremely comfortable and well-made so we’ve definitely gotten my grandfather’s money’s worth. It’s still my mom’s favorite chair.
Melissa M says
You are right that the chair doesn’t appear very comfy BUT if its comfy to you then that is what counts. I am another mom that will add having a glider isn’t necessary though nice at times (more for when they are older). Early on what worked better for my daughter was bouncing her on a big stability ball b/c the motion was much more natural (she never really liked her swing). So even if you don’t have a glider elsewhere, I highly recommend picking up a stability ball if you don’t have one already. Best $25 you could ever spend.
As for middle of the night feedings, as long as the chair is cushy on your butt and has good support for arms then you’re good to go in my book.
I will add that once baby has enough head control, I Highly suggest “dream feeding” where you nurse lying down. It gets mom some extra rest and most time baby will fall right back to sleep. It may sound crazy but I miss those middle of the night feedings.
Sarah says
Love how your nursery is coming together! It looks great! Could you tell me where you bought the soft white throw that is on your nursery ottoman? It looks like it would be so comfy for our baby also due in May!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Sarah,
It was around $25 or so from Ikea. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Heather Beals says
I also purchased a 2nd hand chair for my nursery, and have probably nursed in it a total of 10 times throughout my 19 month olds life! I never even purchased a boppy. I wasn’t willing to pay for it, I just used a regular pillow and was perfectly comfy. The only thing I can see about your chair, which I hope doesn’t happen, is having difficulty standing up right after giving birth with a baby in your arms! My mom had a bucketish chair like that and I nursed in it and I had to have her take the baby and help me out!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Heather,
We’re happy to report that we’ve done some holding-Burger-test-runs of getting in and out of the chair and it’s a-ok! Plus John’s sister did the whole nursing test and had an easy go getting in and out with a baby in hand so we think we’re all set. Of course we’ll share a how-we-like-the-chair update after we get a bit of use out of it once the bean comes this May! And if I’m super sore in the beginning and getting out of the chair is too much for me, I’ll happily nurse in the chair in our bedroom or even on the sofa if need be- I’m totally adaptable. We’re all about learning as we go and trying to stay sane along the way!
xo,
s
jennifer says
I feel so silly, but I don’t know what a Boppie is? Can you explain?
icj,
~j
YoungHouseLove says
It’s basically a support pillow that makes it easier to breast feed since you’re not holding the baby up to your breast and instead you’re resting your arms and the baby’s body on it. I’m sure if you google the term “Boppy” and click the “image” button you’ll see a ton of them. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
amy e says
Hi! Never commented before but love your blog. Especially since we recently moved into our ranch house in NY.
I have a 3 year old and she still loves to be rocked in our oversize rocking reclining upholstered chair. I didn’t want a glider either because I knew it would be in the living room. And I agree very little time was spent nursing in her room. I think I would have felt too secluded hiding out in the babys room every few hours. Also, in terms of nursing more unsolisited advice, learn how to nurse lying down as soon as possible too. That was awesome for middle of the night feedings. And awesome that you are determined to nurse, it can be hard at first but so wonderful! Lastly, be sure to check out baby wearing. Another great tool for the nursing mom. Slings, wraps, etc will keep baby happy, you can nurse in them and even have baby close while you do your projects. Check out baby ktan,www.babyktan.com, happens to be my Aunt’s company, but honestly one of my favs and they have an organic one too!
Can’t wait to see the big nursery reveal! Be well! Amy
stylefyles says
I also love that fur (faux fur?) throw you have draped over the ottoman. Maybe I missed the post where you wrote about it (or, more likely, forgot!)….May I trouble you to ask where you scored that puppy?
Congrats on the new chair!!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Stylefyles,
It’s just one of those cheap-o sheepskins from Ikea, but stay tuned for a make-your-own-faux-sheepskin post coming up in the next week or two. It’s actually pretty easy!
xo,
s
Laura says
Yay, new safe chair!
Wait…soy-based stripper?? Do tell! (Or link)
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Laura,
We actually learned about it at our favorite local green boutique called Ecologic- here’s a direct link to the product: http://www.realmilkpaint.com/soygel.html
Apparently it’s amazing and much healthier than all those chemical strippers out there- plus it’s recommended for lead paint removal since it’s wet (and lead paint is most dangerous when it’s dry sanded since the particles become airborne and are breathed in). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Amber says
I used a boppy pillow (borrowed from a friend) at first, then found a nursing pillow called ‘my brest friend’ at a consignment store and FELL IN LOVE WITH IT. The boppy got relegated to riding in the car for nursing while I was out and about.
Love your nursing chair! I have a hand-me-down upholstered glider from my parents, but have longed for an ottoman during the wee-hours-of-the-morning nursing sessions!
Michelle says
I had a satellite chair just like that in high school, and it was my favorite studying chair. It came with a padded slipcover that I used only occasionally. I never found it needed padding to be comfortable, but it’s something to keep in mind if you feel you need extra support.
Ashley says
We went with an ikea big comfy armchair and ottoman. We’re obessed. My husband is upset that the most comfy seat is in the baby’s room. And Boppy is my bff.
The only thing we didn’t have when baby came home (and i didn’t know we wanted/needed) were night lights!!!
Amy L. says
So exciting that you found a little piece of Rehoboth for your baby’s new room. I have vacationed in Rehoboth and Bethany since I was three years old (am now 31). I have a soft spot in my heart for all of your posts that mention Rehoboth. I’m not a homeowner yet, but can’t wait to take that first trip to DE after we buy our house to bring some of the beach home with us. :)
Faith says
This chair does not look comfortable at all. But, looks can be deceiving. I hope you don’t regret not getting something with cushions and fabric. And possibly a more comfortable, actual ottoman instead of a wicker storage basket. The ottoman looks like it elevates the feet higher than the seat of the chair. My guess is this is more of an aesthetic piece for the room and not that functional.
abriana says
I definitely agree with Cindy and was thinking the same exact thing! You guys are much more confident than I am to hear your choices critiqued like so many comments do to you- also, I am always shocked when people comment things that I HOPE people wouldn’t say to your face! Yikes! My son is 11 months old and so many parents want to tell you how to do it– my hubby & I have so much fun figuring it all out on our own– it’s a little adventure :) I’ve definitely learned to just take the advice I want, and politely ignore the rest! Enjoy doing it your way! Anyway, like Cindy, thank you so much for sharing your DIY tips + trciks, and for making it fun by helping us get to know you!
Jen H. says
Another reason not to buy the expensive glider (aside from the fact that they’re fugly) is then you’ll have to sell or get rid of it once the babies are big. With your super-cool $20 chair, you can keep it around forever and I bet one day your teenage girl will think it’s a very cool thing to have in her room! Excellent choice.
I’ve got two boys (and will be having #3 in May) and I’ve never owned a glider or rocker. In fact, the IKEA chair you have in your den is the same one I use as a chair in the nursery. But honestly, most of the nursing I did at night was lying down in my own bed – definitely a position to master as early as possible for maximum sleep and cosiness.
Julia says
Hi Sherry and John! I am not a mom yet but I was a nanny for a little guy starting when he was only 6 weeks old. His nursery had a little armchair in it which worked fine for bottles (not the same as breastfeeding–I know–but you still need some place to put your arms! For when he got a little cranky and needed to be rocked/bounced his mom had an exercise ball. At first I thought she was crazy but I tried it and that thing worked like a charm! I would hold him in this little sling thing she had and bounce on the ball! He would usually fall asleep so sometimes I’d be bouncing on that thing for an hour! It’s a great workout, too. I thought I’d share that since it’s something super cheap (I got my exercise ball at Marshall’s for 20 dollars or so) and something you might not think of on your own! I know that when I have kids I will definitely have my exercise ball in the nursery!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks so much for all the helpful suggestions everyone! We’re definitely looking forward to seeing what works for our little girl in May when she arrives!
xo,
s
Katrina says
I’ve nenver been a fan of the gildder rocker chair – I nursed my son in bed or on the sofa – if we have any more I’d look for a simple chair like what you found. That can still be sued eons after its no longer a baby room!
Great find…I can’t wait to see what color you paint the chair, its super cute and has tons of style
Thelma says
Cute chair. I had a super comfy rocking armchair in my baby’s nursury. Turned out baby had other ideas for night-time activity. She only slept in her carseat. So i would set it by our bed, then I could get some sleep while sticking one finger from under the covers to rock her to sleep. When she needed to nurse I could reach down and bring her into bed to nurse. I never dreamed that baby would sleep anywhere but the crib, but yeah, that’s how life w/ a baby is–whatever works to keep everybody sane:-) I ended up never using the rocker! I’m just glad I splurged on a comfy carseat!
Albion Chrisman says
I’m glad you found a chair you like at such a bargain price. I’ve been wondering about a comfy chair versus a glider for a nursery…it’s nice to hear an opinion.
Susan says
I found a super-comfy glider locally on E-bay. Final cost: 10 bucks. Became my favorite piece of furniture in my master bedroom/nursery. Yup, had to share the space until a remodel. Can’t believe you didn’t bring home the chihuahua pillow
Erin says
We have a regular old chair in our nursery and I only used it during the night as well but…you will probably (most definitely guaranteed) use it more than 1-2 times nightly. Yipes, nursing babes eat more than bottle babes so they get hungry faster especially in the beginning where it may be every 2 hours. The chair still worked though…and besides it’s waay easier for the baby to sleep in your bed right next to mommy (or in a bassinet), at least while they are nursing so often. I found that after my daughter moved to her own room at 5 months I definitely needed a head pillow or something so my head didn’t fall off while I accidentally doze.
Kelly says
GREAT find!! I love it!!! We passed up the expensive giders too and I actually have the big solid wood rocking chair in my daughter room that my mom bought when I was born. We loved the boppy too!!! Great baby item!
Rebecca says
I have a glider rocker plus ottoman. It is what my sweet MIL wanted to gift us with when we had our first little boy over six years ago. It is very comfortable, but although I searched for the most neutral one I could find, it’s not attractive and definitely not what I would have chosen! However, after two baby boys my ugly glider has logged hundreds of hours while I was nursing, rocking a fussy baby to sleep, and sweet times reading together. It’s become a thing of beauty to me.
I like the egg chair – you guys are going to fill it with many memories!
Cate says
Super cool chair & it goes great in your nursery (which I can’t wait to see finished). We have a Best Chair brand super comfy chair in our nursery, but I rarely nurse in there. I did night feedings in my bed and during the daytime I’m usually on the couch in the den, so I agree it probably won’t be your primary nursing spot. As long as the chair’s comfy then it’ll be a great place to lounge and cuddle with the baby when she arrives (and I really don’t get why so many people care what kind of chair you chose for yourself!).
On the boppy issue – I have one but rarely used it for nursing. It didn’t seem to help, but just felt more in the way. I used a pillow for the first few days due to having a section, but other than that I just hold him or lay him beside me in the bed at night. I didn’t have a breast friend pillow, but I think I might need to try one with the next baby with all the reccomendations it’s getting on here especially.
Amy says
Every time you post about a baby item, I really feel for you because there’s nothing people love more than advising and criticizing parents! I can see how careful you are to word everything, explain your rationale, consider safety, and mention that everybody is different! I’m sure it do much to stave them off. You do what you can, and of course things change over time! If it works for you, awesome! If it doesn’t, you’ll change it. Good luck!
I got a recliner in a cute pattern – it tucks in the corner and I can put my feet up when I want to. I also have a nursing stool, which was very helpful. But I spent a LOT more than you did!! Enjoy your fun find!
Jean says
3 cheers for Rehoboth! My mom used to take my sister and me there when we were teenagers. We loved it.
Great find on the chair. I can’t wait to see it after you’ve worked your magic.
Jill says
Congrats on finding your perfect chair for such a great price! A lot of people have told me that they didn’t spend time nursing in the baby room because they wanted to either watch TV or be with the rest of the family in the living room so it makes sense not to invest in an $800 chair that you may never use. I know what you mean about being afraid that you’ll get too comfortable and fall asleep while nursing at night. I have the same fear. Thanks again for all the good info on the crib. It made me think a lot about why I boycott some stores and how maybe it is a good idea to support the big W’s attempts to produce some green products. I appreciate your willingness to put all of your decisions out there for us to read :)
mikki roo says
That’s so crazy!! I have that exact same chair – unpainted – only I got it for… drumroll please… FREE!!! It was in the house that we rented while we were building and the owners said I could take it; it was left by a previous renter. I considered it for the nursery as well but I didn’t think it would have enough support for breast-feeding. Apparently I’ll have to rethink that! It’s natural bamboo finish, no paint, but I’ve considered painting it…
30 weeks along so I guess I better decide soon!
Hillary @ The Sweet Maple Life says
I grew up 15 mins from Rehoboth, so I worked there every summer, and I am there almost monthly when I visit my parents. So glad to hear you are a lover of Slower Lower!
DEF be sure to try out the best donut shoppe in the world when you are down during the summer- The Fractured Prune. It’s a drug, I am salivating right now thinking about them….
Joan says
My family has vacationed in Rehoboth Beach since I was in high school-that would be the 70’s. My DH and I are there for about a week each September just after Labor Day in a house we rent on Norfolk.
We took our children there all through their childhood and have so many wonderful memories. I think I recognize the shop in your first photo. So nice of you to bring thoughts of the beach after I spent most of the afternoon shoveling snow up here in Baltimore!
Emily says
I second the exercise ball for bouncing. Swaddle a newborn up and hold her close and gently bounce on an exercise ball. I had a glider but never really rocked in it though I did spend a ton of time in it.
One of the things I found post baby that I did not know pre baby was that I wanted my feet just a bit off the floor while nursing. You might not like them so high up when you are nursing. Maybe you have a small footstool elsewhere in the house that you can swap out if needed.
Looks good!
Amy says
OMG! I can’t believe that you found the perfect chair at All Saints Parish Thrift Shop! It’s such a small world. My grandmother founded that thrift shop when I was a kid, and 4 years ago my husband and I were married at All Saints. I’m off to call my grandmother right now.
BTW – that chair rocks my socks off.
YoungHouseLove says
THAT IS AMAZING! It’s such a small world. Please pass along a huge thank you to your grandmother for founding All Saint’s!!!
xo,
s
Amy E. says
although the burger-shaped pillow is cute, while walking through IKEA yesterday i saw a lumbar pillow with a nice bright and flowery printed cover. i’m not sure if the print is what you’re looking for, but i think it’s worth checking out as an inexpensive option on your lumbar support search. we bought a more monochromatic version (that looks like a spiral-graph went nuts on it) to go on a couple of TULLSTA chairs we’re about to put in our open library area attached to the living room.
Angie says
I had my first little peanut, also a girl, 13 years ago. And we, too, painted a nursery, made curtains, purchased a crib, dresser and change table for our little sweetheart to prepare for her arrival. We also decided to forgo the cost of a glider/rocker for the nursery…thought we could get by without the added cost. I think our girl was 10 days old when I went crying to my husband that I NEEDED a rocker for those late night feedings and also….I just wanted to rock my sweet babe. He went out and bought me one the very next day. We nursed in that rocker, sang, and read books for hours. I agree…this chair does not look very comfortable…especially if you have delivery issues, like stitches in the bottom and you need to sit on a donut for a a while. If this is your ‘nursing corner’, you will be spending LOTS of time in that chair for the first few months. Comfort and function will be so important.
rose says
i love your blog! I love your taste, even this chair. I hate gliders but, I must say I agree with ‘faith’ on feb 11th above’s post. this chair looks very uncomfortable for those long nights..
Handy Man, Crafty Woman says
Sigh…the commenters who said that “people just LOVE to advise and criticize parents” are sooOOooOO right.
We did get a glider with ottomon and we loved it when we had our “bean”. I’m glad I had SOMETHING with arms; any chair with good arm support was helpful to me. But the Boppie helped me the most with nursing; I could nurse our son on any type of chair with that thing! I hadn’t heard of the “Breast friend” pillow at the time (or maybe it hadn’t come out yet?!), but that one looks even better! Our son was tiny and kind of slid into the “hole” in the Boppy, up against me, lol! But, I managed.
You may like or not like that chair for nursing (or the bed or the couch or whatever!) You just don’t know how its going to go, you will have to try every spot in the house to see what works best for you. my friends used to RAVE about how comfy it was to nurse in bed, but I could never seem to manage that too well!
Good luck to you, you are doing great (despite all of the “opinions!”) :-)