A nursing rocking chair gives you a supported seat for long feeds, with a gentle rock that many parents find calming. Look for a firm, upright back, armrests at the right height, a seat you can rise from while holding your baby, and a footrest. Our solid mahogany chair with a footrest costs KES 30,000 as of September 2026.
Newborns feed often, day and night, so you will spend many hours sitting with your baby in the first months. This guide covers what makes a good nursing chair, how to use one safely, and where to put it at home.
What is a nursing rocking chair?
A nursing rocking chair is a chair shaped for feeding a baby: an upright, supportive back, armrests to rest your arms on, and a curved base that rocks gently. Many come with a matching footrest.
Parents use a nursing chair for breastfeeding and bottle feeds, for winding, for reading to an older baby, and for rocking a crying baby. Gentle rocking over your shoulder is one of the things the UK National Health Service suggests trying for a crying baby, as our guide to colic explains.
What should you look for in a nursing chair?
Look for support first and style second. A chair that looks lovely but leaves you leaning forward will be hard to use for night feeds. Sit in any chair for a few minutes before you buy, and check these points:
| Feature | Why it matters | How to check it in the shop |
|---|---|---|
| Upright, supportive back | Long feeds without slumping forward | Sit back fully; your lower back should feel supported |
| Armrests at the right height | Your arm rests under your baby’s head during feeds | Hold your arm as if feeding; the armrest should meet your elbow |
| Seat height and depth | You need to stand up while holding your baby | Stand up without pushing off with your hands |
| A footrest | Raises your feet and brings your baby closer to you | Try the chair with the footrest in place |
| A smooth, steady rock | Calm movement that does not tip back too far | Rock gently; the chair should feel steady and quiet |
| A strong frame | Lasts through more than one baby | Look at the joints and feel the weight of the frame |
Is a rocking chair safe to use with a baby?
A rocking chair is safe for feeding and cuddling while you are awake, but it is not a place to sleep with your baby. The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) advises: do not sleep on a sofa or in an armchair with your baby.
If you feel sleepy during a night feed, put your baby down in their own cot or basket before you close your eyes. The NHS advises placing your baby in a separate cot or Moses basket, in the same room as you, for every sleep for at least the first 6 months. Also:
- stand the chair on a flat, even floor;
- keep toddlers’ fingers and pets clear of the rockers;
- keep hot drinks on a side table, not in your hand, while you hold your baby.
Where should you put a nursing chair at home?
Put the chair close to where your baby sleeps, so night feeds do not mean walking across the house. For the first months that usually means your own bedroom, next to the cot. Our guide to baby cots covers cot sizes if you are planning the room.
- Leave enough space behind and in front of the chair for it to rock freely.
- Place a small table beside it for water, your phone, burp cloths and diapers.
- Add a soft lamp, so you can see during night feeds without bright light.
- Keep the chair away from heaters and out of strong afternoon sun.
What else makes feeding time more comfortable?
A nursing pillow is the natural partner to a nursing chair. It brings your baby up to the right height, so your arms and shoulders do not take all the weight. A U-shaped nursing pillow wraps around your waist and stays in place while you rock. Use it only while you are awake and feeding.
If you are breastfeeding, our breastfeeding guide covers how often newborns feed and where to get help with latching.
U-shaped pillow with an adjustable strap, wraps around the waist.
KSh 1,300
Lipa na M-Pesa Delivery across Kenya
What is the Zawadi nursing rocking chair like?
Our nursing rocking chair has a solid mahogany frame, a plush cushioned seat and backrest, and a matching footrest. It rocks gently, and it is made for both expectant and nursing mothers. As of September 2026 it costs KES 30,000.
It sits in our mother care range, and you are welcome to sit in it and try the rock before you decide. If you have back or pelvic pain in pregnancy, ask your clinic what kind of seating suits you.
On offerNursing Rocking Chair with Foot Rest (Solid Mahogany)
Solid mahogany frame, cushioned seat and backrest, matching footrest.
Original price was: KSh 33,000.KSh 30,000Current price is: KSh 30,000.
Lipa na M-Pesa Delivery across Kenya
Where can you try a nursing chair in Nairobi?
Come and sit in our nursing rocking chair at Zawadi Baby Shop, Shop F12, IBEA Building, Moi Avenue, Nairobi. We are open Monday to Saturday 8:30am to 7pm, and Sunday 11am to 6pm. Call or WhatsApp 0706 561 855 before you visit.
You can also order online and pay with Lipa na M-Pesa, and we deliver across Kenya.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a nursing chair and an ordinary rocking chair?
A nursing chair is shaped for feeding: an upright, supportive back, armrests at feeding height, and usually a footrest. An ordinary rocking chair may lean further back or have low arms, which can leave you slumped forward during long feeds.
Do I need a footrest with a nursing chair?
A footrest is not essential, but many mothers find it helps. Raising your feet brings your knees up, so your baby sits closer to you and your back takes less strain during long feeds. Try the chair with and without it.
Can I fall asleep in a rocking chair with my baby?
No. The UK National Health Service advises never to sleep on a sofa or in an armchair with your baby. If you feel sleepy during a feed, put your baby down in their own cot or basket first.
How much is a nursing rocking chair in Kenya?
At Zawadi Baby Shop, our solid mahogany nursing rocking chair with a matching footrest costs KES 30,000 as of September 2026. Prices change, so check the product page for the current price, or visit the shop to try it.
Can I use a nursing rocking chair while pregnant?
Our chair is made for both expectant and nursing mothers, and many women like a supported seat with a footrest in late pregnancy. If you have back or pelvic pain, ask your clinic what seating suits you.
About the author
Kui Thairu
Founder and director, Zawadi Baby Shop
Kui Thairu is the founder and director of Zawadi Baby Shop, the baby store at Shop F12, IBEA Building, Moi Avenue, Nairobi, which has served Kenyan parents since 2018. She built the shop around one idea: only stock what she would be proud to hand over the counter. Her guides share the practical buying advice she and her team give parents in the shop every day. For anything medical, she always points parents to their clinic.
