DIY rocker for cribs

Mikhail, Nizhny Novgorod asks a question:

Good afternoon I always thought that a DIY baby rocking bed was an undertaking that I would never have to deal with. There was only one reason for this: the stores are full of ready-made products. You just need to go and buy it. But life has made its own adjustments to my worldview. Now I have a small one-room apartment with no space for a stroller. We, my young wife and I, are waiting for a new addition to the family. The budget is quite limited, and time is running out. Very soon there will be a new little tenant in the apartment. We urgently need a crib. I have some woodworking skills and a set of carpentry tools. There were remains of old furniture and several boards. Please give me an idea on how you can make a bed for a child with your own hands and what you need for this. Thanks in advance.

The expert answers:

Hello, dear guest!

Making a children's rocking bed with your own hands is not an easy task, but it is quite feasible for a person who has experience working with wood. Helping people in difficult situations is our task.

Before you start work, you need to dwell on the basic requirements that a rocking bed for a small child must meet.

These requirements are:

Space for the baby. It must have room to roll freely from side to side and throw its arms to the sides.
Safety. The children's bed must be stable. The height of the handrails and backrests should prevent the child from falling out of the bed. To make all components, you need to use only environmentally friendly materials. The wood must be carefully sanded.
Functionality. The children's bed can be equipped with a lower shelf for storing all kinds of accessories. A good solution would be removable casters to make it easier to move the bed around the room.

Article on the topic: How a kitchen living room of 13 sq m can be decorated

First, let’s talk about what is required to make this interior element.

Making a baby crib at home

Furniture made at the enterprise, although beautiful, is devoid of warmth. And I really want my baby to have a cozy bed, made with love and care. That is why many fathers create children's beds with their own hands. The child will remember furniture made by dad for the rest of his life.

Material options

The material plays a special role in making a crib. Today, store shelves are overflowing with children's furniture made from...

natural wood;
Chipboard and MDF;
metal;
plastic and synthetic materials.

Furniture made from natural wood is considered the safest from an environmental point of view - this fact has long been scientifically proven. Wood does not have that specific smell that artificial materials have.

She is able to create a favorable, warm and cozy atmosphere for the baby, which has a positive effect on his health. It is worth noting that natural wood will always look expensive and solid.

Products made from this material will fit perfectly into any interior.

MDF is a board made from fine wood chips pressed under high pressure. From the point of view of environmental characteristics, it is close to those of natural wood. Furniture made from MDF is considered safe for children's health.

In the production of chipboards, formaldehyde resins are used, so during operation they can emit substances harmful to health. But for many, the deciding factor is price. Chipboard models have the lowest cost.

Products made of plastic and synthetics can be bright, very beautiful and stylish. But are they good for the child? Young parents often do not realize that toxic substances are used in the production of these materials. Therefore, it is important to remember that during operation, harmful components will be released and harm the baby’s health.

Design elements

The main elements of a children's bed are:

bottom;
sidewalls;
backrests;
frame strips (frame);
legs.

Cots also come on wheels. In models of this design, it is convenient to rock a baby to sleep; such cribs are easy to move around the room, if necessary. Some have rocking runners. There are also combined legs: the wheels can be replaced with runners, or you can unscrew them completely. There are also cribs in which the swing is provided by a hinge.

Children's beds can be made in the classic style familiar to everyone. However, today wooden models made based on the plots of fairy tales and cartoons are gaining increasing popularity. Undoubtedly, both models will look good in a nursery.

However, often beds made in themed decor take up too much space.

This is their main drawback, because not everyone can boast of a large living space. Often the crib has to be pushed into a very limited space. Therefore, sometimes, in order to save free space, homemade beds of the required dimensions are made:

two-tier;
transformers;
attics or houses;
with drawers and shelves.

This piece of children's furniture can be anything you want. The main thing is to comply with the basic requirements: the bed must be:

safe;
comfortable;
beautiful.

Sketches and drawings

If you decide to make a bed with your own hands, then it is advisable to draw a sketch yourself, make a drawing or diagram, which will depict the future “nest” for your child. In such a drawing, all dimensions must be accurately maintained, down to every millimeter.

The strength and reliability of the structure will depend on this.

A drawing or sketch of the future design will greatly facilitate the entire process of manufacturing parts and subsequent assembly. Exceptions include bed houses. These are quite complex projects to make yourself.

As a work plan, it is better to take a sketch made by a professional designer:
Manufacturing and assembling elements of a crib is a complex process. It requires special attention and great responsibility.

Even a minor error in work can lead to dire consequences: the bed can break and injure the child.

Required components

Before starting work, you need to stock up on materials. Buy:

Edged boards.
Bars, the cross-sectional size of which must be no less than 50x50 mm (needed to make the main frames of the structure).
Slats with a cross-sectional size of 20x20 mm (will be used for filling, for example, making logs).
Self-tapping screws and bolts.

It is worth going to large stores that have building materials in their assortment. Here it immediately becomes clear that the wood offered comes in different qualities. You need to choose straight boards with the fewest knots. This will greatly simplify and speed up the process of grinding all elements.

Important! Whatever the bed is made (the most ordinary, classic or made for a specific theme), you need to remember the rule - the bars and slats must be made of especially durable wood . The quality and further service life of the product depend on this.

Tool

Despite the fact that the children's bed has a simple design and can be assembled by anyone, it is still necessary to prepare. Before starting work, prepare:

roulette;
drill;
circular saw;
Kreg Jig set (a special device for drilling holes at an angle);
adjustable measuring angle;
wood glue;
screws 30, 50, 60 mm;
water-based varnish;
stain;
brush;
sandpaper;
wood putty.

Step-by-step photo report

Let's take the following model as an example:

First you need to choose a suitable mattress. It is to its dimensions that all elements of the future structure will be manufactured. Then purchase the necessary building materials - edged boards, timber, slats, water-based varnish, stain, sandpaper and a brush:

Prepare the necessary tools: tape measure, drill, drill bits, circular saw, Kreg Jig set, measuring angle, bolts and screws of various lengths. These things should always be at hand.

Work begins with assembling the racks and sidewalls:

Using a square, make sure that all corners of the assembled structure are straight. Mark the places where the sides will be fixed:

Once the parts are sanded and all the holes are drilled, you can apply a little wood glue to the joints. Without waiting for the glue to dry, remove excess with a napkin.

Fastening of sides with racks:

If necessary, the boards must be fastened from the inside at an angle. To drill pilot holes, use the essential Kreg Jig. This is a convenient and easy to use tool.

Attach the sides of the future bed to the posts:

The crib frame is almost ready:

Now attach the sides of the second tier:

Then prepare the places where the logs under the mattress will be attached:

First fill the unevenness and knots of the frame, then sand it. Next you need to make a ladder to the second tier.

Apply a first coat of water-based varnish. In this case, Lakra “Oak” was chosen. One of its advantages is that it has almost no odor. This is important since there are small children in the house. However, it also has a very unpleasant drawback - it is almost impossible to sand it, and even after drying, a sticky layer remains:

The second floor is almost ready. Next you can attach the logs.

Staircase view:

The staircase in this form is not entirely convenient - it “cuts” the legs, so it will need to be slightly modernized. But more on that later.

The top floor is already ready:

It is clear that the sides need to be increased. There is no need to add anything from the wall side. The bed will be close to the wall, which means there is nowhere to fall. On other sides this will definitely need to be done.

Next, lay the logs of the lower tier:

Now about the stairs. To avoid the awkwardness and pain of going down it, lightly sand the edges of the rungs with a hand planer or sander. This procedure will give them a neat appearance:

The result of the work:

As a result, you will get a reliable and stable structure. Now we can say with confidence that making such a bed yourself, given the abundance of materials and necessary tools that fill the shelves of hardware stores, is not at all difficult.

You will find more ideas and tips for making a two-tier structure in this article.

Canopy

Many people think that a canopy is not a very practical thing, because it accumulates too much dust and needs to be washed constantly.

However, in the absence of this element, all this dust settles on the bed, and the child breathes it. In addition, the canopy can protect the baby’s light sleep from sunlight and annoying insects.

This says it all: such a cape is necessary in a nursery. Natural fabrics are usually used as it:

muslin;
silk veil;
cotton veil;
silk organza;
chiffon.

Like the crib, the canopy can also be made with your own hands. To do this, use our step-by-step instructions with photographs.

Bed dress

To sew a pillowcase, sheet and duvet cover, it is best to use natural, breathable and at the same time beautiful fabrics. The following are perfect: flannel, calico, satin, poplin.

Mattress cover

To protect your mattress from moisture, you usually use a waterproof mattress protector. Moreover, it is not difficult to do it yourself. To do this, a structure is made consisting of oilcloth (inner part) and knitted, flannel or calico fabric (outer part). To prevent the mattress cover from slipping, an elastic band is sewn around the perimeter of the product.

Blanket

Choosing the appropriate size, color of fabric and type of filling is an undoubted advantage of any hand-sewn baby blanket. An interesting option is a patchwork quilt. Unusual designs and textures will delight the baby and attract his attention. Sewing it yourself will not take much time. For production, flaps of any shape and color are suitable.

Pillow

Here you should remember that a pillow for a small child should not be too large. The optimal solution is a product in the shape of an animal or insect. Holofiber, microfiber, cotton wool, goose down or bamboo fiber are usually used as filler.

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Real photos of children's rooms:

Swing for little ones

The playground for children must have devices that are suitable for the different ages of children. Pendulum swings are in demand among children. It’s easy to make a spring swing for a playground yourself. You will need car springs.

The base can be a reinforcing cross, to which a metal anchor is attached by welding. First, a hole is also dug and the base is prepared for installing a metal structure. Then, just like in the previous versions, all this is filled with concrete.

A seat is attached to the spring, which can be made based on the imagination of the master. For a girl you can make a horse from boards, for a boy you can make a motorcycle or a car.

Do-it-yourself automatic rocker for a crib

New model “nanina” version “Strong”

— Suitable for any longitudinal and transverse pendulum beds;

Gentle rocking of the baby is ensured by a software chip with a unique program “nanina 5.0”. The drive motor with a flywheel tightens and releases the thread, behind which a pendulum or arc mechanism for swinging the crib is pulled. At the same time, synchronicity and correct effort are maintained.

Parents no longer need to stand over their newborn’s crib for a long time to rock him to sleep, just push the crib with the connected device once and “nanina” will rock your baby to sleep!

The updated 2022 version has significantly increased drive power, extended the warranty on the device to 12 months, and increased operating life.

In order to rock a baby out of bed, there are electronic swings, rocking centers and other rocking chairs for newborns.

However, “nanina” is a fundamentally new and unique product. It is used to rock the baby in the cradle without the participation of parents, and can be installed on any existing free-swinging crib. The motor drive is attached to the fixed base of the crib or interior, and the rod with a clip is attached to the movable base.

To start the device, you need to rock the crib with your hand once, then “nanina” will rock the crib for 15 minutes. At the end of the time, an automatic stop will occur; if the child does not fall asleep, then to restart you need to rock the crib again.

One of the unique features of the nanina is that it uses an electronic drive with a power of only 5 W to rock the baby bed.

This energy consumption ensures complete safety for the child and at the same time allows you to rock any type of crib, without restrictions on the child’s weight.

The device is small in size, very easy to install and use, does not emit electromagnetic or other waves, is universal for any crib, and has a very affordable price. The structure of the device and the operating algorithm eliminate the possibility of injury to the child.

Fig. 1 “Methods of attaching “nanina” to cribs with a pendulum mechanism”

Rocks any baby crib rocker

The device can be installed on any freely swinging crib. When choosing a crib, be guided only by your own wishes in terms of form and content. Below are the types and images of baby cribs and bassinets that the device can be used with:

rocking bed with longitudinal swing pendulum;
children's bed with a transverse swing pendulum;
rocking bed on arches;
transformable children's bed with shelf;
hanging bassinets for newborns;
other rocking bassinets for newborns.

Rocking bed with longitudinal swing pendulum	Children's bed with transverse swing pendulum	Rocking bed on arches
Children's transforming bed with shelf	Hanging bassinets for newborns	Other rocking bassinets for newborns

Why rock your baby to sleep?

Rocking and feeding are a mother's first instincts to soothe her baby. Maternal motion sickness is inherent in nature, since the fetus in the mother’s body is in constant swaying. Rocking symbolizes for a child the protection, warmth, love and comfort of a mother's embrace.

Therefore, it is so important to give your child these sensations so that he grows up calm and confident. In addition to calming, there is an undoubted benefit of motion sickness in the development of the child’s vestibular apparatus. Doctors recommend rolling the child to activate cells and special hairs of the vestibular apparatus.

The crib rocker "nanina" is designed to ease mother's concerns about motion sickness. Give your child peace of mind and yourself a long-awaited rest.

What to give for a newborn's discharge

We recommend purchasing “nanina” as a newborn discharge gift.

This irreplaceable and original gift can be included as a set in a child’s crib, for example, along with a canopy and bedding, or as a completely separate gift.

It comes in colorful packaging and includes everything needed for installation and detailed instructions. The benefits of such a gift are obvious and will be appreciated by parents.

The device can be given as a gift at almost any time, after discharge, for one month, six, or even 1 year, because it has no restrictions on the child’s weight and the type of rocking crib.

Parents will appreciate the free time she will have, because with “nanina” there is no need to stand over the child’s crib for a long time to rock him to sleep.

Specifications

Adapter supply voltage - 110–240 V, 50/60 Hz, 0.5 A
Motor supply voltage - 5V 1500 mA
One rocking cycle - up to 15 minutes (depending on the type of crib)
Swing amplitude - 2-3 cm
Working life - at least 20,000 hours
Made in Russia
Manufacturer's warranty - 12 months from the date of purchase of the product

Delivery contents

Motor “nanina” with cord - 1 pc.
Network adapter with USB input - 1 pc.
Thread (drive cord) - 1 pc.
Fastening bolts with bushings - 5 pcs.
Fastening clips - 1 pc.
Operating manual (A3 format) - 1 pc.

The product is certified according to the EAEU

Review of the best automatic crib rocking devices

One of the modern devices that can make life easier for parents of a newborn baby is a mechanism for rocking a crib. Various manufacturers offer a large selection of products. To understand which one is better, you need to take a closer look at the description of each of them.

Well-known manufacturer of swinging devices - Bayu-Bai

Sleep is very important for a small child. Its quality depends on how comfortable the conditions are. The Bayu-Bai device is designed to automatically rock the crib smoothly, so the mother gets the opportunity to rest.

The device is easy to operate. Almost all models have several swing modes and many other useful features. It is controlled remotely and operates silently; these are some of the most important advantages of the device.

There are many other advantages that will help you make the right choice.

The device is equipped with a microphone that is sensitive to crying. Sensitivity can be adjusted. As soon as the baby starts crying, the rocking program starts.
The device starts the rocking program at the moment when the child begins to toss and turn.
There is a timer. Parents themselves regulate the swing time. The minimum is 10 minutes, but you can program the swing for up to an hour.
There are 6 speed modes. Therefore, adults themselves choose which swing the baby likes best.
The device operates absolutely silently and will not wake up the child.

Video

Sleep is an important part of an infant's life, so it is very important to provide a comfortable environment for your newborn to fall asleep. A bed with a rocking system for babies imitates the tenderness of a mother’s hands; smooth rocking of the sleeping place in one plane will ensure a calm and sweet sleep for the baby.

Details about do-it-yourself pendulum beds
How to make a pendulum for a crib with your own hands?
Procedure and necessary tools for making a crib yourself
Completion of the installation process

So, congratulations to your family! All members are in joyful anticipation of a miracle. But, despite the anticipation of the holiday, someone close to you should take care of preparing a comfortable sleeping place for the newborn. Grandmothers can buy or sew bedding sets, grandfathers, uncles and aunts can give toys and clothes, but, of course, the future dad should make a crib for the baby!

Diagram of a baby crib with dimensions.

This process will be both pleasant and useful, and will also help save financial resources for a young family. Convenience, environmental friendliness and safety - these are the advantages of a do-it-yourself crib. The pendulum in her device will add functionality and comfort.

Do-it-yourself rocker for cribs - Metalist's Guide

In anticipation of their first child, many parents prefer to prepare a room for the baby in advance by purchasing furniture items such as a wardrobe, chest of drawers, or sofa. It is worth considering that one of the really necessary things in the first months is a crib, in which the child will spend almost all the time.

Drawing of a rocking bed.

Selection of material and model

There are families in which dad can easily make a sofa equipped with powerful springs, neatly draped in exquisite fabric. For such a craftsman, it will not be difficult to make a cozy bed for your child with your own hands.

A rocking crib is the optimal model for a newborn. It is believed that you should not accustom your baby to holding hands, as this can significantly complicate the mother’s life in the future. Therefore, a bed that can be rocked rhythmically will be the best solution. The child will not get used to the hands, but will fall asleep much faster.

There is no need to waste time making newfangled models such as a rocking sofa, a ring-shaped bed, etc.

The child is growing quickly, and after about 1.5 years he will need another bed, with a larger size. It is better to focus on the classic version, in which the parents themselves once slept comfortably.

Making the sofa can be done later, when the baby can go to bed on his own.

Assembly diagram for a rocking bed.

Today there are a lot of designs on sale made of wood, modern plastic and metal. According to experts, the optimal crib should be made from natural wood.

First of all, it is worth considering that plastic can cause an allergic reaction. Metal is too cold a material and quickly heats up in the summer from sunlight.

A wooden bed is an ideal place to rest, bringing pleasant dreams.

Natural wood practically does not cause allergies, does not decompose in sunlight, does not heat up in direct rays like metal and looks great in appearance.

A beautiful bed assembled by dad provides a sound sleep no worse than a ready-made sofa from a famous brand.

Technological process

To make a crib you will need:

plywood covered with beech veneer, thickness 4, 15 and 18 mm;
sample;
4 bolts M8-60;
washers, nuts;
nails;
screws;
wooden dowels with a diameter of 8 mm;
wood glue;
hacksaw or jigsaw;
screwdriver or screwdriver.
sandpaper;
drill.
milling machine;
paint brush;
primer;
water-based paint.

The main part of the parts is made from a sheet of plywood. The balusters of the side railings are made from sheets whose thickness is 4 mm. Each side rail baluster is made from 2 blanks glued together in thickness.

Diagram of the pendulum mechanism of the crib.

To assemble the rocking chair with your own hands, you need to complete the following elements:

backrests - 2 parts, 828x620x18 mm;
shelf - 900x450x18 mm;
side wall - 900x270x18 mm;
handrails, 2 parts - 900x4x18 mm;
support bars, 2 parts - 60x18x18 mm;
runners, 4 parts - 760x80x15 mm;
stoppers, 4 parts - 190x70x15 mm;
linings for walls, 2 parts - 680x470x15 mm;
side wall overlay - 800x90x15 mm;
base - 900x470x15 mm;
elements for balusters, 40 parts - 240x25x4 mm.

All parts are cut from a plywood sheet of a certain thickness using a hacksaw. A drawing of the parts is first applied to the plywood.

When gluing the balusters, you need to give them a slight curvature using a special template. After gluing and removing the clamps, the block hardens very quickly, straightening out.

Therefore, it is recommended to make a template with a slightly smaller radius than the desired bend of the baluster.

Holes for dowels are made in the side walls using a drill with a stop-limiter. Grooves are made in the handrails and side walls to accommodate balusters.

Balusters are glued between the handrails and side rails, thoroughly cleaning the surface of all elements with sandpaper. It is better to give the balusters a slight curvature during gluing by pressing the clamps to the surface of the template.

This will give the crib a pleasant appearance. When assembled, the concave side of the balusters should be on the outside of the fence.

If a craftsman who can easily assemble a sofa decides to use decorative overlays, they should be strengthened before assembling the entire structure. They are attached to the front, back, and, if desired, to the side wall using clamps.

As soon as the parts are glued, it is necessary to carefully sand the surface of the elements. This task can be optimally accomplished using an orbital sander.

You can use decorative nails for fastening, drowning their caps as deeply as possible into the tree.

Before assembling the entire structure, it is advisable to round and carefully sand the edges. This procedure is especially carefully performed with handrails and the upper edges of the panels, which can be easily reached by an older child. Grinding and rounding are done with a milling machine.

The support skids are equipped with 2 stoppers that prevent the structure from turning over when swinging. Stoppers are cut out of a plywood sheet 15 mm thick. The front and back walls are secured with dowels and glue with runners. All parts are secured using self-tapping screws.

Quiet Wi-Fi mechanism

The Tikhonya Wi-Fi device is easy and convenient to control via any device where the Internet is connected. For example, a tablet or phone will do. You can connect to a Wi-Fi network or the device itself will find the network, as there is a built-in special access point. No need to install additional programs.

After installation, you are prompted to select a mode. If there is Wi-Fi, then the station mode is suitable; if it is not, the access point mode is selected. Then the intensity and time of swing are programmed, and the desired level of microphone sensitivity is set.

There are 6 speed modes, the swing starts when the child cries or tosses and turns, and there is a convenient remote control.

You can independently adjust the sensitivity of the built-in microphone to external stimuli.

The timer allows you to program the required time for swinging, the minimum interval is one minute.

The mechanism operates without creating any sound, there are no moving parts, and it does not take up much space.

Model Sonya

The device with an automatic pendulum mechanism Sonya works silently and copes with its tasks without difficulty. The device is easy to install; no additional skills are required. The package includes detailed instructions.

Review of the best automatic crib rocking devices

Model Goody

You can opt for the Goodie model, which also has a lot of positive aspects.

The device provides 6 swing speeds, which will allow you to choose the most convenient and enjoyable swing speed for your baby.
A remote control in the form of a key fob with buttons: start, stop and speed control allows you to control the mechanism remotely.
The device operates quietly, so it will not interfere with your baby’s healthy sleep.

The mechanism is easily installed on the crib; the kit contains all the necessary parts for assembling the structure.

Malyutka mechanism

The Malyutka mechanism is simple and easy to operate and has one swing speed, which can be set without remote control. In order to start the mechanism you need to rock the crib slightly. It also stops manually. Suitable for most cribs that have a pendulum mechanism.

Installation is easy and does not require any special skills. A magnet is fixed on the moving part, and a drive unit is installed on the stationary part of the crib. The device operates from the network.

Sovushka device

The modern model is the Sovushka swing mechanism. Works silently and safely. Includes many features to make parents' lives easier.

The mechanism has 6 different swing speeds.
There is a sensor that responds to the baby's crying and movement.
The timer allows you to set the desired time for swinging from 10 minutes.
The model includes a control panel with backlight and feedback, as well as a web server. But you can stop the crib manually.
The range of the remote control is up to 10 meters.

The device can be connected to a Wi-Fi network or it will find an access point itself if there is none.

Additional equipment for children's beds with a pendulum

Today, multifunctional furniture is valued, which allows you to optimize space as much as possible. Modern cribs for newborns can be combined with storage systems, a changing table, etc. Storage systems are represented by drawers and cupboards located at the bottom of the crib or on the sides of the bed.