BROWSE HOW TOs

How to Build a Rocking Bed

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

Rate: (3 Ratings)

Rocking beds are usually just for babies in the form of a crib or cradle, but you can use a simple design to build a rocking bed of any size for children and even adults. Rocking motions are thought to help decrease a number of sleeping discomforts such as sleep apnea, and can also work well for children who have trouble getting to sleep.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

Wood materials to fit your design
Measuring tape
Table saw
Hammer and nails
Sand paper
Furniture stain and finish

Step1

Measure the mattress you are building the bed for, whether it is child-size or a standard size. Purchase enough wood to build a wooden frame for the bottom of the bed and slats every 6 inches of the bed's length, as well as a wooden casing for the sides of the mattress.

Step2

Sand all of your wood after cutting it to fit the dimensions of your project.

Step3

Assemble the frame for the bottom of the mattress first. This frame should be rectangular in shape, with the boards laid flat to allow you to attach the slats and the casing. The frame should be about 2 inches larger than the mattress in every direction to allow you to fit the boards to the sides for casing.

Step4

Attach the slats horizontally across the rectangle at 6-inch intervals to support the mattress. Build the casing by standing the boards up on the sides of the frame and nailing in place.

Step5

Turn the bed frame over and attach pre-cut rockers. You can build rockers by cutting two identical pieces of wood into a shallow curve. Be aware that the sharper the curve, the more extreme the rocking motion will be, so aim for a total curve of no more than 3 or 4 inches in depth for the largest bed and only about 2 for a smaller bed.

Step6

Sand the entire project again when finished and use furniture stain and finish to complete the project. Allow to dry completely before using.