Building Instructions for Baby Rocker Cradles

A hand-made cradle can become a family heirloom.

Creating a hand-made baby cradle can be a fulfilling project for an expectant parent or grandparent. It can provide a soothing place for an infant to rest and may become a cherished family heirloom, passed down from one generation to the next. Following standard cradle woodworking instructions, in addition to careful assembly, can result in quality craftsmanship from even an inexperienced woodworker.

Things You'll Need

• Cradle woodworking plans
• Pencil
• Spray adhesive
• Hardboard
• Solid wood
• Band saw
• Sandpaper
• Wood glue
• Wood screws
• Drill
• Wooden plugs
• Rubber mallet

Instructions

1. Acquire woodworking plans. Baby cradle woodworking plans are available for purchase through woodworking magazines or websites. A basic rocking cradle is composed of seven main pieces: headboard, foot board, bottom, two sides and two rockers with supporting wood strips, according to Ron Hazelton's House Calls.

2. Attach woodworking drawings to 1/4 inch hardboard. Apply a spray adhesive to the back of the plans for the curved wooden pieces (headboard, foot board and rockers) to secure them to the hardboard. Press from the center outward to smooth any bubbles, bumps or wrinkles that occur.

3. Use a band saw to cut out the templates. Follow the drawings and carefully cut along the lines for an accurate template.

4. Lay the templates on top of the solid wood that will be used to make the cradle and trace around the templates with a carpenter pencil.

5. Carefully cut along the template pencil lines of each cradle component piece. Pay special attention to the curved areas to get a smooth cut. Measure and cut 1" by 1" wooden strips to serve as support pieces along the headboard, foot board and either side of the bottom of the cradle.

6. Attach bottom support pieces to the cradle pieces. Use wood glue to attach the wooden strips to the bottom edge of the headboard, foot board and two side pieces. Use wood screws to reinforce the glue for a secure attachment.

7. Assemble the cradle frame. Apply a line of wood glue to the side of the headboard and attach it to the inside edge of one side panel piece. Secure with screws through pre-drilled, countersunk holes. Repeat to attach the second panel side and foot board piece. Once securely attached, pre-drill countersunk screw holes into the 1" by 1" wooden support pieces around the inside perimeter of the cradle.

8. Attach the bottom of the cradle with screws. Lay the bottom cradle piece inside the cradle. Screw wood screws into the pre-drilled, countersunk screw holes to secure. Pre-drill countersunk screw holes in the bottom of the cradle where the rockers will be attached.

9. Attach the rockers. Use wood glue to attach the rockers to the underside of the cradle before securing with screws in the countersunk screw holes on the opposite side.

10. Cover the countersunk screw holes. Apply wood glue to the bottom of a wooden plug that is the same size as the screws that were used on the project and gently tap them into each screw hole using a rubber mallet.

Tips & Warnings

• Use sandpaper to smooth any rough edges.

References

• Ron Hazelton: How to Build a Cradle