How to Make a Rocking Baby Crib

Rocking baby cribs soothe a baby with the repetitive motion.

Babies are the most wonderful gift that anyone can receive. But sometimes they can get a bit cranky, and the best way to soothe them is with a rocking motion. Parents have been using rocking cribs since before the 1500s. They provide a safe place for the infant to sleep and give the parent the ability to put the child to sleep with the rocking motion, instead of holding them. There are many styles and variations of the crib, but they all serve the same purpose.

Things You'll Need

• Pencil
• Paper
• Ruler
• ¼-inch cardboard
• Spray adhesive
• Band saw
• 1-inch MDF board
• Wood glue
• Screws
• Drill with Philips bit
• Paint or stain

Instructions

1. Draw out the design of your crib onto a large sheet of paper. With a ruler, draw out the head board and foot board. These will be similar except the foot board will be three inches shorter. The base of the head board and foot board needs to measure at least 12 inches. The top of the head board should measure no more than 18 inches. The height of the head board should be no taller than 21 inches. You can get creative with the line on the top, but the sides and bottom lines need to be straight. Use a ruler to ensure that you draw the straightest lines possible.

2. Draw out the side panels of the crib. These need to be cut to match the height of the corners of both the head board and the foot board. Again, you can get creative with the line on the top, but the sides and bottom lines need to be straight and square.

3. Draw out the bottom panel to measure exactly 12x36 inches.

4. Draw out the rockers for the crib. You will need two, but one drawing will work. You will be using these as templates to trace onto the wood.

5. Lay the drawing face down on top of a piece of ¼-inch cardboard.

6. Spray the back of the template with spray adhesive.

7. Turn the template back over and place it on top of the cardboard. Press, then smooth the paper out on the hard board.

8. Cut the design out of the cardboard with a band saw.

9. Trace all of the templates out on the one-inch MDF board.

10. Cut all of the pieces out with the band saw. Take your time, so that you don't end up with a crooked line.

11. Apply wood glue along the sides of the head board. Press the side panel against the edge of the head board. Screw the two together with a screw every four inches. Do the same with the other side panel and foot board.

12. Attach a one-inch-square strip of wood to the bottom of all four pieces: the two side panels, the head, and foot boards. Use wood glue and a screw every four inches.

13. Measure the 36-inch side of the bottom panel, and mark a line four inches away from the 12-inch side of the board. Do the same on the other side. Transfer that mark to both sides of the board. This will be your guide for the rockers on the bottom. There should be two lines on both sides of the board, four inches away from the 12-inch side.

14. Apply a line of wood glue to the one-inch strips.

15. Set the bottom panel in place. Screw it down to the one-inch strips with a screw every four inches.

16. Turn the crib over.

17. Apply a line of wood glue to the top of the rockers.

18. Align the rockers with the line on the bottom panel of the crib.

19. Turn the crib over carefully.

20. Screw the crib to the rockers with a screw every four inches.

21. Paint or stain the crib.

References

• Ron Hazelton's House Calls: How to build a cradle