How to Make Stake Bed Sides

Keep your child safe while sleeping by installing stake bed sides.

Keeping children safe is a high priority for parents. This is especially true during the night when they are old enough to sleep in a twin bed. One way to protect a child while she grows accustomed to her new bed is to build simple stake bedsides that are easily removed when not in use. Slip the ends of the stakes into the pockets on the bed frame at night and rest confidently knowing your child is safe from falling off the side of the bed.

Things You'll Need

• 2 pieces of 1-by-2-inch oak, 23 1/2 inches long
• Measuring tape
• Variable speed drill
• 1/16-inch drill bit
• 3/8-inch countersink bit
• 3 pieces of 1-by-6-inch oak, 72 inches long
• Combination square
• Phillips-head screw tip
• 2 blocks of wood, 2 inches
• 24 wood screws, 1 1/4-inch
• 3 pieces of 1-by-2-inch oak, 3 inches long

Instructions

1. Place the 1-by-2-by-23 1/2-inch oak pieces on their widest side on a worktable. Measure from one end of each piece and make marks at 4 1/2, 7, 12, 14 1/2, 19 1/2 and 22 inches. Make a mark on these marks that is three-quarters of an inch from one of the long sides.

2. Drill pilot holes on each of the marks with a one-sixteenth-inch drill bit. Drill countersink holes three-eights of an inch deep in the same place as the pilot holes to hide the heads of the screws when installed. These are the stakes for the bedside rails. Each rail gets two of these.

3. Lay the 1-by-6-inch oak pieces on a worktable. Measure from one end of each piece and make marks at 23 1/4 and 24 3/4 inches. Put the combination square on the marks and draw lines across the material. Repeat this from the other end of each piece. These are the rails of the stake bedsides.

4. Set one of the stakes between the lines on one of the rails so the end of the stake is even with the long side of the rail. Secure it with the wood screws. Repeat this with another stake between the lines on the other end of this rail.

5. Put the 2-inch blocks against the long side of the rail between the stakes. Slide another rail under the stakes until it is against the 2-inch blocks. Secure this rail to the stakes as you did the first one. Set the 2-inch blocks against the long side of this rail and secure the third rail to the stakes. Turn the stake bedside over so the stakes are on the bottom.

6. Lay the 1-by-2-by-3-inch oak on a worktable. Make a mark 1 inch from both ends and then make a mark on those marks that is three-quarters of an inch from the 3-inch sides. Drill pilot holes followed by countersink holes as before. Secure these pieces to the uncovered ends of the stakes with the wood screws.

Tips & Warnings

• Sand all the edges of the oak with 100-grit sandpaper before applying a finish.

• Do not leave power tools within the reach of small children.

• Do not apply a finish to the stake bedsides without proper ventilation.

References

• Baby Shop Magazine: What Goes into Making a Good Bed Guard

Resources

• Safe Kids: Little Kids at Home