Cradle questions

Both of my kids had a cradle that they slept in just about every night and it was very “floor hieght” and it was on rockers. I vaguely re-call reaching over from the bed I slept on (which was also floor hieght) and giving the cradle a slight push which often stopped my babies constant nighttime screaming sessions.

In the event the pushing/rocking of the cradle didnt work, then that meant picking the screaming infant up and rocking us both to sleep in the rocking chair.

Both kids turned out pretty good.

Their mother is still recovering!

-- http://www.furnituremann.ca/

Most of the pendulum cradles I’ve seen here have a locking mechanism that can be used to prevent the rocking and thus trapping the infant at the side.

Lew

mart,
I built one of the pendulum design for a friend last year. His only problem has been trying to keep the younger children from rocking the new one all the time-lol I told him he could just glue the stop in place if he wanted so they wouldn’t remove it all the time. My design was made with the intent that the mother did not have to bend over either. I had no plans or established dimensions with which to work, it was flying by the seat of your pants. Please view it on my projects and see if it’s of any benefit in your quest.
Sincerely,
Ken McGinnis

-- woodbutcher north carolina

I found the idea of a cradle to be quite out-dated. When we became pregnant with the first my wife asked for one and I refused. She ended up borrowing a bassinet from a family member. It was used for 2 weeks and then the baby was moved to sleeping in his crib (which I did make) in his own room.

Hence I felt justified in not spending the time and money building a cradle that would have seen maybe 2 weeks of use before taking up space. Since it would have been hand made my wife would have insisted on keeping it for future use, meaning it would then be my responsibility for storing it in my already-over-crowded storage area.

The crib on the other hand was used for an entire 18 months before the first born was upgraded to his big-boy bed and now the second son is in the crib for another 14-16 months. When the crib is done it comes apart and can be stored in a 12” thick package.

I have made cradles for people who insisted on them, though I tried to talk them out of it, a fool and his money are soon parted.

Good luck and I applaud your willingness to try and help these people out. Perhaps you should have a chat with them to find out if there is anything they are specifically looking for that you could make.

-- Rich, WNY, www.nyrockingchairs.com

I had a pendulum cradle for my second child. It was very pretty. I used it for about a week. Make the new mothers a picture frame, or a plaque with baby’s birth info on it instead.

-- Berta in NC

Build a nice rocking chair instead. That could be used for some time during feedings, rocking to sleep, etc.

I have made several pendulum type cradles (one was posted about two weeks ago) and they were used for about 6 month before the baby starts to roll over and get on their hand and knees. At that point they become a hazard and the kid is ready for a crib. The tipping problem is easily solved by installing a movable stop pin that goes between the upright and the cradle bed to lock it in place when rocking is not desired. I also made mine with threaded metal inserts at the bolting places so it could be taken apart and stored flat to await the next new born or the next generation which ever comes first. Also the little girls like to play dolls with them when they get old enough. Nursing mothers tell me they found it handy to have the cradle next to their bed where they could rock the infant and also easily lift them out to their own bed for feeding. Of course they still had to get up to change the diaper (-:

-- Les B, Oregon

I’ve made a cradle that won the first contest on LumberJocks. I was also concerned about the length of time that a cradle would be used. Look at my design and the solution.

The last post I made at the end of this one has it being used as a glider.

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

In 2000 I made a neat hooded cradle on rockers. Everyone liked it, however, my grandson out grew it in just a few weeks. My daughter has it stored somewhere – not in sight. Unless the family plans to have several children, a crib is probably a more practical project.

That said, I think I still have the plans if you are interested.

-- "Heaven is North of the Bridge"

I built a crib a few years back that converted to a twin bed by using the crib’s headboard and footboard as a headboard and footboard for a bed.

I built a cradle for my son. It is essentially a pendulum type although the cradle is a boat and it hangs from lines. I was concerned that my son would roll over to one side and get himself traped against the side. I was also concerned that he’d be able to capsize it and fall out. He never did roll over toward the side and even at 4 1/2 years old he still can’t capsize it with his weight on the side of it. Actually I can’t capsize it by pressing odown on the gunwale either.

-- Until you spread your wings, you'll have no idea how far you can walk.

I should of done more research before I built the rocker cradle for my great grandchild. It is walnut and took a lot of time to build. It was never used. The young parents now days use the modern automatic swing type, which really make sense. It now sets in the corner of our living room.

-- Ron in Osseo, Minnesota

Those are some awesome cradles. I guess I will look at something else for them. It sounds like most cradles don’t get used for very long. Maybe I will will make a couple for the church nursery instead so that they will see more use. I haven’t summoned up the courage yet to try a rocking chair, or a chair of any kind for that matter. I guess that needs to be high on my list of “learn how to”.

Mart

Per her request I made a cradle for my daughter. She used it for both of the boys but I have no idea for how long. Personally our kids went directly to the crib with crib bumpers of course . my wife and I alternated “on call nights” so you could get a full nights sleep every other night. and not having them in our room wasn’t ever an inconvenience.

-- RTB. "dumb animals are not stupid they simply can't talk "

While I only made a floor cradle I did provide for the rockers to be removed and its further use as a magazine rack when the baby out grew it.
http://lumberjocks.com/projects/9923

-- Say what you mean and mean what you say.

The cradles in the 1600’s where built so the baby was protected

-- If you have a garden, a shop and a library, you have everything you need with apologies to Marcus Tullius Cicero

TN,

Now that’s a cradle. Wow!

Mart