Two master classes on how to make a baby crib with your own hands

The birth of a child is a new stage in the life of a young family. They prepare for it in advance, at this moment the parents become closer, jointly showing care for their child. Things necessary from the first days appear in the house: oilcloths, diapers, diapers, a bath, special hygiene products, a personal sleeping place. The cost of all the required items can be very burdensome for young couples, sometimes unaffordable. Many people try to save money, for example, they make their own toys or make a crib with their own hands.

If you draw up a drawing correctly and plan the design of the bed, then the furniture can be used for a long time, from the moment the child is born until his fourth or fifth birthday. It is extremely important to teach your baby to sleep separately from the first day. It is unacceptable to put him to bed in his parents' bed. Although most mothers sleep very lightly, something irreparable can happen in their sleep. In addition, it is difficult to wean a child from the parental bed.

Advantages and disadvantages

This material has both advantages and disadvantages. So, its advantages include its relatively low cost. For example, furniture board costs much less than the same chipboard. But he is more afraid of moisture. By the way, in the bedroom the air humidity is usually moderate, so it is quite possible to use a furniture panel to make a bed without fear for the fate and condition of the product in the future.

Advantages of furniture panels

If we compare furniture panels with natural solid wood, the latter has higher strength characteristics. But to make a solid wood bed, you will have to spend more money. And the furniture panel, thanks to the high-quality connection of its individual elements, still has fairly good strength. However, it is easier to work with it than with wood, due to its special pliability.

Furniture board has a number of advantages

Also furniture panel:

• able to influence the level of humidity in the room;
• hygienic and looks very beautiful;
• not dangerous to humans;
• can be used for many years.

Most often in the store you can find furniture panels made of pine, which is considered an ideal inexpensive option among other coniferous species. Furniture made from such a panel is often placed in the bathroom or kitchen, as well as in offices and other various rooms.

Pine furniture board

On a note! Pine furniture panels can also be used for the production of interior doors.

If we talk specifically about pine boards, they are considered durable, high-quality, and environmentally friendly. Can also be used for interior decoration. They are inexpensive compared to other shields.

Designs and sizes of children's beds

The easiest way to make standard furniture, which consists of four legs, a frame, a mattress and a headboard. The model is used exclusively for baby's sleep. If you fence the sleeping area around the perimeter with walls with bars, you will get a classic crib for a newborn. Although for this category you can use a cradle, playpen, rocking chair, and attached options.

In small rooms it is more practical to install multifunctional items. To do this, they are equipped with drawers, a chest of drawers, and other useful elements. A bed with a loft, where the sleeping place is placed on the second tier, is very functional. Below you can organize a play area and install lockers for storing items.

Furniture made in the shape of a typewriter looks unusual. This is an option for older children who have not reached adolescence. Non-standard design will allow you to create invisible cabinets inside, hidden under the hood or behind the door. You will have to tinker with many elements, which will require certain carpentry skills.

Among non-standard designs, you can choose a bed-house. This model is suitable for children over 3 years old. There are all the elements of a standard item, as well as doors and windows, and a gable roof. Decorative products will decorate any interior and will delight every child.

What kind of sides should I make?

Baby crib with folding bar on elastic bands

Sellers offer a wide variety of protective barriers for infant cribs: folding, lowering, hinged, sliding, with doors and hatches. But upon closer examination, it turns out that there is something everywhere in which a finger or the entire pen can get caught. And the recesses under the overhead parts carefully store dust and, as it were, invite settlers. Only unwanted ones and not of the human kind, but of the arthropod.

The simplest and safest bumpers for a newborn’s crib are folding ones with elastic bands, see fig. The height of the folding part of 150-180 mm is enough for the mother to comfortably care for her child. There are no complaints about such boards, but it is reliably known that at least one new person in this world with a character to envy m-mes Sobtchak & Timoshenko, for 3.5 years she was never injured or broke anything; The rubber bands were changed 2 times during this time.

Note: 2 ways of laying a folding strip of this type will be discussed below.

What material are beds made from?

When constructing children's furniture yourself, you need to decide on the materials that will be used in the work process. The main requirement is that the raw materials used must be environmentally friendly and not harm the baby’s development. Let us dwell on this issue in more detail, consider the optimal option for all components of the structure:

1. Mattress. It is recommended to purchase it in a specialized store, since purchased models are produced taking into account the recommendations developed by orthopedic doctors. If you plan to use the bed for more than one year, then it is better to choose double-sided products with different degrees of hardness. For children under three years of age, a hard, rigid covering is required, which helps support the back and the proper development of the body. The filling should be wool; you should not take models that contain cotton wool and foam rubber. The upholstery should also be made of natural fabric and have an antiseptic coating.
2. Frame, slats, legs, sides. For your beloved child, you should choose only a tree. Coniferous species are suitable for work: pine, spruce. Natural wood breathes, it is quite durable, and will suit any interior. Those who decide to use MDF or chipboard should remember that the boards contain phenol and formaldehyde resins, so it is necessary to take only models with emission class E-0.
3. Protective means. To extend their service life, wooden surfaces are treated with special compounds, painted and varnished. For these purposes, nitro enamel, acrylic, and water-based paint for children's rooms are used. An excellent option would be to use wax. To preserve the wood texture, you can use acrylic varnish; other options are highly toxic.

If you have available funds, you can purchase dense wood species: solid oak, larch. This is the most durable material, the products look rich, but processing the raw materials is quite difficult.

Drawings and instructions

Buyers should check for instructions included with the kit. But if it is missing, do not be upset, as you can use diagrams of similar models.

Instructions for assembling simple crib models:

The manufacturer's drawings allow you to understand what the final bed will look like and how to assemble it correctly. They should contain a list of components with their images, several step-by-step installation diagrams and recommendations. The instructions must be provided in a language understandable to the user.

The use of drawings and instructions is relevant, as it can significantly simplify the installation process and ensure comfortable operation. Assembly can be done either with an assistant or independently.

Making a bed with your own hands

Having firmly decided to build a structure yourself, you should understand all the nuances associated with its creation. Initially, a drawing is developed that displays all the component elements. Then they acquire the materials necessary for the work, prepare the tools, and if any of them are missing, they buy them in addition.

Based on the diagram, raw materials are divided into component parts. They are cut out, combined into a single structure, treated with special compounds, painted, varnished, and decorated. For clarity, we will consider in detail the main stages that the process of making a classic crib includes.

Drawings and diagram

The creation of any object is impossible without a drawing. In a graphic image made to a certain scale, the dimensions of the nodes are indicated. To compile it, you will need minimal drawing skills; you can also use special programs. When developing a project, you should consider:

1. Dimensions of the room where the product will be installed. The spacious room can accommodate a larger bed.
2. The dimensions of standard products for children under three years of age are 120x60 cm. If you plan to use the design in the future, preference should be given to larger models 150x60 cm, 180x70 cm.
3. At the bottom of the crib you can equip cabinets in which children's things will be stored.
4. For preschoolers, it is worth providing removable sides that will protect them from rolling and falling.
5. Design and decoration are chosen depending on the preferences of the parents.

Required tools and materials

To make and assemble the bed you will need the following materials:

• board;
• MDF sheet;
• varnishes and paints;
• screws, fasteners, rubber heels for legs.

Tools:

• wood saw, jigsaw;
• hammer, screwdriver, screwdriver;
• drill, drill bit;
• measuring instruments, a simple pencil.

Main parts and their preparation

A standard bed consists of 4 legs, 2 backs, sides, removable sides, frame, slats, mattress. The last element from the list is purchased ready-made, the rest are made by hand. The process looks like this:

1. In accordance with the drawing, markings of all components are applied to the tree. This can be done using a tape measure and a simple pencil.
2. The elements are cut using a jigsaw or saw.
3. The components are sanded with sandpaper.
4. Depending on the length of the sidewalls, metal corners are cut out with a grinder and used to install the mattress. Holes are drilled in them for self-tapping screws to secure them to the wood.
5. All components are painted and varnished.

Main assembly steps

Work on assembling the bed is carried out in the following sequence:

1. The backrests located at the head and foot are assembled. They are connected to the legs.
2. Prepare the base for the mattress. To do this, metal corners are attached to the wooden sides using self-tapping screws. The lamellas are fixed to them from above, perpendicular to the side walls.
3. The backs and base for the mattress are connected using furniture fittings; for reliability it is better to use corners.
4. A mattress is installed on the frame.
5. Removable protective sides are added to the sides, secured to special metal or wooden fittings.
6. If necessary, the finished product is decorated.

Manufacturing and assembly of a bed-machine

Children will be delighted with this design. Anyone can make it. To do this, you will need to draw up a drawing or download it online. After which you can start cutting out the components and assembling. The work consists of the following stages:

1. The side and front walls are made from furniture panels.
2. Cutouts are made on the side surfaces, imitating car doors, through which it will be convenient for the child to get inside.
3. On one of the end parts, using a jigsaw, carefully cut out holes for the headlights and radiator.
4. Next, several more planks are cut out to imitate a car hood and windshield.
5. The wheels are being prepared.
6. Wooden corners are attached to the side walls, on which the base for the mattress is laid.
7. A rectangular frame is assembled from the prepared parts and mounted on wheels.
8. The resulting workpiece is painted or varnished.
9. The base is fixed inside the frame and the mattress is laid.

How to proceed?

Now you have all the necessary components to make an excellent do-it-yourself crib for a newborn: drawings, photos of the model you like, and it’s time to start the manufacturing process. First, let's prepare everything necessary for assembly.

We produce materials and make crib parts

The following types of work need to be performed:

• Process wooden boards using a machine, which should be 70 x 35 mm in size;
• To construct the bottom you will need timber from which the frame is made. You will also need 6 transverse bars, in which you will need to make nests measuring 25mm;
• These notches can be made either on a machine or with a straight cutter;
• To calculate the back frame, you need to add to 600 mm the thickness of the side walls, multiplied by two and another 25 mm;
• For the bars of the lattice walls of the crib, 20 x 20 mm slats are needed, which are rounded on a milling machine.

Do not forget that this crib is made for a child, so all sharp corners and edges should be rounded and sanded.

Features of assembling a bed for newborns

For newborns, the bed design should be slightly different. Its standard size is 120x60 cm; when the child reaches 3 years old, it will become a bit cramped for him. When planning, it is worth considering the possibility of adjusting the height of the bed. When the child is small, it is convenient to place him higher, but as soon as he learns to stand up, the bottom will have to be lowered for safety.

For a comfortable sleep for the baby, parents, neighbors, it is worthwhile to provide one removable side or end wall in the crib, which will allow it to be placed near the parent’s wall. The distance between the rods around the entire perimeter is made within 2.5 - 6 cm. These are the optimal sizes at which the child will not be able to pinch his fingers or stick his head through. Do not forget about the strength of the product and good fixation of removable elements.

In addition to the listed features, the legs of the bed are often installed on wheels, making it mobile. Pendulum mechanisms or rocking chairs are also equipped. Their use is recommended by pediatricians. This makes it easy to lull your baby to sleep. It is advisable to use the bumper only in the first months; subsequently it should be removed to increase the overview of the child’s understanding of the world.

Bed decor with soft sides of your own making

Not only dad can contribute to the family budget by building a ready-made crib. Mom can also join this process by decorating the product with soft sides. Externally, the craft resembles covers filled with filler. In addition to a decorative function, they also have a practical function: they protect the baby from accidental impacts on the bars, and do not allow him to stick his hand between them. When sewing them, certain requirements must be observed:

• The fabric should only be natural; linen, calico, and cotton are suitable. Wool must be used as filler.
• It is better to choose the material in light, pastel shades, which have a good effect on the child’s psyche.
• If a drawing is provided, then it should be made in medium size; a small one will irritate him.

Master class on making a bunk bed

This is an ideal option for a family with two children of the same age, be it a boy and a girl or same-sex babies. The design of a bunk crib is similar to a single-tier crib. The only minor differences are the presence of a ladder, the height of the product, and the mounting of two stocks on the same supports. For safety, there is a side on top located around the entire perimeter. To understand all the intricacies of the model, consider a master class on making such a bed:

1. We prepare boards with a section of 3.5x10 cm. According to the chosen pattern, we cut out 4 blanks of 190 cm, 4 of 180 cm, 4 of 80 cm.
2. On 190 cm boards, retreating 30 cm from each edge, we make grooves on both end sides, top and bottom, for the width of the crossbars 3.5x10 mm.
3. Assembling the side backs. To do this, two support legs are connected using 80 cm segments.
4. The finished backs are connected using 4 pieces of 180 cm each, installed in the outer end grooves.
5. We make the base for the mattress from above and below. To do this, slats are nailed along the perimeter of both tiers on top of the sidewalls. Here they can not be recessed, thanks to the sides located in a circle.
6. We install the stairs. Its length should be the distance from the lower edge of the side partition to the upper edge of the support.
7. We install the sides and lay the mattress.

Models for babies

The most popular models for newborns are round and classic rectangular cribs

Classic models, due to their popularity, are made from different types of wood, painted in a variety of colors and are presented in a variety of price categories. Therefore, it is very easy to choose a model that is suitable in appearance, functionality and price.

Things are much more complicated with the choice of a round or oval crib. Typically, the functionality of oval and rectangular cribs is the same, but their prices are much higher. This circumstance usually scares away young mothers and fathers.

Despite the apparent complexity of the design, making such a crib is not so difficult. Just look at the photo of how to make an oval-shaped crib to understand its structure.

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Making your own bed with storage drawers

As a basis for the manufacture of such a design, you can take any drawing of a standard bed. The only difference will be the presence of full side walls and drawers. First of all, it is necessary to determine their number. This could be one element that occupies the entire space under the crib, two, or even three. It is also worth considering the type of retractable parts. There are two radically different options: independent from the main body, attached to the frame, retractable on guides.

The process of constructing the product will be similar to preparing and assembling a regular single children's bed. Here it is necessary to provide not legs, but side walls and intermediate partitions on which the guides will be attached. It is also worth considering the fact that the gap between the floor and the bottom of the tray should be at least 1 cm.

To make the box itself, you will need to prepare four pieces of wood; their dimensions depend on the size of the space under the crib. Next, they are connected into a rectangular or square box, a sheet of chipboard or plywood is nailed to the bottom. To strengthen the structure from the inside, 4 support strips are installed from below along the entire perimeter, and an inset bottom is made, which allows you to store heavier items.

Varieties

All beds with a pendulum allow you to rock your baby directly in the cradle. However, they are divided into different types and are longitudinal, transverse and universal. You can choose the right model by determining your needs and familiarizing yourself with each type in detail.

1) Longitudinal pendulum . Its main advantage is a good imitation of the natural rocking of a child in the mother’s arms. With longitudinal rocking, the baby will calm down and fall asleep much faster.

2) Transverse pendulum . Such cribs are compact in size, so they are suitable for installation in rooms with a small area. They have been used for many years, but previously they tended to turn over to one side. In modern conditions, children's beds are equipped with special devices that prevent them from tipping over. All pendulum products have a locking mechanism, but this does not mean that it will perform its functions properly. Some manufacturers install low-quality parts on their products, so inspection and testing should be carried out during the selection process. It is also important to carry out the installation process correctly.

3) Universal pendulum . Beds of this type provide users with the ability to transform the mechanism. This is convenient if you may need to change the position of a piece of furniture in the future. In this case, parents will be able to convert the bed in a short time. Such models also have the ability to remove side rails and install additional accessories.

The choice depends on the preferences of buyers. It is better to choose universal beds with a pendulum when the room area and budget allow.

Decoration methods

For a children's bed, comfortable conditions and practical design are equally important. To improve the baby's conditions, auxiliary decorative elements are used, which also carry a number of useful functions. Let's consider the most popular options for decorating this item:

• Canopy. An elegant canopy that is sewn from any natural fabric. This item is recommended to be used for up to 4-5 months.

In addition to decoration, the product serves as protection against insects. It collects a lot of dust, so it needs to be washed often.

• Canopy. Unlike the previous option, only light, transparent materials are used: tulle, organza, veil. Fastening is done using a rod.
• Valance. This is the frame of the lower edge of the bed. It covers the lower part of the furniture, which will perfectly disguise some mistakes made when making the crib yourself.
• Hanging toys. Often hung in pairs with a music mobile. This type of decor is made from cardboard or fabric. Contribute to the development of the child. They can have the most varied appearance, be it snowflakes, animals, flowers or others.
• Stickers. You can buy them at any furniture store. When fixing them, you should make sure that the child cannot reach them.

Painting a bed - which paint is best to use?

In the industrial production of children's beds, oil paints are used. They improve the appearance, protect the surface from damage, and are easy to clean from dirt. When choosing coloring agents yourself, you should study their composition to make sure that it does not contain toxic, poisonous elements. These requirements are met:

• Water-based acrylic paints. They are distinguished by high cost and good performance.
• Nitro paints. They have no pronounced odor, are inexpensive, and dry quickly.
• Water-based. Characterized by a long service life. With their help you can hide shallow cracks.
• Wax. The most expensive option. This is an impeccable, high-quality coating with water-repellent properties.

About the canopy

A canopy over a newborn's crib is not a luxury. And not so much a remedy for dust, which should not exist in a nursery or in a well-kept apartment in general. But remember, which adult has not been driven to white heat by an autumn fly or a mosquito itching and itching in the dark? What does it feel like for a baby who doesn’t yet use his hands? And there is really no need to turn on the fumigator or spray repellent in the nursery.

Canopies for cribs

The canopy over the baby's crib is made from natural fabric that allows air to pass freely: chiffon, voile (silk or cotton), organza (silk only), muslin. The optimal design is a tent, on the left in the figure, or a tent, in the center, allowing, if necessary, to completely fold back/retract the canopy. But we remember: in the process of learning about the environment, the child will tug and pull the canopy.

Purchased children's canopies are equipped with a durable bracket with a holder made of light, durable elastic plastic, on the right in Fig. If you make it yourself, the best option is a canopy tent suspended on a cord from the ceiling. An M6 hook-screw screwed into a steel threaded collet cannot be pulled out of the ceiling by a strong adult, and if it is unscrewed, the hole is almost invisible on a ceiling only 2.5 m high. except for the lightest fabric and thin lace, it will not fall off.

Note: the best protection for the crib from annoying insects and dust, under which even an asthmatic will not be out of breath, is a mosquito net. But not a fiberglass window, but a special tropical one. Its meshes are wider than those of airy dress-drapery fabrics and it itself is stronger. This is a rare product here, but still take an interest. Ruched bows also look good on her.

Tips for choosing a mattress and pillow for a child

A person cannot live without a pillow. This is due to the structure of the human body. The element supports the curvature of the cervical spine and promotes blood flow to the brain. This object begins to be placed on the child at the age of 1-2 years, depending on his physical development. The product should have a rectangular shape from 30x40 to 40x60 cm. Its thickness should be: for children under three years old - 3-4 cm, after - 5-6 cm. Its elasticity plays an important role; a pillow that is too soft will lead to pain in the cervical vertebrae, rapid fatigue.

Bird down, natural wool, buckwheat husk, holofiber, and latex are used as filler. The last three options are the best in terms of elasticity. When selecting fabric material, preference should be given to natural fiber treated with antiseptics. It is better to choose models in which the cover is fastened with a zipper, then you can control the condition of the filler.

Unlike a pillow, a mattress is necessary from the first days of a child. It must be hypoallergenic, safe, and absorb and evaporate liquids without problems. For babies, elasticity is also of great importance, so it is necessary to take only orthopedic products. Otherwise, the requirements for filling and covering are almost the same, as for pillows.

Choice of bed linen

Any person gains strength during sleep, and babies still grow and develop. Every parent wants to make this moment calm. In this matter, they are helped by bed linen, which should be of high quality, made from natural materials. The following types of fabric are used for these purposes:

• cotton,
• chintz,
• satin,
• calico,
• linen,
• bamboo.

The color of the selected canvas should be neutral; it is better to use pastel, light colors that are conducive to sleep. For newborns, a product without a pattern is suitable; for older children, but not teenagers, underwear with a print of their favorite characters from cartoon series is suitable. Also, when choosing bedding, you should pay attention to:

• the material should not lose its structure and color from frequent washing;
• Do not take underwear with buttons, ribbons, or lace;
• the filler should be chosen from fluff or wool;
• use different fabrics according to the season.