Home >> Toys >> Wooden Toys

How to Make a Wooden Baby Cradle

Babies love a gentle rocking motion. Place a baby in a wooden cradle, rock it slowly and the infant will soon settle into a peaceful slumber. Older siblings can rock the cradle while Mom rests. Mom or Dad can push the wooden cradle with one foot while doing other tasks, such as reading, folding laundry or preparing ingredients for dinner
.

Things You'll Need

Two 36-inch-diameter 1/2-inch thick half circles of hardwood of your choice: maple, oak or walnut Two sheets of 24-inch-by 36 inch 1/2 inch thick hardwood in maple, oak or walnut One sheet of 24 inch by 36 inch by 1/2 inch thick plywood 5 minute epoxy One box 1 inch long brass wood screws Power drill, 1/8 inch drill bit, countersink bit Carpenter's glue Clamps Two 2 inch by 2 inch by 36 inch lengths of hardwood 4 brass acorn nuts, with two 1/4 inch diameter brass fender washers for each nut Four 2 inch long pieces of threaded rod Contact cement Belt sander Coarse, medium, fine and extra fine sanding belts

Instructions

- 1
  Find the center point at each end of the 2 inch-by-2 inch-by-36 inch lengths of hardwood. Drill a 1-inch deep hole in the center of each end of each piece. Coat inside of hole with 5-minute epoxy. Insert threaded rod into each end of the wood.
- 2
  Scribe a 24-inch arc across each rocker end of the cradle, parallel with the flat edge of the half circle. Drill a 1/4-inch hole 1 inch from the right and left ends of the arc you just scribed, on each half circle. Connect rocker ends to the 2 inch-by-2 inch-by-36 inch hardwood lengths, inserting the threaded rods through the holes in the rocker and capping them with brass acorn nuts.
- 3
  Lay the 24 inch-by-36 inch sheet of plywood across the 2 inch-by-2 inch-by-36 inch bottom supports. Screw cradle bottom into place with 1-inch wood screws.
- 4
  Lay cradle sides in place, adjusting side placement until the top edges of the sides will lie flush with the outer edge of the half circle of the rocker. Drill 1/8-inch-diameter pilot holes in each rocker end and in the narrow end of each cradle side, and attach cradle sides using 1-inch brass wood screws.
- 5
  Sand and stain cradle. Allow stain to dry overnight. Coat cradle with two to three layers of clear acrylic deck treatment and allow to dry for several days.

Wooden Toys