The Crib Project for our 1st baby
Hey there, my name is Zach, I currently own a hardwood flooring installation and refinishing company in Winston-salem,NC. I have recently found out that my wife is pregnant with our first child. Of course being the wood worker that I am, I want to build our crib instead of going to buy one. Not being cheap, I just want it to have centimental value to our child and to us. I would like it to be a convertable style crib that can be converted into a toddler bed as well as a full size bed, for when he or she gets older. The reason behind this message is that I need some plans, so if any of you have any that you would like to share I would be highly greatful. Thank you everyone, I look forward to hearing from you. You can also E-mail me at : [email protected]
Thanks again,
Zach
Replies
Zach,
Do a search on cribs and cradles here on Knots. You should find quite a few on cribs and cradles but I believe I recall having seen plans for what you are looking for.
Alan - planesaw
for what it's worth here are my 2 cents....
you will find the designs for a convertable bed (crib, toddler, twin) very limiting in their design and hardware choices.
by the time the bed goes from crib... to toddler bed... to twin bed, it will be pretty well worn. even the best behaved children are hell on furniture.
When faced with this same situation 5 years ago I elected to make a conventional crib. It does not change into anything or do any special tricks, other than drop one side. this allowed me to make it in the style I wanted with the hardware I wanted.
We skipped the toddler bed and went straight to a full size bed and I made a headboard and footboard, again in the style of my choosing.
Now she has a bed that is useable until she moves away and even then can be taken with her.
She also now has a the handmade crib that her father made for her, packed away in pristine condition waiting for her to use for her children someday (way way waaayyyy down the road).....
"way, way, waaayyyy down the road"
Oh, come on now. Some of my contemporaries have half grown great grand children and are still the the first "way."
Hey Zach, First of all Congratulations!!!!! My wife and I have 7 month old twin boys and I myself was in your shoes. I am a cabinet maker and wanted to build cribs for my boys( Matthew & Luke) too. I found out from many people with kids that by the time they are out of the crib they are ready for twin beds. I ended up building and armoire with doors up top and drawers down bottom. I also built a changing table that will convert into a dresser for them later. You sound like you will proud of the piece you build but take into consideration how a crib gets passed around from people to people. You may want to build a piece you can use for awhile. Zach, you will Love having your baby. Its the best thing that will happen to you. After I built there furniture I carved a message semi hidden on each piece. Maybe some day when they use it for there kids furniture they will see it. After I carved it I wept like baby. I'm so soft now!
Good luck,
-Lou
Well here goes again ,my post didn't post .Anyway here is a couple pics of crib that i built . Got plans off internet. They were horrid,25 plus math mistakes. This is one of those convertable beds . Chris Congradulations When is baby due?
Hey Zach -
Congratulations! You are going down a great road. Don't even bother to think you're prepared because you are not, and nobody can tell you how. That said, it is the greatest thing in the world.
I would second the comment on NOT making a convertible bed for a couple reasons. First as stated by the other poster, your child will probably go right into a big bed. Secondly, if you are like me and millions of other people, your child will go into the big girl or boy bed right around the time your SECOND CHILD is coming home from the hospital and going into the heirloom crib you built. The spacing just kind of works out like that.
Congrats again!
Either Wood Magazine or American Woodworker, within the last few months, described such an animal. I am pretty much out of the baby business but did make a cradle for grand child some ten years ago. If you want, I could try to look it up. Not to organized on such things.
zach,
When you finish it use shellac.. If your kid chews on it, shellac is OK to chew*. Most other finishes have warnings..
* drug companies coat every pill with shellac.
My wife and I are hopefully going to start baby making in the spring. I plan to build a sleigh bed style conversion crib once things are under way.
It will be loosly based on a piece by Simon Horn in the "Nursery" collection. Also, Chris Becksvoort authored a FWW article a while back re the construcion of his sleigh bed w/out veneers.
I haven't had a chance to draw up plans yet though.
http://www.simonhorn.com
http://www.chbecksvoort.com/chairs.html
Congratulations, TWG
Edited 2/21/2007 7:35 am ET by TWG
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