As you know, with the advent of a newborn, the life of both parents changes dramatically. First of all, there is a need to create the most favorable conditions for your child. And the crib acts as a necessary paraphernalia. In particular, we are talking about a cradle-pendulum, which, due to the created swing effect, allows to calm the baby, due to which he falls asleep faster.
There are many different models. And how to assemble a crib with a pendulum yourself? And most importantly - is it possible to make such furniture or is it easier to buy ready-made?
Information requires thorough analysis. But what kind of bed is this? This article will be devoted to the answers to these and some other related questions.
What is a pendulum bed?
A crib with a pendulum is the best option for a newborn sleeping place, which imitates the effect of rocking on the mother’s arms. In some cases, the baby is able to independently launch this mechanism when it turns in attempts to fall asleep.
It is only important that there is no obstacle in the area of the moving side, otherwise the swinging process will become impossible and the furniture will lose its functionality.
Modern models of cribs with bumpers, which are sold in many stores, are made of high-quality and strong wood, and therefore have a rather long service life.
Components
As a rule, a crib with a pendulum consists of several main parts:
- frame;
- sleeping place;
- backs;
- legs;
- pendulum mechanism.
Often only natural wood is used, as already noted above. In this case, the material is coated with water-soluble varnish. Some manufacturers supply their models with drawers, chests of drawers, as well as height controls.
Main element
The main element of the whole structure is the mechanism of the pendulum for the crib, which can be transverse, longitudinal or universal. In this case, only the child’s sleeping place is swinging, while the frame itself remains stationary.
In order to set the bed in motion, just touch the side with your hand - and it will begin to swing. And if mom has time, she can easily lull the baby, quietly singing a lullaby.
As for the three varieties of the pendulum, each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Longitudinal mechanism
This option most of all allows you to simulate the baby being in maternal hands. In this case, the swing path is back and forth, which is a more physiological way of lulling the child. As many experts note, it is these cots with a longitudinal pendulum that are preferable to use, since they allow normalizing intracranial pressure.
And just due to the fact that the furniture sways back and forth, it can be put against the wall, and it will not clutter up the space. This is very convenient, especially when the bed is located in the parent bedroom.
At the same time, in some mothers, this type of swinging can cause certain difficulties or inconveniences. From their point of view, it is much easier to swing the baby in the transverse direction. Just for such cases, the following type of pendulum has been developed, which will be discussed later.
Lateral swing
Outwardly, the entire structure resembles a cradle for easy swinging from left to right and vice versa. It’s easy for parents to rock their baby, even while lying in their own bed. But in this case, the baby can independently set his crib in motion, turning over from side to side.
As for the shortcomings, they also have a crib with a transverse pendulum. Such furniture needs a fairly large space. Otherwise, due to the lack of free space, the cot body will constantly hit the wall, which, in general, is undesirable.
In other words, it cannot be moved close to the wall, as in the case of a longitudinal pendulum. Another minus is the lack of physiology of the process of rocking.
Universal option
The main feature of the universal pendulum (as you might guess) is that when assembling the crib, you can choose as an active more convenient option - longitudinal or transverse. Moreover, it is possible to alternate longitudinal movement with transverse. So the baby can get used to both.
It is worth noting that if one child likes longitudinal swaying, then this option is not always acceptable for another child. And it may take more than two weeks to understand which type is suitable in each particular case. This is precisely the whole charm of assembling a crib with a pendulum of a universal type - thanks to the presence of two swinging options, the baby’s sleep will be calm.
Typically, parents purchase beds for several years in advance, and some changes may occur during this period of time, including relocation of furniture. With the availability of universal children's furniture for sleeping, you can not worry about the upcoming rearrangements. Such a bed will occupy any convenient place.
One nuance of all types of pendulum
It is worth noting that regardless of the type of pendulum (transverse, longitudinal, universal), they all have one significant drawback. Young children get used to swaying very quickly. And for this reason, subsequently falling asleep on a static surface will be quite difficult.
The best choice for most babies is still assembling a crib with a pendulum of longitudinal design. At the same time, studies show that in those children who are accustomed to both types of swaying, the vestibular apparatus develops better. It is recommended to buy the model that has an affordable price and will take its rightful place in the children's room or parental bedroom.
Preparatory stage
The procedure for assembling and installing a baby bed consists of two main stages - preparation and the assembly process itself. First you need to prepare everything you need:
- instructions;
- a screwdriver depending on the type of fasteners (one or more);
- crib details;
- hammer;
- reversible key;
- screws;
- plugs for screws;
- the cloth.
After unpacking, it is necessary to inspect all the details of children's furniture.
Assembly process
How to assemble a crib with a pendulum? Usually, they use the services of professional furniture assemblers to assemble a cabinet or a kitchen table. However, a baby bed can be assembled independently, without outside assistance. Moreover, it is more convenient to make the assembly of the crib already in place, that is, in the children's room or in the room of the parents.
The process itself, in turn, also consists of several steps:
- Stage 1. The assembly process of the crib begins with the installation of a fixed fence. The side and bottom are connected by screws. After that, the headboard is attached to them.
- Stage 2. Now the bed is fastened from 4 sides, and only then the movable grill is installed. On the side walls of the structure, recesses are provided. The grill is simply inserted into them and fixed with screws.
- Stage 3. How to install a pendulum on a crib? Now you can just deal with this mechanism. To do this, between the backs you need to fix the guides in the amount of 4 pieces. In the interval between the two upper mounted wooden bottom. After that, it is necessary to fix the lower part of the pendulum with screws.
- Stage 4. At the final stage, the box is assembled in the same way as the pendulum. Movable elements are mounted on top of the pendulum, the legs of the crib are fixed on them.
If wheels are provided, then they need to be fixed in designated places, after turning the crib upside down. But here it all depends on the situation and preferences, how to assemble a crib with a pendulum - if there is a need to move furniture, then with wheels it is much easier to do.
However, when the crib will stand in one place, then the wheels can not be fixed, even if they are included.
Useful tips for choosing a crib
Since this is a child, it is necessary to make every effort to create favorable conditions for him. There are a few things to consider:
- Children's furniture for sleep should be fully safe - no sharp corners or raw parts!
- Make sure that the parts are made of environmentally friendly, quality and hypoallergenic material. And you need to worry about this when choosing a crib. It’s not a sin to ask if a seller has a certificate.
- The berth itself should be comfortable.
- You should regularly check the crib for stability and reliability of bolt fastening. This will allow you to identify any problems in advance.
- From time to time, you need to clean the crib with soft tools and water.
How to assemble a crib with a pendulum is now clear. The last thing to remember is the choice of a mattress for your child.
You need to purchase only one that is made from natural ingredients. It should also be orthopedic, so that the baby sleep throughout the whole night without sound and sound sleep.