A special crib for my neice - please help -

[hazmat]

I'm wrapping up the design stages for a crib for my neice. She is 6 years old, but has special needs which require a safe place for her to sleep. My inlaws bought a vacation condo in VT - this "crib" is so that my brother in law & his family can enjoy it with their daughter Katie.

I modeled the design using google sketchup

It is based on the crib she currently has at home, but with some improvements for aesthetics & ease of manufacturing.

Check out the model here

Katie's crib

Attached is a pic

Basically I'm looking for a "peer review" - point out any problems y'all see before I start building.

If you download sketchup you'll be able to take the model apart to see how it's constructed.

Front & back are mortise & tenon contruction. The sides will bolt on with "bed bolts". The slats are faux mortise & tenon ala the crib project in November 2006 Wood magazine. The bottom band is a "raised" panel w/ 3/4 plywood as the panel.

 

[scott_vt]

Afternoon Hazmat,
Looks like a nice simple design along with the updated safety features on slat spacing to prevent the child from getting stuck !

I thought I would mention the type of finish you may be thinking of using should be safe for children. I have used salad bowl oil finish in these situations where its possible that the child may put their mouth on the finished product. Just a thought.

 

[hazmat]

Scotty - good call on the finish - it is not only possible, but likely that the crib will get "mouthed".

 

[goaliedad]

A thought on the slat spacing- as most cribs are for infants, the spacing is very critical. Since this is for an older child, the spacing is still very critical, but should it be different? can her feet or hands get caught in the narrow infant spacing? I'm wondering if the slats should be a bit wider- her head is bigger than an infant's, so that shouldn't be an issue. This is certainly uncharted water for me, so if I'm off base, I apologize.

A very nice thing you are doing for her and her family- I sense they are special people!

 

[hazmat]

Good catch.

Attached are the govt regs on infant cribs. The crib will be (selfishly) serving double duty for my daughter (who is 15 mo/old now). I set the slat spacing at 2" - small enough for the infant regs, but I think big enough that Katie won't get caught. her current crib is at 1.75" spacing & she doesn't have any issues.

 

[goaliedad]

looks like you have the spacing issue covered- good luck with it.

 

[SPIKER]

hazmat:

I was looking at the height: is the side height OK for HER to be in without her being able to get over? one reason I asked was it is high enough for her to FALL out pretty good so I was just wondering if it was possable for her to get out by herself unattended? Wasn't sure HOW or WHICH would be better? higher sides to prevent her getting out, (which also makes getting her IN harder for Mom & Dad) or lower sides for easier getting in/out? height from floor would also become a concern. High matress means farther to fall out.

perhaps this is all a not required thought but I was just trying to help.

for finishes you can also use food grade mineral oils which are good for many finishes. there are also some citrus based wood cleaner/preservitives. I can't help with any brand names but I'm sure there are some great furnature sites which would have that info available.

great thinking to be prepaired for her to come visit & looks good too.

MarkM

 

[RonMar]

Do one of the sides open or lower? That 5' height would be farther than I can reach down into to place a sleeping child onto the mattress, or pick one up for that matter that wasn't awake and standing.

 

[hazmat]

I didn't add the hinges to the model yet, but the end is a door - swings wide so that she can get in & out.

The sides are a few inches taller than her existing crib - she hasn't been able to escape (don't know if she has ever really tried).

I really appreciate all your feedback - the more brains behind the project, the better the result.