A baby rocker made from a simple hammock??

**grndslm** · 11-01-2010, 16:22

I tried searching for one, and I did come up with this...

http://www.babyhammocks.com/

That's not quite the design I had in mind, and it's way pricier than I had in mind, as well.

I was picturing a 4"x4" cut in half and used as the 2 sets of lateral legs. Then a 2"x4" connecting the split 4"x4"s in their middles, as the "hip", and some 2"x4"s coming up on each ends, to make the support for the hammock suspension.

Voila... Just set baby in as if he were using it as a chair

My idea is to make this thing kinda tight, because I'm thinking that the less sag, the more rock the baby will get when it kicks.

The shorter the 2"x4"s on the ends, the less chance the baby will have a hard fall??

And, of course, less torque on the ends.

Doubtful, tho... because I'm gonna need to come up with some walls. But that's what I'm really here for. I was thinking about styrofoam with slits so that you could just pop 'em on the right & left sides of the baby. Have some pins to hold the sheet in place, inside the sheets?!

But I think a better idea is to have a secondary sheet on the sides, that hangs closer to the center of an amsteel ridgeline. I got that idea at looking from the link above.

Think it might work? Or will you all discourage me?

And, of course, I'm sure these parents won't let their infants sleep without adult supervision. At least not at first.

**bdbart** · 11-01-2010, 16:29

is it for Jeremie????

**grndslm** · 11-01-2010, 16:51

Hah. Yea, it's for Alexa too!

Of course, safety first, tho.

What parent wouldn't want a silent, perpetual self-rocking hammock chair for their child??

**oldgringo** · 11-01-2010, 18:23

A baby rocker should have a baby Stratocaster. Just sayin'...

**Hooch** · 11-01-2010, 18:27

Originally Posted by oldgringo

A baby rocker should have a baby Stratocaster. Just sayin'...

**jeepcachr** · 11-01-2010, 18:35

Be careful with fabric sides. Infants can sometimes roll up against the side but not be able to roll away. They can suffocate.

**gargoyle** · 11-01-2010, 19:25

Gringo, you missed your calling...

**grndslm** · 11-01-2010, 20:06

Originally Posted by oldgringo

A baby rocker should have a baby Stratocaster. Just sayin'...

You mean like one of these?

Check!!

Originally Posted by jeepcachr

Be careful with fabric sides. Infants can sometimes roll up against the side but not be able to roll away. They can suffocate.

So I should be going for absolute breathability, then??

What would be best for that? Tulle?!? I wonder how old a baby would need to be before he could rip some tulle...

**DannyBoy2k** · 11-01-2010, 20:19

Jeepcachr posted exactly what I was going to post. Our little girl just got out of the highest risk period for SIDS and was just OKed to have a blanket in bed with her. Doctors recommend keeping all loose fabric out of the crib until that time.

I did notice that one of the hammocks of the company you linked to had white mesh sides, which should be very breathable. If I was going to try this, I'd be absolutely sure the baby could breath if it rolls up against the sides.

~Dan

**grndslm** · 11-02-2010, 00:09

Also...

Would I be correct in thinking that tighter, horizontal suspension will lead to more perpetual swaying than something like what's found in the OP (loose, vertical suspension)??

Hmm... I wonder what dimensions I should start out with first...

I'm thinking 22" W x 30" L with head to toe along the width.

So, with webbing, an extra 3" on each end (??) means I'll need a piece of material about 22" x 36".

I guess there will need to be just enough sag to have a ridgeline connected to the very top of the suspension. Tulle can be cut according to sag. I guess I'll just have to get the suspension "as tight as possible, considering the ridgeline necessity and miniscule baby weight".