Modified Crib for Parent With Disability

Intro: Modified Crib for Parent With Disability

This is a revised version of my crib modification Instructable. It includes more details on how to do some of the more complex steps, a complete list of tool/equipment requirements, and some additional changes I've had to make since publishing the original. I hope people find the extra information useful.
Parents with disabilities face numerous challenges when caring for a newborn. Besides the usual lack of sleep and anxiety about such a small and dependent life, much of the equipment for infants and children present substantial barriers for parents with disabilities. Changing tables are built for standing, bathtubs can take two (or more!) hands, and cribs require parents to have substantial flexibility and lifting strength.

Cribs are manufactured according to strict standards designed for the safety of the child, not for universal access; the railings are all 2 or 3 feet off the floor, and a foot or more above the mattress. Because infants are left unattended in cribs overnight, they need to be built in such a way that the child cannot accidentally fall out of the crib or get any part of their body (especially the head and neck) trapped between components. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has publicly accessible explanations, as well as formal guidance for manufacturers.

This Instructable describes modifying a wooden crib to allow a parent of short stature to access the crib without lifting. The railing opens from side to side, and the mattress is positioned just above the floor.

An article about this project will appear in MAKE 17, available on newsstands 10 March 2009.

STEP 1: Materials and Tools Required

Most of the parts needed are available from McMaster-Carr Industrial Supply Co. with the part numbers listed. The "common hardware" is available in appropriately small quantities at any local hardware store. The total cost should be under $200, including the crib.

	McMaster-Carr			Item		PriceDrawer glides 26" full-extension	2712A9		$ 21.50/pairAl tube 1/4" ID, 1/2" OD x 1/2" L	92510A765	   1.54Angle bracket 11/16" x 1"		1556A26		   0.49Quick-release T-handle pin (2")		92490A651	   5.62	Common Hardware			Quantity3/4" square moulding			53 in#8x1-1/2" wood screws			 9 ea1/4" external retaining clip		 1 eaHigh-density foam block			25" x 3-1/2" x 2"

The project could be completed entirely with hand tools. The use of a drill press with vise, especially for modifying the angle bracket, is highly recommended for accuracy and for safety. You'll need:

• Sabre saw or jigsaw (a hand crosscut saw would work, but you'll get cleaner cuts this way)
• Variable speed electric drill
• Drill press (pictured) with vise (optional but recommended)
• Drill index with wood bits: 3/32", 1/4", 3/16", 5/16", 3/8", 1/2"
• High-speed steel 1/4" bit or step-drill bit (pictured)
• 1/8" round file or deburring tool (pictured)
• Drill stops
• Phillips head screwdriver
• Rotary tool (Dremel) with abrasive cutting disk
• Masking or painter's (blue) tape
• 220-grit sandpaper

STEP 2: Choose a Crib

To complete this project, you want a crib which is solid wood, so that it can be cut, drilled, and otherwise modified, while still retaining its strength. You also need a crib where the side railing is not an essential structural support (otherwise, cutting it in half will weaken or collapse the crib).

I started with an IKEA "Leksvik" crib. At $159, it costs substantially less than many cribs (if you don't have an IKEA nearby, it is possible to order the crib for delivery, but that adds about $250 to the cost!) and it's made of solid wood.. Their "Hensvik" crib ($129) has the same structural design and dimensions.

The frame which holds the mattress is bolted directly to the two end panels, as part of the structural support. That means the side rails are not essential for structural integrity. The crib also converts to a toddler bed, so the matteress can be placed much closer to the floor

STEP 3: Prepare the Moulding

Cut the 53" length of 3/4" square moulding into two pieces, one 25" long and one 28" long.

Drill three or four 3/16" clearance holes evenly spaced along each length of moulding, and countersink with a 5/16" bit.

STEP 4: Prepare the Angle Bracket

Modify the angle bracket by drilling out the #8 hole on the long arm with the step-drill bit (pictured). If you don't have a step-drill bit, use the 1/4" high-speed steel bit, and drill slowly. If you have a drill press, use it. Trying to drill small, thick metal with a hand tool is not easy.

WARNING Be sure that you clamp the bracket firmly in a vise, and wear adequate eye protection -- the drill bit can grab the bracket and spin it without warning.

When you've finished drilling, clean up both edges with the deburring tool (pictured), or with a 1/8" round file.

STEP 5: Mark Up the Railing

Choose one of the side rails from the crib kit to be modified for sideways opening.

It is easiest if you mark all of the cuts and holes on the side rail first. This will ensure, for example, that the drawer glides are properly aligned. I used pieces of blue painter's tape on the rails everywhere I needed to make a mark.

Mark lines at 1" in from the outside end (the end with the screw and dowel holes) of the fixed half-rail, on the top and bottom bars. This is where the end of the fixed part of the drawer glide will be positioned on the rail.

Mark the top and bottom bars 25" from one end of the rail. The side rails have an odd number of vertical posts, so you can't cut exactly on center. Identify (with PostIt notes or tape, as you wish) the shorter 25" half as "moving" and the longer (27-1/4") half as "fixed."

STEP 6: Mark Holes for the Drawer Glides (1)

Extend one of the drawer glides and align the end with the plastic lock against the 1" mark you just made. You want the base part of the glide centered on the rail bar; the extension arm is slightly narrower than the bar, which can help with the centering.

Mark the centers of the four large holes, two near one end and two near the other, on the base part of the glide. The two latter holes are visible through cutouts in the middle section of the glide. Repeat this process on both the top and bottom bars of the fixed half-rail.

In the picture, I've stuck brads into each of the hole positions to make them visible.

STEP 7: Mark Holes for the Drawer Glides (2)

Turn the whole rail over. With the drawer glide fully extended, align the tabbed end of the extension arm with the outside end (the end with screw and dowel holes) of the moving half-rail.

Mark the centers of three holes on the extension arm: the "cam adjustment" at the end nearest the tab, the vertical slot at the center of the extension arm, and the small hole at the far (central) end of the extension arm visible through a cutout in the middle section. Repeat this process on both the top and bottom bars of the moving half-rail.

In the picture, I've stuck brads into each of the hole positions to make them visible.

STEP 8: Cutting and Drilling the Railing

The rail can now be cut in half and assembled with the drawer glides.

Using the sabre saw, cut the two bars at the 25" marks. Smooth down all four cut faces, and round off the cut edges, with 220-grit sandpaper. Leave the identifying notes attached.

At each of the hole marks you made above, drill a 3/32" pilot hole into the bar 1/2" deep, attaching a drill stop to your bit (wrap painter's tape around your drill bit if you don't have a stop). Remove all the tape pieces when you're finished.

On the bottom bar of the fixed half-rail, drill out the hole nearest the cut end with a 3/16" bit. This hole will be used to anchor the fixed rail to the mattress support panel for stability. This is shown in the close-up.

STEP 9: Attach the Drawer Glides to the Fixed Rail

Open the glides, and attach them to the half rails using the included #8 screws (except the 3/16" hole in the bottom bar of the fixed half-rail). Leave all the screws slightly loose, except the ones at the outside ends. The glides will be able to pivot slightly around these, permitting you to align them.

STEP 10: Attach the Moving Rail

Once both half-rails have been attached to the drawer glides on the top and bottom bars, put it down with the fixed rail on the ground, and the moving rail facing up. Run the moving rail back and forth a few times. The two glides will be parallel when you can run the moving rail over its full travel.

STEP 11: Finish the Rail Assembly

Slowly open the moving rail, and tighten each screw on the fixed rail as it is exposed. After tightening each pair of screws, run the moving rail over its full travel again to make sure things are still parallel. If not, loosen the screws you just worked on and realign. Repeat this procedure until you have all the pairs of screws tightened, so that the glide bases are firmly attached to the fixed rail.

Turn the assembly over, and tighten the screws on the drawer glide extension arms, from the far (uncut) end toward the center. The rail assembly should open and close smoothly, without binding. If not, loosen screws on the drawer glide bases (on the fixed rail) and realign them.

Insert two IKEA dowel pins into their holes on the end of the moving rail; use a bit of carpenter's glue in the holes to hold them in place.

STEP 12: Attach the Angle Bracket

Attach the angle bracket to the bottom of the moving rail about 3" from the outside end (the exact position is not critical). Drill a 3/32" pilot hole 1/2" deep at the point where you want to attach the bracket.

Use a #8x3/4" wood screw (one of the extra screws from the drawer glides will be suitable) to attach the bracket. The long arm (with the 1/4" hole) should hang down from the inside edge, next to the drawer glide.

STEP 13: Remove the Legs

Find the lower halves of the two end panels from the crib kit. Mark each of the four legs one inch below the main part of the panel. Using the sabre saw, cut off all four legs. Smooth the cut faces and round off the edges with 220-grit sandpaper.

This provides enough of a gap for air circulation below the mattress, but will put it as close to the floor as possible.

STEP 14: Assemble the Crib With the Modified Rail

Assemble the crib normally, except for the side rail you've modified. The mattress support panels and base are mounted in their lowest position (as for the toddler bed).

Mount the rail assembly onto the open side of the crib. The fixed rail is attached to the right-hand end panel normally, with dowel pins and bolts at the top and bottom.

STEP 15: Attach the End-panel Moulding

As you face the open side of the crib, attach the 28" length of moulding to the left end panel with painter's tape, so that it spans the full height of the side rail. Mark through each of the clearance holes onto the end panel.

Remove the moulding, and drill 3/32" pilot holes at each of the marks, 1" deep, using a drill-stop on the bit. Attach the moulding using #8x1-1/2" wood screws.

STEP 16: Mind the Gap (1)

Close the gap between the moving rail and the mattress using the 25" length of moulding. Align the moulding along the top edge of the mattress support panel between the end of the fixed half-rail and the left-hand end panel, and mark through each of the screw holes.

Drill 3/32" pilot holes through the mattress support panel at each screw location. Attach the moulding to the panel with #8x1-1/2" wood screws.

STEP 17: Prepare End-stop for Moving Rail

Mark the ends of the dowel pins with a Sharpie or a dab of paint. Close the moving rail against the moulding on the left-hand end panel. The dowel pins should leave marks where they hit the moulding.
If not, mark the locations with a pen on either side of the dowel pin, and use them to identify the center for drilling.

Drill 5/16" holes into the moulding at those centerss, deep enough for the dowel pins to fit all the way in (at least 1/2"; use a drill-stop to avoid going too far). The moving rail should now close the crib completely, and the dowel pins should slide in and out without resistance. If the pins are tight, open up the holes with a 3/8" bit.

The upper corner of the moving rail isn't stable. Position the dowel pin centered on the end-panel moulding as shown in the picture.

STEP 18: Secure the Fixed Railing

With the rail closed, mark through the 3/16" hole at the bottom of the fixed rail (Step 10) onto the mattress support panel. Drill a 1/8" pilot hole through the panel, and secure the rail with a #8x1-1/2" pan-head wood screw [right]. There is a gap between the rail and the mattress panel; you may want to insert a washer or two (use scotch tape) so that the rail doesn't bend inward.

STEP 19: Receiver Hole for Locking Pin

Keeping the rail closed, mark through the hole in the angle bracket onto the mattress support panel.
The marking must be "perfectly" aligned with the angle bracket, horizontally and vertically. You may want to use the locking pin itself as a guide, tracing around the tip where it touches the panel.

Move the rail out of the way, and drill a 1/2" hole through the mattress-support panel at the mark. This hole needs to be aligned with and parallel to the 1/4" hole in the angle bracket: you may want to drill a 1/4" hole first with the rail closed, passing the bit through the angle bracket, and enlarge it to 1/2" in a second pass.

Insert the aluminum spacer tube into the hole. It should fit tightly; if not, pull it out, apply a thin bead of epoxy around the end you insert first, and put it back in. If you use epoxy on the spacer, wait for it to dry completely before testing the locking pin.

STEP 20: Insert the Locking Pin

Close the rail, and insert the locking pin through the angle bracket and receiver. It should run smoothly in its full length, and not pull back out easily. When you pull hard on the handle, the spring-loaded ball will retract and the pin will come out of the spacer.

If you pull the spacer tube out with the pin, go back and reinstall it with epoxy.. The pin should catch on the angle bracket, making it less likely to be misplaced. You may want to secure the locking pin to the bottom rail with a short lanyard, through the hole in the handle.

I secured the locking pin to the angle bracket using a 1/4" retaining clip. I used a rotary (Dremel) tool with a cutting disk to make a shallow groove 1-1/8" from the end of the locking pin.. After putting the pin through the angle bracket, slide the retaining clip onto the tip and work it down to the groove.

STEP 21: Mind the Gap (2)

The moving rail is two inches away from the mattress, far enough that a baby's arms or feet can "fall in" and get stuck. Insert a block of high-density foam, 25" x 3-1/2" x 2", on top of the moulding, between the mattress and the railing.

The foam can be attached permanently with "Gorilla Glue" or some similar adhesive; be sure that it doesn't extend past the inner edge of the mattress support panel.

STEP 22: Safety First -- Keep the Railing Locked

With the rail assembly installed, there are still some safety issues to keep in mind. First, don't leave your baby in the crib unattended with the door open. Once they start moving around on their own, babies have a terrific knack to find whatever cliff is around them to fall off! Do not leave the crib closed without inserting the locking pin through the receiver.

The locking pin I chose has a T-handle and is removed simply by pulling. An alternative would be a push-button release pin (McMaster-Carr 90293A114, $17.99) -- the "two action" removal is more secure, but not as accessible for parents with limited finger dexterity.

STEP 23: Safety First -- Cover the Railing Posts

When the rail is opened and closed, the moving vertical posts can trap little hands, arms and legs between them. A crib bumper such as the Breathable Baby Bumper (Babies'R'Us item 2529738) can protect against this when your baby is small.

Tie off a free end to the far end of the moving rail, tie off the center of that side at the middle on the fixed rail (you'll need to sew a fabric ribbon onto the bumper), and again at the corner of the fixed rail. When the rail is opened, the bumper will flex and fold, keeping the rail posts covered.

The bumper is not a substitute for observation and common sense. Make sure you know where your baby is and what she is doing, before you start to open the rail and the entire time you're doing so.

STEP 24: A Good Night's Sleep

With this project complete we can put our beautiful baby daughter to bed, and get her up in the morning, without having to lift her up over the railing or "drop" her down to the mattress. When we open the crib, the mattress is right there, just inches off the floor. My wife and I can both get the baby into and out of the crib, day or night, with no extra effort.

Resources and Additional Information
Parenting With a Disability from the Toronto Centre for Independent Living

Through The Looking Glass, Berkeley, CA

Crib Safety for Parents from the
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Comments

[Richard 4]

Is it ok for people with a handiecape person to sleep in a crib

[jacottin]

Hello. Very nice job indeed.

Actually as a wheelchair user, that answers one of the problems I face: getting the baby out of the crib. But I still face the "grabbing up from the floor" trouble. I've seen some projects aroung (at TLG amongst others) where the crib is basically hich enough so that a wheelchair user can wheel his legs underneeth the mattress and therefore only have to "slide" the baby onto his lap.

What do you think of this option ? I understood that you were already concerned by the height of the crib because of falls' risks when mattress at a couple of inches from the floor.

Thanks for your answer.

mX

[kelseymh]

For a wheelchair user, TLG's designs struck me as excellent; similar to the "raised table" solution for desks. I think if you've wheeled right up to the edge of the crib, then the height issue isn't so much of a problem, until the child learns to open the door themselves.

We were concerned about the crib height because my wife is a little person. Removing the legs to put the mattress at floor level was necessary for her access, and the safety was just an added bonus.

For the "picking up off the floor" issue, has TLG shown you any of their infant harnesses? Picture a non-inflatable life vest, with a nylon "carrying handle" on the back. The design is similar to the European airline seatbelt vests. There a shop in Berkeley that is willing to make them, but they cost bout $150 for materials and labor.

[winterwindarts]

Thank you!!!!! I'm planning on getting pregnant in the next year and was rather worried about how I could manage picking up a baby from a crib. My fully able mother has enough difficulty with just being a rather young 50 and dealing with foster babies that I had no idea what I was going to do with old spinal fractures and needing a cane all the time. Even my grandmother is usually more mobile than I am. I can't work outside the house much at all and my husband has a full time job so I know I'll be the main caregiver by default. Anything that might help will be wonderful although I'll need to think about a modification that doesn't require the mattress to be quite so low but that also won't have the safety issues either-bending at all is pretty difficult. If I figure it out I'll try to remember to document it and make my own 'ible but it probably won't be quite so elegant a solution.

...and if one more person even implies that I have no business reproducing I cannot be held responsible for my actions... Yes, I've had people tell me that to my face as well as worse comments. Being young and only partially disabled means that I tend to get rather rude comments about how it's my fault or that I'm just not trying hard enough...grrr...

Sorry about the rant. This 'ible will definitely help me a lot as most of the suggestions and devices for accessibility that I can find seem to be geared towards people in wheelchairs and don't quite work for those who are partially mobile.

[kelseymh]

You're welcome, and good luck! Massachusetts is a long way from California, but you might try contacting Through the Looking Glass anyway. At a minimum, you could buy their book of adaptive equipment ideas, and they might even be able to give you referrals to local support for parents with disabilities in your area.

Have you ever contacted your local Center for Independent Living? The better ones often have an AT specialist who is tied into the local community for custom resources or equipment.

[dollywild]

Nice! Thanks for posting this crib mod. An organization with a lot of good ideas for parents with disabilities is http://www.lookingglass.org/

The description of how you changed the crib is very clear, and of course, cute baby!

[kelseymh]

Thank you!

We are very familiar with TLG :-) See the list of resources in Step 24. But you've reminded me, I should have included them in the resource list on the Assistive Technology group.

Judy Rogers at TLG worked with us before and after our daughter arrived, and we even participated with her in making a training video for other parents with disabilities.

[denniszel]

Congrats for such a clear and helpful project, as an architect I have always tried to remove all the common barriers that aren't so evident for us w/o phisical disabilities, its a shame that the law doesn't take in account the special needs of handicapped parents, i hope you don't mind me taking your idea and putting it to use in my country ( Honduras),I am sure it could help a lot of parents to whom a common task as placing your baby in a crib presents such a big challenge,

[kelseymh]

Please do! I've gotten a couple of e-mails from parents who built their own versions of this. It is the one project of which I am most proud, and my daughter (now 2-1/2) is still using it, and loves it! I would be very grateful if you posted pictures of your own build.

With more experience as a parent, I think it's important with this modified crib that the legs are cut off. For parents who are wheelchair users, they must think about the safety issue themselves. For us, having the crib door open means that our daughter could (and did!) want to climb out by herself. Without legs, the crib mattress is only 15 cm above the floor, so falling was not an issue. With many cribs, that height is nearly a meter, and injury is quite possible. Please think about that when you build it.

[porcupinemamma]

One of many projects I had at college, was to invent an assistive device.  Your project would have made the dean's list and beyond.  Beautiful!

[kelseymh]

Thank you very much!  This is something I am extremely proud of, and my daughter (now two) is still using it.

You must have been taking an industrial design course (or major?).  That seems to be a common project. 

What I dislike about those projects is that the students (and usually the instructor) don't seem to understand that assistive technology can only be developed with the full participation of the end user(s).  Inventing something "for" someone else to use, without their input, is the old "medical model" of treating people with disabilities as objects, or at least as less than full participants in their lives.

Sorry, this is one of my soapboxes :-/

[porcupinemamma]

I agree with you. People I support have specific needs and we work together to find solutions.  I am a Developmental Services Worker.  You can view the course outline at Georgian College in Orillia Ontario Canada. also take a look at my bio :0)

[kelseymh]

Hey, that's excellent!  Hope you didn't take my commentary personally.  My wife is a former director of an independent living center here in California, and is now head of the State Independent Living Council.  She worked in DDS when she was in college, and also did some job coaching when we lived in Vancouver fifteen years ago.  I've gotten a lot of training in the IL Movement :-)

[porcupinemamma]

My mom always said  that it takes a cook to design her/his kitchen :0)

[Senseless]

Great Instructable!

Nice instructions and a good idea.

[kelseymh]

Thanks very much!  My daughter is still using the crib, and loves being able to get in and out all by herself :-)

[ampRiser]

This is Great! My disabled girlfriend could have really used this when my daughter was born! and it would have saved me allot of time changing diapers for her! also you should look into a Patent? I study Patent Law and believe this is a very patentable idea? thankx again! Frederick @ampRiser.com -instructables.com/ampRiser -youtube.com/ampRiser -myspace.com/ampRiser

[ampRiser]

shameless plug? Thanks for the Info -assistive technology, did not know about us regs. apparently you researched this throughly. thanks again, Frederick

[kelseymh]

shamelss plug

By the way, if you're interested in doing assistive technology I'bles (either making existing ones, or contributing your own), check out the AT Group.

[kelseymh]

Thanks! My concern with patentability is that it's basically illegal in the U.S. (that is, I could not license the patent because no manufacturer could market such a crib).

The CPSC regulations require that a crib rail always be at least 9" above the mattress, when lowered (open). By doing the side-open door, I'm explicitly violating that regulation. The fact that the mattress is just 6" off the floor isn't relevant to the regs, but it is to my feeling of safety.

By the way, we're still using the crib, and my daughter is now 16 months old and loves being able to get in and out by herself :-)