Effective rocking bed for a child

  • Thread starter Thread starter Loredana03
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Automated
Click For Summary
A parent seeks to create a DIY rocking bed for their three-year-old child, who has developed a habit of being rocked to sleep. The parent wants a mechanism that simulates the rocking motion of their legs, ideally with a faster rate and suitable strength for an older child. Various suggestions include modifying existing cradles or using motors and gears to create a custom solution. Concerns about safety and engineering complexity are raised, emphasizing the need for careful design and testing. Some participants suggest exploring market options, while others advocate for a more tailored approach to meet specific needs. The discussion highlights the importance of defining the desired rocking motion and parameters for any DIY project, including safety considerations. Additionally, there are mentions of the therapeutic benefits of rocking for children with special needs, pointing to a potential market demand for such devices.
  • #31
jrmichler said:
in order for us engineer types to start brainstorming useful solutions, it is necessary define "rocking" in terms that engineers understand:

Do you want a pivot point down low, such as in a rocking chair?
Do you want a pivot point up high, such as in a hammock?
Or is back and forth, such as a bed on wheels good enough?
Or a pivot point down the middle of the child, where the child rolls back and forth without sideways motion?

How far - minimum to maximum centimeters peak to peak, or degrees if rolling?
How fast - slowest to fastest rocks per minute?

Maybe you could provide a video clip showing the best motion. Add somebody holding a ruler to show the range of motion.
Before I get into it and start answering your questions, are you a mechanical engineer that could construct such an item?

The wording engineer "types" had me pausing.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #32
Lnewqban said:
I have found this DIY project, just as a reference:
https://www.hackster.io/news/this-d...omatically-rocks-babies-to-sleep-1b3727d317a1

I believe that using a hard smooth floor as the lower surface on which to roll a frame back and forth, could be more economical, while keeping any dangerous mechanism out of reach of the little one.

Perhaps a simple excentric weight, which a slow motor (like the ones ceiling fans use) makes it rotate horizontally, combined with cross sliding guides (like the ones for desk drawers) could be the simplest idea.
Can you make something like this?
 
  • #34
MotherMayhem said:
Before I get into it and start answering your questions, are you a mechanical engineer that could construct such an item?
I have no doubt that most who contributes here can. The issue is, that it's not 'we' who has to construct the item, but somebody who we do not know: according to the original post everything we cook up here has to be both low level enough to be done DIY without special parts and with limited supervision only and still child-safe.
 
  • #35
Rive said:
I have no doubt that most who contributes here can. The issue is, that it's not 'we' who has to construct the item, but somebody who we do not know: according to the original post everything we cook up here has to be both low level enough to be done DIY without special parts and with limited supervision only and still child-safe.
Obviously as the seeker, not the engineer myself, I will admit complete and total ignorance and be willing to ask the questions.
Why does it need to be done without special parts and not the required parts?
What and whoo do you mean by limited supervision and
Would you consider this design child safe?
 
  • #36
MotherMayhem said:
If you are here to offer services, that would be epic.
I design and build new machines, furniture, etc.
You would need to find someone on my island who can test it, while I refine it through a few prototype stages, and find out what works best.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
Replies
7
Views
4K
  • · Replies 21 ·
Replies
21
Views
5K
  • · Replies 34 ·
2
Replies
34
Views
8K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
5K
  • · Replies 25 ·
Replies
25
Views
8K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
4K