After Mumma’s Caesarian with little Alice, it’s six weeks of recovery with no driving, no lifting anything heavier than the baby (lucky it wasn’t me or I’d have a hard time going to the bathroom, if I wasn’t allowed to lift anything heavier than a baby) 😉, and definitely no hanky-panky.
Which is why my eyebrows flew off my head when Mumma mentioned a threesome. What she actually meant was three of us sharing the bed, due to the fact that Alice is a brilliant sleeper during the day, but at night, just wants to be held. Kind of like my lonely single years during the late 90’s.
But co-sleeping with the baby in the bed can lead to all kinds of issues such as overheating or a risk of waking up with a baby pancake in between you (ie: my personal greatest fear), not to mention being a highly effective cock-blocker, and is somewhat frowned upon by the SIDS people.
So we decided to put the baby basinet beside the bed instead. Problem with that is it’s a good Danny Devito size taller than our bed, meaning Mumma has to use her tummy muscles to get up out of bed and reach up and over into the basinet to pick Alice up, which is against all the rules for a healthy recovery.
So, I looked online at some amazingly cool co-sleeping solutions that tend to retail between $400-$600 smakeroos (wtf?), and as the moths wilted lifelessly out of my wallet, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I designed my own version and after a quick trip to Bunnings and Clark Rubber, I truly felt like a man and a dad.
Actually building something with my own two hands for my own daughter and for the health and comfort of my beautiful wife. Scoring points big time with both my girls at once. My gift to you, my lovely one. Your very own convertible co-sleeper to help ease you both through the night.
And if it happens to act as an anti-cock-blocking solution, well…that’s just icing on the cake.
Merry Christmas, my love.
Click images to enlarge
Rock on, Justin!! Way to DIY!! Merry Christmas!! 🙂
Cheers, Jersey xx
Nice work Daddy x
Thanks, Vick. And still plenty of time before Baby Vick Mark III arrives for your hubby to build one for you too xx
We side car our little girl too. She lasts a while in there, but ends up in the bed eventually. The real issue with co sleeping is how your child manages to occupy a space 10 times larger than themselves, leaving nothing for ma and pa….
Oh, and its not the “cock block” you should worry about, its the random fly-kick in the nether regions….
I’ve had to push the walnuts out of my throat from a two year old knee-drop during a morning bed cuddle before, so thanks for the reminder, Seamus. Will have to dig through my old cricket bag for my ball guard, just as a precautionary measure me thinks.
Bloody brilliant! Wish I’d had one of these for my c-section recovery!
It sure makes things easier for Mumma, that’s for sure. Thanks, Jan.
I am in awe of your amazing dad-ness! You are a dab hand at the old woodwork. I bet your Year 7 pencil holder didn’t look like a piece of wood that had been attacked by a woodpecker on ice. Please don’t show this to my wife or she’s going to begin having expectations.
Apart from ‘love’ and two children, I’m not really used to making anything myself on a scale this big. I only have a handful of tools and my saw bench was an old wooden chair with a rope tied to it to hold down the wood as I sawed it. Mind you, I did feel an immense sense of self-satisfaction at the end of it (same as I experienced with ‘love’ and two children) 😉
What a clever dick
I assure you, ‘that’ had absolutely nothing to do with it 😉
What did you use for your mattress? I love this co sleeper!
I just went to Clark Rubber and got 15cm mattress foam cut to size. It was the foam they recommended for baby cots. Cost around $35 from memory. Just make sure it’s a couple centimetres smaller than the inside of the box so there’s enough clearance to drop it in if you decide to line the inside walls with foam as I did. Otherwise you’ll struggle to get it in. Pushing in foam against foam is a bit like working against Velcro and then you also want to be able to tuck your sheets and blankets in as well.
I’m totally stealing this. Question though: what kind of wood did you use? It looks like it’s one solid piece! But that can’t be! How did you get sheets that big that aren’t plywood?
I used 2 sheets of 7mm MDF for the box and 40mm square pine for the legs. If you send me your email address, I’m happy to send you the plans I made. My wife loved using it! It was really helpful to her.
This is exactly what I am looking for!! Do you mind sending me the plans?
Hi Michele, always happy to share my plans, dependent on you reviewing and accepting a couple of conditions first. I’ll send them through to you.
Could you send me through a set of plans? Also, how did you secure the foam inserts? Just glue? Cheers!
I’ve sent you through an email, Aleshia, that should cover everything.
I got the email with the terms and conditions and replied to it but haven’t got the plans through yet
You should have the plans now, Aleshia.
Could you PLEASE send me the plans for this?
Hi Ocean, I’ll email you directly.
Hi could you please send me the plans?
Have emailed you directly, Shaheen.
Can you please give me more information about the foam inserts. Are they covered? Are they attached to the cosleeper?
The foam inserts along the inside walls of the co-sleeper are glued in with a hot glue gun and are not covered, however, you could easily cover them with a soft fabric before glueing them to the walls. The foam mattress insert the baby sleeps on is not connected and just slots in and out but is covered by a bassinet sheet as you would with your bassinet. You do need to allow a finger-space of room between the mattress and the foam walls if they’re not covered to be able to get the mattress in and out and to tuck the sheets in down the side. Otherwise, its foam against foam which kind of sticks to each other a bit like velcro and is hard to get out easily. I hope that answers your questions.
Hi! can you please send me the plans and any info you think we might need? My wife loooves the idea of a cosleeper, and this will be in the to do list after removing popcorn ceiling…
Thanks!
No problem, Marcelo. I’ll email you more info.
This is is exactly what we’ve been looking for! Great job. Can I trouble you to send me the plans please
No problem, Kylie. Will email you directly.
Awesome co sleeper! Would like to make one for our baby girl who is due at the end of June. Would it be possible to send the plans to us here in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil?
Sure thing, Adrian. I will email you directly and good luck with the arrival of your baby girl.
inventor patent time Juss, don’t you think?
I have been looking for something exactly like this. Can I trouble you for your plans? Although I’m sure mine won’t turn out as well as that one
Sure thing, Glen. I’ll email you directly.
Please please please may I have the plans?
Yes, yes, yes. I will email you directly.
First of all congratulations you and your wife for little Alice!
I am expecting my baby next september. I love your project, it is just I was looking for! Awesome co sleeper!
Could you please send me the plans by mail! It could be great!
Cheers!
No problem, Laura. I’ll be in touch with you directly and congratulations on your pregnancy. May it be a safe and healthy arrival.
My new Aussie Friend Justin, Some fine compliments for you and your family from the fine folks. I too look forward to your plans. Many blessings for you Justin and your Family, Kindness and Blessing from Steve and June Hoover Living life in Beaumont CA USA.
Plans are on their way, Steve and June 😉
I absolutely love this! May I get the specifics when you get the chance, especially on the drop side portion? My baby-to-be and I would appreciate it very much!
Absolutely, Chelsea. Will contact you directly. Cheers 🙂
This is so amazing! We are expecting our first in April, and would love to have one of these. Can you send me the plans on this?
Sure thing, Jocelyn. I’ll message you directly.
I love this! Can you email me the plans and I structions with material list please? I need this for my baby that’s coming soon I’m super excited TIA!!!
I’m excited that you’re excited, Laura. Will email you directly. Cheers 😄
This is an amazing idea! Mind if I steal the plans for how to build one?
Hi John, ‘oopsie’. We talk quite a bit about stealing and snatching with my four year old and it’s something we frown upon. However, I am more than happy to ‘share’ them with you instead, as that is how roll in this household. 😉 Will contact you directly, Cheers 🙂
Could you email me the plans as well please, its a bit unclear on image.
No problem, Monique. Will contact you directly.
Could you send me the plans also?
Absolutely, Karen. I’ll email you directly. Cheers.
Hi there. I have a daughter who is expecting and I would love to have a copy of the plans. She had mentioned this. I noticed you used a magnet to hold the door closed.. is this strong? Where did you get that magnet from? Thanks much…
I am very impressed with the stunning work you have done here! I would love the plans as well. Would you be able to send them to me?
Thanks!
Sure thing, Mack. Will message you directly. Cheers 😁
Funcional and aesthetically pleasing… nice work. Would yo mind sharing the plans? Thanks!
No problem, Carlos. I will contact you directly. Cheers 😉
I’m going to be another beggar and ask for the plans on this! We are having our next c-section at the end of the month, and the missus want to try a co-sleeper with this one. I showed her this one and she loved it!
Congrats on your upcoming arrival, Ben. More than happy to send the plans out. Thanks for the kind words. Will contact you directly. Cheers 👍🏻
My brother and I were combing through tons of DIY bedside co-sleepers for his little one due in August and found yours to be just what we were looking for!!! So cool that you did this yourself! We would love to do this as a project together. Hoping you’re still sharing?
Hey, Brandi. Not a problem Congrats to your brother and I will contact you directly regarding the plans. Cheers 😉
This is stunning! Our 3rd and 4th grand childen are on the way. One November 2017 and one Februarie 2018. Both “mommys to be” really want co sleepers but in South Africa that is too exspensive, I almost gave up hope on finding one that would look good and will not brake the bank. Please if you would be so kind and share your plans?? Stunning work!!
Thanks for the lovely compliments, Hendriette. I’ll contact you directly.
My kids are toddlers but I need this for my toy dogs…my husband is so over them in the bed! Love the design! The choices available via retail are hideous.
Probably the most unique request I’ve had, Regan. I’ll contact you directly. 😉
This is really awesome man! Great job! I’ve seen a few people asking if you’d share the plans. Any way I could ask the same?
Hey, Micah. Really appreciate the compliment and very happy to share my plans. I’ll message you directly. Cheers.
Can I have those plans?
No worries, Sean. I’ll contact you directly.
Our 5th child is due anyday now and wish i would have had this for previous babies. Could i please get the plans so my hubby can get started. I hope my husband is as handy as you.
No problem, Sophia. I’ll contact you directly. Cheers, and congratulations on being able to field your own volleyball team in the very near future.
Wonderful design, and one of the best looking I have seen. My wife and I are expecting our first in March. I too am wondering if you would be so kind as to share your plans? Cheers!
Hey Drew, congratulations on your first arrival. An exciting and nerve-wracking time for you both. I’ll contact you directly and send them out to you. Thanks for your kind comments also. 🙂
Are you still willing to send plans? This is beautiful! I want to co-sleep so badly but all the ones to buy are so expensive 🙁
Absolutely, Jenna. I’ll email you directly and thanks for your kind comments. ☺️
Love this idea!!! Great job daddy! I am expecting baby number 4 and have been looking everywhere for the perfect co sleeper. Would you at all mind emailing me the plans for this?
Thank you & Have a great day!
No problem, Jada. With 3 kids already and the 4th on the way, you’ll deserve the lay in. Will email you directly, cheers 😊
Totally adorable. Baby due end of Sept and have a 20month old co sleeping with us already. N we only have a 1 bedroom flat. Didn’t know how to juggle the situation, as there’s no space for a cot etc. Mind sharing ur plans, would love to try and make this work for us.
Hey Waseem, I can certainly understand your situation and this co-sleeper is a great space-saver, plus, it can convert to a fold-down chair or storage for toys later on. The instructions are on their way. Cheers and good luck 😉
Love your design!! Are you still offering the plans?
Thanks for the compliment, Julia. Absolutely I can send the plans through. I’ll be in touch directly.
Any chance you could share the plans with me. I’m looking to build one for my niece. Thanks in advance!
Hey Thomas, you have every chance. I’ll send them to you directly and good luck with the build.
I would love these plans, if you’re still offering to email them. Samuelchambliss80@gmail.com
Thanks for this amazing inspiration! I have recently turned 40 and have found out that I about to be a first time dad! If you’re still sharing the plans, please include me! Thanks!
Congratulations, Samuel. There’s a lot of trepidation in becoming a first time Dad, but the journey is as rewarding as you’ll never expect. I’ll email you the plans directly. Good luck!
First time dad here itching for a project to make for our incoming Little One. Could you send me the plans?
Hey Matt, thanks for your comment. I’ll send you through the plans directly. If it doesn’t satisfy your itch, then maybe consider some calamine lotion? 😉
Would love a copy of the plans too! Our first baby was born 2 weeks ago, and mama is still recovering. Thanks!
Another Matt! Fancy that. Congratulations on your new arrival. I’ll send through the plans to you directly. Good luck 🙂
I’m expecting my first grandbaby & want to make this, I love it!! Can you send me the plans? Thank you!
Erin
bookladyepr@gmail.com