The appearance of a baby in a family is a very joyful, exciting and at the same time responsible event. Parents begin to arrange the nursery even before the birth of the child, because the choice of furniture should be approached seriously and carefully. One of the most important attributes of this room is the crib. It would seem that it might be easier to buy a bed for a child, but in fact there are many different models with additional functions. It’s easy to get lost among such a choice, so in this article we will look in detail at what cribs with pendulums are, why they are better than regular ones, and how to choose them correctly.
Advantages and disadvantages of a crib with a pendulum
At first glance, it will not be possible to distinguish a regular bed from a crib with a pendulum, because their difference lies in the presence and absence of a rocking mechanism, which is not visible. Pendulum beds imitate swinging in your arms, which will be very convenient for parents with a frequently capricious baby. Children up to 5 years old can sleep in them, if, of course, the child’s weight allows it.
Pendulum beds have the following advantages:
- they provide smooth swinging;
- do not create noise;
- if necessary, for example, when the child has grown up, the pendulum can be blocked.
The convenience of such crib models is obvious. Your hands will be free and you can do other things at the same time. If your child wakes up at night, you don’t have to get up to calm him down - just rock the bed.
Beds with a pendulum also have some disadvantages:
- They are more expensive than regular beds.
- If the mechanism deteriorates, a creaking sound will appear.
- The crib cannot be placed against a wall, as it requires space to swing. However, when the mechanism is locked, this disadvantage disappears.
- You should not overdo it with rocking the baby: it can become a habit.
- If the baby has already grown up, but the mechanism is not blocked, the child may be injured.
How does a pendulum swing mechanism work?
Pendulums are mechanisms that allow you to rock children right in their cribs. They are wooden planks with fasteners (screws or bolts) and bearings. They are attached to the body of the crib and to the base. It turns out that the bed seems to “hang” on them and therefore can sway. There are 3 types of pendulums based on the direction of swing:
- longitudinal;
- transverse;
- universal, i.e. allowing the child to swing in both directions.
The longitudinal direction of movement is considered physiological, because imitates the process of swinging on your hands. Thanks to this, sleep is strong and healthy.
Transverse motion sickness is used in small apartments, because cots require little space. Rocking in them occurs according to the principle of ancient cradles, only the beds are safer, because they cannot turn over or tip over from too much movement.
The universal mechanism allows you to choose the mode that your child likes most: longitudinal or transverse swing. Then the crib can be easily rearranged around the apartment, choosing convenient conditions for swinging.
A bed with a rocking system for babies is equipped with different rocking mechanisms: manual or electronic.
Manual models
The most common options are cribs with manual rocking. The pendulum is activated by light hand pressure. Then, for some time, the crib independently makes smooth rocking movements. Sometimes parents, in order not to get up at night, tie a rope to the side and pull it to activate the mechanism.
Electronic
Cribs with an automatic mechanism are more expensive, but much more convenient. Typically, rocking occurs through the use of an electromagnetic pulse, which is why not the slightest sound is heard when the motor is running. The system has electrical power, so it must be connected to the network. The mechanism can be controlled using a remote control or display. Usually the crib has several speeds: from 1, when the bed moves barely noticeably, to 5, 7 or more, when the range of movement increases and becomes more abrupt.
Often, in addition to the automatic rocking mechanism, other electronic systems are installed on cribs. For example, sound and motion sensors. If the baby wakes up, the crib will respond to a voice if the baby is crying, or to movement if he silently begins to fuss. She will start to sway. The louder the cry or the more intense the baby's movements, the more the bed will rock. Humidity sensors are also built-in. If the baby wets himself, the crib will signal this.
A popular addition is the music player. It can play songs stored in memory or from a flash drive. The volume is also adjustable.
Types of pendulums for a crib
Pendulum mechanisms are presented in three types:
- With a longitudinal pendulum. The crib moves back and forth.
- With a transverse pendulum. Such models swing left and right.
- Universal. This type of crib combines both a longitudinal and transverse pendulum. The direction of swing is chosen by the parent himself.
When choosing a crib, this criterion raises the most questions among parents. Let's consider which mechanism is better to choose.
Which baby rocking crib is better to choose?
In our rating we talked about the best baby rocking beds. Each of them has its own pros and cons. Which of these models to choose is up to you, based on your own preferences. Each model is united by the fact that they are all made only from natural and high-quality materials. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about the health and safety of your child. When choosing the best cribs with a pendulum, pay attention to the products from our rating. This will help you make your choice and purchase the best place for your baby to sleep.
Children's bed with longitudinal pendulum
The longitudinal pendulum creates an imitation of natural motion sickness, because in the arms of the parent the child is rocked back and forth. Many pediatricians recommend purchasing beds with a longitudinal pendulum, because they harm the vestibular system less than transverse motion sickness. However, it is worth noting that this is individual and, if possible, it is better not to rock the child at all. Some children fall asleep faster in these cribs. This is definitely a plus.
But the downside is the need to move the bed away from the wall, because it requires more space to swing than a model with a transverse pendulum.
Crib material
The best material for making a crib is solid wood. This bed will last a long time and will not harm the child. It is worth paying attention to the type of wood that is used in production.
Hardwoods, such as ash or oak, are expensive, but they will not leave teeth marks (when children are teething, they may chew on the bed rail). A bed made of birch or pine will cost less, but due to the fact that these types of wood are very soft, they leave bite marks.
For safety reasons, the bed should be covered with varnish or paint that is safe for the child. This information is contained in the furniture documents supplied by the manufacturer.
The cheapest beds are made from MDF. The wood chip board itself is not dangerous; only natural resins are used in its production. But the film covering the material may contain hazardous substances. Therefore, it is better to ask the seller about the coating and ask to see the safety certificate.
Transverse pendulum in a crib
It is more convenient to swing cribs with a transverse pendulum if it is parallel to your bed. But this cannot be attributed to a clear advantage of transverse mechanisms: the crib can also stand perpendicular, then it will be more convenient to swing back and forth (like a longitudinal pendulum). But there is a definite plus - the child will be able to rock himself to sleep. By tossing and turning from side to side in his sleep, he will rock the crib and be able to fall asleep on his own. Also, such beds can be placed closer to the wall, but there should still be a small distance for free movement.
How to assemble it yourself
You can assemble a bed with a pendulum with your own hands. Products usually come with detailed assembly instructions:
- first, assemble the base on which the crib will stand;
- then the stock is assembled, it can also be supplied already assembled;
- pendulum bars are attached to the base;
- the upper part of the crib is attached to the pendulums;
- install and secure the bottom;
- The side skirts are installed last
- lay the mattress.
Pendulum beds for newborns come in different types. Now this is a popular product that is in great demand.
Is a pendulum needed in a crib?
Each parent decides this question independently. Obviously, cribs with a pendulum have many advantages and make life much easier for parents. Some children are quite calm and do not require frequent and prolonged rocking, while others, on the contrary, cannot fall asleep without it. You cannot know exactly what the baby will be like, so purchasing a pendulum crib will definitely not be superfluous - even a non-capricious child will have to be rocked to sleep, albeit rarely.
Moreover, the pendulum mechanism can be locked, turning the crib into a regular stable structure. However, most pediatricians insist that you should try to rock children to sleep as little as possible - prolonged “shaking” has a negative impact on the vestibular system. You can do without a pendulum crib by purchasing, for example, an electric chaise longue or an electric swing. So, you can buy a regular crib, and if the child cries often, solve this problem with the help of other devices.
Types of mechanisms
On sale you can find pendulum cribs that swing from side to side, i.e. along or across. Rocking along is preferable, because this simulates rocking in the arms of a mother or in a stroller. There are also models that swing in any direction, but they are much more expensive.
If the crib is separated from the parent's bed, it makes sense to buy a crib with an electric drive. She can swing on her own. The bed is controlled using a remote control.
Which is better: a crib with a pendulum or a rocking chair?
Both rocking chairs and pendulum cribs are designed to rock a child to sleep. Rocking chairs have several advantages:
- Removable skids and additional wheels that can be included. When the child grows up, the runners are removed and replaced with a stand made of wheels or legs. Also, many models have several levels of lowering the bottom of the bed and the ability to change the height of the crossbar.
- Compactness. Unlike pendulum cribs, rocking chairs require less space and are easy to move.
- Simplicity of the swing mechanism.
Rocking chairs have a significant disadvantage: when a child begins to try to get up in bed and actively move, he can knock it over. Therefore, it is necessary to promptly change the runners to wheels or legs.
Shapes of children's beds with a pendulum
In most cases, cribs have a traditional rectangular shape. But you can also find models of unusual shapes, for example, round. As a rule, they have a diameter of no more than a meter, so children can sleep there for up to six months, after which they will need a more spacious crib. However, this problem is easily solved: almost all round models expand and turn into oval ones. The length can be adjusted according to the child's height. It is worth considering that mattresses for such beds are more difficult to find.
Round cribs do not have any special advantages over classic rectangular cribs. The only reason why they are chosen is their original and unusual appearance, which complements the interior of the nursery. They are also more compact, so they can be installed in the living room or parent's bedroom for convenience.
Set of beds with a pendulum
Many models of cribs are equipped with additional drawers under the bed. This helps save space in the room and conveniently organize the storage of things and toys. Some cribs are even built into dressers, which may also include changing tables. This is very practical, but you will have to quickly look for a replacement for such a crib, because the baby is growing quickly.
Sometimes the crib doesn't have any drawers. Then, to save space in the nursery, you can store organizers and boxes with toys under it, of course, if there is free space under the bed.
Mobility of cribs with a pendulum
According to this criterion, cribs are divided into movable and fixed. The first ones are equipped with wheels that can be fixed. This is recommended when the baby begins to stand up in the crib. Some models have the ability to replace wheels with legs. Fixed cribs are the simplest and cost the least. They are not much inferior to models with wheels, because anyway the crib will rarely move and most of the time will be in a fixed position.
