Baby Hammock

by Mudhugger
(Seacoast, NH, US)

We really wanted a baby hammock for our infant -- the enveloping feel, and bounce & sway movement is supposed to be very soothing -- but they cost a ridiculous amount of money! So, looking at safety guidelines, I made my own.

The fabric needs to be thin (think: breathable) but strong -- and big enough to come up high on the sides so baby can't fall out, even if wriggly. I had a piece of gifted sheet fabric for that. I played around until I found the right shape, and secured the ends with rubber bands (I might sew it at a later time.)

I found a strong oak branch and drilled holes in each end. Through each hole went some leftover rope we'd used to hang an adult hammock with. I knotted the fabric tightly around the branch to the inside of the rope, so it can't slip off the ends.

Then I secured the rope ends to my hardware (You can't just slip the rope through the hardware because then the hardware ring becomes a fulcrum and the hammock will slide and tip over.) For hardware we bought a large eye-hook, 2 quick-links, and a spring that can support 50lbs.

The eye-hook went into a ceiling stud, then a quick-link joined on the spring, and then the rope tied onto the 2nd quick-link. I tested it with a 25lb free weight. It's over our bed for a convenient co-sleeping alternative.

Then I dressed it up with some scrap ribbon, some mini-prayer flags, and extra beads I put onto wire. The whole thing only cost $7 -- the cost of the hardware!