Either reason is valid as far as I’m concerned. During the first six months or so baby’s crib gets shoved up against our bed so that when I hear him start to fuss in the middle of the night, I reach over and pluck him out of his crib (or plastic box in my second child’s case) and plug him in to eat. If I’m awake when he is done I just reach over and put him back.
He’ll get kicked out of our room about the time he starts to keep me up for reasons other than to eat (like kicking me or wanting to play). That usually happens around six months. Perfect time for sleep training.
This was the first time I didn’t have an extra crib lying around for the new baby to use. My nesting instinct kicked into high gear and I decided to build a co-sleeper!
I saw one floating around somewhere on the inter webs and thought it was brilliant. The price tag of $300 made me rethink it’s brilliance, but having just finished my table I wasn’t about to let that something as silly as price stop me.
I fired up google sketch-up (something my husband and I liked to use to dream up ridiculous house plans) and got to work.
The next day I went into the garage scrounging for scraps of wood.
I found just what I needed with plywood scraps!
I marked my measurements and cut the wood with Grandpa’s old table saw (they were too wide for my miter saw and my circular saw died while I was building my table).
Once I had my boards cut I took them upstairs (where my drill was) to the deck to assemble them. In case you were wondering, yes it is easier to take large pieces of wood, a palm sander, eye and ear protection, my Kreg Jig and all of my screws and bits UPSTAIRS than it would be to take my drill downstairs. Don’t ask me why, it just is 
I drilled my pocket holes and put the sides on first (by the way, please read the directions for your Kreg Jig for adjusting to your wood and screw length and remember them so that you don’t accidentally drill a hole into your jig… not that I did that… or… um… anyway…)
Then Jack discovered what I was doing. This boy loves his toys and flat surfaces to play with them on. He was delighted when he discovered this newly constructed “flat surface”.
Once I pried Jack away (aka turned on Phineus and Ferb) I was able to put the back on.
This is about the time when Matt suggested that I round off the corners. I used my new fancy shmancy jig saw to start it. As you can see, I was very technical and precise while tracing where to cut.
I filled all of the holes with Elmer’s Wood Filler Max and sanded all of the edges and rounded everything off with my palm sander.
“Look, Mom! Perfect fit!”
I already had some table legs hanging out just waiting to be put to good use. I also found a six foot piece of scrap plywood that I was able to cut in half for the slides that would go under the mattress (which was great because I didn’t want to use my pretty wood for that).
I put the slides on…
and took it up to my bedroom to fit on my bed in order measure how long the legs would have to be (pay no attention to the mess on the nightstand… or the unmade bed… or the trash on the floor).
Then I cut the legs down to size with my miter saw.
I drew circles (ish) around where I wanted the legs to be and used my countersink bit to drill some holes. Then instead of measuring everything really precisely only to have it turn out wrong, I drilled a hole in the center where I drew my circle (ish) thing.
And in the center (ish) of the leg.
I stuck a wooden skewer that I fished out of my kitchen drawer into the leg hole then stuck it through the hole in the center of my circle (ish) drawing.
With the leg held in the correct place by the skewer I was able to drive the screws in without fear that I would miss the leg. I broke off the wooden skewer and then did the other one with the same skewer.
Here she is! Ready for a couple coats of paint and a foam mattress!
I painted the co-sleeper using my HVLP Spray Gun.
After it was dry I changed my mind on the color and painted again (pay no attention to the mess on the kitchen floor… my recycling bin threw up.)
I ordered a thick piece of foam online and cut it down to size using my laser vision (technically my husband cut it down to size using the knife on his Leatherman.)
***Edit***After several weeks of use I can testify that the co-sleeper works great! The only downside is that if you happen to have a baby who prefers to snuggle up in his mommy’s neck, you might not get much use out of it as you would like 
When you have finished yours, I hope you let me know! I’d love to see it Find the detailed plans here.
I saw that on Pinterest and thought what a great idea. You did a great job.
You need to make me one for the next go-round! I love it!
You’re amazing! Love it!
Thanks, Amy! Not amazing, just a cheapskate
Looks great! But I can’t decide if you’re nuts or just a better mom than I am. I don’t spend one night sleeping in the same room with my babies, except for in the hospital. Mine is coming in nine weeks, and she will be wheeled back and forth from my room to the family room depending on evenings/naptime. You are much more selfless than I am!
Definitely NOT a better mom! I’m WAY too lazy to get up and fetch a baby in the middle of the night. This way I only have to wake up long enough to reach over and pluck him out of his bed, plug him in and I go right back to sleep
Hear, hear! All that getting up would be WAY too much work! All that having to wake up would be WAY too much work–for me and for the current baby. I’m going to keep this–we just use a king-size bed and co-sleep, but sometimes someplace just OFF the main bed for the baby would be nice for “other” reasons. I’ve thought about making a king-sized captain’s bed frame, with the drawer on my side of the bed set up to be a pull-out co-sleeper, too. I might make it slightly longer, as we usually put the kiddos in their own beds when they’re 2 and going through the phase of “big kid” stuff being really, really cool–the same phase that will boost potty training, if you work it right.
Wow!! Courtney you rock!
Thanks Dana
It’s always nice hearing that I rock.
Way to go. I love your resourcefulness.
LOL, you call me resourceful… Matt calls me “dangerously self-confident”
Such a great idea for the co-sleepers! It came out so great.
Thank you
what a great idea!
much better than the store bought version!
I love this idea! I’m all about co-sleeping, but never used a co-sleeper before, and I feel like this go-round, number 3 for me, that I might actually need one since I seem to be sleeping through my husband’s alarm clock… unheard of!
I like that this can be transformed into something else later, like a bench!
What are you using for the padding?
I’m a big co-sleeper as well. My husband is not (he’s terrified of rolling over on the baby). This is a good compromise for us. I don’t have to do the rocking chair in the middle of the night thing, and he never has to have the baby in between us.
I ordered some high density foam from fabricempire.com (in the pictures it’s just pillows and blankets cleverly disguised). When it gets here I’ll cut it to size and make a waterproof cover for it.
It “should” fit with this mattress ok, but might be a tiny bit off
http://www.amazon.com/Baby-Doll-Cradle-Mattresses-15×33/dp/B000IG6I3Y/ref=sr_1_2?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1349809101&sr=1-2&keywords=bassinet+mattress
Search around on ebay. There’s a guy there who does custom-sized small futon mattresses. I got one for an antique bassinet for my first baby. I think I paid about $30.
Looks great! Love the color!
Awesome idea. I searched and searched for a cosleeper when our daughter was born and couldn’t find any that would ship to Canada. Pinning this one for when the next kiddo comes.
Good luck! It was really very easy to build (and you can make it custom for your bed, color preferences, etc.)
It came out beautifully! Very clever.
Hello, new follower here! I would love to have you link up with my Clever Chicks Blog Hop this week!
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/10/upcycled-chicken-coop-clever-chicks.html
I hope to see you there!
Cheers!
Kathy
The Chicken Chick
Thank you!
That is clever. I had a hand-me-down, but your carpentry skills inspire me. I want to learn badly. My DH has all the tools, b/c he’s a tradesman…
We were co-sleepers when my kids were babies. It is a sanity saver…
I’m hoping for #3…so pinning this to remember…
Gathering the tools necessary is going to be the hardest part. If your husband has them all then you are GOLDEN! (Ok, it might also be hard to get him to let you do it all by yourself
I highly suggest Ana-White.com for inspiration, plans and tips on how to get started. She just came out with a new book that is great.
Oh my gosh! I am due in March and seriously considering building one!!!! This is amazing!!!!
NIce work! Saw you at Frugal girls link up! I’d love if you’d stop by my blog and say hi! I’m a new follower!
XOXO, Mallory @ Classy Clutter
Thanks Mallory! Do it! I’m working on the plans right now. Hopefully I can post them next week. You have PLENTY of time to get it done
Really great idea. My son and his girl are expecting in March. Being a wood worker. I will make one of these out of either Walnut or Oak.
One thing I would do and make it easier would be instead of using the skewer.
On the bottom, Trace around the leg,
Drill your 3 screw holes with a pilot bit inside the circle,
From the inside counter sink for your screws,
No more worries about missing the leg..
I bet walnut would just be beautiful! Thanks for the tips
I can’t believe you made this! I saw one like this (without legs–but i like that it has the extra stability of legs) eons ago online and thought it was genius. We usually use a bassinet but it’s bulky and i don’t love it. I think it’s awesome that you figured it out and made one!
Thanks Katie!
So cool! Will you make me one
LOL
I Love It………..but it’s 15 years too late for me and I would of love to of had one!!!!
Thanks
Can you feel the supports under the mattress?
No, I can’t feel the supports. I used 3/4 inch plywood.
Just saw this on Knock-off Decor and couldn’t believe it! I just had a baby in November, and I was going to build the EXACT same thing from that same picture you used as your inspiration. How funny! One of my friends ended up giving me her cradle instead, but I had plans all drawn out and everything.
Great minds think alike. Looks like yours turned out great!
Aloha,
Charlie
Thanks Charlie! I knew I wouldn’t be the only one
My husband just built ours based on your plans! Thought you might get a kick out of it. Thanks! http://larva225.wordpress.com/2013/01/28/little-bed-riding-hood/
I stole your idea!! But I linked to your blog on mine, so I hope it’s all okay
http://eelassirak.blogspot.com/2013/02/baby-sidecar-co-sleeper-bed.html
Awesome!
I’m loving this! We cosleep with our toddler (just turned 2), and have since the day she was born. I love it, but at the same time our bed isn’t big enough for the three of us and #4 on the way home. I really want a co-sleeper, but not to pay the crazy prices for them (my favorite is $230!). Looking for something to convince my Dad (it’s his shop, and he has built a few things before) and husband that it’s a fantastic idea to just built one instead. I think this is exactly what I needed to get to do just that! Thank you thank you thank you so much!