What do I do with an enormous wooden cradle?

October 14, 2017 8:25 AM

My father made a cradle for me as a baby. It's really an amazing piece of furniture - put together with no nails, perfectly sanded, and just generally lovely. What do I do with it?

I have kids, and when my first was born they shipped the cradle across the country to me at substantial expense (for them). We have no idea what to do with this thing - my older child slept in it for fun when he was 2ish, but his sleep quality was terrible on those nights, so we put a stop to that. As you can imagine, I have both a sentimental attachment and a lot of guilt about not using it properly.

Picture here. It's about 3' wide and 4' long. HUGE.

My parents are visiting for the first time in years and I'd like to be putting it to some respectful use. But.. what? I could put it into our family room as a "reading nook" for the kids - was my only idea and not pleasing to my spouse. I'd rather not put it into a kid's room because 1. HUGE and 2. for the younger kid, he actually can't get himself out of it alone. Right now it's in the basement holding junk. Not ideal!

What can I do with this?

posted by WowLookStars to Home & Garden (22 answers total)

Best answer: Can you use it as a toy chest?
posted by slateyness at 8:30 AM on October 14, 2017 [12 favorites]

Best answer: Put large potted plants inside?
posted by bookmammal at 8:32 AM on October 14, 2017 [3 favorites]

Best answer: I think if you're not using it, you should try to go with "Prominent Display" with your sentimental feelings as the centerpiece. (because the visit is temporary)

SO when they get to their room they can be greeted with it, filled with other sentimental and welcoming things: maybe a nice basket of welcoming fruit, and a rolled up comfy blanket that's been in the family, and a welcome sign draped over it. Lots of toys and Goods that when they see them all together they'll think: Aw we have a great family. Because you do!
posted by Dressed to Kill at 8:34 AM on October 14, 2017 [7 favorites]

Best answer: Would your spouse be open to having it in the family room temporarily, just during your parents' visit? Fill it with throw-pillows for display, or maybe the kids' books.
posted by easily confused at 8:35 AM on October 14, 2017 [7 favorites]

Best answer: How old are your kids? Do they have a baby doll? Baby dolls are for kids of all genders as they teach empathy, caretaking, and dressing skills. I'd get a nice baby doll and put it in there and put it in the younger child's room with some nice bedding as a toy, assuming they're in the under pre-school age range.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 8:42 AM on October 14, 2017 [7 favorites]

Best answer: If you have pets and you or they wouldn't deem it insulting (I love animals so I wouldn't find this offensive, but ymmv) maybe as a nicely kept pet bed?
posted by Crystal Fox at 8:48 AM on October 14, 2017 [1 favorite]

Best answer: +1 for pressing your spouse to accept the "reading nook" as a temporary solution for when the family's visiting.
posted by BlahLaLa at 8:59 AM on October 14, 2017

Response by poster: These are good ideas so far!

My kids are 5 and 1, both boys. We have no pets, but if we did it would make a great cat bed. :) The cradle won't fit in our tiny guest room, but the sentimental display idea is great.
posted by WowLookStars at 8:59 AM on October 14, 2017 [1 favorite]

Best answer: pillow storage: If you can put it on top of something, like a dresser or chest, then it wouldn't be taking that valuable floor space. Then, it could be used to store and present useful -- and potentially attractive -- things like blankets and pillows.
posted by amtho at 9:19 AM on October 14, 2017 [6 favorites]

Best answer: I would use this for holding blankets and pillows in my living room or other cozy room.
posted by Elly Vortex at 9:29 AM on October 14, 2017 [12 favorites]

Best answer: We received the exact same thing from my father-in-law, the woodworker.

Our kids are 7, 3 and 1 and the cradle holds all their stuffed animals. We have a lot of stuffed animals.
posted by pixlboi at 9:31 AM on October 14, 2017 [25 favorites]

Best answer: Plants would look lovely in there but the truth of the matter is, no matter how you do it, it will significantly reduce the lifespan of the piece.

As it is now, it will be fine in a few hundred years with only minimal care. If you put plants in it, you get maybe a few decades max, even if you're very careful about the whole thing.
posted by SaltySalticid at 9:35 AM on October 14, 2017 [12 favorites]

Best answer: Blanket & pillow holder in the lounge room, even only temporarily.
posted by wwax at 9:40 AM on October 14, 2017 [4 favorites]

Best answer: If you are, or know anyone who is, handy with wood, you could turn it into a floor or wall display shelf without "undoing" very much of it.
posted by Poldo at 9:40 AM on October 14, 2017

Best answer: Also came in to suggest using it to give stuffed animals a home.
As far as the aspect of not using it as a bed, when my son was born, my mother arranged for a changing table to be delivered to us that had been used in the family since more than 90 years. However not only was it huge but also not fitted our life style , we never used it. Plus my husband hated the way it looked. The ideeaa of keeping it on as an heirloom to our son mihgt have kids was depressing.
After two years i finally had the courage to tell my mother, and she was not upset as i had thought she would be, simply said well then sell it and buy the boy something.
posted by 15L06 at 9:45 AM on October 14, 2017 [1 favorite]

Best answer: it would break my heart to see something like that used as a planter if I'd made it for my kid. My vote is stuffed animal/toy chest.
posted by fingersandtoes at 10:53 AM on October 14, 2017 [15 favorites]

Best answer: Agreed -- don't put plants in it. My son is 5 and he would love to play in something like this. I'd put pillows and stuffed animals in it.
posted by JenMarie at 8:54 PM on October 14, 2017

Best answer: We have one of these that is like 100 years old or something. The kids did read/nap in it when they were very little. It is a great place for stuffed animals and cozy blankets and throw pillows. Good for a pet, but only when the folks aren't around. And absolutely not for plants.
posted by RedEmma at 8:09 AM on October 15, 2017 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Turn it into a pirate ship. Arr.
posted by maggieb at 1:05 PM on October 15, 2017 [4 favorites]

Best answer: Does a crib mattress fit in it? Is it safe to use as a bed? Could you use it as a toddler bed for your youngest when he's a little bigger? If you added some kind of platform on the bottom and then foam, then could it be used as a reading nook? It really looks perfect as a place to cuddle up with all the stuffed animals and pillows and a blanket or two.
posted by TooFewShoes at 9:01 PM on October 15, 2017

Best answer: Nthing that it would be lovely storage for blankets, books, or stuffed animals. (Not plants.)
posted by desuetude at 10:01 AM on October 16, 2017

Response by poster: Sorry for the late update - the cradle was perfect as a stuffed animal holder. Thank you all for your help and support!
posted by WowLookStars at 7:51 AM on November 6, 2017 [1 favorite]