Rocking horse made of plywood drawings. Do-it-yourself children's swing for a summer house: photos, diagrams, useful tips. Stages of manufacturing a structure

In stores you can find a huge number of all kinds of children's rocking chairs, such as classic cradles, animal rocking chairs, for example, horses, as well as rocking chairs depicting favorite characters from children's fairy tales.

And the question immediately arises: is it possible to make your own rocking chair for the specific height of the child?

It is possible and necessary, because the manufacturing process is not labor-intensive and very exciting. All you need is desire. Be creative when making a rocking chair, don’t be afraid to experiment. Do-it-yourself baby rocking chairs will be different high quality, reliability, originality, and low cost compared to those purchased in a store.

Cheerful laughter and joy in the eyes of a child - best thanks for your work. It doesn’t matter so much whether you decide to make a horse, a giraffe or an elephant, a children’s rocking chair will give you a lot of positive emotions that children will remember for the rest of their lives. Such things, as a rule, are stored for a long time and are passed on from generation to generation. Your children, and later grandchildren, will certainly feel your effort and love!

Material selection

To make a baby rocking chair with your own hands, you don’t have to have any special skills. It is important to carefully follow the instructions and follow the sequence of the technological process.

For children's rocking chairs, wood species with increased strength characteristics are used. During operation, the product will experience loads of up to 30 kg. Soft breeds will not provide the durability and safety necessary for children.

Preparing templates and making parts

Based on the age and height of the child, determine the size of the baby rocking chair. To do this, you need to scale each part.

Prepare plywood with a thickness of at least 18 mm. Using wood glue, fix the pre-cut paper templates onto a sheet of plywood. The glued template will not move, and you can easily trace its outline with a pencil. It is better to cut parts using manual or electric saw, a jigsaw also copes well with this task. After all the parts are ready, the cutting lines need to be processed grinder or a sheet of sandpaper.

The proposed templates can be transformed if desired, for example, by adding a backrest, which will make the chair more stable, supporting the child’s posture and balance.

Build quality and safety

The eyes and hole for the tail are made using a drill. If you plan to make a structure that will not be disassembled in the future, then all joints during assembly are additionally treated with glue intended for gluing wooden products. Attach the base assembly to the finished elephant. Make sure that the gurney swings easily and is stable at the same time.

Used for coloring children's toys safe paint. The rocking chair can be painted in different colors or made one color. After the two days it takes for the paint to dry, you can begin applying clear varnish. It will add extra shine and protect the paint from cracking. Assembly parts for the rocking chair can be painted either individually or after final assembly. The finished product is painted in several stages to top part and the base were completely painted.

When the baby rocking chair is ready, all that remains is to fix the rope to the place where the tail is attached. To make the tail, you will need a rope of such thickness that it can be freely inserted and glued into a previously drilled hole.

Operation and storage

Unlike children's rocking chairs that operate from power sources, wooden ones are the most practical and easy to use. The absence of wires and bolted connections in the design ensures high level security. If power supply is required to operate electric rockers, then a self-made wooden analogue works flawlessly at any time. The child sits down on his own, takes a comfortable position and his parents are no longer able to stop him.

It should be noted that modern toys are made from various polymers, plastics and other chemical substances which can harm the child's health. Plastic toys only at first glance safe, but if hit directly sun rays there is a release of toxic substances that the child inhales. Wooden rocking chair, made from natural materials, is rightfully considered environmentally friendly and safe.

The baby rocking chair should be stored in a dry room, away from any self-igniting or combustible objects, such as a radiator or lamp. When storing in a room with windows, the rocking chair should be protected from direct sunlight. To do this, just throw a blanket or thick cloth over the product. Air humidity should not exceed 60%, otherwise wooden product May swell due to excess moisture. Humidity below 45% leads to cracks due to drying of wood fibers.

The rocking horse has always been a favorite toy for children. Even now, a wide variety of games cannot replace it. You can make a horse out of wood yourself. To do this, you need to find a suitable template and prepare tools and materials for the rocking chair and its subsequent finishing.

Necessary materials

The list will depend largely on the chosen template and type of rocking chair, but most often you need to prepare:

a photocopy of the selected template;
pencil and copy paper - with its help the drawing will be transferred to plywood;
cutting table and jigsaw;
awl;
glue with a brush;
paint and finishing brushes.

A rocking horse has a good effect on the child’s vestibular apparatus, promoting its proper development. To make a children's toy, you need to use only environmentally friendly and hypoallergenic materials. Fur upholstery will help add naturalness to the horse; it is advisable to first place foam rubber or other soft material under it.

A carefully thought-out design will allow you to create a high-quality, safe and durable toy that your child will enjoy spending time with.

Simulation toys

The rocking horse, despite its popularity, has a small number of ready-made drawings. It's easier to buy now finished model for a large sum, rather than making it yourself and creating a unique toy.

If preference is given to the second option, then you need to seriously think about modeling the structure. To do this, you can use special computer programs. But it’s easier and more convenient to sketch out a drawing on a sheet of paper, and then create your own template.

With its help, it will be possible to transfer the contours of parts onto plywood or cut out the necessary structural elements from unplaned boards (their thickness must be at least two centimeters, otherwise the strength of the rocking chair will be insufficient).

The rocking horse must have an appropriate finish. There are practically no restrictions on this issue. The main thing is that it looks natural and does not irritate the child’s eyes.

Main components of the toy

The wooden rocking horse includes several parts that correct production will ensure the strength and stability of the structure.

Side parts are made in two copies. They look like flat, rounded elements reminiscent of a horse's body.
Intermediate boards - you also need to make two pieces. One of them is fixed on top, between the two sidewalls, and the other below (it provides strength).
The horse's head is planed from wood and carefully polished.
Saddle. Can be represented by simple plywood. It can also be made soft using foam rubber and upholstery.
Reiki - they are made in four copies: two are installed for the legs and two for the hands (reminiscent of horse reins).

The main task of creating a design is to ensure comfortable use of the toy and its safety for the child.

Stages of manufacturing a structure

To simplify the manufacturing process, it is necessary to perform all stages sequentially. Then nothing important will be missed and much less time will be spent. A wooden rocking horse is made quite simply and quickly.

All parts are transferred to plywood separately in the required quantity. This is done using carbon paper and pencil.
After marking, all elements are cut out with a jigsaw.
The cut out parts are tried on. If necessary, some parts can be trimmed or edited so that the rocking horse is strong and all the holes fit perfectly into the elements.
First, parts of the horse's body, back and saddle are connected.
Then the assembled structure is attached to the legs and firmly secured with tenon holes.
The last stage is finishing. Here you can use your imagination to the fullest. There can be many options: painting, upholstery, pasting, painting, burning. It all depends on capabilities and wishes.

If desired, you can change the number and type of basic elements. But first you need to think carefully about the design so that it is comfortable for the child and stable.

Finishing options for the finished toy

Once the rocking chair is completely ready, you can begin painting or painting it. In this matter, it is important to take into account the child’s age and interests. For example, a cowboy horse can be made for a boy, and a rocking horse intended for a girl can be painted in White color and is trimmed with a colored mane and long tail.

For the little ones, the option with a horse located in the meadow is suitable. In this case, the runners are painted green to imitate grass, and several flowers can also be painted in the area of the horse’s mouth.

The general style of the design should be natural, then even the smallest ones will soon begin to recognize the horse and will study and master it with interest.

Photos of store options

For inspiration you can view the photo various designs, which are presented in children's stores. Often the same toy can be easily made at home. Children's rocking horses made of wood will always be in demand among buyers.

1. Classic model, for middle-aged children. Made from durable wood. Fits perfectly into the classic interior of the room.

2. The model is suitable for very young children. It has comfortable backrest and restraints to prevent the child from falling. When the child grows up, they can be removed, and the baby will be able to swing independently on this convenient toy.

3. An amazing horse for little princesses. The soft seat, reminiscent of a throne, will not leave any girl indifferent.

A rocking horse made by yourself will be an excellent gift for a child. It is possible that his future children will also love to play with this toy. Therefore, a horse is a universal gift in any childhood and for any holiday.

How to make a studio rocking horse from plywood Kata Toth at home

Do you want to make your child a rocking chair, a high chair and a desk in one product? And do it quickly and cheaply? Then you should read our article in detail. You can be sure that your product will bring a lot of joy to your child; he will use it constantly and with great pleasure.

What you need to prepare for work

The list of materials and tools will not scare you; to make a three-in-one rocking chair you will need:

Plywood sheet standard size, thickness approximately 20 millimeters. You can buy plywood of ordinary quality. Of course, pay attention to appearance. The better the condition of the exterior veneers, the less time you will have to spend on finishing.
Carpenter's glue, a set of sanding papers of various numbers.
Clear varnish, stain or oil paint.
Hand-held electric jigsaw, measuring tools.

To make a drawing, you need to have some skills in transferring the drawing onto paper or plywood, we will tell you about this in more detail.

Drawing development

Our tips for creating an outline on plywood do not only apply to this product, they apply to all others. So how should you create a drawing? Enlarge the photos on the printer, and you should choose positions where individual parts of the product can be seen in more detail and without distortion. Draw a grid onto the resulting image with a pencil, try to maximize the number of cells, this will help transfer the image more accurately. Then take a sheet of graph paper and count out the same number of cells horizontally and vertically on it. On graph paper, the size of the cells must be increased to the actual size of the part.

Carefully and, if possible, equally transfer the drawing onto the graph paper, observing the direction of the lines in each square. Now you can cut out the resulting drawing from graph paper and transfer the outline of the part to a sheet of plywood. As you can see, there is nothing complicated. This means that you can make any product even from several photographs from the Internet; the presence of detailed drawings is not at all necessary.

Cutting out the details

Before you start cutting out parts, check the technical condition of the tool; this is a prerequisite for performing any work. The more serviceable the tool, the easier and safer it is to work with it, the better the quality of the cut, the less time you will have to subsequently spend on final grinding. The jigsaw should not have runout, the file should be in alignment, the cutting mode should correspond to the power electric motor jigsaw and plywood thickness.

If “strange” sounds appear during cutting, it means that you do not follow the cutting rules, and this will certainly have a very negative impact on the quality. Unpleasant sounds or vibrations may be a consequence of such violations:

The place of the lower stop of the plywood is located at long distance from the cutting site. Try to hold the plywood so that the jigsaw file is as close as possible to the bottom stop.
The plywood sheet takes root with insufficient effort. The pressing force should ensure the stability of the plywood.
Faulty jigsaw or file is dull

Correct any mistakes immediately and do not work in such conditions.

Preparing parts for assembly

Our universal rocking chair consists of two horse sides, a footrest (which also serves as a desk), a seat, a limiter (inserted only when turning the horse into a high chair) and a handle for support during rocking. After cutting out all the parts, you need to sand them thoroughly and remove all sharp corners. Do not forget that this is furniture for children, it must be safe for use. Children should not be injured; completely eliminate the possibility of injury from splinters.

Sanded parts must be coated with a layer of varnish; the coating will have to be done at least twice. If you wish, you can cover the rocking chair with stain or opaque paints, but we would advise using transparent varnish. By the way, the designers and developers of the rocking horse also cover it with transparent varnish.

Select the varnish taking into account the characteristics of the plywood; it should not raise the pile during drying. If you apply the varnish with a brush, then before starting work, work a little with this brush on unnecessary scraps of plywood. This way you will kill two birds with one stone.

The brush will be cleared of “unnecessary” fibers, they will no longer stick to the finished parts.
Find out about the quality of the varnish and, if necessary, dilute it with a solvent. In any case, varnish that is too thick will not hide brush marks; streaks of lint will always remain. A varnish that is too thin will not provide an even layer of coverage.

If you applied the first layer of varnish along the grain, then the second should be applied across the grain. This way you will be able to achieve more flat surface blanks

Assembling a universal rocking chair

We recommend assembling individual parts using self-tapping screws; joints should be coated with wood glue. Be sure to recess the heads of the screws, if necessary, sand the areas around them again and re-varnish them. During assembly, control the position of each part; all angles should be exactly 90°. The glue must dry for at least 24 hours; do not rush to put your product into use.

A wooden horse is being made of four main elements: two flatly rounded sidewalls and two intermediate boards (the upper part and the part that serves to strengthen the structure).

In addition, the horse needs a head, and the little rider needs a saddle, a supporting backrest and two slats on which to place his feet.

The material used is planed boards (at least 2 cm thick) made of pine or spruce.

The dimensions should be such that the child can sit comfortably and swing easily.
The main dimensions of the horse can be taken as follows: length - 110 cm, height - 60 cm and width 25-30 cm. It should be emphasized once again that the rounding should not form a semicircle, but correspond to a more elongated figure (such as an ellipse) so that our horse does not roll over during an intense race.

For the sides of the board are connected to each other and glued together with cold-curing glue (this happens under pressure using large clamps or special pads). For rigid fixation, after cutting out the sidewalls, the transverse slats should be screwed to the inner sides as shown in the figure, i.e. the middle one is straight and both outer ones are oblique. The thickness corresponds to the thickness of the boards, and the width should be approximately 8-12 cm. Internal support board cut out at the intersection points in accordance with the size of the slats.

The top and support boards are coated at the edges with cold-curing glue and connected to the side panels using nails or screws.

The leg slats (length - approximately 40 cm, width - 5-6 cm, thickness - 3-4 cm) are glued to the sides in accordance with the intended distance from the seat board and for greater strength they are additionally screwed in with screws (it is more advisable to do this before joining) .

Horse's head made from boards 3 cm thick and, depending on artistic abilities and skills, decorated decoratively by additional gluing individual parts, for example, eyes and ears, as well as a mane made of leather, ropes, bast brushes for whitewashing, etc.

The hand support is made from a round stick 2 cm thick, which is inserted into a hole drilled in the horse's head and placed there with glue. The saddle is carved from wood 2 cm thick and rounded at the top (can also be equipped with soft upholstery). It is nailed or screwed in, and care is taken to ensure that the nails and screws are recessed.
The boards for the back are taken of the same thickness. The head and back boards are attached to the top board using dowels.

In order not to spoil the lawn, it is also recommended shoe our horse. You can use soft plastic, rubber strips, or thick strips of foam for this purpose. Depending on the load, these “horseshoes” should be updated from time to time.

Necessary materials

The list will depend largely on the chosen template and type of rocking chair, but most often you need to prepare:

a photocopy of the selected template;
pencil and copy paper - with its help the drawing will be transferred to plywood;
cutting table and jigsaw;
awl;
glue with a brush;
paint and finishing brushes.

A carefully thought-out design will allow you to create a high-quality, safe and durable toy that your child will enjoy spending time with.

Simulation toys

The rocking horse, despite its popularity, has a small number of ready-made drawings. After all, it is now easier to purchase a ready-made model for a large sum than to make it yourself and create a unique toy.

The rocking horse must have an appropriate finish. There are practically no restrictions on this issue. The main thing is that it looks natural and does not irritate the child’s eyes.

Main components of the toy

A wooden rocking horse includes several parts, which, if properly manufactured, will ensure the strength and stability of the structure.

Side parts are made in two copies. They look like flat, rounded elements reminiscent of a horse's body.
Intermediate boards - you also need to make two pieces. One of them is fixed on top, between the two sidewalls, and the other below (it provides strength).
The horse's head is planed from wood and carefully polished.
Saddle. Can be represented by simple plywood. It can also be made soft using foam rubber and upholstery.
Reiki - they are made in four copies: two are installed for the legs and two for the hands (reminiscent of horse reins).

The main task of creating a design is to ensure comfortable use of the toy and its safety for the child.

Stages of manufacturing a structure

All parts are transferred to plywood separately in the required quantity. This is done using carbon paper and pencil.
After marking, all elements are cut out with a jigsaw.
The cut out parts are tried on. If necessary, some parts can be trimmed or edited so that the rocking horse is strong and all the holes fit perfectly into the elements.
First, parts of the horse's body, back and saddle are connected.
Then the assembled structure is attached to the legs and firmly secured with tenon holes.
The last stage is finishing. Here you can use your imagination to the fullest. There can be many options: painting, upholstery, pasting, painting, burning. It all depends on capabilities and wishes.

If desired, you can change the number and type of basic elements. But first you need to think carefully about the design so that it is comfortable for the child and stable.

Finishing options for the finished toy

Once the rocking chair is completely ready, you can begin painting or painting it. In this matter, it is important to take into account the child’s age and interests. For example, a cowboy horse for a boy could be made, while a rocking horse for a girl could be painted white and trimmed with a colored mane and long tail.

For the little ones, the option with a horse located in the meadow is suitable. In this case, the runners are painted in green color, imitating grass, and in the area of the horse’s mouth you can also draw several flowers.

The general style of the design should be natural, then even the smallest ones will soon begin to recognize the horse and will study and master it with interest.

Photos of store options

For inspiration, you can look through photos of various designs that are presented in children's stores. Often the same toy can be easily made at home. Children's rocking horses made of wood will always be in demand among buyers.

1. Classic model, for middle-aged children. Made from durable wood. Fits perfectly into classic interior rooms.

2. The model is suitable for very young children. It has a comfortable backrest and restraints that prevent the child from falling. When the child grows up, they can be removed, and the baby will be able to swing independently on this convenient toy.

3. An amazing horse for little princesses. The soft seat, reminiscent of a throne, will not leave any girl indifferent.

In the presented master class from the author, you will learn how to make a children's rocking horse with your own hands, and at the same time save a lot of money, because you yourself know what the prices for children's toys are today, and wooden ones are generally unapproachable. Ours decided to help people and prove by example that you can make excellent toys for your children with your own hands. So let's look at how the master managed to make a horse for his child.

Materials
1. furniture board
2. stalk (from a shovel)
3. wooden chopsticks (sticks)
4. wood glue
5. pattern

Tools
1. jigsaw
2. drill
3. sandpaper
4. pencil
5. ruler
6. router
7. brush

The process of creating a rocking horse with your own hands.
And so, it was mentioned above that you can save a lot of money when making a rocking chair, here is the author’s estimate for which he made the purchase: furniture board 650 rubles, wood glue 100 rubles, handle 50 rubles, total 800 rubles at minimum price for a finished product in stores about 3000 rubles. Agree, this is a good saving, despite the fact that the author had to buy all the materials, and if you have a sheet of plywood in your stash, and a good owner will always have a handle for a shovel, and glue should always be available. If all the components are present, then the toy for the child will be made for free. According to the author, he spent a long time choosing and searching for a sample on the Internet, having found it, he made a pattern directly from the computer monitor, then he scaled them and transferred them to a newspaper.

To simplify this process, you can use the drawings.

Then the master proceeds to making patterns, for this he uses ordinary newspaper, and this is what he came up with.

After the outline is applied to the surface, the author takes a jigsaw and cuts out the blanks.

Holes should be drilled in the resulting parts, which is what the master does.

And now all the parts are cut out and lie in one place.

You can also use a router to round sharp corners and protect your child from splinters.

When all the parts are prepared, you can proceed to assembly into the overall structure. Here the author cuts the cutting into pieces and inserts it in advance drilled holes, pre-coating the joints with wood glue. And so the assembly process.

This is the kind of rocking horse our author got, which he is very happy about, because he saved some money for the family budget and the child is furiously delighted with his new toy. This concludes the article. Thank you for your attention! Come visit more often, don't miss out on new items in the world of homemade products! The article is presented for informational purposes only!

You can make a children's rocking horse, and at the same time save a lot of money, because you know what the prices for children's toys are today, and wooden ones are generally unapproachable. Ours decided to help people and prove with his own example that children can make excellent toys with their own hands. So let's look at how the master managed to make a horse for his child.

Materials
1. furniture board
2. stalk (from a shovel)
3. wooden chopsticks (sticks)
4. wood glue
5. pattern

Tools
1. jigsaw
2. drill
3. sandpaper
4. pencil
5. ruler
6. router
7. brush

The process of creating a rocking horse with your own hands.
And so, it was mentioned above that you can save a lot of money when making a rocking chair, here is the author’s estimate for which he made the purchase: furniture board 650 rubles, wood glue 100 rubles, handle 50 rubles, a total of 800 rubles with the minimum price for the finished product in stores about 3000 rub. Agree, this is a good saving, despite the fact that the author had to buy all the materials, and if you have a sheet of plywood in your stash, and a good owner will always have a shovel handle, but glue must always be available. If all the components are present, then the toy for the child will be made for free. According to the author, he spent a long time choosing and searching for a sample on the Internet, having found it, he made a pattern directly from the computer monitor, then he scaled them and transferred them to a newspaper.

To simplify this process, you can use the drawings.

Then the master proceeds to making patterns, for this he uses ordinary newspaper, and this is what he came up with.

After the outline is applied to the surface, the author takes a jigsaw and cuts out the blanks.

Holes should be drilled in the resulting parts, which is what the master does.

And now all the parts are cut out and lie in one place.

You can also use a router to round sharp corners and protect your child from splinters.

When all the parts are prepared, you can proceed to assembly into the overall structure. Here the author saws the cutting into pieces and inserts it into pre-drilled holes, pre-coating the joints with wood glue. And so the assembly process.

This photo shows it better.

Then you should wait until everything dries and only then you can start testing. And so let's go!

Let's gallop and gallop!

In modern children's stores you can buy toys for every taste and budget - mechanical, musical, talking, educational, but there are those that have a centuries-old history and will definitely evoke nostalgic memories for most parents. Wooden rocking horses are just one of these. They still remain very popular, although they have undergone some changes over time.

The easiest way to have a beautiful front lawn
You've certainly seen the perfect lawn in a movie, on an alley, or perhaps on your neighbor's lawn. Those who have ever tried to grow a green area on their site will no doubt say that it is a huge amount of work. The lawn requires careful planting, care, fertilization, and watering. However, only inexperienced gardeners think this way; professionals have long known about the innovative product - liquid lawn AquaGrazz.

Popular types

As a child, many dreamed of such a toy. Previously, such horses were made from wood and compressed shavings. The horse, made entirely of wood, was strong and durable, but it was not very comfortable to sit on. Horses made from compressed shavings looked more realistic and looked less like a rough cross between a stool and a sled.
Modern rocking chairs are made not only from natural wood, but also made of plastic, rubber and plush. There are even wicker models made from willow wicker or more expensive rattan. In the assortment of today's stores you can choose a horse to suit every taste and budget. This toy is suitable for children from 1 to 7 years old.

Important: when buying a horse for very young children (no older than 1 year), choose models with a back, soft seat and fastening belts.

Advantages of a rocking horse

Having bought a horse for your child, you can be sure that he will not lose his interest and will not throw it into the far corner, as often happens with many new toys. Having so much fun that children quickly lose interest in them, the wooden horse is one of the rare exceptions. The peak of popularity of the rocking chair occurs at 2-3 years. Children at this age become so attached to their horse that they can put it to bed, feed it sweets, spend hours combing and braiding its long mane.

A rocking horse is a good simulator for a baby; it maintains the normal vestibular apparatus, developing it, and also improves such useful skills as dexterity and fine motor skills of the hands - you still need to be able to stay on a wooden horse. Doctors recommend this toy for children with diseases associated with the musculoskeletal system.
There is another variety of toy horses - a rolling horse. Instead of two arches, she has wheels attached to her legs, so the baby must push off with his legs to move. It's essentially a scooter with a seat.

How to choose?

The horse will become your child's faithful friend for several years. The kid will spend many days playing games, imagining himself as a knight rushing to defeat a dragon, or a princess who decided to go on her own adventures. Considering that the baby will spend a lot of time with the toy, its choice must be approached very responsibly.

Important: before purchasing, make sure that the rocking horse you choose is suitable for your child. To make your choice easier, there are a number of criteria that should be followed:

Material

A wooden horse is the most stable because it is quite heavy. It will be difficult for a child to accidentally turn it over and fall, even if he swings very intensely on it. The tree is the most optimal material for games at home.
Summer - best time for games on fresh air. If you want the rocking horse to become your baby’s companion on the street - on the playground or in the country, it is better to choose plastic. This material is wear-resistant, does not fade under the sun, and is not afraid of water.

The plastic is easily and quickly washed off from street dirt - ordinary wet wipes are enough to wipe it.

A rubber toy has one important advantage - it is hypoallergenic, which is especially important if the baby is prone to allergies. It is made of durable, high-quality rubber, which is very easy to wash, and the horse will not collect dust. On such a horse you can not only swing, but also gallop due to the elasticity of the rubber, which is very useful for physical development child.

The most comfortable and nice option- a plush horse. The frame is usually made of plastic or wood, but the upholstery is much more reminiscent of a real horse. The animal has a long mane and tail that are fun to comb and decorate. This toy is a great gift for a birthday or New Year, the child will remember it for a long time.

Safety

Of course, rocking chairs for children should not only be beautiful and durable, but also safe. Picking up the desired model, be sure to look at the label; the information on it should indicate the age of the child for whom it can be used. Check the stability of the skids and the swing amplitude. If the toy swings too much, it will tip over along with the little rider. This is especially true for plastic horses - they are the lightest.

If your baby has allergies, you should not buy toys with plush upholstery - the fleecy surface will collect too much dust. Pay attention to the quality of the varnish coating - small children are not averse to tasting their toys, so it’s better not to take risks.

Important: check the quality certificates before purchasing a toy.

Comfort

Of course, a baby rocking chair should be comfortable. When purchasing, consider the size of the toy and the height of the baby, as well as the length of his arms and legs. If the horse is too big, the baby may not be able to reach the arms. The handles themselves, which he will hold on to, should be located at such a level that the child does not have to constantly hold his hands above or below shoulder level - his limbs will become numb.
The comfort of the seat is very important - it should follow the anatomical shape and have enough soft upholstery. It is best to purchase rocking chairs from high backs so that you can rely on them.

When deciding to give such a wonderful toy to your baby, consider his age. The fact is that children under 1.5 years old can perceive it as alive. For them, such a horse made of wood with plush or fur upholstery is no different from a real animal and can be scary. It is best not to show the gift from the doorstep - take it to the nursery and wrap it in bright gift paper; the wrapper can be additionally decorated with balloons, bows and ribbons. Unpack the toy gradually, so the baby will be captivated by the process and will quickly get used to his horse, and not be afraid of its appearance.

DIY rocking toy

Few of us did not dream of such a toy as children. Often such toy horses were in kindergarten, and sometimes the children almost fought, arguing whose turn it was to play. Nowadays the children's horse is becoming popular again, so it will be an excellent gift for a child. The design of the toy is quite simple, so it will not be difficult for you to assemble it yourself. The materials used largely depend on the type of toy and design chosen, but the most commonly used are:

sheet of plywood or wooden boards;
copy of the template;
carbon paper to transfer the pattern onto plywood or wood;
table;
jigsaw;
awl;
glue, paint, brush set.

When making a horse, use only environmentally friendly and hypoallergenic materials. This is especially true for paints and glue. The horse can be additionally decorated with synthetic fur upholstery, but in this case, do not forget about the foam layer so that the baby can sit softly.

How to make a plywood horse?

The selected drawing should be enlarged required amount times, depending on the age and height of the child. Most often, the scheme is increased by 8-10 times for children 4-5 years old, respectively.
The classic plywood horse consists of 7 parts - be sure to number them so that it is clear where each element is attached. These are the details:

Two identical sides of the horse;
A large one-piece piece with the head and tail of a horse that fits between the sides;
Two strips, with the help of which the toy is further strengthened from below;
One spacer that is installed at the rear of the rocker and connects the sides to the middle piece. A saddle is placed on top of the spacer;
Seat;
Stirrups - 2 parts attached to the saddle using belts (for which grooves must be provided in the seat);
One spacer for the front part of the horse - attached according to the same principle as a similar rear part.

How to make a rocking horse out of wood?

The base of the wooden horse consists of 4 parts - two flat rounded sides and two intermediate boards necessary to strengthen the entire toy at the top and bottom. In addition, a toy horse needs a head, and a child needs a saddle with a backrest and slats to rest his feet on while playing. As source material Smooth pine or spruce boards from 2 cm thick are suitable.

Consider the size of the toy - the baby should be comfortable climbing on it, sitting and swinging. The average sizes are:

length - 110 cm;
width - from 25 to 30 cm;
height from floor to saddle - 60 cm.

Please note that the circumference of the sides should not be semicircular - such a toy will swing too much, and it is easy to turn over and fall on it. The bend of the side bars should be smoother - like a boat, such a horse will be more stable.

So, the side boards are connected first using cold-curing glue. To ensure that the wooden pieces adhere to each other, use high pressure- press the boards together with a clamp. When the sides are cut out, you need to attach them with inside thick slats. The width of each slat is from 8 to 12 cm. The inner board must be cut taking into account their size.

The top board together with the support board must be smeared along the edges with glue and connected to the side parts of the toy with screws.

The slats-supports for the legs are glued to the sides of the toy. In order for the parts to hold tightly, it is necessary to secure them with screws.

The horse's head is cut out separately from a thick board (at least 3 cm). You can decorate it by gluing the horse's eyes and ears to it. The mane can be made from leather scraps, yarn, tassels or large quantity ropes. IN as a last resort you can simply paint it on.

The support for the baby's hands is made of a durable round strip with a diameter of 2 cm. Before this, drill a hole of the appropriate size in the head of the toy, grease it with glue and insert the strip.

For making a saddle it is better to use wooden board sufficient thickness - no thinner than 2 cm. For convenience, the part should be rounded at the top. To make it more comfortable for your child to ride while sitting on a horse, cover the saddle with foam rubber and cover it with fabric or leather. The part is attached to the horse with screws.