How to Replace the Slat in a Crib Rail

Inspect the baby crib for loose joints where the slats are jointed into the rails. If slats are loose, this is both good and bad. It is unsafe, and a baby should not be allowed back in the crib before it is properly repaired. It is good because you can take the rails and slats apart to replace a missing or broken slat. If the slats are not loose in the rails, order a new rail or make an entirely new rail yourself. If the slats are loose, you can replace a slat.

Order replacement slats or make replacement slats to match the original crib slats.

Remove hardware from the crib rail and take the rail off of the baby bed. Pull the rails and slats apart. If a slat is stuck, cut the slat close to the rail using a small hand-held rotary saw or a manual saw blade. Remove the cut piece. The part that is left in the rail is called a tenon. The tenon is in a slot called a mortise.

Cut out the tenon from the mortise using a hand-held high-speed rotary cutting tool. Avoid cutting into the mortise and enlarging the slot. Remove all slats from the top and bottom rails. Make certain each mortise is clean and has no broken pieces of tenon inside.

Test each mortise pair -- the top and bottom slots that are opposite from each other. Make certain a slat can be fit into the mortises.

Put wood glue in each mortise slot on the bottom rail. Slide the slats into the mortises. Tap with a hammer for a tight fit if needed. Put wood glue in each mortise slot on the top rail. With the top rail on the floor, turn the bottom rail-and-slat assembly upside down and pressed the slats into the corresponding mortises. Use enough pressure to insert the tenon completely, with all slats even.

Tack one or two metal brads into each tenon and rail. Sink the brads so they can be covered with wood filler, with a clear or painted finish applied over top of them.

Reassemble the crib, putting the hardware back in place. Make certain everything is tight.