One of the most exciting parts of welcoming a new baby into the family is preparing the baby’s room. Would it be blue or pink? Or perhaps choose a paint color that’s not too generic like lavender or beige? Deciding what paint color suits the room is one consideration but the most important condition to meet is ensuring that you get a safe paint to use on baby crib.
As a parent, I choose only the best, safest, and non-toxic materials to use at home, especially for my baby’s crib paint. And that goes the same way for my baby’s educational toys, learning materials, diapers, clothes, and other baby essentials.
Painting the crib is a cost-effective way to beautify your baby’s nursery but you have to make sure that you choose a baby-safe paint that is non-toxic and long-lasting so you’ll get a bang for your buck while keeping your little bundle of joy safe and protected.
How to Paint a Baby Crib Safely?
Many parents wonder whether it’s safe to paint a baby’s crib. You can personally make sure that painting your baby’s crib is safe by following these guidelines on choosing the right crib material, and paint type, as well as ensuring proper room ventilation.
Choosing the Crib Material
In general, it is recommended to choose baby cribs that are made of wood because this ensures that the crib material is durable and won’t peel or flake off once you paint it. Some crib materials that are non-wood or made of plastic aren’t advisable if you plan to paint the baby crib. To be absolutely sure, it’s best to check with your crib manufacturer to determine whether the crib material is safe for painting.
Type of Paint
When choosing a paint for your baby’s crib, don’t focus solely on the color but you also have to check on the durability and safety of your choice of paint. In general, check whether the paint complies with the following safety guidelines::
- Non-Toxic Chemicals. Your baby would usually want to explore the environment by gnawing or licking anything that they can reach such as the crib handles or bars, so it is important that you choose a non-toxic paint or one free from lead or silicates to keep your baby safe from ingesting harmful toxins. Go for paints that are ASTM F963-17 or EN71-3 certified because these are paints classified as non-hazardous and safe for babies.
- Zero or VOC-Free. The scent of paint can stay in the air for several days or weeks even after the paint has completely dried. So, making sure that the paint is free from hazardous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) will give you peace of mind that there are no harmful fumes that can endanger your baby. Keep in mind that the VOC is usually added in the tinting agents or paint base so choose a paint that has passed SQAQMD-113 standards.
- Low-Odor Paint. A strong odor paint can be nauseating and harmful for both you and your baby, so choose a pain that doesn’t have a strong or offensive odor to keep your baby healthy and comfortable.
- Sheen. Contrary to popular notion, the sheen isn’t just synonymous with the glossiness of paint, but also its durability. When the paint has more sheen then it is less prone to dust, moisture, and dirt, making the crib easy to clean. Ideally, if you want a higher or maximized sheen for your crib, then opt for full-gloss paint. Although, a semi-gloss paint will suffice and should give your baby crib enough gloss and durability.
Start Painting!
- Thoroughly clean the baby crib using soap and water to completely get rid of stubborn grime, dust, and dirt.
- Sand away old paint and then use a tack cloth for wiping and then dust off the crib.
- It’s best to apply one coat of primer especially if the existing color is far from the new paint color.
- Let the primer dry. The drying time would depend on the room temperature and humidity level as well as the manufacturer. To achieve the best results, you can extend the drying hours.
- Sand the crib lightly again using fine sandpaper to allow the pain to stick well to the surface, after which, wipe the entire area using a tack cloth.
- You can cover portions of the crib that you don’t want to paint using a plastic sheet or painter’s tape.
- You can now start painting! Go for a paintbrush that is made of 100% nylon to achieve the desired results when painting your baby’s crib. It is best to paint one thin coat and don’t apply a very thick coat to avoid dripping.
- Once the first coat is dried up, you can proceed to apply the second coat of paint. Keep the paint thin and even to avoid dripping and running.
- You can use a topcoat or sealant to ensure durability and make the crib easier to clean.
- Let the paint dry for longer hours or at least 24 hours. It is best to extend hours than what is normally recommended by the paint manufacturer. Open the fans and the windows to allow complete drying and to get rid of unwanted odors.
- Once completely dried up, check the crib if you have missed any spots, and do the necessary touch-ups.
Doing a DIY painting job on your baby’s crib can be a fun and exciting project for the family but it is wise to choose the safest and most trustworthy paint materials.
What is the Best Safe Baby Crib Paint?
We always want to welcome our new baby with a safe, comfortable, and nurturing haven. So, when it comes to choosing the best safe baby crib paint, you should always choose non-toxic, low-odor, and safe paints. With the multiple options on crib paint for babies, it can be overwhelming to choose what is best for your baby’s room. So, here are the best and safest crib paint options you can find:
Milk Paint
Milk paint is made from safe and organic ingredients like lime, milk protein, and clay, making it the best option if you are looking for safe paint for baby cribs. It is water-based, has zero VOCs, and is non-toxic making it on top of mind for many parents. It is easy to clean and the milk paint also gives this matte feel and look to the crib.
Natural Oil Finishes
Paint or finishes that come from organic or natural ingredients like linseed oil and tung oil are dubbed to be safe and easy to apply on baby cribs. In addition, natural oil also helps provide a protective coat on the crib.
VOC-Free Paint
This type of paint is relatively new in the market and is regarded as free from any harmful VOCs, non-toxic, odor-free, and safe to be used especially for baby cribs. The paint is also flexible for any crib material and has great colors to choose from.
Chalk Paint
This is a water-based paint that is considered safe for baby cribs because it is composed of natural and non-toxic ingredients such as water, chalk, and pigments, which also give the crib a great-looking matte finish.
Acrylic Paint
Acrylic paint is one of the recommended paint options for baby cribs because it is water-based and non-toxic, making it safe for the baby’s room. Acrylic paint is composed of acrylic resin, water, and pigments that can also give the crib the protection it needs to withstand wear and tear.
Clay Paint
Free yourself from worries and stress when you use clay paint for your baby’s crib. This is made from eco-friendly materials such as natural clay that also leaves a very earthy look or appeal on the crib. It’s practically a low-maintenance paint and is also free from harmful toxins and VCOs.
Natural Dye
This is an eco-friendly and cost-effective paint option for your baby’s crib. It’s made from all-natural ingredients that come from flowers, vegetables, and natural dye that is free from any synthetic or harmful ingredients that can potentially endanger your baby’s health. So, if you are looking for a natural option for paint, this definitely meets the mark, and all you have to do is use a topcoat or sealant to help keep the wood protected.
Soy Paint
This is a water-based paint made from safe and organic ingredients like soybean oil. Soy pain is very low-maintenance and easy to apply. There are also different colors to choose from that fit your preference and this option practically enhances the durability of your crib.
Vegetable Paint
Made from all-natural vegetable extracts from spinach, beetroot, and turmeric, vegetable paint is considered to be a non-toxic and baby-safe paint for your crib. The colors range from bold to soft colors that greatly complement the look of your baby’s room.
Egg Tempera Paint
Egg tempera paint is made from natural materials like water, egg yolk, and pigments that are easy to apply and have a quick-drying quality. It’s safe and non-toxic which is why it is recommended for painting baby cribs. This is best applied on wooden cribs and it is known to be light-resistant and heavily pigmented. In fact, the color is seen to be permanent and doesn’t change over time.
Summary
Having a new baby is such a joyous and blissful event for many families. And preparing the baby’s room using the best and safest baby paint is one way to welcome and celebrate the new addition to the family. The best baby crib paint should have zero VOCs, be non-toxic, and have a minimal or noninvasive odor. Having a healthy and toxin-free baby room gives parents complete peace of mind that their baby is safe and protected even while they are sleeping.