You want to paint a room, and you now have a baby in the house. Paint produces fumes that can’t be safe for your new bundle of joy, right? It depends.
Modern paints that are non-toxic (i.e., no silicates or lead), non-odor, and no-VOC are safest to use around babies. But that doesn’t mean there is no threat to your baby. Know the right painting processes and health information before you start your project.
Are Paint Fumes Harmful to Babies?
If you choose a paint that’s considered baby-safe, fumes shouldn’t be a big problem in terms of severe or lasting health issues. However, your baby’s lungs aren’t as developed as yours, so there still could be side effects if they’re exposed to rooms where paint is still drying:
Headaches and dizziness.
Irritation to the eyes and respiratory system.
Vision issues.
Nausea.
Rashes or other skin irritations.
So, if you are painting a space for your baby, be sure to select a paint with low or no VOCs. Sherwin Williams, which is the primary paint used by Five Star Painting, has a wide range of paints that have low or zero VOCs.
Related Topic: What Are VOCs and Where Do They Come From?
How Long After Painting Is It Safe for a Baby to Be in the Room?
If you used modern, zero-VOC paint that’s safe for babies, the room should be baby-safe within a few hours. However, there’s always a chance that your baby might be more susceptible to some of the previously mentioned effects, so waiting 48 hours is a safer choice. This is especially important if your child will be sleeping in the room.
Can a Baby Sleep in a Freshly Painted Room?
Even though your baby or toddler can be in a room within a few hours of painting, sleeping is another matter. It’s not safe to let your baby sleep in a freshly painted room until a few days have passed. This is because paint fume exposure side effects, such as respiratory issues or nausea, aren’t easily detectable when a child is asleep.
Related Topic: Protective Measures while Painting
Lead-Based Paint and Babies
If you have an older home (built prior to 1978), there is a very real chance that your home has lead-based paint. So you’re likely looking into covering or removing it before your baby needs to sleep in your house. Although lead-based paint will be hard to remove, you can paint over it using a process called encapsulation. Since special paints and techniques are required for this process, the job should be left to professionals.
Our Professionals Paint Safely
To make sure the proper paint and safety precautions are employed for your next painting project, contact Five Star Painting. We can help you choose nursery-safe paint and complete the project for you with minimal disruption. We’ll make sure your home looks good and is safe for you and your baby. To get started schedule your estimate online today or give us a call at (888) 261-3633.