Preparing a baby’s nursery is an exciting project! Reusing an older crib can be a great way to save money and add sentimental value to the nursery. But before you paint a baby’s crib you should know conventional paints are full of harmful chemicals that can lead to health problems. Here are some safer options for the best baby safe paint for cribs.
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Is it safe to paint a baby crib?
With the right type of paint and allowing ample drying time, it is completely safe to paint a baby’s crib. By using paint with safe ingredients, you can ensure your baby’s crib is cleared of hazardous fumes and surfaces.
What to Avoid for Baby Safe Paint
VOCs
Volatile Organic Compounds, known as VOCs, are pollutants released into the air. Even after drying, these chemicals can be “off-gassing” into the air for months to years! Examples of VOCs are benzene, ethylene glycol, formaldehyde, methylene chloride, tetrachloroethylene, toluene, xylene, and 1,3-butadiene. [Source]
“Breathing VOCs can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat can cause difficulty breathing and nausea, and can damage the central nervous system as well as other organs. Some VOCs can cause cancer.” [Source]
Additionally, increase exposure to VOCs is associated with “an increase of the oxidative damage to the DNA”. [Source]
VOCs are harmful to human health but can be especially harmful to young children.
These toxic chemicals do not belong in your home, especially in your baby’s nursery. When painting a baby’s crib, you want to use the safest option possible.
But VOCs are not the only factor to consider when picking out the best paint for your baby’s room.
Are Low-VOC paints the safest?
While many VOCs are carcinogenic, not every carcinogenic is a VOC. If you only look for low or zero-VOC paints, there can still be other carcinogenic ingredients in the paint. This can include titanium dioxide, a known carcinogen, asbestos, and crystallized silica. A low or zero- VOC paint can still contain these harmful ingredients.
Low or zero VOC paints are important when picking out new paint for nursery furniture, but they’re not the only toxin found in household paints. Low or zero-VOC paints are not necessarily free of other toxins. In fact, most paints contain carcinogenic ingredients that are harmful to your health. These ingredients are not only a health risk while painting, but they can off-gas into the air of your home for months or even years after painting.
Commonly Recommended Paint Brands That ARE NOT SAFE
While some aspects of these paints are better than conventional paints, they still contain ingredients that are classified as irritants or even carcinogens. These are common recommendations, touted as being made from non-toxic materials but can still cause adverse health effects. If you’re looking for the safest child-safe paint, these would be best to avoid.
- Benjamin Moore Natura -contains Titanium dioxide (carcinogen)
- Behr Copper Force – contains Titanium dioxide (carcinogen)
- Behr Premium Plus -contains Titanium dioxide (carcinogen)
- Sherwin Williams “Harmony”: contains Titanium dioxide (carcinogen), Crystalline Silica, a respiratory irritant
- Valspar Simplicity: Cristobalite (carcinogen) and titanium dioxide (carcinogen)
- Magnolia Home Collection – quartz (carcinogen) and titanium dioxide (carcinogen)
- Rust-Oleum Spray Paint – Naphtha (mutagenic carcinogen): can cause genetic defects), Ethylbenzene: (can lead to organ damage)
What are Green Seal Certified Paints?
Green Seal certified paints ensure limited VOCs, recycled packaging, and prohibit ozone-depleting compounds and halogenated solvents. While these are favorable features when selecting paint, it doesn’t cover all the bases.
Just because a product has a certification for one factor, doesn’t mean it’s completely safe all around. For example, This DOES NOT protect the consumer from carcinogenic ingredients.
I don’t consider a paint baby-safe if it’s zero-VOC but still contains carcinogenic ingredients. So, while, certifications like Green Seal are helpful, they’re not the only factor to consider when shopping for paint.
Additionally, certifications hold different VOC requirements that are not known to the general public. So when buyers see the seal, they automatically think it’s a safe option. But if you take a look at the table below, you’ll see that different agencies and certifications award products based on very different VOC concentrations, and not all of them are considered safe.
| Water based | Oil based | |
| Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) | 250 g/L | 380 g/L |
| Green Seal | 50 g/L | 150 g/L |
| Green Wise Gold | 5 g/L | 5 g/L |
What kind of paint is the best baby safe paint for cribs?
The best baby safe paint for cribs is a low or Zero VOC paint that is also free of harmful, and potentially carcinogenic ingredients. Take a look at the following options for the best non toxic paint for baby furniture.
The Best Baby Safe Paint for Cribs
1) Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint
The formula for this paint is made up of casein, lime, organic plant-based filler, and natural pigments. All four ingredients are 100% natural. Casein is milk protein, which is how milk paint got its name. this paint is also 100% eco-friendly, as it is biodegradable and compostable! Because of the simplicity of the ingredients, this paint does not contain preservatives, so if you need to store an open can, you can pop it into the fridge! In addition to being non toxic, this paint is food contact safe. To use, you’ll mix the powder with water and your paint is ready to use!
This paint was recently reformulated for best results and optimal application and is a great option with natural ingredients.
Available in 28 different colors, and 3 color collections!
2) Old Fashioned Milk Paint Non-VOC Powder Paint
This paint is another great option for a zero-VOC paint. It’s eco-friendly, food-safe, and made with natural ingredients.
“This genuine, environmentally-safe, non-toxic, zero voc’s Milk Paint is available in twenty colors that dry to a beautiful velvet finish. The deep rich colors of Milk Paint authentically reflect those colors found on existing antique furniture and buildings.
Milk Paint is made in small batches, using earth pigments. Modern paints cannot compare with the colors and the texture of the finish for achieving the old or country look of Colonial or Shaker furniture and interiors. And, like the paints used hundreds of years ago, the colors in Milk Paint will not fade. Milk Paint will produce an antique uneven matte surface when first applied. You can also create a semi-gloss look by simply burnishing the painted surface.
Milk Paint is packaged in a dry powder form allowing you to control the thickness of the paint for use as either a wash/stain, full cover coat, or for stenciling. Milk Paint is environmentally safe and non-toxic when dry. It’s safe for children’s furniture and toys, and can also be used for interiors of homes of people who are allergic to modern paints. Packaged as a powder, you add water to make liquid.” (Details from Amazon)
3) The Real Milk Paint Company
This paint is another great option for a zero-VOC paint. It’s eco-friendly, food-safe, and made with natural ingredients.
- “MATTE FINISH PAINT- This Real Milk Paint has a beautiful matte finish in Sage Grey with a medium-tone. Our matte paint is easy to distress for an antique look. Dries fast as quick as 30 minutes to 4 hours depending on ambient temperature
- NO PRIMER NEEDED – Powder paint works on existing finishes for a peele, chippy or crackled surface. No primer is needed on raw wood and porous surfaces. Simply add our Ultra Bond to paint on latex
- MULTIPLE USES – Sticks to raw wood, plaster, drywall, stone, unsealed brick, and concrete. This organic paint is great for painting furniture and wooden home accessories. It is recommended to seal your project with a Real Milk Paint wax, oil, or finishes to complete your project
- EASY TO USE – Just add water for an instant weathered paint look for distressed DIY home furniture. The water-based formula is ultra-smooth and does not blob
- NO VOC PAINT- A distressed paint that’s fast drying, children safe, virtually odorless, and does not contain radioactive Kaolin Clays. Our paint formula is 100% organic” (Details from Amazon)
Conclusion
When you paint your baby’s crib, you want peace of mind that you’re using paint made from natural materials. Your baby will be spending a lot of time getting much needed rest in their beautiful new room. The best baby safe paint for cribs is a non toxic one!
Have questions? Leave a comment below!