When it comes to choosing paint for a nursery, there are so many options that it may be confusing. To help you with this, we have compiled our top 5 zero VOC or natural paint brands to make your decision easier. These are the two types of paint that we would most recommend.
Known as Zero VOC paints, these products are much safer to use in your baby’s nursery room because they contain less harmful chemicals. However, keep in mind these products may retain some chemicals. The second baby-safe type of paint is known as “Natural” paints. They include more natural ingredients, but they may still contain low levels of VOCs.
Here are our five recommendations for nursery-safe paints:
- Valspar Zero VOC Paint
- Lullaby Paint (Zero VOC Paint)
- Farrow and Ball (Zero VOC Paint)
- Auro USA (Natural Paint)
- The Real Milk Paint Company (Natural Paint)
Why is it important to choose your paint carefully?
When looking for the best paint to decorate your baby’s nursery, it is essential to consider a number of factors. Of course, paint color is an essential aesthetic choice – do you select a neutral color, or a traditional baby pink or baby blue? Paint color can bring together the look and theme of the perfect nursery.
But before you select the perfect color, it is crucial to choose the correct baby safe paint as ordinary household paint can lead to low air quality and lead to toxin exposure.
Typical household paint products on the market contain thousands of different chemicals, including carcinogens. When the paint dries, it can release these harmful chemicals into the air, polluting the room. Therefore, it is essential to avoid painting your nursery with these paints.
Many parents focus on organic clothing and baby food, non-toxic furniture, and baby-safe products to keep your child safe and protected. Therefore, parents should also look into natural or zero VOC paints as these are deemed to be safer.
Zero VOC Paint Brands
Valspar Zero VOC Paint
Valspar’s Simplicity Paint and Primer Range have a Greenguard Gold Certification for low chemical emissions. This certification is used by the LEED Building Rating system and other building organizations. It has a smooth finish that is scrub resistant, meaning that it can withstand some wear and tear – perfect for a nursery. The paint comes in various shades and finishes, including Eggshell, Flat, Satin, and Semi-Gloss. It comes with Valspar’s satisfaction guaranteed warranty.
Lullaby Paint (Zero VOC Paint)
Lullaby Paint is a range from ECOS paints. They are described as being ‘odorless and health-focused for you and your baby.’ This range of paint was developed specifically with nurseries and children’s bedrooms in mind. The company not only has reduced amounts of VOC chemicals. But it has taken out several other substances that could still cause irritation not listed in the regulated VOC. The paint is also certified through a third party called Declare Labels, who have verified the paint’s ingredient list. Giving you further peace of mind on the product’s safety. This paint is also APE free. APE stands for Alkylphenol ethoxylates, which are a group of chemicals that may have an impact on hormones. Therefore you don’t want them in the paint of a room that you may be breastfeeding in.
Farrow and Ball (Zero VOC Paint)
In an aim to be both child friendly and eco-friendly, Farrow and Ball were the first company to move all their paints to be water-based. All Farrow and Ball Paints are Minimal or Low VOC, exceeding the standards for these categories. The Modern and Estate ranges from the company are specially certified by the Toy Safety Standards as Child and Baby Safe. They can also be used to paint children’s cribs and toys and have been approved to meet the safety of toys certification. Also, all Farrow and Ball paints are eco-friendly and cruelty-free, with some being classed as Vegan.
Natural Paint Companies
Auro USA (Natural Paint)
Auro USA develops their products in their own factory. The majority of their ingredients are either minerals or plants. There are no petrochemicals in their products at all, and many are certified as Vegan. Auro products follow the strict EU standards of toy safety. They do not use harmful chemicals or materials such as cobalt in their products. They are also perspiration and saliva proof. In addition to using it to paint walls, their paint is perfect for children’s toys that they may be chewing during teething. The company offers a variety of colors, including gloss and radiator paint, and other products such as wood stains and cleaning materials that are also natural products.
The Real Milk Paint Company (Natural Paint)
The Real Milk Paint Company was founded in Pennsylvania when an antique furniture restorer discovered that modern-day paints were not suitable for antique pieces. Milk paint was used previously, so he decided to develop his own using natural and traditional ingredients. The company now has 56 different paint colors. Still, it uses natural ingredients meaning that it contains fewer chemicals and will therefore be less harmful. The company also sells a Zero VOC wax that could also be used on nursery furniture. These paints are also APE free.
What are VOCs, and why are they damaging?
VOC stands for Volatile Organic Compounds are chemicals such as gasoline and formaldehyde and some solvents that can easily pass into the air when exposed to room temperature. They are found in many different products, including paint. When a room is initially painted, the paint emissions are the highest. However, chemicals can be released into the room for years to come.
These VOCs can cause many different health conditions such as eye, nose, and throat irritation from breathing them in, headaches, nausea and coordination issues, and damage to the liver, central nervous system, and kidneys. Some chemicals are so dangerous that they have been known to cause cancers in animals and potentially in humans. Therefore, it is important to ventilate your home as much as possible and choose a paint that will not pose a risk to your baby’s health.
How to Reduce VOC Exposure
When selecting your nursery paint, select paint that is natural or is a zero-VOC line. You can search up the level of VOC in most common paint brands, and if you do so, you are looking for paint with VOC levels lower than 5g per liter.
If you are looking for a specific color of paint, you may also be adding pigment to your paint. Pigments can also include VOCs, but there are some low VOC versions of this too. Remember that darker colors tend to have more chemicals in them, so perhaps go down the traditional baby pastel color route.
When it comes to the room’s actual painting, make sure that you paint it long before the baby’s due date, as this will allow time to pass before the baby is sleeping in the room. Open all windows and doors to air out the room before, during, and after painting it. This will allow any fumes and chemicals to escape. An air purifier may also be helpful.
But most importantly, if you are planning to paint a nursery, you should not do so if you are pregnant. Instead, ask a family member to help out or hire a professional painter. This reduces the risk for both mother and baby. Professional painters take the stress and hassle out of painting a nursery. They will finish your room to a high standard. Most painting companies will offer you a free, no-obligation quote where they can hear what you are looking for and answer any questions you have. They are aware of the dangers of certain paints and will also offer advice on the best brand to choose for your specific requirements.
Conclusion
If you are looking for more ideas on rejuvenating your home, then keep an eye on our website’s blog section. Here at My Favourite Painters, we are here to help and are here to answer any questions you have – we love to hear from you. We hope these ideas have helped you decide which type of paint to use in your nursery so that you create a room that you will love spending time in with your new baby.
Articles used
https://www.gentlenursery.com/nursery/non-toxic-nursery-paint/
https://businessofhome.com/articles/debuting-paint-line-valspar-explains-what-zero-voc-means
https://www.ecospaints.net/Lullaby-Health-Focused-Paint
https://www.farrow-ball.com/our-story/eco-friendly-paint-paper
https://www.becausehealth.org/non-toxic-water-bottles-2649918667.html
