Why You Should Consider The Paints You Use For Your Nursery

There is so much to worry about when you’re preparing to becoming a parent for the first time. Many people think about the big things — baby gates to keep children from falling down the stairs, child proof locks that will stop them from breaking into the cabinets. You’ll probably think about the places in your home where you’ll need bumpers put in place to keep your baby from falling as it learns to walk. And speaking of learning to walk, you probably won’t need to immediately jump into all of these alterations, precisely because many of them won’t need to occur after your child gets a bit older. But there are some issues that you’ll need to worry about immediately. In fact, even before you start painting your nursery, you’ll need to start thinking about this issue.

Many people don’t even realize that the paint they’ve been using in their home is toxic. Yes, you’ve probably been breathing in the fumes of toxic paint this whole time — but you can stand it, just as you can stand the chemicals associated with masonry stains and wood conditioners. But if you want to get crafty and decorate your child’s nursery not only fashionably but safely, you’ll want to consider what is in the products you use.

What Products Should I Consider When Decorating My Nursery?

Everyone approaches decorating the nursery differently — some people want to simply slap a new coat of paint on the walls, haul in some furniture, and call it a day. Of course, lots of other people like to have a hand in making their baby’s first crib. It’s also becoming increasingly trend to spruce up antique cradles and cribs to make older pieces ready for a new baby. But if you’re going to do either of those things, you’ll want to not only consider wood stains, which can stand as alternatives to paint if you want a more classic and less bold look, and of course wood conditioners, which will help smooth out and revitalize wooden furniture, as well as wooden floors. With that being said, wood conditioners and stains can offer as many of the same issues as paints. While you may feel like these products only really bother people while they’re first painting, their negative side effects can linger for a long time.

What Are Children At Risk For When Inhaling Toxic Paint Fumes?

Toxic paint fumes — as well as the fumes associated with wood conditioners and stains — can increase the PGE concentrations in the air. This often leads to long term issues for children exposed to higher concentrations. In fact, Sweden’s Dampness in Buildings and Health study revealed that kids whose rooms had PGE concentrations in the top 25% were 100% more likely to have asthma, 150% more likely to have eczema, and 320% more likely to have rhinitis. Furthermore, kids are more likely to develop various allergies when exposed to toxic paint while growing up. Those born with allergies may have them irritated when they’re exposed to the chemicals in paint, wood conditioners, and wood stains. Therefore, it’s important to use non toxic paints and other products.

What Should I Look For In Paints?

When seeking out non toxic paints and other products, you’ll probably first look for odorless paints, conditioners, and stains. Often, odorless products are made with fewer irritants, as the irritants make them smell strong in the first place. However, you should also look into the ingredients, just to make sure. Seek out low VOC paint, as well as latex free products. They’re far more available than they once were — take advantage of what’s on the market, and make a nursery that’s safe for your baby.