What is the best baby safe paint for cribs and the nursery?
Read on our guide to discover the top baby safe paint for cribs, furniture, and the nursery to ensure a safe, and chemical-free environment for your baby or child.
Which paint is considered safe for your baby?
Natural or water-based paints that are “Zero-VOC” and non-toxic are safe for your baby and can be used to paint baby cribs, baby furniture or the nursery.
Unfortunately, most commercially available paints contain “Volatile Organic Compounds” or “VOCs” from which you must steer clear.
VOCs are organic compound chemicals in the form of gas that is emitted in the air through the use of certain products.
VOCs are very common and can be found (among others) in:
- Paint, varnishes, paint thinners
- Glue, adhesives
- Flooring, carpet products
- Cleaners, pesticides
- Cosmetics, deodorants
- Fuel, oil, gasoline, diesel
VOCs can cause a plethora of health problems ranging from skin irritations and headaches to nausea and organ damage. As such, you should steer clear from products that contain volatile organic compounds not just for your baby, but for you as well.
The 5 best baby safe paints for cribs in 2023
- Retique It Renaissance Furniture Paint
- Rust-Oleum Interior Paint
- Amy Howard Home – One Step Paint
- Chalk Mountain Furniture Paint
- Fusion Mineral Paint
The best baby and child-safe paints listed below have been hand-picked by us because of their exceptional ingredient quality, non-toxic, zero-VOC composition, good coverage, quick adhesion, and easy application.
1) Retique it by Renaissance Furniture Paint
Renaissanse’s furniture paint is our top selection when it comes to baby-safe paints.
It’s completely non-toxic, contains zero VOCs and it’s hypoallergenic. It’s available in tens of different colors so you won’t have trouble finding the right shade for your baby crib or nursery.
Furthermore, it doesn’t require any sanding or priming to apply it and it provides superior and even coverage even with 1 coat (although we recommend you do 2 coats at least).
2) Rust-Oleum Interior Paint
Rust-Oleum’s line of non-toxic paints is one of the top choices if you want a baby safe paint for the nursery or simply to paint cabinets and wooden furniture around the house.
It’s excellent and provides even coverage and good adhesion on a variety of surfaces and materials including wood, metal, ceramic and canvas, giving off a matte, velvety, smooth finish.
A single can has enough paint to cover up to 150 sq ft. Rust-Oleum baby safe paint has low odor and its latex formula means that you can easily remove it with soap and water before it dries. One thing we really liked is that it dries quite quickly in just 30 minutes.
3) Amy Howard One Step Paint
Amy Howard One Step Paint is a great paint for surfaces like wood, glass, fabric, resin, melamine, concrete, iron, stone and more.
It’s made from zero-VOC ingredients and because it’s water based has no odor making it an excellent choice for the nursery.
It dries in 20 minutes and a single can can cover an area up to 140 sq ft. The only downside is that it comes in a limited selection of colors. But if you want a chalk finish, then this should be your go-to paint.
4) Chalk Mountain Furniture Paint
The Chalk Mountain furniture paint comes in a huge variety of over 50 colors so you won’t have trouble finding the perfect color for your baby crib.
It’s a great all around paint, nontoxic, zero VOC, and has a very low odor. it’s completely safe to use indoors as it dries in just 30 minutes.
5) Fusion Mineral Paint
Fusion Mineral Paint is an excellent all around paint for baby cribs and baby furniture. Available in numerous colors there’s no shortage of options!
The only downside is that this is not a “zero-VOCs” paint, it is classed as “low-VOCs” but it’s non-toxic, contains no lead and is odorless. Additionally, it contains no ammonia or formaldehyde making it a safe option for the baby’s nursery.
A can of 500 ml is enough to comfortably cover 75 sq ft.
The top 5 baby safe paints of 2023 summed up
No matter which paint you choose from the baby safe paints that we reviewed here you can’t go wrong. Just make sure to check that the brand offers the color and shade of your choice and that you buy more paint than what you think you’ll need.
You may need to apply more coatings or you may spill some in the process, especially if you’re a beginner in DIY and thus have more paint is better than cutting it close.
FAQs
Safe paint for baby cribs is a considered any paint that has zero or very low levels of VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds). Look for a “VOC-free” label when buying a paint for your baby crib.
Yes it’s completely safe to refinish and repaint a baby crib. Actually it’s also advised especially if you have bought your baby crib second hand or you’ve been using it for years after your first kid. The finishing can start wearing off and create rough surfaces which an be dangerous for your baby. Follow our instructions on how to refinish and repaint a baby crib.
Yes chalk paint is safe for your baby. You can use it to paint the baby crib, the nurery furniture or walls without any issues. Just make sure to wait for about a full month for the paint to completely dry and then wax to cure before using the baby crib or welcoming your baby in the nursery.
Yes, as long as it’s toxic and VOC-free. Always check the ingredients’ label and make sure it doesn’t contain high level of vinyls or acrylic on top of being VOC free.
Yes, the Rust-Oleum chalk paint is non toxic and VOC free and completely safe for your baby, that’s why we have included it in our round up of the best baby safe paints for cribs.
Sandra has over 13 years of experience as a child psychologist, both as a practitioner and researcher. She has a Bachelor's in child psychology from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and then she did her master's in Psychology in Education (focused on Children & Families) at Columbia University, NY. She has been writing for health and child-related publications for over 5 years now.
Careful parents. Retique it actually has required 4+ coats when I painted my crib