Doing a painting job inside your house for improvement is always a good sign. But when it comes to painting and decorating with your baby’s presence, you must consider first the safety of your child. After all, some paints usually contain harsh chemicals that may not be safe for babies.
So, what paint is safe for babies? There are a few varieties of paint with formulations that are safe for babies. Some of them include tempera paint, milk paint, and specially-designed activity paint. For the complete list of this paint, please see below:
Tempera Paint
Tempera paint is the best choice when it comes to the safety of the baby. If you want to know what paint is safe for babies skin, this paint is the one. Tempera paint is non-toxic and water-based, making it one of the paints which are safe for small children.
When the paint is water-based, it is also understood that it can be easily washed. The paint also dries quickly but comes in a variety of colors to let you choose your color preference. Tempera paint also comes in matte and glossy finishes.
Versatility is also a significant upside in using tempera paint. In fact, this water-based paint can be applied to different types of surfaces, including those materials that can be touched or walked by your baby.
If you observe daycare centers and other similar institutions, you will notice that this paint is widely used. Tempera paints work on paper, cardboard, canvas, and wood surfaces in small-scale projects for your children.
Specialized Activity Paint
Another option for a paint which is safe for babies is a special-purpose paint called activity paint. This paint was actually made for the safety of the child in mind. The formulation of this paint is water-based and gelly, which the children love to play with.
Crayola, an American company specializing in art products, has already manufactured an activity paint which is safe for all the children using it. This paint is water-based, non-toxic, and can be removed easily from the skin or shirt.
This type of paint is usually used to provide different activities for children related to painting. One such popular activity is making a baby’s imprint. If you are worried about the safety of the child, think again. This paint is actually very safe for babies and can be washed off easily.
Another essential piece of information about this paint is its stain-free feature. So, if you allow to let the kids to play with this paint, you will never have to worry about the pain staining the child’s skin. After all, this paint is made for kids and can be used in different types of activities.
Watercolor Paint
Watercolor is another type of paint which is generally safe for babies. It is actually developed to provide children with fun coloring activities to help develop their motor skills. Physically, watercolors are bright and transparent paints.
The problem when kids play is the small accidents that may happen while using watercolor. Some might get curious while playing with the paint. This curiosity can lead the child to taste the watercolor unknowingly.
If this situation happens, there is no need to panic because watercolors are non-toxic and generally safe, even if the child accidentally swallows the paint. This paint will not bring any harm once accidentally ingested by the child in smaller amounts.
Watercolors are actually made of pigments and binders. This paint looks bright and transparent and usually works best on watercolor paper. This type of paper usually comes with the highest absorption rate, which will help in controlling the wetness, making it a perfect medium for watercolor.
Non-Toxic Nursery Paint
There are actually some paint brands that are intentionally manufacturing paints that are safe for babies. Paints considered safe for babies are made with zero VOC or volatile organic compounds. The VOC is actually the ugly smell we experience once a painting job is ongoing.
Non-toxic paint is also free from APE or Alkylphenol ethoxylates. The APEs are chemicals that are suspected endocrine disruptors which are not suitable for the body. Non-toxic paint is also not antimicrobial and may only contain additives which are harmful to babies.
Among these requirements, the notable non-toxic nursery paint in the market today includes the AFM Safecoat Zero VOC, Benjamin Moore Eco Spec, Clare paint, and Sherwin Williams Harmony.
All of these paint brands claim that they have zero VOC in formulating their paints, making them safe for babies. The paints are also free from APE and do not contain additives which are not necessary to the overall formulation of the paint.
Milk Paint
Another paint option which is generally safe for kids is milk paint. There is one type of milk paint called real milk paint, which has a type of milk protein called casein as the main ingredient. The ingredients of this type of paint includes milk protein, natural pigment colors, and calcium lime. All of these ingredients are generally safe for babies.
Another type of milk paint which works best in painting walls is called old-fashioned milk paint. Just like the other milk paint, this paint uses a non-toxic formulation which makes it safe for toddlers and babies.
Conclusion
Learning what paint is safe for babies is essential if you want to make your children or other people safe. Unfortunately, not all paints are formulated to be safe for all babies, making it necessary to know what paint will not harm your dearest child.