Is it safe to let my child sleep in a freshly painted room?

How long you should wait before letting your child sleep in a room depends primarily on the paint you use. All paints can be categorized into 3 different types:

1. If you use a Zero-VOC paint, which is non-flammable, eco-friendly and virtually odorless, you can let your child sleep in the room the same day you paint.
2. With “Green Seal” and Low-VOC paint, you can also allow your child to sleep in the room the same day. However, there will be a slight odor for 2-3 days after painting, which will lessen if you blow a fan in the room and leave the door and/or windows open.
3. If you use oil-based paint or paint without a “Green Seal” logo it could take a while for the room to be child-safe. Paints that are not eco-friendly have many more toxins and chemicals that continue to be emitted 2-3 weeks after painting.

Despite the vast number of paints available for use, we highly recommend using a Low or Zero-VOC paint when painting a child’s room, or for any home interior room. Normal latex and oil-based paint contain harmful solvents and VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds) that pose possible long-term problems for the kidneys, liver, or the central nervous system. Take note that any paint with a strong odor is likely filled with VOC’s, (this is also true for carpets; so it is advisable to research which carpets are child-safe before having one installed in your nursery).

Using zero-VOC paint is the best way to ensure you are creating a safe environment for your child. No-VOC paints are ideal for parents seeking a child-safe, eco-friendly nursery; not only are they safer to use, but they are also odorless and easy-to-clean. Benjamin Moore’s Natura® and Sherwin Williams Harmony® are both great zero-voc, nursery-safe paints.

If you have any further questions, call Hallco Enterprises at 301-831-3679 or contact us online.