Kid-safe interior paint: Best options for toddler rooms

Painting your child’s room can be pretty fun, especially if you’re letting a toddler help choose the color palette. But before diving into the project, be sure you have a good understanding of kid-friendly paint and which paints you should avoid.

Spectra Painting Contractors work with all types of paints and can help you find the perfect formula and get your child’s room painted safely.

What is kid-safe paint?

When you’re selecting interior paint for your child’s room, you should look for two things: Paint should be non-toxic, and it should be easy to wash if it gets dirty.

You will want a paint that’s non-toxic for obvious reasons – kids put their mouths on everything, and chances are they’re going to lick the wall at some point. Even if they do not try to taste the drywall, some paints can emit harmful chemicals into the air and potentially cause your child to develop health problems as they grow up.

The other thing to keep in mind while choosing paint is how washable the paint is once it is dry. Paint cannot withstand every single stain, but some paint formulas are more resistant and more washable than others.

What makes some paints dangerous for kids?

Some indoor paint releases harmful gasses called volatile organic compounds (VOCs), especially as the paint is drying. VOCs can continue to be released into the air at low levels for several years after you paint a room. This is important to keep in mind because children are more sensitive to chemicals and VOCs than adults are. Studies show that VOCs may cause children to develop long-term health problems. Symptoms of VOC exposure range from some eye and throat discomfort to serious health issues like organ damage.

Experts recommend that paint in your child’s room contains 5g/l or less of VOCs.

Luckily there is a growing selection of zero-VOC paints on the market. Although many zero-VOC paint formulas contain low levels of VOCs, they are considered to be safer formulas than traditional interior paints. You can also shop around for paint that has an organic or natural formula. Though some natural paints emit some VOCs, they are considered safer than traditional house paints.

Paint may also contain chemicals called alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs) that may interfere with hormone levels. Check the label on a can of paint to ensure it’s “APE-free.”

Some experts also say you should avoid paints that are marketed as antimicrobial because of the added chemicals they contain.

Some safe paint options for toddler rooms:

There is a large selection of natural and zero-VOC paints that claim to have some surprising benefits. When Prince Harry and Megan Markle needed to paint their son’s room, they opted for a vegan paint formula infused with rosemary and eucalyptus essential oils. The oils were said to help with air quality and could boost the immune system, according to an article on HouseBeautiful.com

As far as paint finishes go – it’s best to look for something that’s high-gloss. High-gloss paint is ideal for kids’ rooms because they tend to be easier to wipe clean than matte finishes. Some designers also recommend installing wainscot on the lower half of the walls to protect the drywall and then coating the wainscot with high-gloss paint.

Some paints contain Teflon, which is good at repelling dirt and shedding stains by scrubbing with a little water and soap. These paints are popular in Asia and Europe, but some U.S. brands do manufacture them as well.

What paint is not safe for toddlers?

Avoid paints that contain high levels of VOCs. Water-based, or latex, paints typically have the most VOCs.

Also, look out for paints that contain propylene glycol and glycol ethers, also known as PGEs. These are used in some zero-VOC paints and can cause breathing problems and allergies in children, according to a scientific study that examined air quality in 400 toddlers’ bedrooms.

Some colorants used in paints are also harmful to children. Generally, more colorants mean the paint has more toxic chemicals. Some brands have lines of colorful paint formulas containing less-toxic colorants.

Lastly, you should check your older home for lead paint. Lead paint causes health problems in children and adults when they ingest lead paint chips or lead paint dust. Toddlers could ingest lead paint when they chew on things like window sills and baseboards. You can read more about lead paint and how to remove it here.

Other things to know about kid-friendly paint

If you already painted your child’s room and realized the paint contains VOCs or another chemical you are not comfortable with, you can keep the air flowing through the room and set up an air purifier. This will help air the room out and prevent fumes from building up. You can learn more about paint ingredients by asking for the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) from the paint manufacturer.

Generally, lighter paint colors contain less toxic colorants. Plus, lighter colors are more soothing for children, whereas bright and dark colors can be overstimulating. If you want to add more color to your child’s room, you can try adding drapes and wallpaper to give the room more character.