Paint Safety For Children 

When we think about safety for infants and toddlers, we often think about car seats, strollers, and choking hazards. For years, regulators and researchers have gone above and beyond to take a look at the environmental factors that could be harming our children. In our industry of painting, we saw mandatory bans on lead paint in the late 1970s. 

But does that mean that all paints have been harmless since that time? Let’s take a closer look at how you can make your paint project safer in terms of the physical space being painted and any chemicals that may be in the paint products. 

The way we paint is just as important as the type of paint we use. Paints do tend to give off an odor, so it is considered best practice, whether there are adults or children in the home, to have proper ventilation. This may mean bringing in fans and opening windows to keep the air circulating and fresh. 

Another check on the good practices list is to make sure that no toddlers or babies are near when you have paint cans open on the floor or ladders ready to use. Kids and paint just don’t mix although they would make for a great “I Love Lucy” paint mess moment. 

Choose Safer Paints 

All paints are not created equally. That goes for quality as well as safety. If you want a paint with a lower amount of volatile organic compounds (VOC) then seek out zero VOC or low VOC paint when choosing your paint brand and style. 

Additionally, you may want to look for APE-free paints. Alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs) are a group of chemicals that could potentially disrupt the endocrine system and a growing child’s hormones. 

As a Benjamin Moore Paint Dealer, we know high quality and child safety when we see it. Benjamin Moore’s Eco Spec paint is available nationally as Zero VOC, Zero VOC Colorants, and APE free. It is Green Seal 11 certified and contains compounds to inhibit the growth of mold or mildew on the surface of the paint film.

Safely Store Paints 

If you have children, you know how mischievous they can get and how quickly they can get into things that they shouldn’t. For this reason, store your paints and paint tools out of the reach of children. Not only do you not want a major mess of spilled paint, but you also want to avoid your child eating anything they should not. 

If you have children or infants at home, consider choosing low or zero-VOC paints and subscribing to best safety practices when painting your home. For more information, talk to our paint professionals at Jerry Enos Painting. 

Categorised in: Interior painting, Jerry Enos, Safety