Painting the Nursery

Vanbursl · September 2014

So my Fiancé is freaking out about this painting thing. He simply will not allow me to paint the baby's room! I know he is just being protective and it is are first but is it a big deal? Do you ladies paint well pregnant? I don't want to hurt myself or the baby but I have always wanted to paint the baby's room!

tripletoe · September 2014

I've heard it's fine with lots of ventilation, but I've always used pregnancy as a good excuse to get out of painting. I hate it!

Beauxbaton · September 2014

Avoid paints with VOCs in them. Someone correct me if I put the wrong letters. And ventilate well.

Beauxbaton · September 2014

And be sure to take breaks if you need too

becks2012 · September 2014

Water based (latex) paints are fine to use with good ventilation.

Personally I made my husband do all the trim work, and he felt better about me not being on a ladder.

LooneyLife · September 2014

I painted our bedroom recently and will also paint the nursery. Stick to no/low VOC latex (no oil based) paints in a well ventilated room. I also wore a specialty mask (blocks fumes not just particles) that I bought for $30 at Home Depot. I don't know how much the mask helped, but I could not smell paint at all while wearing it and it gave me some piece of mind.

nah82 · September 2014

My mom and I painted my first nursery. My husband hates to paint and sucks at it. I went to Lowe's and asked for low or no VOC paint and the idiot there said "there is no such thing". So, we used the regular water based latex and had the windows open and a fan going and took breaks.

liladelphia215 · September 2014

We did the Valspar No VOC paint. I painted all of DD's big girl room a few weeks ago. Window open, just in case, but there really isn't an odor either.

I also painted the nursery last time.

Mrs_Bennett · September 2014

I've painted during all three of my pregnancies, and they've been fine.
Like the PPs said, use the low odor/no VOC paint, open windows, and avoid climbing on ladders.

ellasmama18 · September 2014

I don't do it. I probably would with the no VOC. Last time hubby and a friend did it for me.

cassied7 · September 2014

We bought our first house in May and then I found out I was pregnant. Every single room need to be painted and it's a large house so there's no way I'd burden DH with all of the work himself. We open windows and I don't get on the ladder for fear of falling...I get very dizzy. If you're really concerned just ask your doctor. Chances are they would say its fine, mine did.

becks2012 · September 2014

Must not go on tirade.. VOCs are volatile organic compounds and refer to a whole lot of different chemicals. Some are nastier than others. You are exposed to VOCs through pumping gas, your air fresheners, in your shampoos and lotions and a host of other places, perfumes, etc. Not just paint.

Low and no VOC paint doesn't necessarily contain 0 VOCs. It just meets the labeling requirements for those words. It also doesn't always include the tints that are added to make the color that lovely pink. Fumes can concentrate indoors, but most paint exposure issues come from long term, over the years type of exposure, not the occasional painting.

Coatings and non latex paints are typically petroleum based.

Ugh. Sorry, I promised no tirade. If you want to paint, open your windows and paint.

ECATX · September 2014

I helped paint the nursery for DD and just used latex paint with the windows open. I'll do the same thing this time. I wouldn't use oil-based paint, though. Good luck!

newguardwife · September 2014

I'm helping to paint our new house in October, but honestly DH will be doing most of the work. I will paint our boys rooms and thats it.

aerotigergirl · September 2014

We found out I was pregnant with DS right before we finished a massive home renovation. We still had some painting left to finish, and I did my share of that. We also installed brand new carpet as soon as all the painting was done. And we bought an entire house full of new furniture. So, I'm pretty sure I was swimming in VOCs there for a while. Probably not the best situation, but it was sort of the only place we had to live, kwim?

I see no problem with painting the nursery. Keep a window open and run a fan and you'll be just fine.

TXUltraRunner · September 2014

I helped paint the living room a few weeks ago and I'm looking forward to painting the nursery and our bedroom when renovations are done. As someone else said, long term exposure is the danger, not a weekend of painting with the windows open with latex paint.

ShuShubee · September 2014

Exactly what @becks2012 said. Low VOC does NOT mean low odor. A VOC is a defined EPA compound, and sometimes the things that aren't considered a VOC are considerably worse for you. They just aren't as volatile, so they don't get that label, but they still stink to high heaven. I deal with environmental emissions in my job, since our customers have to be permitted based on the products my company sells.

For the record, we bought the low VOC paint from Sherwin Williams this past time, mainly because it was the cheapest, and it smelled soooooo much worse than the regular stuff.

Just use latex paint and make sure the room is well ventilated. The whole low VOC paint thing means it is better for the environment, not necessarily better for YOU, the human.

Want a personalized experience?

Painting the Nursery

Re: Painting the Nursery

Choose Another Board

Search Boards