One thing both new and veteran moms will never compromise on is the products they use on or around their children. These products can be anything from soaps and shampoos to cleaning products and paint.
Wait, paint?! Yes, paint. Paint covers a large percentage of our homes. Not all paint is safe, though, especially not around little children. Older homes and toys manufactured prior to 1978 may be painted with lead-based paint. Lead is toxic to the developing brain and can cause permanent learning problems (source). When choosing paint products, you want to choose ones that are water-based, lead-free, and volatile organic compound (VOC) safe.
Here are the best baby-safe paint products on the market, including spray paints for DIY furniture projects, paint for baby art, and wall paint for the nursery.
| Why It's Best | Rating | |
|---|---|---|
| FolkArt Home Decor Chalk Furniture & Craft Paint | Non-Toxic; Water-Based; Great for Handprint Art | ♥♥♥♥♥ |
| Rust-Oleum Chalked Ultra Matte Spray Paint | Antique finish; Minimal prep | ♥♥♥♥♥ |
| Amy Howard Home Chalk Finish | Water-Based; Zero VOCs | ♥♥♥♥♥ |
| Krylon Chalky Finish Spray Paint | Can be used on multiple surfaces | ♥♥♥♥♥ |
| Rust-Oleum Chalk Decorative Glaze | Antique look | ♥♥♥♥♥ |
Best Baby Safe Paint
The Krylon Fusion, Montana MTN Colors, and Pintyplus paints are spray paints with the Pintyplus including 8 mini spray paint cans, which is a better variety than the others. The Tried & True is the best stain for wood finishes and the Varathane is the best semi-gloss finish.
Krylon Fusion for Plastic Spray Paint
I have a lot of outdoor plastic toys and furniture that need paint touch-ups from time to time. The Krylon Fusion for Plastic Spray Paint is a great product for such touch-ups. This paint bonds to most plastics, PVC, resins, etc. A great feature is that it dries to the touch in about 20 minutes, and is dry to handle in a little over an hour. But, it is best to let the paint cure for a few days before allowing your kids to use the toys or furniture.
Pros
- no need to sand or prime beforehand
- durable
Cons
- Needs a few days to cure
- should not paint when the item to be painted is cold- will reduce adhesion and durability
Pintyplus Aqua Spray Paint
The Pintyplus Aqua Spray Paint is a great water-based spray paint. These small cans are easy to use with minimal odor, and they give a controlled spray. You can use this spray inside and outside. Shake the can well before each use. The drying time is roughly one hour. One of the best features is that you can easily remove any paint with soap and water while the surface is still wet. Many consumers use this product for arts and crafts that include stencils. Kids can even use this product!
Pros
- water-based
- minimal odor
- environment friendly
Cons
- dry time is roughly an hour
Montana MTN Colors – Water Based Spray Paint
The Montana MTN Colors – Water Based Spray Paint is created with low-odor, high-quality color, and water-soluble resins. Being water-based, it dries quickly with a matte finish. You can spray almost any product such as glass, wood, and metal. Montana spray paint can be used indoors and outdoors.
Pros
- low fumes
- can be used on many types of materials
- odor-free
- non-toxic
Cons
- cans are small
- not intended for large projects unless you buy multiple cans
Varathane Water-Based Ultimate Polyurethane
A semi-gloss finish makes any wood surface a classic look. Varathane Water-Based Ultimate Polyurethane protects indoor wood surfaces such as windows, cabinets, and furniture. The water-based formula dries fast, and is easy to clean with soap and water. I like this product because it gives a clear finish and resists stains and scratches. It is recommended to wait 2 hours between each coat.
Pros
- durable
- water-based formula
- dries to the touch in 30 minutes
- scratch resistant
Cons
- 2 hour wait time between coats
- multiple coat applications needed
Tried and True Wood Stain
The Tried and True Wood Stain products have zero VOCs and are safe for food and skin contact. A formula of linseed oil and all-natural earth pigments makes this a safe product for use on a baby’s crib. Many babies end up with their mouths on their crib at some point, so a safe stain is very important. A one-gallon can will successfully cover up to 1000 sq. feet.
Pros
- zero VOCs
- safe for food and skin contact
Cons
- takes roughly 24 hours to fully dry
Best Baby Safe Chalk Paint
The Rust-Oleum, Testors Spray Chalk, and Krylon are chalked spray paints whereas the others are typical paint cans.
FolkArt Home Decor Chalk Furniture & Craft Paint
The FolkArt Home Decor Chalk Furniture & Craft Paint is easy to layer and distress. It is water-based and non-toxic, making it great for baby furniture. This product can be used on a variety of surfaces such as wood, terracotta, and ceramic. This is a thick paint, but it spreads well. Since this is chalk paint, there is no need for pre-priming or sanding.
Pros
- perfect for baby handprint projects!
- VOC free
- dries fast with little mess
- 1 -2 coats needed
Cons
- very thick
Rust-Oleum Chalked Ultra Matte Spray Paint
Chalk paint is wonderful if you are looking for a more unique, antique look to your room decor. The Rust-Oleum Series Chalked Ultra Matte Spray Paint is easy to distress with its matte finish. This paint can be used on a variety of interior surfaces such as wood, metal, ceramic, canvas, etc. With excellent adhesion and easy application, you will be finished with your project in no time.
Pros
- minimal prep
- can use fine-grain sandpaper to sand off drips
Cons
- oil-based paint
- may need more than one coat depending on the project
Amy Howard Home
Eco-friendly with zero VOCs makes the Amy Howard Home One-Step Paint with Chalk Finish a great product to use on cribs and other furniture in your baby’s room. The product brushes smoothly onto surfaces such as wood, glass, stone, and even outdoor furniture. Users are pleasantly surprised at the excellent coverage and adhesion. Plus, drying time is roughly 20 minutes.
Pros
- VOC free
- eco-friendly
- safe for use in baby’s room
- water-based
- easy to clean
Cons
- none
Rust-Oleum Chalked Decorative Glaze
Rust-Oleum Chalked Decorative Glaze is a wonderful product for creating antique looks on many surfaces like wood, metal, and laminate. This is an aged glaze that you would use over a clean surface that has been painted with Rust-Oleum chalked paint. One can covers up to 200 sq. ft. Let the glaze dry before applying a chalked topcoat. The glaze goes on easily, and is even easier to distress. It takes eight hours to fully cure.
Pros
- create an antique look on multiple surfaces
- brushes on easily
Cons
- needs at least 8 hours to fully cure
Testors Spray Chalk
The Testors Spray Chalk provides a fun spin on outdoor chalk. My kids love to use the outdoor chalk to draw on the driveway. Testors Spray Chalk allows you to decorate and draw on a variety of exterior surfaces such as concrete, asphalt, sand, snow, grass, and more. Make sure to wear gloves, just in case it gets on your hands. The spray is made of washable, non-toxic colorants. You can remove the paint from your driveway and concrete by rinsing it with water pressure from a garden hose. You may need to apply light brushing on porous surfaces. The spray lasts up to 7 days.
Pros
- fun
- can be used on many outdoor surfaces
- can be rinsed off most surfaces
Cons
- wear gloves as it may be more difficult to remove from hands
- only last up to 7 days without moisture
Retique It Chalk Furniture Paint by Renaissance DIY
The Retique It Chalk Furniture Paint by Renaissance DIY is a non-toxic, hypoallergenic, brush-on paint. Designed for furniture and cabinets, it brushes on smoothly with a chalky finish. Minimal odor allows for indoor painting. There is no pre-priming or sanding needed. This paint adheres to most surfaces. Many consumers state that they use two coats for most projects.
Pros
- non-toxic, zero VOCs, hypoallergenic
- no pre-priming or sanding
- smooth with a chalky finish
Cons
- recommended 2 coats
Chalk Mountain Brushes Quality Chalk Furniture Paint
Chalk Mountain Brushes Quality Chalk Furniture Paint comes in over FIFTY beachy and earthy colors, so you won’t have any trouble finding the perfect color for your baby’s crib. With low odor and zero VOCs, this product is safe to use indoors in the nursery. Most furniture will require an application of two coats for full coverage.
Pros
- multiple colors
- low odor
- non-toxic
- safe to use indoors
Cons
- dry time is 30 minutes between each coat
Krylon Chalky Finish Spray Paint
Finding a paint that dries the same color as the sample swatches is sometimes a difficult find. But, Krylon Chalky Finish Spray Paint dries spot on. Plus, it is fast drying with no streaks if you don’t spray too heavily. There is no primer or prep needed, and it is sandable. A side note: if you use the paint on an item that stays outside, finish with a coat of waterproofing spray.
Pros
- dries fast
- color is spot on
- no primer needed
Cons
- need to shake well before each use
- use a waterproof spray if using on outside items
Some Tools for Painting
16 Pack Stencil Kit for Fabric Paint
When painting a nursery, a parent doesn’t just think about the walls and the furniture. Many parents want to decorate everything for their new little blessing. 16 Pack Stencil Kit is a wonderful tool to use when decorating. Sixteen stencils provide a lot of variety and choices.
VEVOR Pressure Paint Pot 8 Gallon (30 liters) Tank
The VEVOR Pressure Paint Pot 8 Gallon is a great tool if you have a large area to paint such as a large nursery or playroom. The optimal pressure is 20 – 30 psi and the maximum pressure is 90 psi. A high-precision barometer allows ample control and stability.
Baby Safe Paints Compared
The table below compares only the recommended products on this page. A low or high Price means it is low or high compared to the other products listed. The Popularity Score reflects how often readers click on and buy the product. The Quality Score is our assessment of the overall performance and satisfaction with the product compared to others in the table.
| VEVOR Pressure Paint Pot 8 Gallon (30 liters) Tank | 4.2 | 9.4 | 302.99 |
| Pintyplus Aqua Spray Paint | 9.5 | 8.4 | 52.79 |
| Amy Howard Home | 9.7 | 8.8 | 39.95 |
| Testors Spray Chalk | 9.5 | 8.4 | 39.15 |
| Retique It Chalk Furniture Paint by Renaissance DIY | 9.4 | 9.2 | 37.99 |
| Tried and True Wood Stain | 9.0 | 8.6 | 34.99 |
| Krylon Fusion for Plastic Spray Paint | 8.6 | 8.4 | 29.97 |
| Varathane Water-Based Ultimate Polyurethane | 8.2 | 9.0 | 24.28 |
| Rust-Oleum Chalked Decorative Glaze | 9.9 | 9.2 | 23.52 |
| 16 Pack Stencil Kit for Fabric Paint | 6.2 | 9.4 | 19.99 |
| Chalk Mountain Brushes Quality Chalk Furniture Paint | 8.3 | 9.4 | 16.95 |
| Rust-Oleum Chalked Ultra Matte Spray Paint | 9.9 | 9.4 | 10.39 |
| Krylon Chalky Finish Spray Paint | 9.7 | 9.2 | 9.99 |
| FolkArt Home Decor Chalk Furniture & Craft Paint | 9.9 | 9.2 | 7.74 |
| Montana MTN Colors - Water Based Spray Paint | 3.9 | 9.2 | 7.09 |
Buying Criteria for Baby Safe Paint
The criteria with the utmost importance when choosing a baby-safe paint is safety. As I stated at the beginning of the article, you want to look for paints that are non-toxic, VOC-free, and water-based. Some water-based paints that are labeled “non-toxic” contain preservatives to prevent bacterial growth. These preservatives may contain small amounts of VOCs, so it is important to check the level (source). A VOC level less than 0.3% is preferable (source). When shopping for paint, ask for one that doesn’t need a primer. This will limit the number of chemicals.
The second criterion is to look for paint that is easy to use and/or spray with little to no odor or residue.
Finally, you’ll want to look for paint that fits the style of the nursery. For antique decor, choose chalk paint.
FAQs – Baby Safe Spray Paint
What paint is safe for nursery furniture?
Paints with zero VOCs are the safest. VOCs are Volatile Organic Compounds that are toxic. They can cause a variety of upper respiratory, stomach, and neurological symptoms (source). There are also studies that show a link between prenatal VOC exposure and the development of childhood leukemia (source). Most natural or water-based paints are safe for baby furniture, but check the label for preservatives.
What paints are safe to use around babies?
If looking for paints for decorating furniture, walls, or even clothes, tempera and fabric paints are all great choices.
Is spray paint better or brush on paint?
The paint that is the safest is one that is non-toxic. You can find non-toxic paints in a spray can, and ones that can be applied with a brush. Using either is a matter of choice.
