There’s nothing quite like the anticipation of a new arrival. Whether this is your first baby or you’re adding to the brood, it’s a special and exciting time. Getting ready involves lots of wholesome activities, from choosing names to shopping for baby grows. Preparing a nursery for your new little one is all part of the fun.

A brand new crib can be costly with a baby on the way and you might be looking for ways to save. If this is not your first child, you may even already have a cot that’s in need of a revamp. If not, second-hand cribs can be found online, or you can buy new, unfinished cribs ready for painting. You can then upcycle it in a colour of your choice using our specialist range of nursery furniture paint. Learn more below.

What Is Crib-Safe Paint?

A lot of regular furniture paint contains VOCs - volatile organic compounds. These cause emissions and are responsible for that strong ‘paint’ smell. While the risk is at its highest just after application, the chemicals can continue to emit toxins once dry.

VOC fumes can be harmful to children, causing issues like nausea and dizziness. To avoid this, you need to choose a paint that has a very low VOC content.

At Frenchic, all of our paints contain minimal amounts of VOC and are certified safe to paint children’s toys and furniture. Our products are also largely odourless as no unpleasant primer is needed and our paints are entirely self-priming!

Choosing The Best Paint For Cribs

In the UK and European Union, you can make sure that paints are suitable for a nursery by checking they are EN:71-3 certified. A key element of the Toy Safety Regulations, the stringent requirements needed to gain certification ensures these paints pose very little risk to your child. Choosing a paint that doesn’t need a primer is another way to help reduce the risk to your baby, as it means there are fewer chemicals involved overall.

Non-Toxic Paint For Cribs

Once you’ve found a range of crib-safe paint, it’s time for the fun part!

Preparing the nursery is all part of ‘nesting’, which is the natural urge to arrange your home for the arrival of a new baby. It’s a great way to bond with your partner and feel connected to your latest addition. To help you, we’ve picked out some of our favourite crib-safe paint shades, whether you’re looking for bold and bright or clean and neutral.

Best Neutral Crib-Safe Paint

Neutrals are becoming an ever-more popular choice for nurseries, whether you are planning a soothing, coastal-inspired scheme or a bold black and white design. Neutrals are also fantastic for making the most of natural light and for a creating a design that’s unspecific to one gender. For cribs, we love warm-toned neutrals such as Cream DreamStone Rosie, and Funky Dora. Or you can go for a more classic look with a pure white such as Dazzle Me!

Best Pastel Crib-Safe Paint

Pastels are a timeless choice for the nursery and they never fail to inspire a soothing atmosphere. Heavenly Blue is the perfect choice for your little angel, tying the crib in nicely with any sky or sea theme. You could also try Dusky Blush for a soft and  dreamy feminine feel, or Ballerina if you’d prefer a lighter hue. Wise Old Sage is an enchanting shade of green with a grey undertone, halfway between a neutral and a pastel.

Best Bright Crib-Safe Paint

Add a vibrant pop of colour to your baby’s crib with one of our brighter shades. Vivid colours are great for visual stimulation and brain development. Hot As Mustard is a lovely gender-neutral yellow which works well with a variety of themes and designs. Meanwhile, Ducky Trim paint offers a soft duck-egg blue hue perfect for a magical underwater scheme. The cheerful Apple of My Eye green could be just the ticket for your little ray of sunshine, while Flamenco brings a flamboyant pop of red.

How To Paint A Crib

Once you’ve decided on your crib-safe paint, all that’s left to do is get started:

  1. If you are painting a new, unfinished cot, skip straight to step three. If you are using an old crib, the first step is to check that it is in suitable condition for painting. This will include making sure there is no damage or sharp edges, and that it is structurally sound.
  2. Next, you’ll want to remove any fiddly items that may be hard to clean or paint around, such as latches and catches. If you’re not able to remove them, cover them with masking tape to avoid painting over them.
  3. Once that’s done, the next step is to scrub the cot to ensure it’s free from grease and dirt. You can use our sugar soap solutionto effectively remove grime, then rinse and leave to dry fully before moving onto the next step.
  4. Next, a light sanding is recommended to improve paint adhesion and create a smoother surface for painting. If you are using an older cot, you’ll want to scrape as much of the existing paint off as possible in case it contains ant toxins. Wipe dust away with a damp cloth and leave to dry.
  5. You’re now ready to paint your crib. Choose a high quality paintbrush -  a smaller one will be easiest given the thin spindles of the cot - and one of our crib-safe paints. Follow the direction of the wood grain if it’s visible to promote a smooth finish. This will usually involve painting up and the down the length of the spindle, rather than round and round.
  6. Allow to dry in a well-ventilated area for a minimum of 48 hours to allow the paint to start curing. After that, you can add the mattress back in. However, the paint won’t be fully hardened or knock-resistant until around the 3-week mark, so it’s always best to paint your crib ahead of time if you can.

Find Non-Toxic Paint For Cots At Frenchic

All our paints, waxes, and finishes are EN:71-3 certified. This means they have been rigorously tested and deemed safe for use on cots and other children’s furniture and toys.

 

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