A baby’s room is arguably the most important space in their home. It is where they will spend a majority of their time and it should be cozy, welcoming, and safe.
When painting your baby’s nursery, you want to make sure that you’re using paint that is free from harmful chemicals so it doesn’t pose any health risks for you or your child.
You may buy a crib brand new and feel it needs a change of color to fit in with your color scheme. Alternatively, you may buy a pre-loved crib that needs to be touched up or even build your baby’s crib yourself. Whichever way, you will need to think about the paint that you will use.
This article reviews some of the safest crib paints available on the market today that are zero-VOC and non-toxic. To learn more about VOCs and be able to make an informed choice, please check out our buyer’s guide following the recommended products.
Although primarily focusing on baby-safe crib paints, the information in this article can be used to select a safe paint for the whole nursery, from the walls to the furniture.
Comparison table
| RECOMMENDED | BEST-VALUE | WORTHY MENTION |
|---|---|---|
| ECOS Lullaby | Sherwin-Williams Harmony | Renaissance Retique It |
 |  |  |
| $95/gallon | $50/gallon | $100/gallon |
| Non-toxic | Non-toxic | Non-toxic |
| Zero-VOC | Zero-VOC | Zero-VOC |
| Water-based | Acrylic-based | Acrylic-based |
Table of Contents
The Best Baby-Safe Crib Paints
Below you will find in-depth reviews of the four best baby safe crib paints.
ECOS Lullaby
ECOS Lullaby is a market leader in the manufacture and distribution of natural water-based paints. Their ethos is to provide products that do not contain harsh chemicals so that their customers can create healthier living environments. The Lullaby range is designed specifically for nursery furniture, such as cribs.
Their paints are water-based, zero-VOC and non-toxic. They are 100% transparent about what their products contain by displaying a list of ingredients on the label.
Customers report that the paint has excellent coverage and the color match is perfect. Customers that have allergies are particularly pleased with the products.
Customer satisfaction is exceedingly high and the company do everything they can to ensure that everyone that purchases their products are 100% happy. This includes providing samples at a token price that can be redeemed against a full future order. All paints are hand-crafted in the USA at their manufacturing plant in South Carolina. Paints can only be bought directly from the manufacturer.
Gloss and semi-gloss paints are $95/gallon and the matte finish comes in at $75/gallon.
AFM Safecoat
AFM Safecoat has been in the paint business for over four decades and has worked with prominent physicians, allergists and environmental medicine specialists. Their products have been used specifically for people with severe allergies and chemical or environmental sensitivities and they have a large number of schools, hospitals and laboratories on their books.
All products are zero-VOC and great efforts have been made to ensure that they are non-toxic. Their business plan puts a high emphasis on being environmentally friendly and creating sustainable products.
Customers say that these paints are hardwearing and durable and sometimes only one coat is all that is needed.
At $70/gallon, AFM Safecoat paints sit comfortably in the mid to premium-cost range of baby-safe crib paints.
Retique It by Renaissance
Retique It is chalk paint that is zero-VOC and odourless.
It applies evenly and provides a chalky silk finish after just two coats and dries quickly. It is acrylic-based, rather than water-based, which means that it is more elastic and can reduce flaking and cracking.
Customers of this brand report that the finished result provides a beautiful rustic or vintage charm and is easy to clean, however, there are reports that the final color is not the exact shade that was expected, so if possible, you should use a tester first.
At $100/gallon, it is one of the more expensive crib paints.
Sherwin-Williams Harmony
The Harmony range from Sherwin-Williams is zero-VOC, odour-eliminating paint that contains antibacterial and antifungal agents. These may be useful for nurseries that have been exposed to mould or mildew.
Customers report delight at the wide range of colors to choose from and a nice finish after 2-3 coats.
At $50/gallon, this crib paint presents excellent value for money.
Baby-safe Crib Paint Buyer’s Guide
When choosing a paint for your baby’s crib your main priority will be your child’s safety. therefore it is important to look at the ingredients of the paint and have an understanding of of the different chemicals that may be included.
Zero-VOC paints
VOC is an acronym for Volatile Organic Compounds. These chemicals may result in adverse short term or long term effects on a person’s health if they are subjected to them, including headaches, skin/eye/throat irritation and organ damage. This article from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) explains how VOCs impact indoor air quality.
A zero-VOC paint is recommended over a low-VOC paint because low-VOC paints still have significant emissions.
Water-based vs acrylic-based paints vs oil-based paints
Both water-based and acrylic based paints are generally considered to be safe – in fact, acrylic itself is water-based. However, you should always check the ingredients to ensure that there are no toxic chemicals in the paint. Oil-based paints are generally more toxic and should be avoided for baby cribs.
Antibacterial & antifungal paints
Some paints have antibacterial and antifungal features. Microbicides kill microbes such as bacteria and viruses, whilst fungicides kill fungi and their spores. These paints may be used in areas where that have a history of mould or mildew. On the whole, they are not dangerous, although there have been links to this kind of paint causing adverse effects to individuals with underlying medical conditions, such as asthma or allergies. In addition, there are studies to show that antibacterial paints do not kill all bacteria and may stimulate it to develop antibacterial resistance.
Choosing the paint color
For advice about color options, check out our article about choosing colors for your baby’s nursery.
Verdict
When designing your baby’s nursery, you should try to utilise colors that are available in the range of baby-safe paints. Your child’s safety should be prioritised above your personal color choices.
Fortunately, there is a wide range of choice for colors and brands of baby safe paint so you should be able to find a color that you like.
Baby safe paints should be zero-VOC (low-VOC really doesn’t cut it), non-toxic and either water- or acrylic-based. ECOS Lullaby and AFM Safecoat are some of the safest paints available and should be considered. Sherwin-WIlliam’s Harmony is a slightly more affordable option and Retique It by Renaissance offers another alternative.
I hope you have found this article useful and informative. Thank you for taking the time to read and if you have any feedback about how this article could be made better, please drop us an email.