Painting Baby’s Furniture by Safety
Painting baby furniture is a way to prolong the life of the furniture and give it new life but there are still concerns for used baby furniture too and be wary of used baby cribs. Do some research and know what you are buying because it is important to make sure that there are no gaps big enough for a baby to become trapped in. This is hard since many used cribs are disassembled when they are on sale because there are many other kinds of used baby furniture that do not pose much safety hazards though. For instance, changing tables, bureaus and dressers or rocking chairs or you can find items such as these very inexpensively. This can be especially helpful when refurnishing used furniture given to you by someone or if you are taking an older child’s furniture and giving it to a younger sibling but you must be careful when use the proper paint and tools to ascertain the furniture is safe for your child.
1. Read the manufacturer’s directions for the furniture, if available. The manufacturer will tell you in the instructions (perhaps in the assembly instructions, especially for a crib) if the wood can be painted. Some furniture may have a clear protective coat on it, which may need to be sanded and removed before any additional paint is applied.
2. Take the furniture to a well-ventilated area to be sanded and to apply the new coat of paint. Place any cloths or tarps to protect the flooring from the sand and paint.
3. Sand off any previous coatings of paint on the furniture. Be sure to smooth any rough edges or spots as well.
4. Brush off any remaining dust particles from the furniture, and vacuum the entire piece of furniture to be sure all the sand particles are removed.
5. Apply the lead-free latex-based paint in the color of your choice to the furniture. Allow the furniture at least 24 hours to dry.
6. Inspect the furniture to be sure all spots have been painted thoroughly, and apply a second coat if needed. Allow the furniture to air dry and vent out for several days before moving it into the child’s room. (This will eliminate the amount of toxins in the room.)
