Question from Johanna
I want to paint a mural on my son’s bedroom wall. He is currently not in this room and won’t move in there for about 6months. He is only 3 months old and staying in a section of our bedroom.
I want to paint a mural with bright colors. This is the first mural I have ever done this, so I want to paint with something easy.
I have looked at fresh air paints, but they don’t have anything bright. I looked into milk paints, but it seemed like it would be difficult and from what I read the milk painted walls can easily get dirty.
Since my son won’t move in there for another six months can I just used regular wall paint, like ralph lauren and art deco paint for the mural? Will it have enough time to air out?
I live in GA and it can be warm enough at times to keep the window open for awhile during the day to let fresh air in.
Do you have any other suggestions? I am also breast feeding him, can this be a problem if I am the one painting it? Oh and what am I hearing about turning the heat up warm enough to help it dry faster…. what should the heat be turned up to?
Debra’s Answer
If you are breastfeeding your child, I would say don’t paint the room yourself with any kind of paint. The fumes can get right into your body and into your breastmilk and into your baby.
If the only paints you think you can use are regular water-based latex paints, then have someone else paint, and you and your baby stay out of the room until the paint it cured.
I would recommend actually that you leave the house altogether for a few days while the painting is being done and have the heat on “high” to quickly bake the fumes out.
Of course, this doesn’t allow YOU to do the artistic work of painting.
My best suggestion would be to use some kind of nontoxic children’s paint or milk paint, and then have someone put a clear protective sealer over it.
