Have you recently repainted a bedroom and wonder if it is safe to sleep in a freshly painted room? Sure it can be fun picking the colour for your walls, painting it, and that feeling of fulfilment that you did it all by yourself without help from the professionals- the best! But when bedtime comes, you may not be exactly sure how safe it is to sleep in the freshly painted room, especially when you have an infant or young child in the house that’s going to be breathing in the air in the room for long hours while they’re asleep!

 

The quality of air that they breathe indoors should not be taken lightly. So what does this mean for a freshly painted room? How soon is it safe for us to sleep in it?

 

Well, the answer to this question will depend on the type of paint that you’ve used. Here are some guidance so you can sleep safely and soundly in your newly painted room (especially if you have a new baby).

 

 

 

Health Hazards of Paint Fumes

The ingredients in paints that cause toxic fumes or vapors come from a family of chemicals called VOCs – volatile organic compound. These chemicals, which can include things like formaldehyde, are most prevalent as the paint is drying and can have serious side effects on you and your children’s health.

 

DID YOU KNOW?
Infants have respiratory tracks that are more vulnerable, weaker immune systems and brains that are still developing.

 

Having an infant in the house adds to the risk of painting because children are much more susceptible to the fumes than adults are. Some of the effects in young children that could be caused by paint fumes include:

 

• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Vision trouble
• Eye irritation
• Respiratory irritation

 

 

 

Keeping Your Little Ones Safe

 

Fortunately, it is not difficult to prevent exposure to VOCs and harmful paint vapours. If you are thinking of painting a room or any part of your house, just be sure to take the following precautions into consideration.

 

1. Use the right paint

When shopping for paints, look for one that is water-based and low in VOCs. Fewer chemicals mean a safer environment for you and your child. If you are worried about mould, mildew and other unhealthy elements that might get into your child’s room, try using a paint that has anti-viral and anti-bacterial features like the ones from Nippon Paint Anti-Viral & Anti-Bacterial Range.

Formulated with Silver Ion Technology, the newly improved anti-viral and anti-bacterial coatings can destroy microbes with high efficacy and proven from lab-test reports by Antimikrop R&D and Biocidal Analysis Laboratory to be 99.9% effective against harmful viruses and bacteria on painted surfaces including Covid-19.

 

This environmentally-friendly coating range also offers other functional benefits such as:

• Ultra-low VOC
• Low Odour
• Stain Repellant
• Superior Washability
• Anti-Fungal
• Long-Lasting Colours
• Easy Maintenance

 

With the Nippon Paint Anti-Viral & Anti-Bacterial Range, it is completely safe to move back and sleep in your freshly painted room once the paint has dried.

 

 

2. Keep your room well-ventilated

 

When painting your walls and waiting for paint to dry, always ensure that you open up the windows and turn on the fan so the paint fumes are not trapped in the room. One of the ways to bring fresh air into the room is by placing a stand fan by the window to blow outdoor air into the room.

 

 

 

3. Reduce exposure while drying paint

 

To reduce exposure to harmful paint fumes altogether, it is best to keep your children out of the room or home altogether while it is being painted and while the paint is drying. Try to make plans for them to stay with grandma and grandpa or a relative for a few days. This is one of the best ways to ensure that they are not exposed to any possible fumes that might be harmful.

 

DID YOU KNOW?
Babies and children breathe up to 3 times as much air compared to adults – making them the likeliest victims of formaldehyde.

 

So before you get all excited sleeping in your freshly painted room, remember to look into some of these factors to ensure that you and your family are safe from indoor air pollution. Some of us may not have the luxury to stay elsewhere when we are painting our home, so picking the best paint that isn’t harmful to our family would be one of the best solutions when you’re thinking of painting your indoor space.