Is it okay, or no?
I know the fumes aren't good for you or anything, but....do you really have to be that strict??
Would you, yourself, paint during pregnancy? (the nursery for example)
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I always painted with a window open. I painted both of my girls' nurseries.
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Yes, but make sure there is adequate ventilation.
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I painted (well, helped) the nursery and would do it again. I just opened a window!
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It would depend on the paint being used, and how well ventilated the room is. I'm fine with using voc-free pain in a room that has a window, but I wouldn't use crappy paint with no ventilation.
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With low/no VOC paint, totally fine to paint (IMO). I'd just open a window to be extra safe.
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I painted DS' nursery during the summer with an open window while pregnant. I ended up being really swollen the next day. DH had to fix a lot of my painting mistakes so it seems silly to attempt this time
Plus he'll be painting in the next few weeks and it's still freezing up here! Not much for open windows, DH will be doing it for LO #2's nursery!
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I am a weirdo because I wouldn't house paint, but I do canvas paint with acrylics (just not oils).
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We just bought paint for me to paint the nursery. I did choose no VOC & intend to pick a day that I can open the windows.
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I painted the nursery with a window open.
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I bought no voc enamel (or maybe it was low voc?) and painted all my LO's nursery furniture with the windows closed (February) when I was pregnant. She didn't come out with a tail or anything so I guess it was alright
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Yup I painted the nursery and bathroom. Yes for window open/ventilation during and after.
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I'd paint if I were using low VOC paint with adequate ventilation.
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Yes and it was fun painting with the window open when it was below zero out.
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Arg, I'm really wishing I hadn't read this thread. Even though everyone is saying it's probably fine, I'm freaking myself out. Because I started to say that I painted most of our house last time and it was fine, but then I realized, it wasn't fine. And what if it was that exposure at some critical part of brain development? There's no way to know! So now I'm afraid to paint, and I really need to paint the trim in the nursery and touch up the spots DH missed. We can't put together the furniture and all that until it's done, but now I'm worried!
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@Torchwood:
can your DH do that task? Or maybe you could use a fan in the window to draw out the room air while you're in there? There are some masks that could be protective, I think. Maybe ask at the paint store/department. Hugs, dear.
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I did it during both pregnancies. I used the low VOC paint from Sherwin Williams. I didn't open windows (we live in Texas and it was summer!), but did have the ceiling fan on. This last pregnancy I painted both the nursery and our big girl room. Just take your time and use the low VOC paint. Be careful climbing the ladder.
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@GoGoSnoGirl: DH is working 18 hour days right now (literally, it sucks), but I think my best friend is going to do it. I'm going to tape it all and have everything 100% ready, and make her lots of tasty treats. It seems so silly, but now that I'm thinking it I can't seem to un-think it.
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We painted our LO's nursery together around 17 weeks. We bought Valspar 0 VOC paint, and I felt okay about it. In a perfect world, I probably would avoid anything with chemicals, but it's not possible, and I really wanted to help with the baby's room.
ETA: I did wear a mask.
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I painted stripes in the bathroom yesterday at almost 36 weeks pregnant, the paint wasn't strong at all but I had our fan going and the door open. Didn't phase me at all.
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I painted our whole condo top to bottom while pregnant, and it didn't bother me at all.
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No way. Fetal VOC exposure is associated with harm to cognitive development, lowered IQs, mild to severe behavior problems, decreased language and motor skill development, issues with short-term auditory memory, as well as low birth weight, birth defects, and premature births, and even later asthma and allergies. I take VOCs as seriously as I do secondhand smoke.
We chose zero-VOC paint for the nursery and still had DH do all of the painting, and then kept the door closed/window open for nearly a week before I would go in there for more than a minute at a time.
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I painted the nursery along with DHs help with a low VOC paint.
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I would. Low VOC paint (which, most household paint is, particular latex) and air circulation
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I'm planning to help paint our nursery in a few weeks so clearly I don't have a problem with it. Just make sure the space is well ventilated.
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I would only do it if I used very low/no VOC paint and there wasn't anyone else to do it. We used Benjamin Moore Aura paint, which is low or no VOC (can't remember) and my Dad did it.
@Torchwood: you could probably wear a respirator. They are only about $20-30. I wore one a few times while pregnant and doing home improvement projects.
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I painted some small bookshelves but I don't think I would do a whole nursery.
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Just thought I'd come back to update re this topic... I looked at all the products that we were to use to prep for painting, & as it turned out, lots of those (caulk, hole filler, texture & primer) all had pretty scary sounding warnings relative to reproductive health/pregnant women. I had DH do all the prep work & then I wore a respirator that we have to do the painting. It was a bit of a pain to work that way, but I couldn't smell the paint (which for low VOC was pretty smelly), & have now closed off the room & am airing it out when possible for a couple weeks before I resume work in there.
can your DH do that task? Or maybe you could use a fan in the window to draw out the room air while you're in there? There are some masks that could be protective, I think. Maybe ask at the paint store/department. Hugs, dear.
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