How long after painting a room is it safe for a newborn?

It is generally recommended to wait at least 48–72 hours after painting before allowing a newborn in the room.

The exact time depends on:

• Type of paint used
• Ventilation
• Humidity levels
• Number of coats applied

Low-VOC or zero-VOC paints typically dry and off-gas faster than traditional paints.

Why Should You Wait After Painting?

Paint releases fumes called VOCs (volatile organic compounds) as it dries.

Newborns are more sensitive to airborne irritants because:

• Their lungs are still developing
• They breathe more rapidly than adults
• They are often in enclosed spaces like nurseries

Proper ventilation reduces exposure risk.

How to Make a Room Safer After Painting

To reduce fumes more quickly:

• Use low-VOC or zero-VOC paint
• Keep windows open during and after painting
• Run fans to improve air circulation
• Maintain moderate indoor temperature
• Wait until all paint smell is gone before occupancy

If you can still smell paint strongly, the room should continue to air out.

Is Low-VOC Paint Safe for Babies?

Low-VOC and zero-VOC paints significantly reduce harmful emissions compared to traditional paints. While no paint is completely fume-free, modern low-VOC options are widely recommended for nurseries and children’s rooms.

Allow paint to fully dry and ventilate the room before bringing a newborn inside.

When Is It Safe to Sleep in a Newly Painted Room?

For newborns, most experts recommend waiting at least 48–72 hours to be cautious — especially if ventilation is limited.

For adults, rooms are typically safe once the paint is fully dry and odor has dissipated.

Consumer Reports suggests painting at least two months before your baby’s arrival to give the fumes from Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) a chance to subside before you bring your new baby home.

If you’re on a shorter timeline, having a moving source of air will not only allow the paint to dry more quickly, it can also help to dissipate the paint fumes more quickly. Open as many windows as you can and consider adding rotating fans to the rooms you’ve painted. This will help to clear VOC’s from your living area.

You may be tempted to use an air purifier to help remove VOCs from the environment, but nearly every electrostatic air purifier you can buy will only remove much larger particulates such as pet dander and dust. Same goes for HEPA filter air purifiers and other even more expensive air filtration solutions. Keeping the painted room open and natural air flowing through it is simply the most reliable (and thankfully, cheapest) solution at hand.

However, if you haven’t actually begun your nursery painting project, there are also several types of non toxic paints on the market. This means you can cut down on the VOCs in the air from the start, thus making the room safe for the baby sooner.

Low VOC: These paints use water instead of petroleum to carry the paint. To be considered Low VOC, a paint may only contain 250 grams of VOC per liter. Likewise, varnishes are limited to 380 grams of VOC per liter. However, many reputable paint companies offer paints with even lower VOC levels. Look for Green Seal Certifications. They will look like this:

Important Information:

Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and safety of this information. Neither Westlake nor any contributor can be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.