Decorating with a new baby

[Fraz]

Does anybody have any advice on how old a baby has to be before you can decorate rooms in your house. We have a three-month old daughter and are worried about paint fumes affecting her when we decorate our living room

Fraz, paint tins now have to be labelled with their "volatile organic compound" (I think) content. I have a new and an old tin of teak oil and the new one has the label (liable to burst into flames all on its own, apparently!)
Anyway water based paint will not be a problem, and you can get water-based paint for wood now - or you could 2 or 3 years ago, I assume you still can, but maybe not in all the colours. It doesn't work as well as the oil-based stuff though.
The paint companies have websites, you could try emailing them for information.
www.crownpaint.co.uk
www.dulux.co.uk

Fraz, if you haven't already bought the paint, what about trying one of the many environmentally-friendly paint ranges now available, which don't give off those fumes in use? We've used Nutshell paints, which are great, and there are lots of others - Auros, ecospaints.co.uk, La Tienda (sorry I don't have all the links at the tips of my fingers!). Also I think some 'traditional' ranges like Farrow and Ball or Fired Earth are made with materials that are both less environmentally damaging and less stinky! Some of these ranges are pricier than Crown et al, some cheaper. And IMO, the colours are MUCH nicer, they really respond to light beautifully.

Zoya's right Fraz, and these types of paint are even starting to make it onto the shelves of DIY superstores, which means you can see what you are getting. Paint is one of those things I have always been concerned about getting mail order...

Fraz, you may have thought of this already, but I'd say ventilation while you paint is also very important. Phone up the met office for a 5-day forecast for your area, pick a time slot that predicts warm, dry weather (cross your fingers), so you can leave lots of windows open to help the paint dry, and dissipate fumes and smells.

Fraz, I'm not saying this is the RIGHT thing to do but it may be reassuring for you to know.

We redecorated when our ds was 4 months old, we chose the warmer months & had all the windows & front door & back door open to create a complete flow of air. I spent most of the time out & about with my ds or out in the garden & let hubby & my father get on with it (I was b/feeding at the time so didn't want to inhale fumes either). The place was decorated within 2 days but we still ventilated it for a further 5 days at each opportunity (obviously not through the night). The point I'm trying to make is that everything turned out fine. Myself & ds were both perfectly ok because we ventilated well, maybe if you put if off for a month or two until the really good weather gets here. I'm sure whatever you decide it will be ok.

I noticed there hadn't been any updates on this thread for a while...

If anyone is pregnant and is looking to decorate a nursery, make sure you choose a paint that is solvent free.

The Breatheasy range by Crown is 99% solvent free so it is better for the environment and means that it is virtually emission free as the paint dries.

It also means that you can get back into the newly decorated room in no time!

Crown recently published an article on inspiration ideas and tips for painting kids bedrooms: www.crownpaints.co.uk/inspiration/articles/2018/11/tips-to-transform-your-kids-bedroom