DIY help - painting a pine cotbed

[piscis]

Hi! I wonder if there are any DIY experts here that can help
I have been given this cotbed from John Lewis www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-alex-cotbed-natural/p3132103, material is pine and mdf (whatever mdf is...).
The cot is full of stickers, and when trying to remove them, some of the surface of the cot comes away too, so after removing them all, the cot will have quite a lot of blemishes.

I would like to paint it white. I quite like DIY and I think I am quite good with the creative side of it but I am not too good with the technical part, but I would like to do this properly.

What kind of paint would you use? and also, as it will have blemishes after removing the stickers, would you sand those areas?does it need any treatment after sanding before painting?

I hope someone can help, I am moving to my new house next week and excited about having a proper nursery for DD

I am about to paint a pine fireplace surround and will use rust-oleum chalk paint and finish it with the finishing wax. This removes the need for any sanding and priming beforehand.

It comes in different colours to the one I linked. I'm using white too.

I was going to say Annie Sloan chalk paint as no preparation required. However, I find the wax quite difficult to apply and not that durable so would suggest Matt / flat polyvine instead

I've just finished sanding and painting a hideous orange pine wardrobe for the nursery. I gave it a light sanding with paper, mainly to 'key' the surface and give the paint something to stick to. I got the husband to use the orbital sander on some of the damaged spots where stuff had been glued on, but the surface is not totally smooth - adds character!

I just used B&Q matt wood paint, because we've got loads on hand for doing skirting boards. No primer or sealer required.

Have a Google about whether chalk paint and / or varnish is a good idea for cots. No idea but I know my twins chewed / bit the edges / rails of the cot when they were teething and I'd want to make sure the paint / varnish was safe if they ever did put their mouths on it.

Yes, that's one of the reasons I was asking.
I have seen many blog post/videos of people painting cots eith chalk paint thought...
This cot has a protective plastic cover on the part where babies put their hands to stand up and tend to chew on (I can remove it to paint underneath and put it back on). So I think it will be quite safe to use the paint, not sure about the wax though, I have never used wax and it sounds like it is something that will leave some residue (and then DD will touch, put hands in her mouth...)

I wouldn’t use the wax-you can’t scrub it to clean and it collects dirty fingerprints/ colour from fabrics etc IME.

The chalk paint is great as you don’t need to prep and I’ve used wks rustoleum varnish which makes it more durable and you can wipe clean.

For something really durable so you can scrub and will withstand knocks a bit better it would be best to undercoat and then gloss (or that soft shine not quite gloss stuff I can’t think of the name!!) maybe test undercoat over a sticker and that will tell you if you need to faff with sanding.

Ok, basics. Sand hard. Pine will have quite a finish on it, and for the paint etc to really take well, it is much betetr to sand hard.

I wouldn't use any of the Annie Sloan/chalk paints on a cot. You need the surface to be strong, tough and washable. And not to flake when chewed.

So, I would use standard wood gloss paint. But as I don't like a high gloss finish I would use it in satin wood or eggshell.

You will need primer and undercoat (or a combined on) if it is bare wood.

I painted twin pine beds like this and they lasted years

I didn't think about the safety aspects of young children chewing the cot Those days are long gone for me now!!

Toy safe paint and varnish

I think you need VOC free paint. As I recall the Dulux breathe easy paint is ok. I think Little Green is another brand that's low in nasties.

I painted a crib in the breathe easy paint and it was ok but not really smooth. Admittedly it was a crib with spindles which are a bind to paint at the best of times.

Yes- little greene's gloss/eggshell is properly certified as safe for toys, cots etc. I'm sure there are others.
Basically- what steppen* said!!