I'm stressed out - how long to air the newly painted house before moving back in with a baby?

[BingBo]

We are reaching the final stage of the renovation work in the house. But o organise all different sorts of tradesmen to complete everything just seems never going to reach the finish line.

We extended our rent at where we are currently staying until end of this month. Ideally the painting could be finished a week earlier.

But the reality is, we still have the tiling, plumbing, flooring, skirting to finish before the decorator shall even bother to come. At the best, the decorator might finish painting next Friday.

We have a 3 months old baby and a 7 years old DS. Dulux claims child can live in the newly painted room as soon as the paint has been left to dry for 24 hours.

Can someone shed some light? Is it really so simple? How long does it take for the air to be no longer harmful for babies?

Thank you!!!

24 hours

Water based paint should be safe nowadays, it's only solvent based you have to watch.

I’m living in a house with a baby and currently building/redecorating. I’m using water based paint and avoiding taking her in rooms we’re decorating. Other than that I’m not stressing about paint (don’t mention my worries about her breathing in plaster dust and sawdust too 😩).

Our eldest lived in a building site from 6-18 months. Paint dries quickly these days, things like epoxy flies and floor screws are smelly for longer and would worry me more but not massively. It’s not prolonged exposure. A one off

Paint nowadays doesn’t even really smell. I’m not sure if have even considered staying elsewhere, as long as the paint was dry.

Most people have to paint around their children (not literally ), how dangerous do you think it really is?

Thank you to all!

I think I wasn't thinking much about this until my mum kept going on and on about the toxicity of paint. Guess it's an old generation's skeptical point of view...

A few years back, paint had a lot of VOCs and probably wasn't safe for kids to be breathing in.

This is much more regulated now so should be safe for you and baby to be back in the house after 24 hours.

I think I wasn't thinking much about this until my mum kept going on and on about the toxicity of paint. Guess it's an old generation's skeptical point of view...

My mum, who smokes in the house, offered for us to go stay at their house when we decorating because of the toxicity of paint. I couldn't believe the irony.

When I'm just painting walls I'm really not bothered about DC being around. Not sure about other paints though as not used any yet.

Paint has changed a lot. I’ve just had decorating done and could barely smell anything even when they were painting the room I was standing in. Far less fumes.

It wouldn’t occur to me to air a house. Most people decorate while they’re living there with their children.

Wouldn't even occur to me.

Seems a very outdated notion.

painted pregnant (up a ladder, dont do this)!

painted with small baby in the house but i just dont do the room aywhere near the baby. i wait until its anice day and paint/open windows

hth