How much would you worry about lead in paint in old furniture?

[thinkingtoomuchagain]

I want to buy a painted metal bed on ebay (an old antique French bed.) The paint is bright yellow and looks quite fresh (though definitely has a few chips) but the owner doesn't know when it was done (they also bought it secondhand.) I want to use it for a primary school aged child -- so not licking the paint, but still.

Would this worry you? I really love it so was thinking I could buy it and maybe paint a varnish over it (this might go beyond my DIY skills though.) Or I could just test it for lead with a kit when it arrives? It's not HUGELY expensive -- shipping will be as much as the bed itself I think.

Thoughts?

Would you consider repainting it yourself? That would at least seal in any lead.

I've just googled and - rather to my surprise - lead paint was only banned from sale in 1992, much more recently than I assumed.

Ooh. My instinctive response when I read your thread title is that I'd not worry much, as long as children wouldn't come into contact with it...

I don't think I'd risk it for a child, which is a shame because it sounds like a gorgeous bed!

I wouldn’t worry at all unless your kid is a serious chewer. But painting over it might make you feel more at ease with it?

Unless lead paint is flaking it's not really a risk.