You just received a hand-me-down baby bed, and it is in need of paint. You want to change the bed's color from blue to pink. The old paint is not too bad, but you need to sand it off first. The new baby is coming in less than a month---you need to get this baby bed painted. With a few tips and tricks, you will have the baby bed painted in a few hours and then move on to more baby projects.
Selecting Paint
Do your research before you buy paint for the hand-me-down baby bed. Purchase a high-quality lead-free enamel paint. Read the paint can or consult with a clerk in the paint department of your local hardware, paint or home improvement store to ensure the paint can be used to paint a baby bed. Don't use paint that is not safe for your baby.
Stripping & Sanding
Remove all of the old paint from the used baby bed before you can repaint it. Use a liquid paint stripper, a sanding block with 100-grit sandpaper or a power sander. If using a liquid paint stripper, work outdoors or in a well-ventilated area and wear a nose mask. Liquid paint strippers give off strong fumes.
If using a sanding block, have single sheets of sandpaper available for getting into small areas. The lower the grit number on the sandpaper, the courser the paper. To smooth the baby bed after sanding, use a 200-grit or higher sandpaper.
After you are done stripping or sanding the baby bed, wipe the bed down with a clean cloth or towel to remove any dust and debris.
Painting the Baby Bed
Use a roller to paint the large areas of the bed and a brush for the small areas. Use a few foam brushes to get into smaller areas. Paint the baby bed in a well-ventilated area like a covered patio, a room with plenty of air flow or a garage that is open and airy. Make sure the area is free of dirt and excessive dust blowing around. Use a plastic drop cloth under the bed so you can easily pull it off the bed's feet once the bed is dry. Wait until the enamel paint is dry to the touch before applying a second coat or doing any touch-ups.
Let the Paint Dry Properly
Let the paint dry completely, so there are no paint fumes. Most enamel paint dries within 24 hours. To make things easier on you, let the baby bed dry for at least 48 hours to ensure no problems later while you are moving the bed.
Placing the Baby Bed
After the paint has dried, place a few sheets of newspaper on the floor in the baby's room and set four bowls of white vinegar around the room. The vinegar will absorb lingering paint fumes once you place the baby bed in the room.
Solicit help in placing the baby bed in the baby's room. Avoid bumping the walls or damaging the bed's new paint job. Put the baby bed in the room at least a month before the baby arrives---so the white vinegar can absorb any odors. Once the paint odor is gone, remove the newspaper and bowls of vinegar.
Tags: baby room, enamel paint, baby painted, hand-me-down baby, liquid paint stripper, paint baby
