Painting toys

[Stephen]

Hi everyone.  So I am wrapping up the assembly of a rocking scooter (similar to this http://ana-white.com/2012/05/plans/charlie039s-scooter), and my question is about paint.  What type of paint should I use for something that a one-year-old will probably chew on?  An employee at the local home center said to prime it and then paint it with a high gloss latex paint for durability.  Is that the best option?  I read somewhere online about using acrylic craft paint with a water-based polyurethane topcoat.  I want something that will look good, hold up over normal wear, and above all, something safe for a baby.  Thanks so much for the feedback and help.

[Ken Darga]

Use a Premium latex primer and paint.

It's important to choose a NO VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) paint.

A paint brand that is safe for baby furniture is Yolo Colorhouse. In their paint, they do not use any VOC. Yolo Colorhouse paint is non-toxic.

It's best not to use the furniture for at least a week. The paint will appear dry but can be easily smudged or scratched.

[Stephen]

Ken,

Thank you for the advice.  I am assuming that you would not put a clear coat on top of the painted project, correct?

Ken Darga said:

Use a Premium latex primer and paint.

It's important to choose a NO VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) paint.

A paint brand that is safe for baby furniture is Yolo Colorhouse. In their paint, they do not use any VOC. Yolo Colorhouse paint is non-toxic.

It's best not to use the furniture for at least a week. The paint will appear dry but can be easily smudged or scratched.

[Ken Darga]

A Clear Topcoat in a high quality, soya based, NO VOC, water resistant (once cured), formulated for ultimate clarity--- matte sheen--- will help protect your painted surfaces.