When Inheriting a Family Heirloom Baby Crib - Is It Possible to Make the Bassinet More Organic?

So you have just been presented with a family heirloom or Great Importance - the family crib, passed down for generations, and proudly described as having held every single child in the family for 107 years...

Integrating Eco Lifestyles with Traditional Concepts and Traditions
The only problem is - you have chosen an organic and eco-friendly life-style, and your family bassinet heirloom has layer upon layer of paint on it - old enough to contain lead and all those nasties that make old fashioned paint so dangerous to the young baby in your life – not the organic wooden crib you’d inscribed on your internal wish list. What do you do?

Dangers of Lead and other Toxins in Old Paint and Wood Sealants
Firstly, you do not go sanding the old paint off the crib, especially if you are already pregnant, as lead – the main danger in old paint - is transferred into humans mainly in the form of dust. When the dust particles are inhaled or lie against the skin, the lead contained in the particles is absorbed by the body and in sufficient quantity, leads to nerve and brain damage. Symptoms of lead poisoning are often not detected, as the symptoms are similar to those presenting in many everyday illnesses.

Covering Lead Paint with Lead-free Paint
It is possible to live with lead paint on surfaces in the home, by covering them over with good quality lead-free paint, but care should be taken to make sure that they are not in areas where wear and tear can lead to the formation of dust, for example two surfaces rubbing together such as the side of a crib which is raised and lowered against the main body of the crib. If there is a danger of this, it is preferable to have the article stripped down by professional paint removal teams, who are trained in dealing with lead as a toxin.

Covering Lead Paint with Limited Safety
It is possible to paint over the existing lead paint with a good quality modern paint, which seals in the dust but this should not be regarded as a long-term solution to the problem.  An alternative for the smaller area is to use a wet paint stripper to remove the old paint. This prevents the formation of airborne particles of paint containing lead. After paint stripping, surface should be repainted with a good quality lead-free paint.

This work is definitely not for pregnant women. - It is possible therefore, to make the Family Heirloom Baby Crib safe for use by your new baby - but do it safely, and do it wisely.

Following some sound advice given by the CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, DC): " You can remove a small amount of lead-based paint if you can avoid creating any dust. (...) Any job larger than about one square foot should be done by professionals. Make sure you can use a wet method (such as a liquid paint stripper)." 

Of course, you might think that it's time to start a new family tradition and buy a completely new and organic wood bassinet made from certified organic wood - perhaps everyone will slle that little bit better?