Is Face and Body Paint Safe for Babies’ Skin? (Explained)

Parents often choose to paint their babies’ faces and bodies with colorful designs, but is body paint safe for babies’ skin?

In this article we will go over some of the most common questions parents might have about using face and body paint on their baby’s skin. We will also recommend a few types of body paint that are completely safe for babies and kids.

Can you put body paint on a baby?

Although you can put body or face paint on a baby’s skin, it is better to avoid it if they are under 2 to 3 years old. There are several reasons why:

Firstly, babies tend to move around often and they might rub their hands on the face or body paint. They can then put their hands covered with paint on their mouth or eyes, which should be avoided. 

Lastly, there is also the risk of accidentally ingesting the face or body paint, which can make them sick.

Another thing to keep in mind is that a baby’s skin is much more sensitive than an adult’s skin. So anything that could potentially irritate or harm their skin should be avoided. 

If you still decide to use body or face paint on your child there are a few things you should consider.

Is it safe to use body or face paint on a baby?

Typically this is something you want to avoid because children tend to be very unpredictable, and when you notice they are already spreading the body paint on their eyes or accidentally ingesting them. 

However, it depends on how your baby behaves. Some children are quieter than others, and if your baby can sit still for a long time, and it will avoid rubbing the paint on their eyes and mouth, then you can consider painting their face.

It is generally recommended that children under the age of two avoid using any type of paint, as their skin is still delicate and can be easily irritated.

Additionally, some paints may contain allergens that could cause a reaction in a baby’s skin.

How to choose body and face paint for children and babies

When choosing the best body and face paint for children and babies there are a few things you should keep in mind:

1. Look for a non-toxic paint

When selecting body or face paint for children you need to make sure that it is non-toxic body paint. You should always check to see if it is FDA approved, and check the label to make sure your kids are not allergic to any of the components on the paint.

2. Easy to apply

Another important aspect to consider is to choose a face or body paint that is easy to apply. You know how kids are constantly moving, and unless you choose a paint that is easy to apply it might be very difficult to apply it.

Ideally, you should be able to easily apply the paint with a sponge or brush. Some paints are also better to apply with the fingers, and this might be easier depending on how long your child can sit still.

3. It dries fast

Another thing to consider is how fast the body paint dries. You need to make sure you choose paint that dries fast. Otherwise, in the midst of painting the face, you will find your kid, with body paint on the hair or even on its clothes.

Although most body paints tend to wash off easily from clothes, some face or body paint stains can be difficult to remove.

4. Easy to remove

It is also important to consider how easy the body or face paint is to remove. You don’t want to have to spend an hour or more scrubbing your child’s skin to wash off the body paint. 

What paint can I use on my baby’s face?

The best type of body paint to use on babies’ faces is water-based or water-activated paint. Most of these paints are non-toxic, and they are easy to apply. They are also very easy to remove and they dry fast.

Additionally, there is a wide variety of water-based body and face paints for sale, and plenty of colors to choose from. 

You’ll find there are plenty of options for face paints that are specifically designed to be safe and gentle on the skin. Products labeled FDA-compliant or non-toxic are usually good choices just be sure to read the label carefully and check the product’s ingredients.

But, If you’re planning to paint your little one’s face for an occasion, using liquid face paint is the way to go. Unlike solid paint sticks which can have an uneven application and take longer to dry, liquid face paint goes on smoothly and dries quickly.

Can you put face paint on a 1-year-old?

The first thing you should think of when doing this is the kid’s safety. If your child is one of those always fidgety kids, it may be best just not to put face paint on them at all, or even wait until they are a little older. 

Also, if you don’t know for sure that the face paint you are using is non-toxic, please make sure your child does not stick his/her hands in their mouth. Or rub their eyes…or touch anything else on their body after application and before washing it off!

Another thing to consider when painting your 1-year-old’s face is how long they can stay still and be distracted while you work on getting the face painting done. 

If they aren’t willing to sit still while getting their face painted then it will end up being an utter disaster with lots of tears from both mom and baby!

Is acrylic paint safe to use on baby skin?

Although some acrylic paints are non-toxic, it is usually best to avoid applying it on the skin, especially on a baby’s skin. The fact is that acrylic paint is not designed to be used on the skin, and for that reason, it can be difficult to remove it, or it can irritate your baby’s skin.

Conclusion

While it might be tempting to apply body or face paint on your baby’s skin, you might want to wait for a little while they are older. Children are completely unpredictable, and you want to avoid them spreading the paint on their eyes and mouth.

If your baby knows how to stay still for a long time, then you can consider using body paint or face paint on their skin.