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Is Acrylic Paint Safe on a Pregnant Belly?

Finding out that you’re pregnant is such an exciting thing and you probably can’t wait to share the news with everyone you know. In recent years, it has become popular to paint bellies for gender reveal or pregnancy announcements. But how safe is this fun activity?

So, is acrylic paint safe on a pregnant belly? Acrylic paint is non-toxic, but I recommend using tempera or face paint. While acrylic paint is water-based and not dangerous, it’s not be the best choice for painting your pregnant belly. Tempera and face paint are okay for use on the skin, so those options are much safer.

While belly painting is generally safe, it is best to do it with the safest paint possible. Water-based paint is the best option as they are non-toxic, but there are some paints that are better than acrylic and will be safer for use on your skin.

What Kind of Paint Can You Use on a Pregnant Belly?

The safest paint to use on a pregnant belly is going to be one that has been approved by the FDA and water based. Tempera paints are kid friendly, so that will be the best option to use on your belly.

This MagicFly Tempera Kit comes with tons of colors to choose from, and as always, they’re non-toxic.

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If you want to look for your own paint, the best kind will be paraben-free, vegan, and made right here in the United States. If you can’t find a paint with these qualities, you can search for a face paint or body paint, as these are designed to wash off of skin easily. 

If you want to be extra safe, you can consider making your own paint to use on your stomach. This is a fun activity that you can do and will be 100% safe for you to use on your skin (as long as you use products you aren’t allergic to). You can make your paint with ingredients like cornstarch, flour, lotion, water, vegetable oil, and food coloring.

The recipe is pretty easy as most of the ingredients are added in the same amount. You will add one cup of white flour, cornstarch, lotion, and water. You will then add ¼ teaspoon of vegetable oil. Mix all of this together before adding the food coloring to make sure you get the right consistency.

If the consistency isn’t as thick as you wanted, you can add more cornstarch. If it’s not as thin as you want, you can add more water. When you get the right consistency, you are ready to add the food coloring. If you want to stay away from food coloring, you can use natural pigments.

Natural pigments will come from fruits and flowers like strawberries for red or blueberries for blue. 

Is Painting Your Stomach While Pregnant Okay?

Painting your stomach during pregnancy as long as you are using the right products. The main concern with painting your stomach comes from the type of paint you use, as some pigments can be harmful to developing babies.

During pregnancy, the skin on your stomach stretches. This makes the skin a lot more sensitive in that area. You are much more likely to have a reaction on your skin that you wouldn’t normally have, and it is not worth the risk to use a product that isn’t completely safe.

To make sure you aren’t going to have a reaction, you should do a test before applying paint to your whole stomach. This will allow you to know beforehand if your stomach is going to have a reaction to the paint you use. If you feel any type of discomfort, wash off the paint. If after a day or two your skin is red and irritated, you shouldn’t paint your whole stomach.

You will also want to use a soft bristle brush on your stomach. Even if the paint doesn’t irritate your skin, a brush that is too rough might. Avoid using old paint brushes that might be dried up and tough and use a new, soft brush instead. 

What I suggest doing, is doing a Belly Casting Kit. That way you can have a keepsake of your belly, and then it’ll be okay to paint that with acrylic paint.

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I would use Arteza Acrylic Paints to paint the casted belly kit. They are amazing quality paints, and non-toxic.

Pregnancy Safe Paints for Belly

If you want to buy paint for your belly, you can use this kit here. Kits like this will have make-up paints with a sponge and soft brush to help you apply the paint. These kits will also include tips for painting and ideas for designs if you are stuck.

Face paint is another great option to use for painting your pregnant belly. It is safe to use on the face, which is extremely sensitive skin. It is water based and completely non-toxic, so you don’t have to worry about it having any impact on your skin or the baby.

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When all else fails, you can always make your own paint. This will allow you to know exactly what is going into the paint and you will have some more control over what you are putting onto your body. You can make it with ingredients that you know you won’t have a reaction to.

Safe Paints for Pregnant Women

If you are trying to paint the nursery and not your body, it is also important that you choose the right paint for the job. You need to use a paint that has zero volatile organic compounds. Acrylic paint is the best option for painting a wall of a nursery while you are pregnant. Acrylic paints are non-toxic paints, but you should still be careful when you use them.

My favorite and top pick is always Arteza Acrylic Paints. They have so many different colors, and the quality is amazing! I usually use Arteza Paints for all my projects.

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Even when using the best paints available, you still need to be extremely cautious when you are painting. Make sure all of the doors and windows in the room are open and have a fan running. If possible, wear a mask to prevent the inhalation of any fumes that might come from the paint. It is also a good idea to limit the amount of time you spend around the paint to minimize your exposure as much as possible.

You will want to avoid paints that have solvents in them such as oil paints and latex paints. These paints will let off serious fumes that can be damaging to you and your baby. If these paints need to be used, have someone else paint and leave the door closed with the windows open for a few days before you go in the room.

Final Thoughts

Finding out you are pregnant is such an incredible moment. You want to announce your pregnancy or the gender of the baby in a really cute and memorable way, so you contemplate painting your stomach to share the great news. While this is completely safe, you need to make sure you are using the right paint.

Acrylic paint is popular because it is water-based and non-toxic, but it isn’t considered to be the best paint to put on your belly. You will want to use a face paint, body paint, or a paint that you make yourself.

No matter what kind of paint you decide to use from the safe list, you should do a patch test before applying the paint to your whole stomach. By doing this, you will be able to see if you will have an allergic reaction before you apply the paint to the entire surface of your stomach.

Make sure to follow all my tips and recommended products to ensure your belly painting projects safe, and turns out great! Also, don’t forget to check out my other articles for all your painting Q&A’s. Happy painting! 

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