Q: I am building a crib for my new son. I want to know what kind of finish I can put on it that will not be harmful or make him sick if he chews on the wood.

John Brock: Nearly any fully-cured finish would be fine, but you will be hard pressed to find a certification on the finish can itself. Personally, I would use fresh, dewaxed shellac. It is easily repaired between sibling cycles. Food grade shellac is routinely used in candy and medication manufacture.

Richard Jones: All film forming finishes, once fully dry, are, as far as I know, harmless.