The health of our child or baby is one of the most concerning things, especially when we are a fresh parent. We want to protect it at any cost, and that’s why some parents decide to get an air purifier for a baby room.
But not every air purifier is safe for a baby; you might be surprised by this, but some are more appropriate than others when it comes to safety. Every purifiers uses different air filters to clean the air, and not every type of filter is appropriate for a baby’s health.
Mostly though, having an air purifier in a baby room can be very beneficial. It will get rid of the pollutants from the air, as well as remove odors and particles that can harm the baby’s health. Dust, dirt, mold, smoke, various allergens, and other airborne particles can damage the baby in the long-term and cause breathing problems.
You’ll be able to sleep better if you know that your baby is safe, as well as your baby. Most air purifiers will operate silently, so you can even use it at night to enable a better sleep.
In this article, we’ll take a look at which air purifiers are safe for babies, and which are not (and why that is so).
Safe Purifiers for Newborns
First, let’s talk about what air purifier filters are safe for newborns.
The best types of air purifiers for newborns are HEPA filters and Activated Carbon Filters. These filters will work effectively to remove airborne pollutants, and won’t release any type of chemicals or other harmful particles that can harm the baby’s health.
On the long-term, these filters will clean most particles (99.97% with True HEPA) and odors from the air, meaning that the air in your baby’s room will be as clean and odor-free as possible.
HEPA Air Purifiers
There are many air purifiers that utilize a HEPA filter of some sorts. In fact, HEPA filters are the most common type of filter seen with air purifiers, and that just tells us about the quality that they give us.
Essentially, a HEPA filter will remove most airborne particles from the air:
- Dust mites
- Mold
- Pollen
- Allergens
- Smoke particles
- Pet dander
And the stronger and more powerful the filter is, the more effective it will be at removing these particles. Usually, True HEPA filters are the best for babies; but if you really want to get the maximum possible performance, you can opt for a medical-grade HEPA filter.
This type of HEPA filter will remove almost all the particles that are 0.003 microns large or larger. This includes viruses and bacteria, as you’ll be glad to learn that your baby is safe from them.
Then, there are HEPA-like filters that are almost as effective as True HEPAs, but not quite on the same level. They are still effective though; they will remove more than 98 percent of all airborne pollutants, bringing you maximum performance and quality still.
Activated Carbon Filters
Activated carbon filters are also great for a baby room, especially if used in combination with other filters. Usually, they will be in combination with HEPA filters or other filters. We recommend that you buy an activated carbon filter with a HEPA filter that will work silently. This way, you’ll get the most complete cleaning performance.
The way that activated carbon filter works is that it traps various odors and smaller particles from the air. And the way it does that is because it’s treated differently than the usual carbon; it has cracks in it, which is where the odors and particles get trapped once they pass through the filter.
This means that you will need to replace the filter from time to time, but you’ll get a great performance for the time you use it. It will remove:
- Pet odors
- Smoke and smoke odors
- Pet dander
- Smaller particles
- Cooking odors and harmful chemicals from cooking.
You can see how both HEPA and activated carbon would complement each other perfectly: the HEPA filter would remove the airborne pollutants such as dust, mold, and dirt, while the activated carbon would effectively remove all odors from the air.
Air Purifiers to Avoid
Now let’s see which air purifiers you should avoid for your baby room.
Ozone Generators
First of all, you should avoid using ozone generators in your baby room. Ozone can be extremely harmful to anyone, not just babies, especially if it’s used in larger quantities. Yes, it might be effective for cleaning the air, but it should only be used when we’re not in the room. And even then, it might affect our health.
We know that ozone is a serious threat to our health, and it’s a carcinogen that can form various diseases if we intake enough of it in the long-term. In large quantities, it can cause various diseases and even cancer.
And you don’t want that in your home, especially if you have a baby, which can be even more susceptible for various diseases, especially lung diseases. You should avoid various ozone air purifiers at all costs for a baby room.
Besides, they might not be as effective as other filters for this task.
Ionic Air Purifiers
Air ionizers are a popular choice for many people, but we’ll tell you that they are not a good choice for baby rooms.
Yes, they are convenient as they don’t use a filter and they’re silent. They are also quite effective, although not as effective as a HEPA filter.
But the problem with ionizers is that they will also emit ozone into the air, although the restrictions are getting harsher and more rigorous when it comes to ozone emissions. That’s especially true for ionizers that emit negative ions into the air; with them, a lot of ozone is also released, which makes ionizers not the best choice for babies and newborns.
You’ll be putting your and your baby’s health at risk if you use them for prolonged periods.
Benefits of Using an Air Purifier in Baby Room
There are various benefits that come with using an air purifier in a baby room. Here are the most common benefits of air purifiers in a baby room.
- It gets rid of pollutants. One of the biggest concerns in households today is the indoor air pollution that can be hard to get rid of. Normally, the air inside will have a lot of dust and particles from cooking which can be harmful to our health. In addition, some people might have pets or a smoker in the house, so the pollution gets even bigger.
- They remove allergens and mold. If you are allergic or you want to prevent your baby from an allergic reaction, then an air purifier will help you achieve that. Mold can be an invisible threat to your health, and you can easily remove it from the air with a good air purifier.
- They remove smoke and odors. One of the biggest concerns with babies is if you have a smoker in your home. It can be extremely harmful to expose a baby to smoke at such an early age. Additionally, other odors can also cause health problems, such as cooking problems and smoke from heating.
- They trap chemicals and bacteria. Other particles that can affect your baby’s health are bacteria, viruses, and various chemicals. A good air purifier will remove these effectively, but you’ll also need a good HEPA filter to go with it.
A baby’s lungs are still developing, and you don’t want any pollutants to enter them. It’s crucial to keep the air as clean as possible, and free of pollutants.
Safest Air Purifier for Babies
Considering everything written above, which air purifier is the safest for babies then?
Oransi MAX HEPA Large Room Air Purifier
We cannot recommend enough the Oransi Max HEPA air purifier for a baby’s room. It’s ideal to own in a bedroom or a larger room. It’s one of the best air purifiers on the market, especially for the price. But there’s a lot to love about it.
You get a three-stage filtration: the pre-filter removes the larger particles, then the HEPA filter will get rid of most airborne pollutants, such as dust, mold, pollen, allergens, smoke, and others.
Lastly, the air will go through an activated carbon filter to remove the odors and complete the filtration. This combination is perfect for a baby room.
You also get an easy system to manage, as there’s an air quality monitor telling you about the air quality in the room. It also tells you when to replace the interior filters. But perhaps the most important feature for a baby room is that it’s extremely quiet.
Pros
- Very effective with a 3-stage filtration
- It is quiet, almost unnoticeable operation
- Easy to use and maintain
- Great for bedrooms and children rooms
Cons
- Not very effective in large rooms
Conclusion
The air quality in your baby’s room is an important thing that you should keep track of. Luckily, you can do that with a good air purifier with a HEPA and activated carbon filter.
