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Having a baby is an exciting time for new parents. However, there’s a ton of work to be done in making a home hospitable for a newborn. Setting up a baby’s room requires careful consideration.
The climate in the room should be appropriate for infants, who are sensitive to temperature, noise and air quality. This leads many new parents to wonder, are air purifiers good for babies?
Here we’ll answer that question, first delving into some facts about air pollutants and babies. By getting informed on the impact of indoor air pollution on a baby’s health, you can make the right decisions to keep your child healthy.
Some hard facts about babies and air pollution
- Children and babies breathe more rapidly than adults. Combined with their weaker immune systems, this makes them more susceptible to the effects of poor indoor air quality.
- Air pollution is responsible for half of all acute respiratory infections in children under 5.
- Air pollution can damage the developing lungs of babies, even with brief exposure.
- Higher concentrations of air pollutants are found at floor level indoors. Since babies and small children are closer to the ground, they’re more exposed to pollutants.
- Polluted indoor air is poisoning millions of children, according to the World Health Organization.
An air purifier is vital for keeping air pollutants and bad smells at bay and ensuring healthy air for your family. And if you have a baby, it’s even more critical since they’re still developing.
There are two major types of indoor air pollutants
Indoor pollution can be categorized into two major types:
Gaseous pollutants
These contaminants are the by-products of combustion. These include tobacco smoke, car exhaust and gas stoves.
Other forms are pesticides, by-products of paints, cleaning materials, varnished furnishings and building materials like asbestos.
Indoor particulate matter
Particulate matters are microscopic airborne particles like dust, pollen and pet dander. This also includes minute particles emitted from combustion, like ashes.
Biological contaminants like molds, viruses, mites and bacteria are also in this category.
What does an air purifier do?
Air purifiers sanitize the air by eliminating various contaminants and reducing allergens. They force the air through a series of filters to remove these contaminants.
Then they release fresh and clean air. However, not all air cleaners can remove all forms of pollution.
So, it’s important to know the different types of air cleaners to find out what works best for homes with babies.
Which air purifiers are NOT safe for babies?
Below is a quick summary of air purifiers to avoid. While they’re effective in commercial settings, they are not recommended for residential use.
- Ozone Generators
- PCO Cleaners
- Electronic Air Cleaner with Ionizer
- UVGI Cleaners
Ozone generators use UV light to disinfect and purify rooms with a stubborn smell. However, they use ozone, and ozone is a lung irritant. Therefore, ozone must be avoided at all times in rooms with infants.
Which air purifiers are safe for babies?
The recommended air purifiers for babies are mechanical air purifiers with HEPA filters. These are safe to use as the filtration process is mechanical and does not use ozone.
Furthermore, HEPA filters are very effective in getting rid of air contaminants down to the smallest size.
Ready to buy an air purifier?
If you’re wondering “Are air purifiers safe for babies?”, the answer is a resounding yes. Every household with a baby should have one to minimize the risks associated with indoor air pollutants.
Choose wisely, and go for HEPA air purifiers proven to be safe for children. For more help choosing the right air purifier, check out our Best Air Purifier Reviews.
