Are Air Purifiers safe for babies? If you’re expecting a new baby in the home, it’s going to be an exciting time in your life. There are all sorts of things to buy, including bedding, toys, a crib, and so on.

Lots of new parents also enjoy preparing nurseries just for their little bundles of joy. But if you’ve added an Air Purifier to the list of things that you want to buy for your new nursery, you need to know if there are going to be any safety issues.

What Is the Benefit of an Air Purifier?

Did you know that our homes are full of mold spores, dust, pathogens, pollen, pet dander, and other things? In fact, many people are allergic to one or more of these materials without even knowing it. For example, mold spores can cause all sorts of reactions in sensitive people, such as mood alterations and migraines.

So what does an air purifier do? When you place an air purifier in a room, it effectively filters out the harmful contaminants such as mold spores, dust, and so on. This leaves the air in the room of better quality and improves breathability. It sounds as though this could really benefit your baby too and that makes sense. After all, what new parent wouldn’t want the best breathable air for his or her newborn?

The Danger of Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile Organic Compound — VOC — is a term for a range of chemicals that are often found in plastics, paint, and other materials. These chemicals will release gas over a period of time as they settle and this can cause allergies and illness.

The fact is that these compounds are not just dangerous for us; they are also dangerous for your newborn baby to breathe in as well. A good-quality air purifier can filter out these compounds and create better-quality air.

Why Is Cleaner Air Better for Your Baby?

Did you know that babies breathe around twice as fast as we do? This is because they have very small lungs and they take in more air. This means that they also breathe in any of those contaminants and allergens listed above. When newborns breathe in better-quality air, these are the benefits:

• They have a reduced chance of having respiratory issues, such as coughing and sneezing, which may indicate an allergy.
• Common respiratory illnesses such as Bronchitis are less likely to develop.
• They may have more energy and seem brighter because they are getting better-quality sleep.

Are Air Purifiers Safe For Babies?

Given how beneficial air purifiers are in any home, it makes sense to buy one for your incoming newborn. As a parent, you want to protect your baby and ensure that he or she is in the best of health. The fact is that some air purifiers are safe for babies and some are not.

The best air filters for homes that you can get for your baby will include a good-quality HEPA filter and an activated carbon filter. You should stay away from any air purifier that uses ionization or ozone generation to purify the air.

Why Are Some Air Purifiers Bad for Your Baby?

There are a number of air purifiers on the market that claim to create cleaner air through the generation of ozone but the fact is that they are harmful.

The earth has an ozone layer that’s very important. Regular oxygen that we breathe and need to live is composed of two oxygen atoms. Ozone is a combination of three oxygen atoms.

Ozone itself is naturally occurring and has a distinct smell but it can be dangerous to our health in large quantities. Normally, when there’s ozone in the atmosphere around us, it dissipates and we are protected. Air purifiers that generate ozone are dangerous because the ozone builds up in an enclosed space.

The problem is that ozone can cause damage to the lungs of humans and animals. It can make asthma worse and will certainly not be beneficial for your baby.

A Better Air Purifier for Your Precious Baby

While you should definitely stay away from air purifiers that use ozone generation or ionization, those that have HEPA filters and activated carbon filters are safe. These models are able to effectively filter out the contaminants in your baby’s room. The combination of the HEPA filter and the activated carbon will filter out dust, mold spores, VOCs, smoke particles, and lots of other potentially harmful contaminants, leaving the air clean and clear.

What Can You Do to Make the Air Cleaner?

Even if you invest in a good-quality air purifier for your nursery, you can certainly do things that reduce the level of contaminants in your home. This is not only better for your newborn but also better for the rest of the family and any visitors too.

Here are some things that you can do to improve the air quality in your home right now:

• Smoking: If there are smokers in your home, they should stop! Even though we all understand the dangers of smoking, many households still have one or more smokers. If you have a baby on the way and smokers in the home, you should encourage them to stop. At the very least, they should cut back and ensure that they smoke only outside.
• New Carpets: The truth is that new carpets can contain those volatile organic compounds but old carpets are often full of dust and other contaminants that can become airborne and harm your baby. You may want to consider installing new carpets and rugs. If this is outside of the budget, a deep steam cleaning service is the next best option.
• Going Natural: Lots of household cleaners contain volatile organic compounds that release gas and other irritants into your home. The best thing that you can do is use natural products such as vinegar and bicarbonate of soda for household cleaning instead.

If you have a baby on the way, it’s an exciting event! By investing in an air purifier with a HEPA filter and activated carbon, you can keep the air in your nursery as clean and as pure as possible.

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