Breathe Naturally - October 13, 2023
Are Air Purifiers Safe for Newborns, Babies and Toddlers?
Are they Safe?
Are Air Purifiers Safe for Newborns, Babies and Toddlers? From the moment they enter this world, there is nothing you wouldn't do to protect your little ones. From child proofing the corners in your home, to safety locks on all of the doors, you've done everything you can think of to keep them safe, but often parents miss the most obvious, yet invisible, health hazard: The quality of the air in your home.
Whether they're fragile little newborns arriving home for the first time or toddlers terrorizing your kitchen, the air they breathe into their lungs day after day can be extremely harmful to their health if not properly taken care of. The good news is, purifying the air is as simple as installing an air purification system and letting it run for a few hours, but are they safe for newborns, babies and toddlers?
So are air purifiers safe for newborns, babies and toddlers? Absolutely, an air purifier, like the name suggests, purifies the air by removing harmful airborne particles.
Nothing about this process is dangerous, in fact its dangerous not to have a purifier constantly cleaning the air in your home. However, stay away from ozone generators and ionizers which can be harmful if not properly managed.
The safest and most efficient air purifier setup is comprised of a True Hepa Filter, and a carbon prefilter. Everything you need to remove virtually all the harmful airborne particles floating around your home.
Benefits for Babies and Young Kids
What are the benefits of installing one or several purifiers in your home?
Air purifiers equipped with the proper True Hepa + Carbon Prefilter Setup can eliminate 99.97% of airborne particles such as:
- Lint, Pollen & Other Allergens
- Household Dust & Mold Spores
- Dust Mites and Debris
- Pet Dander, Smoke & Smog
- Virus Carriers, Bacteria & More
This directly results in:
- Fewer Mood Shifts
- Less frequent allergy symptoms (i.e. sneezing and coughing)
- Decreased exposure to cancer causing toxins
- Decreased chance of developing respiratory conditions such as bronchitis and asthma
- More Energy
- A Healthier/Happier Child
One major thing to look out for:
New Parents: If you just prepared a nursery, be mindful of the harmful VOCs that can be found in new carpeting, paint, varnishes, wood, adhesives and aerosol cleaners. Make sure you properly ventilate your nursery and choose an air purifier with a carbon prefilter to eliminate VOCs more easily.
It is completely safe to keep an air purifier in your little ones room, and is actually recommended to ensure your child is breathing in the freshest air possible and will prevent tons of germs and bacteria from potentially causing them harm.
So you're sold on getting a purifier, and there are tons of options available, but which do you pick?
Finding the Right Purifier
What to look for in an Air Purifier
Make sure your air purifier contains two things: A high efficiency true Hepa filter and a carbon prefiter. Features like automatic shutoff, wireless control, and a refill indicator light are cool and all, but if your purifier doesn't take True hepa and carbon filters, then its no good. You'll also want to verify the efficiency of the hepa filter your unit takes. Hepa filters are rated 1-20, the higher number stopping smaller airborne particles, and anything below MERV 15 wont filter the most harmful of airborne particles. Learn more about MERV HERE!
That is why Breathe Naturally only sells MERV 17+ Hepa replacement filters that go toe to toe with the brand name, overpriced filters from Honeywell and Holmes. Our carbon prefilters compliment our super efficient Hepa filters by stopping pet hair and dander that would normally clog up the Hepa filter, increasing its life span. Carbon Filters also play a key role in trapping odors and VOCs so they are always a recommended step in the filtration process.
The only other variable when choosing a prefilter is the size of the room. Most, if not all, purifiers contain recommendations for the size of room and when in doubt, go for the larger volume purifier. You can never purify a room too much and there's no such thing as too clean.
Another thing to keep in mind would be how loud the purifier is while running; too loud and it may keep your little one from sleeping soundly. The best purifiers are a perfect mix of purification and white noise giving your baby the best air and sleep possible.
Purifiers to Avoid
Recommendations
Honeywell HPA100-300
Starting off our list of recommended purifiers is the trusty Honeywell Hpa100-300 Series. These small, yet powerful and sleek machines come in a variety of sizes ranging from the smaller less expensive 100 series, to the bigger, larger volume 300 series. There's even a 200 series in case the 100 is to small and the 300 series is to big.
All of the Honeywell HPA series purifiers take ultra efficient True Hepa filters and have a variety of features on the unit like a filter change light, automatic shutdown timers, fan speeds and more. This unit is a top pick not only because of its sleek design and modest price, but also because its a super efficient machine for its size and price. Check out our full review.
Germ Guardian AC5000 and AC4825
Next up on our list, are the mighty efficient and space saving tower purifiers. Your choice of 22" and 28" inches tall, these purifiers are quiet ultra efficient machines that also take a Premium True Hepa filter and Carbon filter. You cant go wrong with one of these in your little guys room. Shop Here! FLT4825 - 22" or FLT5000 - 28"
Winix C535 Series Purifiers
Finally rounding off our list, my favorite purifier hands down for newborns in terms of cost, efficiency and noise level. This machine is a budget masterpiece, incredibly crafted and nothing compares to the efficiency of Coway's C535 series machines. This machine is perfect for any nursery and will keep your little one happy and healthy all night long. Check out our full review here.
All True Hepa filters on BreatheNaturally.com are rated MERV 17 giving them the highest residential purification rating possible. These hepa filters will stop particles down to 0.03μ microns, meaning you can rest assured knowing 99.97% of the particles in your air will be captured.
Related Questions
Are air purifiers safe for pets?
Yes, not only are air purifiers safe for pets, some can purifier the air so well you might forget you even have pets. Air purifiers are great at removing pet dander and pet hair from the air as well as trapping odors left behind from your pets. Not only will you breathe better, but your pets will too.
Be cautious using ozone generators and ionizers around pets however, because they have been linked to respiratory problems when not properly managed. To learn more about using air purifiers arround pets, check out our full article on it here.
Are air purifiers safe during pregnancy?
We wrote a whole article going into depth about the overwhleming benifits of using air purifiers durring pregnacy. You can find that article here.
Humidifier vs Air Purifier vs Dehumidifier (For Young Kids)
In contrast, a dehumidifier removes moisture from the air making a room feel lighter and less muggy.
So which do you need? It is a good idea to have all three at least somewhere in your home. They obviously don't all need to be running at the same time but its good to have each of them just in case. Its recommended to consistently purify the air in each room however a dehumidifier or humidifier should be used more on a need to basis.