There are two things that all parents in the world have for their little angel— safety and good health.

This is why parents won’t even think twice on purchasing necessities such as baby monitors, high-end car seats, and safety gates.

However, there is one product that most parent often overlooks when writing down a baby-related shopping list— the best baby air purifier.

But, why would you even need an air purifier for your little one?

The Benefits of Baby Air Purifiers

Toddlers and newborns alike have a much smaller lung capacity than adults. This only means that your little once take in more air than you and inhale more each minute.

As a matter of fact, babies, on average, breathe 40 – 60 times in a minute, roughly twice the amount that an adult breathes (18 – 20 times per minute).

And unfortunately, such breathing pattern is bad news for your little one.

Most homes have viruses, bacteria, mold spores and allergens floating around inside. And even if you keep your home clean, no house is ever immune to airborne pollutants.

As a matter of fact, the Environmental Protection Agency revealed that the air indoors is generally five times more polluted than outside. This is because our homes are built to be airtight so once pollutants make their way in, they have no way of escaping.

What’s more bad news is that nurseries and children’s room are usually at a higher risk since most new items brought by parents can release hidden airborne contaminants. For instance, if you brought new rugs or carpeting, added furniture, installed flooring or painted the room, then they likely contain a high level of VOCs or Volatile Organic Compounds.

What Are The Harmful Pollutants In The Air?

These are invisible gases which are slowly released from adhesives, carpet backing, pressed wood, varnishes, paints and more. Sometimes these VOCs can take a year to fully get released from the surface and can make certain nursery items even more dangerous to your baby’s health and development.

Thus, air purifiers are created. Its main function is to help remove harmful pollutants from a room and give your little one the freshest air they need to breathe. In general, air purifiers are great at removing:

• Pollen
• Dust
• Mold spores
• Pet dander
• Viruses
• Bacteria
• Odor particles
• Smoke
• VOCs

Some of the benefits on your little one’s health include:

• Lesser headaches
• Fewer allergy symptoms such as coughing and sneezing
• Shifts mood lesser
• Less risk of developing respiratory conditions such as asthma and bronchitis
• More energy (pollutants can cause uncontrollable fatigue and tiredness)
• Less risk of experiencing nervous system damage, cancer, or organ damage due to long-term exposure to toxins

Air Purifier VS Air Humidifier: What’s Best For Your Baby?

The air purifiers serve a different purpose than humidifiers. They are designed to clear the air of dust, allergens, control odors and reduce mold. As I’ve mentioned before, they help clean the air that your little one breathes.

Meanwhile, humidifiers work solely in controlling the humidity level of a room by releasing water into the air. They do nothing in controlling air quality or reducing the numbers of particles in the air but they are quite beneficial for kids who are prone to congestion or those who suffer from skin conditions during the cold winter.

So, what’s best for your little one?

Well, the simple answer is that both are beneficial for your little one. They are both essential if you want to provide your little one with the best air and living environment.

In combination, these 2 items can restore balance back into the room by adding moisture back into the air molecules while cleaning out the air of any harmful bacteria or toxins that may be lurking or sticking to molecules.

Plus, they are both good for the whole family.

Important Factors To Consider

Now that you know how air purifiers benefit your little one, you’re probably ready to take home one. However, with plenty of air purifiers in the market, choosing the right one for your little one can be quite confusing. So, here are some must-have features that you need to look for when shopping.

• HEPA-Type Filter VS. True HEPA Filter

Short for high-efficiency particulate arrestance, HEPA filter is efficient to remove 99.97 percent of pollutants from the air. It can remove even tiny airborne particles from the air that other purifying items are unable to do so. Thus, an air purifier with a HEPA filter is a must to ensure a fresh indoor atmosphere.

The problem now is that there are numerous purifiers which only uses HEPA-style filters. These are not actually HEPA purifier, and instead using its name for marketing purposes. So, in order to provide better filtering and real air-cleaning benefits, you need to look for purifiers that come with a true HEPA filter.

• UV-C Light Bulb

This ultraviolet C is highly effective in killing bacteria and germs. And if you’re worried, UV-C is actually not harmful to your little one. In addition, the tech is inserted inside the device, thus it does not have a direct impact on your little one. Instead, it kills all tiny germs and viruses that exist in the atmosphere.

• Activated Carbon Filter

This one is highly efficient at removing unpleasant odor. Other than pollutants and germs, your kid’s room can also contain smells which can make breathing troublesome. They are also great at absorbing VOCs, some gases and any unwanted smell from the room.

Take note, however, that you need to be diligent in replacing these filters since if they become saturated, it can stop removing the bad guys, but may actually start releasing them instead.

• CADR

Short for clean air delivery rate, CAR delineates the max square footage recommended in which to use the purifier. In short, it shows you how much clean air the purifier can give you and just how fast it can remove the 3 most common air pollutants— dust, pollen, and smoke. The higher the rate, then the faster and more efficient the machine is at filtering the air.

• Quiet Operation

Noise is one crucial factor that you need to consider when getting a baby’s air purifier. You don’t want a noisy device that can disturb your little one’s sleep. Several air purifiers offer a great filtration system, however, the fan creates too much noise.

All air purifiers feature a fan that cleans the air and resending it to the atmosphere. To ensure a noise-free environment, choose a device with a sleep mode in it or those with a fan speed controller. In addition, the ideal noise output for silent purifiers should be 50db or less.

• User-Friendliness and Convenience

Taking care of your little one is enough work as it is, so why pile on extra responsibilities by getting an air purifier that is troublesome and difficult to operate?

The good news is, a lot of purifiers offer convenient features which can save your time and effort. For example, some purifiers feature a lockable panel ensuring your little one will not accidentally turn down the fan speed or turn off the device if they press a button.

A user-friendly device also features clear and easy-to-understand labels. Devices with a backlit button also offer you the opportunity to change the setting even during nighttime so you do not have to turn the light one.

Meanwhile, there are purifiers with modes that automatically change settings for you. In auto mode, the air quality indicator of the device will tell it what fan speed to use. Timed mode, on the other hand, ensures that the device turns off after a specific number of hours. Lastly, eco-mode on some help shuts down the purifier or reducing fan speed if the air quality remains at a healthy level, so you do not have to waste electricity.

• Durability

A durable device is what we all wish for. So, when buying always check the base of the device and how it balances. In general, air purifiers come with a flat bottom or with legs.

Choosing a flat base, ensure that the base is wider than the device’s width for sturdiness. If you choose a leg-based purifier, then you need to make sure that the legs feature an anti-skid material.

In addition, you need to consider the overall construction of the device and make sure that it is constructed from high-quality and durable materials.

• Easy Maintenance

The replacement schedule andlifetime for a filter varies from one model to another. There are various filters whichare reusable as long as you clean them as per the manufacturer’s advice. However, there are purifiers that feature disposable filters that can last anywhere from 6 – 12 months.

In order to make maintenance easier, you need to ensure that the purifier’s filter is easy to access and requires no tools to open the cover.

The Top 12 Best Baby Air Purifiers 2019

LEVOIT LV-H132 Air Purifier

Designed in California, the new LV-H132 air purifier features a more powerful motor with great stability, improved filtering efficiency and longer operation. Operating at only 25db, this air purifier offers a gentle white noise that allows your little one to sleep soundly and comes with a 2 brightness settings at night to create an ideal sleeping environment.

The purifier features an advanced 3-stage filtration system— Pre-Filter, True HEPA filter and Activated Carbon filter to capture smoke, dander, pet hair, allergens, and large particles, in addition to clearing 99.97 percent airborne contaminants.

It circulates the room air at least 4 times per hour in order to achieve a rapid purification. With a smart filter change reminder, you will never have to forget about replacing the filter. With its compact and contemporary design, this air purifier is suitable for medium and small-sized rooms.

Pros:

• FCC certified, ETL listed and CARB certified
• Smart Filter change reminder
• Night light
• Silent operation
• 3-stage filtration system

Cons:

• Buttons are sometimes unresponsive
• Can only filter one room

Winix 5300-2 Air Purifier

Designed for any home environment, this new air purifier model from Winix is ready to capture any harmful airborne particles and household odors that can affect your little one’s health. With a CADR of 360 square feet, this unit is best used for large to medium living spaces, bedrooms, and kitchens.

This air purifier uses a 3-stage air cleaning system featuring carbon filter, True HEPA filter, and WINIX PlasmaWave tech. It offers 4 span feeds— Medium or Low for near-silent cleaning and Turbo or High for maximum cleaning power and airflow.

In addition, the device also features Smart Sensors that consistently monitors the air with the LED indicator displaying the indoor air quality. And when the device senses that there is a change in air quality, it adjusts the fan speed automatically to optimally clean the air.

Not only that, but it also has a Sleep Mode that senses the amount of lighting in the room and adjusting the fan while dimming the indicator lights to provide an ideal sleeping environment. The device will also let you know when the filter needs to be replaced with the indicator lights.

Pros:

• Sleep Mode
• Filter Replacement Indicator
• Smart sensors and Auto Mode
• 4 Fan speeds
• 3-stage cleaning
• Quiet operation
• Energy Star rating

Cons:

• Replacement filters are expensive
• Only 1-year warranty

 

Pure Enrichment PureZone 3-in-1 Air Purifier

The PureZone Air Purifier has everything you need to ensure maximum air cleaning for your newborn. It features 3-stage cleaning— True HEPA filter, Activated CarbonFilter, and UV-C light— allowing for a safe and clean air for your little one.

Its compact size also means that it is portable and will not get in the way of play areas or walking paths. Its whisper-quiet operation also allows your little one to sleep soundly at night. In addition, the LED lights act as a soothing night light so you can change the setting whenever needed without turning on the room’s light.

Pros:

• 3-stage filtration
• LED lights
• Whisper-quiet operation
• Compact size
• Automatic timer

Cons:

• Weak fan
• Chemical smell on first use

 

Coway AP-1512HH Mighty Air Purifier

If you want an air purifier that does not stick out like a sore thumb in your baby’s nursery, then Coways’ Mighty Air Purifier should do just fine. Energy Star rated, this device consumes 79 watts of electricity and still has an impressive 240 CADR.

The soft and labeled bottoms make it easy to operate the device. You get to choose from 2 fan speeds and uses 4-stage filtration— pre-filter, true-HEPA filter, carbon filter, and an optional ionizer— to clean the air.It is fully equipped with an air quality indicator and you can run it in auto mode, power-saving eco mode and programming a timer.

Pros:

• Energy Star rated
• Compact and stylish design
• 4-stage filtration system
• Auto mode
• Power-saving eco mode
• Features a timer
• Optional ionizer

Cons:

• Loud and vibrates hard on high speed

Vornadobaby Purio Air Purifier

The Purio Air Purifier allows you to create a pure air environment for your little one without compromising style. It features a 3-stage filtration system— washable pre-filter, activated carbon filter, and True-HEPA filter to clean out your baby’s environment, 6.3 times per hour.

The device features 3 airflow settings as well as a sleep mode. Meanwhile, the backlit control panel makes it easy to operate the device and tamper-resistant lock features including the lockable controls and filter covers, making the device baby-safe.

Pros:

• 3-stage filtration
• 3 airflow settings
• Sleep mode
• Tamper-resistant lock features
• Backlit control panel
• Silent operation

Cons:

• Plastic smell out of the box
• High and medium speeds are too loud
• Large

 

Germ Guardian AC4825 Air Purifier

Germ Guardian offers you cleaner and fresher air with this powerful air purifier with True-HEPA filter, carbon filter, and an optional UV-C light that filters odors kills viruses and germs and traps allergens and airborne pollutants.

Fully customizable, this device features 3-speed settings, with an ultra-quiet mode on its lowest mode setting. Made for large to medium-sized rooms, this purifier has CADR rating 118 Dust, 125 Pollen, and 108 Smoke.

Pros:

• Energy Star certified
• AHAM verified
• Fully customizable
• Ultra-quiet mode
• 3-year warranty

Cons:

• Produces an electrical burning smell

RabbitAir MinusA2 Air Purifier

The RabbitAir MinusA2 Air Purifier is probably one of the few air purifiers that provides a 6-stage air purification system. It features BioGS HEPA filter which not only traps common pollutants and allergens in the air but has a longer shelf-life so you have less changing of filters to do.

This amazing device can cover up to 815 square feet and is highly adaptable that you can hang it on the wall or stand-alone. Its 6-stage filtration system includes pre-filter, medium filter, BioGS HEPA filter, customized filter with options of “Toxin Absorber, Odor Remover, Pet Allergy or Germ Defense, Activated Carbon Filter, and negative ion generator.

With its BLDC motor, this device operates at 5 quiet speeds and comes with a light sensor that transition automatically to sleep mode to create the ideal sleeping conditions.

Pros:

• Economical
• Quiet operation
• Smart light sensor
• 6-stage filtration system
• Features BioGS HEPA filter
• 5-year warranty

Cons:

• Not portable

AIRMEGA 300S Air Purifier

The AIRMEGA 300S air purifier is designed to accommodate at least 1,256 square feet and cleans that air 2 times per hour. It features 3-stage filtration with washable pre-filter, activated carbon and True-HEPA filter that reduces airborne pollutants.

It also features sensors that detect air quality real-time and displays it on its brightly colored LED ring. AIRMEGA 300S also has 5 fan modes with a noise level of up to 43.2 dB at the highest speed. Smart mode allows the device to automatically adjust the fan speed with the air quality and even features scheduling for convenience.

Pros:

• Scheduler
• Smart mode
• 5 fan modes
• 3-stage filtration
• Suitable for bigger spaces

Cons:

• Unit is large
• Not easy to move and takes a lot of space

Honeywell Air Purifier

If your little one suffers from allergies, then this air purifier from Honeywell is your best bet. Named as the Allergen Remover, this device was created to remove any allergens and airborne particles in larger rooms.

With its 3 air cleaning levels plus the Turbo Clean setting, this purifiers filters and circulate air up to 5 times per hour. It is simple to operate and can sit on a tabletop, on the floor, or even next to your crib, thanks to its quiet operation even at highest speed.

Pros:

• Easily programmable unit
• Quiet operation even at highest speed
• 3-stage filtering system

Cons:

• Not that attractive

Pure Enrichment PureZone Elite

Another great product from Pure Enrichment, the PureZone Elite features a 4-stage air purification process— active carbon pre-filter, UV-C light with photocatalyst filter, True-HEPA filter, and an ionizer.

With its smart air quality monitor, it can detect air particles and displays the air quality of a room with the color-coded lighting system then adjusts the fan speed automatically. It features a 3-speed fan that allows you to choose based on the needs of the room. In addition, it notifies you when the filter needs to be changed with the Filter Reset Indicator.

Pros:

• 4-stage filtration system
• Smart Air quality monitor
• 3-speed fan
• Filter reset indicator

Cons:

• Small coverage

Dyson Pure Hot + Cool Air Purifier

If you need a multipurpose air purifier, then this device from Dyson is what you need. It is a space heater and fan in one with backward airflow mode that purifies the air without heating or cooling the room.

The device automatically senses air pollution and purifies the air while reporting the air quality level on its bright LCD display. The purifying space heater can be used as your baby’s personal heating system during the cold winter months.

What’s more, is that the purifier is Alexa-enabled and can be connected to your home’ Wi-Fi so you can remotely control the device with the Dyson Link app.

Pros:

• Multipurpose
• Smart sensor
• Alexa-enabled and Wi-Fi enabled
• Backward airflow mode
• Nighttime mode

Cons:

• Can’t eliminate odors
• Noisy

IQAir HealthPro Plus Air Purifier

This air purifier from IQAir features medical-grade air filtration which is considered 100 times more effective than standard HEPA filters. The exclusive HyperHEPA filter helps clear out and filter ultrafine particles of at least 0.003 microns.

With the power filtration system, it can cover up a room size of up to 1,125 square feet. Featuring Triple-Seal technology, the filter media is 100 percent sealed into the filter frame and prevents leaking. Its new fan features a maintenance-free motor that delivers up to 780 cfm.

In addition, it features sophisticated controls including a programmable operating option filter life monitoring and color-coded lighting when a filter change is needed.

Pros:

• Programmable operating options
• Filter life monitoring
• Features HyperHEPA filter
• Triple-Seal technology

Cons:

• Bad chemical smell from new units

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How many air purifiers do I need?

A: Preferably, there should be an air purifier in your baby’s bedroom and one in the highest traffic area in your home, such as the living room.

In a larger space, it is more effective to use multiple small units instead of getting a large one. This should allow you to operate the air purifiers at a quieter speed.

Q: Will an air purifier clean my entire home?

A: This really depends on the size and CADR of the purifier.

In addition, some purifiers are portable which can be easily moved from room to room. For a lower maintenance option, you can designate an air purifier in each room to create a whole-house solution for cleaning the air.

Q: How do I know if my air purifier is working?

A: Within a day of using, the room should be noticeably cleaner and breathing is a lot easier. In addition, allergy symptoms and morning congestion should also be lessened with the air in the room no longer feel heavy.

Conclusion

I know you had your fun in choosing the perfect theme for our little one— safety cribs, fluffy blankies to keep them warm and even their colorful toys that stimulate brain activity. They are all essentials, yes, but a health-conscious parent knows that providing their baby a healthy start in life will have benefits that can last a lifetime.

The best baby air purifiers from the above list, should give you peace of mind and provide your little bundle of joy the fresh air they need in this polluted world.