When expecting a baby, we all have a long list of things we need to purchase, prepare and get rid of. We always look for items that can help keep our bundles of joy happy and healthy. Such objects usually include car seats, baby gates and firm crib mattresses. But what about air purifiers?
If you or your partner suffer from allergies, there’s an increased chance of your child having a similar condition. Asthma is common in the U.S.; approximately 6.2 million persons under 18 suffer from the ailment (1).
Placing an air purifier in the nursery can reduce the number of dust mites and allergens your baby could inhale. So, how do you go about finding the best air purifiers for nurseries? We’ll help you out.
Why Buy an Air Purifier for the Nursery?
You always make sure your floors are clean, the dishes are done and surfaces are wiped, but what about the air? Indoor air is full of dander and dust. In some homes, it contains pet odors, smoke and mold.
For many people, such substances won’t cause any significant symptoms or complications. However, if either you or your partner suffers from allergies, it could pose a threat to your baby.
For families with a history of allergies and asthma, an air purifier will become your greatest investment. Because such a unit works to clear the air of allergens, it prevents your little one from inhaling them. This, in turn, reduces the chances of them developing symptoms (2).
Another benefit an air purifier can have is easing symptoms of eczema, which is often linked to asthma and allergies. However, even with an air purifier, you should still limit pets and smoke from entering the nursery.
Finding the Best Air Purifier for Nurseries
When searching for the ideal air purifier for your baby’s nursery, there are a number of features you should look for.
HEPA Filter
HEPA stands for High-efficiency Particulate Air, and it’s one of the most important components to look for. It’s what filters all the fine particles and allergens from the air.
HEPA filters have proven to capture as much as 99.97 percent of dust and impurities present in the surrounding air. The particles that HEPA filters remove are as small as 0.3 microns — practically invisible to the naked eye (3)
Noise Level
In the baby’s room, you don’t want something that’s too noisy and could wake up your little one. Some air purifiers are very noisy — if you’re unlucky, they’ll vibrate, too. This can be a real hassle to have in the nursery.
However, some kind of noise is hard to avoid, particularly when the unit is set on a high setting. Look for one that doesn’t exceed 27 decibels at its lowest speed, which is what you’ll likely use during sleep time.
Some machines can also double as white noise, which many babies find soothing. My little one was obsessed with vacuums. In general, though, it’s a good idea to check reviews — this may give you an idea of what to expect.
Energy Star Certified
Not all air purifiers are Energy Star Certified, and it’s not necessarily a vital feature to look for. Nonetheless, it’s an excellent factor if you want to save on your energy bill. Most products will say in their description if they’re certified.
Room Coverage
Before you buy it, make sure it can treat entire the nursery. Some air purifiers can cover large rooms while others are only capable of managing small areas. Each product should tell how many square feet they can handle.
For large nurseries, look for at least 360 square feet. Smaller air purifiers can only cover a 125 to 150 square foot room.
The Best Air Purifier for Nurseries of 2020
Using our criteria above, we searched through leading retailers and expert sites. We also combed through multiple customer reviews. Then we narrowed our choices down to the five best air purifiers for nurseries.
1. Winix 5500-2 Air Purifier
Life with a newborn can become hectic, so having a tool that will do some of the work for you is fantastic. The Winix has received outstanding reviews from users who praise how thorough and good-looking it is. It’s certainly well worth our top spot.
It has several features to offer new parents, keeping their babies safe from allergens.
The purifier provides a thorough clean of the surrounding air, leaving behind a fresh, odor-free nursery ready for baby. The best part? It does most of the work for you so that you can focus on your little one.
- Smart Sensors.
- Three stages of purification.
- Several settings and sleep mode.
- Filter replacement indicator.
- High settings are noisy.
Why We Love It
Smart Sensors
The Winix is suited with Smart Sensors, which consistently check the air in its surrounding environment. Then there’s an LED indicator display that shows you the air quality by lighting either as blue, amber or red.
If it senses that the quality of the air is poor, it lights red, thus automatically increasing the fan’s speed. The Winix continues to clean the air until it’s optimal. Then it automatically adjusts to its previous setting.
Three Stages of Purification
The Winix takes the surrounding air through three stages of purification. The first is an Advanced Odor Control (AOC) carbon filter, working to extract household odors. It can soak up any smell from smoke, cooking, and pets, catching airborne particles.
The second stage is the True HEPA filter, which captures approximately 99.97 percent of airborne allergens. This includes mold spores, pollen, pet dander and smoke. The last stage is the PlasmaWave Technology that breaks down particles at their molecular level without emitting byproducts or ozone.
Several Settings and Sleep Mode
The Winix lets you choose between four settings — Low, Medium, High and Turbo. In Manual Mode, you set your desired setting and the fan will operate at that speed. Low and Medium modes are silent and perfect for the nursery.
When the ambient light in the room dims, so does the Winix. It has an automatic sleep mode, which adjusts the fan speed. Sleep mode also dims the indicator lights and activates an ultra-quiet sleep mode.
Filter Replacement Indicator
When the filters inside the air purifier require replacement, the machine will illuminate the LED Filter Replacement indicator. Once replaced, reset the indicator to be notified when the next switch is due.
Keep In Mind
High Settings Are Noisy
A few users said that the high settings were quite noisy. However, those settings aren’t usually needed when you’re in the room, so it’s not a huge annoyance.
Additional Specs
| Noise level | 40 to 70 decibels |
| Product dimensions | 15 inches by 8.2 inches by 23.6 inches |
| Energy Star certified | Yes |
| Filtration stages | Three |
| Room coverage | 360 square feet |
2. Coway AP-1512HH Mighty Air Purifier
For large baby rooms, we present the Coway air purifier. It can cover a great distance, and is suitable for apartments, living rooms or nurseries.
The machine utilizes a true HEPA filter to eliminate even the tiniest particles, along with a pre-filter and odor filter. Then a fourth layer ionizer grabs any remaining pollutants.
Unpleasant odors and allergens are no match — and it has received great reviews from users. Your baby can sleep soundly in clean air with this model.
With a smart system, the Coway automatically adjusts as needed. An Eco Mode helps to save energy when the air purifier isn’t necessary.
- Large room coverage.
- Auto mode and timer.
- Ion system.
- Filter replacement indicator.
- Strange sounds on high setting.
Why We Love It
Large Room Coverage
Designed to clean rooms up to 361 square feet, the Coway air purifier is excellent for large nurseries. It’s made to purify the air in apartments, living rooms and other spaces.
The design of the machine sucks the air in from an incredibly wide surrounding distance. It then takes it through three stages of filtration.
The Coway features an LED indicator, showing you the quality of the indoor air. Once it’s all clear, it changes from red to blue.
Auto Mode and Timer
The air quality indicator works whenever the purifier is on. Once the air shows up as bad, it adjusts the fan to the required speed for optimal cleansing. When the indoor air has been shown as clean for 30 minutes, the Coway enters its Eco Mode, saving energy.
You can also set the timer. The Coway lets you schedule down to the hour, so whenever it’s not needed, it switches off automatically.
Ion System
After the polluted air has traveled through the first three stages, it reaches the fourth and last step, the Vital Ion System. It’s a bipolar ionizer that concocts an electrochemical reaction, ultimately reducing the particles let through into the room again.
Filter Replacement Indicator
As the filter fills up with particles and dust mites, the machine will light its filter replacement indicator. It’s an excellent feature to include for new parents, eliminating some of the guesswork.
Keep In Mind
Strange Sounds on High Setting.
Once on the highest setting, a few users said it was very loud and vibrated a fair bit.
Additional Specs
| Noise level | 24.4 to 53.8 decibels |
| Product dimensions | 16.81 inches by 9.7 inches by 18.31 inches |
| Energy Star certified | No |
| Filtration stages | Four |
| Room coverage | 361 square feet |
3. LEVOIT Smart WiFi Air Purifier
For parents who are looking for an air purifier to make life easier, we have this model from Leviot. It offers several smart features for the busy family or those with their hands full.
Users praise how well it works and how much easier it makes everyday life. It’s app-compatible, enabling you to control everything from the office. The machine operates at a minimal noise level, excellent for the baby’s room, while it’s also highly efficient.
- App-controlled.
- Super quiet.
- Filter life algorithm.
- High efficiency.
- The filter doesn’t last long.
Why We Love It
App-Controlled
After setting up the Levoit air purifier, you can connect it to your smartphone via the VeSynch app. Doing this allows you to control it from anywhere. From the app, you can set a schedule, change mode, turn off the LED display, monitor the air quality and much more.
Another smart feature is its compatibility with Alexa, IFTTT and Google Assistant voice control. So even with an infant in your arms, you can activate the machine without touching it.
Super Quiet
The Levoit operates at a sound level comparable to rustling leaves. Its estimated noise level is approximately 27 decibels, ensuring a restful, soothing environment. At the highest setting, it creates white noise for your little one as they sleep.
Filter Life Algorithm
The smart Levoit air purifier includes a scientific algorithm, which calculates the life of the filter according to its environment. It will notify you well in advance when it’s time for a replacement. You can keep track of its estimated lifespan from the app, too.
High Efficiency
The machine contains a Honeycomb active carbon HEPA filter. This filter provides a purifying efficiency that’s 30 percent higher and faster than others. It changes the air up to four to five times per hour for a 360 square feet room. It’s perfect for ordinary nurseries.
Keep In Mind
The Filter Doesn’t Last Long
Some users pointed out that the filter only lasts about two months before needing a replacement. Its lifespan is even shorter if you have pets or a smoker in the house.
Additional Specs
| Noise level | 27 decibels |
| Product dimensions | 21.5 inches by 17.2 inches by 10 inches |
| Energy Star certified | Yes |
| Filtration stages | Three |
| Room coverage | 360 square feet |
4. Vornadobaby Purio Air Purifier
For small to medium-sized nurseries, we have the Puiro air purifier from Vornadobaby. With stellar reviews from parents, it’s well worth a look.
The Purio has several useful features both for infants as well as older babies. During the night, it can quiet down or work as a white noise machine. Plus, it does this while projecting a soothing light.
Once your little one becomes more mobile, the unit will prevent them from meddling with the settings and filters. Everything is lockable, keeping the machine and your baby safe.
- Built-in night light.
- Lockable controls.
- Several stages of purification.
- Quiet operation.
- Quite large.
Why We Love It
Built-In Night Light
With a built-in night light, the Vornadobaby air purifier is perfect for the nursery. During the night, the Purio activates its glow feature. It’s a dimmed nightlight, excellent for minimal disturbance, but lets you check on your little one when needed.
Lockable Controls
Because babies are curious once they become mobile, the Purio includes lockable controls. These prevent little fingers from meddling. Once you’ve set your desired setting, it locks in place. Additionally, should your baby get their hands on the machine, the filter sits secured behind a lockable cover.
Several Stages of Purification
To clear the room of all air pollution, the Purio brings the air through three stages of filtration. One of these includes a True HEPA filter, which removes up to 99.97 percent of contaminants and allergens. Before this sits a washable pre-filter, working to extend the lifespan of the HEPA.
To keep the air fresh, the machine is also suited with an activated carbon filter. It will extract all bad odors from the room, leaving only the scent of baby.
Quiet Operation
Whether your baby requires a quiet room or enjoys some white noise to sleep, Purio will suffice. On its lowest setting, it becomes whisper quiet. However, if you set it to medium or high, it doubles as a white noise machine.
Keep In Mind
Quite Large
The unit is quite large considering it’s only for small to medium-sized rooms. A few users said it takes up most of the nightstand.
Additional Specs
| Noise level | N/A |
| Product dimensions | 12.8 inches by 9.4 inches by 15.2 inches |
| Energy Star certified | No |
| Filtration stages | Three |
| Room coverage | 125 square feet |
5. LEVOIT Air Purifier
Last on our list, we have another example from Levoit. It’s well worth an honorable mention as it’s super quiet yet highly efficient.
The unit works effectively at absorbing odors, whether from pets, cooking or smoking. It leaves the room fresh by circulating the air a couple of times each hour. During the night, you can activate the soothing night light. The machine includes a two-year warranty and is worth a look.
- Efficient odor remover.
- High-efficiency.
- Super quiet.
- Buttons tend to freeze.
Why We Love It
Efficient Odor Remover
Whether you have pets or a smoker in the house, this air purifier will work effectively at ridding all odors. The unit brings the air through three stages of purification. The last phase is a high-efficiency activated carbon filter, capturing allergens, smoke, mold and pet dander.
High-Efficiency
This air purifier will circulate the air inside the room more than four times per hour. Its high-efficiency keeps the room ultra clean. The unit is suitable for small to medium-sized rooms.
Super Quiet
The unit is fantastic for the baby’s room. It’s ultra-quiet, operating at a sound level of 25 decibels when on its lowest setting. During the night, you can also activate the night light, where it allows you to pick between two brightness settings.
Keep In Mind
Buttons Tend to Freeze
A few users mentioned that the buttons tend to freeze sometimes. Naturally, this will inhibit you from using the unit. Fortunately, all it takes to correct this is to unplug and reconnect the unit.
Additional Specs
| Noise level | 25 to 46 decibels |
| Product dimensions | 10 inches by 10 inches by 16 inches |
| Energy Star certified | N/A |
| Filtration stages | Three |
| Room coverage | 129 square feet |
Detailed Comparison Chart
| Product | Best | Noise level | Product dimensions | Energy Star certified | Filtration stages | Room coverage |
| Winix 5500-2 Air Purifier | Overall | 40 – 70 dB | 15″ x 8.2″ x 23.6″ | Yes | 3 | 360 sq ft |
| Coway AP-1512HH Mighty Air Purifier | Large Nurseries | 24.4 – 53.8 dB | 16.81″ x 9.7″ x 18.31″ | No | 4 | 361 sq ft |
| LEVOIT Smart WiFi Air Purifier | Wi-Fi-Controlled | 27 dB | 21.5″ x 17.2″ x 10″ | Yes | 3 | 360 sq ft |
| Vornadobaby Purio Air Purifier | Small Nurseries | N/A | 12.8″ x 9.4″ x 15.2″ | No | 3 | 125 sq ft |
| LEVOIT Air Purifier | Honorable Mention | 25 – 46 dB | 10″ x 10″ x 16″ | N/A | 3 | 129 sq ft |
Keep the Air Clean
Investing in an air purifier for the nursery is a great way to keep your baby healthy and ensure a good night’s sleep. Such a unit can also reduce symptoms of asthma, allergies and even eczema.
When looking for the best air purifiers for nurseries, consider how noisy it is and if it can cover the room. Try to find one with a HEPA filter as well as being Energy Star certified.
