Can I use a room air purifier inside baby room ?

[veronicaperas]

Couple of months back my sister in law lost her new born to SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). It was so sudden. Her baby was seemingly healthy but breathed her last in the crib :(

I am pregnant and my due date is in May. I cannot stop worrying and being extra cautious while choosing stuff for the baby room. I read online that a properly cooled and ventilated room helps baby to sleep comfortably and reduces the risk of SIDS and many infants who were victim to SIDS suffered from breathing problems. So I'm thinking of getting a room air purifier.

A friend recommended this room air purifier which she uses for asthma go-clair.com/. Do you think I can use the same room air purifier inside the baby room ?

Honestly OP I would avoid messing around with stuff like that unnecessarily. I can understand that your dn's death is still raw and very scary for you but you can give yourself hell for the first year with too many contraptions (movement alarms etc.) and fuel the worry.

I think it is best to just buy a good bedside crib. Make sure your room is a sensible temperature and have a normal monitor for when you are out of the room.

Sorry to hear of your loss.

I see there's nothing wrong with using air purifier which is used for asthma now for nursery. The Clair, as I see it, claims to remove allergens and dust as small as 0.1 microns, so go ahead.

But air purifier is not everything, though.

@ rarechese : I understand that air purifier isn't everything but I just want to ensure a safe and secure environment for my child. I got the specs of the Clair air purifier checked by my GP. He mentioned there is no problem going ahead with it since the filter looked efficient and it has quiet operation and can be switched on all the time. I'm planning to get the smaller Clair BF2025 model.

@Droflove : I have already got a good audio/video baby monitor with night vision and sensored for temperature, motion and sound. Now I'll add an air purifier. I hope I haven't missed out anything.

SIDS risk heightens if the baby is sleeping in their own room in those first six months or so.

Better to have the baby in your room during those early months than their own room with an air purifier.

I'm so sorry to hear about your dn, it's a terrible and shocking thing.
Have you heard of the lullaby trust? They have safe sleeping guidelines, worth a read. I think they can also offer support to families who have experienced SIDS.
I have a relative who lost a baby to sids, needless to say we all are pretty cautious about how our babies sleep, including never far from us.

I work in Neonatal care and give advice on Cot death prevention. I have not heard any advice regarding air purifiers.
What I would advise is to have your baby with you in your room. All the preparations you are making to the baby's environment can be done in your room. www.sidsandkids.org/wp-content/uploads/Room_Sharing.pdf

@thinkIvebeenhacked Yes for the first few months I'm planning on using a bedside cradle with the monitoring equipment. The air purifier I'm considering is portable so I guess I can move it to the baby room later when I feel confident to allow my child to sleep alone in the baby room.

@redcaryyellowcar My sister in law found a local SIDS America support group . Its difficult to see her go through the pain. It feels like her child took away with it a piece of her. She tries to smile through her pain but I can see it in her eyes. I hope God helps her sail through these difficult times.

@hedwig2001 Thanks for sharing useful information. I just went ahead and ordered the air purifier as a precautionary measure.I never thought of it before but after what happened to my sister in law I know that indoor air can effect the lungs of an infant but its something which we don't think about because we feel only outside air is polluted air. I have taken all the precautions but I still can't get this constant fear to stop plaguing my mind
:(

So sorry to hear about your DN. I can see why you want to do anything you possibly can to protect your baby.

I used an air purifier in my bedroom, that DS2 also slept in. This wasn't related to SIDS advice or anything, but because we had decorated the room shortly before he was born, and I was worried about the effect of paint fumes etc. on him (and me!). We also had a slight damp problem in the house (now resolved) which worried me.

I'm sure it won't do any harm, and if it reassures you then why not? As long as you are following all the other advice i.e. have your baby sleeping in the same room as you, on their back, feet to foot and not overheating them.

I forgot to say, this is the one we used:

www.heavenfresh.co.uk/index.php/naturopure-air-purifiers/hf380

A word of warning though, it did create a bit of a plasticy smell at first, but that did stop after a couple of weeks.

@Roomba My friend tells me the plastic smell is smell of Vinyl and it was there when she used to use her old Honeywell air purifier and the clair she uses at present doesn't emit any odor. Yesterday I asked the opinion of my Gynaec and she told me I shouldn't be so worried and if getting an air purifier can help ease my anxiety then I can go ahead and get this particular one since it looked safe for an infant and clean indoor air will aid in the healthy development of my baby's lungs.

Right now I'm having sleepless nights. Is insomnia also a part of pregnancy ? I'm finding it so difficult to fall asleep :(