For every parent, their little one's safety is the number one priority and making sure home is a safe haven goes hand in hand with this.

When you rest your baby's head down to sleep you want to breathe easy knowing they are safe and sound in their own bed. But, do you really know what's lurking in the air they're breathing?

More likely than not, invisible pollutants and allergens could be making their way into your little one's airways — something that can be easily avoided by using an air purifier.

Even though you probably tend to avoid cluttering your baby's nursery with appliances, there's a strong case to be made for including an air purifier in your baby's bedroom.

Hidden toxins

Studies have shown that the air inside your home can often contain more harmful toxins, allergens and pollutants than the air outside — a worrying thought for parents.

This, paired with the fact that children can breathe in up to 50 per cent more air per kilogram of body weight than adults do, makes for an alarming reality.

Invisible toxins sound relentless but there are things you can do to mitigate the effects of everyday pollution in the home.

Experts suggest using an air purifier in your baby's nursery, turning it on just after vacuuming when dust particles and pollutants have been stirred up in the air for the most effective use.

Beauty at a cost

Despite all the planning and decorating you've put in to making your baby's nursery a safe and beautiful space, the irony is that any changes you've made to the room may have inadvertently introduced new pollutants.

The smells associated with new flooring, products made from wood and even soft furnishings like cushions and curtains may be signs of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which emit gases and vapours at room temperature. Breathing too much in — especially through still developing airways — may cause lung irritation for your little one.

Invest in air purifier with a true HEPA filter before bub is brought home. The purifier will work to filter and trap airborne particles and allergens, ensuring no nasties are inhaled .

Pet germs

Living with your pet can bring the whole family joy, but it can also mean hair, fur and pet dander being spread across your home, including in your baby's nursery.

Pets can be one of the causes of allergens in the air at home but there's no need to exile the family cat from the house in the hope of fresher air.

The best thing you can do is to ensure your pet stays out of your baby's nursery at all times. An air purifier can also be a great way to diminish pet dander in the air, which is notoriously difficult to get rid of through vacuuming and surface cleaning alone.

It's important to keep in mind that although you may not be allergic to cats, your baby might be. So, pre-emptively keeping the air clean is a great way to ward against complications arising from irritated airways.

Help baby sleep easy

Newborns can typically sleep up to 16 to 17 hours in a day, which equates to a lot of time spent in their nursery.

Cleaner air means easier breathing. Air purifiers are also astoundingly quiet, proving your quest for clean air doesn't have to come at the expense of your baby's sleep.