Advice

When you’re preparing for your baby’s arrival, there’s a huge focus on creating a safe, comforting space - from the perfect mattress to non-toxic toiletries. But one thing that often gets missed? The air they’re breathing. It’s invisible, silent, and yet it plays a huge role in your baby’s health, especially in those first few fragile months. Here’s the surprising bit: indoor air can be two to five times more polluted than the air outside, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. And for newborns - who spend almost all of their time indoors - that’s a big deal. Babies also breathe a lot more rapidly than adults, sometimes up to twice as fast. That means their developing lungs are taking in more of whatever’s floating around: dust, pet dander, cooking fumes, and even mould spores. All of this can increase the risk of respiratory problems, especially for children who are already genetically predisposed to asthma or allergies. In fact, around 1 in 11 children in the UK has asthma. And studies have found that exposure to indoor pollutants in infancy may be linked to the development of asthma later in life. Even during pregnancy, air quality plays a role — research shows that pollution can impact a baby’s lung development before they’re even born. So what can you do? You could drive yourself mad scrubbing every surface and policing every candle… or you could get smart about it. Enter Nooku - Your New Secret Weapon This is where the Nooku air quality monitor comes in. It’s a sleek little device with a family-friendly twist: it doesn’t just sit there silently collecting data, it gives you actionable insights to keep your home’s air cleaner and your baby healthier. Nooku monitors pollutants like volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon dioxide (CO₂), nitrogen oxides (NOx), humidity, and particulate matter (PM), which includes things like smoke and dust. But what makes it genuinely useful is how clearly it presents that information. If something’s off, you’ll know - and Nooku even offers helpful suggestions, like opening a window or switching on a purifier. And it’s not all numbers and graphs. Nooku uses a friendly on-screen character (a bear, of course!) that sneezes or frowns when the air quality dips, making it easy for parents - and even kids - to stay aware of what’s going on. It also links with smart home tech like Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, giving you hands-free updates - and it can even help trigger connected devices when air quality drops. Why All This Matters More Than You Think Around 80% of lung development happens in the first three years of life. That’s why giving your baby a clean breathing environment isn’t just about short-term comfort - it’s about supporting their long-term health. Poor indoor air quality has also been linked to sleep disruption, which any new parent knows is a big deal. Clean air helps babies sleep more soundly, breathe more easily, and wake up less often - good news for everyone involved. And let’s be honest, life with a new baby is chaotic enough. Having a tool like Nooku means you’re not left guessing. You know when to act and what to do. A Few Simple Ways to Help Keep the Air Cleaner While Nooku does the hard monitoring for you, there are a few easy habits that can make a big difference: Ventilate daily: Open windows regularly (even in winter) to let fresh air in and pollutants out. Keep it dry: Damp environments promote mould - a big asthma trigger. Fix leaks and use a dehumidifier if needed. Vacuum often: Especially if you have pets. Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter to trap the smallest allergens. Wash bedding regularly: Hot water helps kill dust mites and remove allergens. Go low-VOC: Look for baby-safe cleaning products and avoid synthetic air fresheners. Avoid smoke: Make your home a smoke-free zone - this includes e-cigarettes. These small steps, combined with real-time monitoring from Nooku, go a long way in protecting your baby’s breathing space. The Bottom Line Your baby’s nursery might be spotless, but what about the air? With so many invisible pollutants floating around - and with tiny lungs breathing in double the volume - now’s the time to take air quality seriously. Especially during Asthma Awareness Month, it’s worth remembering that something as simple as clean air can have a huge impact on your baby’s health and development. The good news is, you don’t need to become an environmental scientist to fix it. With Nooku, you can get ahead of potential problems, improve your home’s air quality, and breathe easier - together. Shop Nooku Now