My daughter's tickly cough finally eased after I added this air purifier to her room – and it helped her get to sleep easier too

When it comes to creating a calm, healthy space for my daughters to sleep, air quality is something I've become increasingly aware of, especially during the colder months when windows stay shut and coughs seem to linger endlessly.

And, I know that some of the best air purifiers help with these issues throughout the year. So when I had the opportunity to test the Levoit Sprout air purifier, RRP £279.99, a model designed specifically for children's bedrooms, I jumped at the chance to try it in my youngest daughter's bedroom, who is susceptible to chest infections.

Promising to purify the air while adding soothing extras like white noise, lullabies and a gentle night light, it sounded like the perfect addition to her bedtime setup. Here's how I got on putting it to the test in her room.

In a nutshell

The Levoit Sprout air purifier is a compact, smart purifier designed for children's bedrooms in mind. It combines effective air purification with thoughtful, sleep-friendly features like white noise, lullabies and a soft night light.

I started using it in my daughter's room to help ease her nighttime coughing, and it's already made a noticeable difference. We live in a single-glazed Victorian home that can be damp and chilly and has had a hefty renovation recently. But since using this air purifier, the air feels fresher in her room and the hum and glow have made bedtime feel calmer and more comforting.

It came well-packaged but without excess waste, and because it's lightweight, I could lift it straight out of the box without any struggle. The unit simply slots together in two sections and was ready to go in minutes.

Connecting it to the VeSync app was equally straightforward. I just scanned the QR code, followed the steps and was instantly able to monitor air quality and control all the settings from my phone.

Performance-wise, it's an impressive little machine. The Levoit Sprout uses five advanced sensors to monitor seven air quality factors, including dust, smoke, pollen and even viruses, along with temperature and humidity in real time.

Its True HEPA filter captures ultrafine particles and feels ideal for a medium-sized child's bedroom. It's also whisper-quiet in sleep mode, with a low, steady hum, if you decide not to use the white noise or lullaby baby sleep features.

Design-wise, it looks sleek and premium, definitely something that fits nicely with a modern nursery or kids' bedroom decor. The display is easy to read, the app offers loads of insights and controls, and the gentle light and sounds create a cosy bedtime environment.

For me, it's been a brilliant mix of practicality and comfort. If you're after an air purifier that's both smart and child-friendly, the Levoit Sprout strikes a really nice balance.

Specifications

• Weight: 2.9kg
• Filter type: HEPA filter
• Dimensions: 22D x 22W x 35.5H cm
• Noise level: 19dB - 47dB
• In the box: Levoit Sprout air purifier, HEPA filter
• RRP: £279.99
• Floor area: 30m2
• Smart connectivity: Yes
• Extra features: Blue-light-free night light and 5 white noise sounds,

How I tested

Jenny McFarlane

I’m Jenny, Senior Digital Editor at Ideal Home, and I tested the Levoit Sprout air purifier in my four-bedroom semi in Belfast over two weeks. I share this home with my husband, two little girls and my cat (who leaves pet dander and dust everywhere). We've also recently renovated, so there is residual dust everywhere!

Unboxing, setting up and first impressions

Unboxing the Levoit Sprout was refreshingly straightforward, with minimal packaging to deal with and a lightweight design that made it easy to lift straight out of the box.

The unit comes in two main sections that slot together effortlessly, so it was ready to go in no time. Setting up the app was just as simple. There's a handy QR code on the box to scan, which takes you directly to the app store to download the VeSync app.

Once installed, the setup process was quick and well-guided, with clear steps that made pairing the air purifier with my phone pretty much seamless. The app interface itself is intuitive, offering a host of features and real-time insights that are easy to explore.

My first impressions are really positive. It's super lightweight yet high-end, with a sleek, onboard light-up display, a calming light and soothing sound options, all of which blend beautifully with my daughter's bedroom decor.

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Ease of use

One of the standout things about the Levoit Sprout is just how effortless it is to use from the moment you switch it on. The light-up control panel on the top is clear and intuitive, with neatly laid out LED buttons that make it super simple to adjust fan speed, toggle the light and sound settings or switch the auto mode without even opening the app.

I particularly like that it gives instant feedback on the current air quality, so you can see how it's performing at a glance. Even if you're not tech-minded, it's a purifier that feels straightforward and user-friendly.

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Connecting to the VeSync app adds an extra layer of convenience. The setup process was smooth: scan the QR code, follow a few simple prompts, and within minutes, it was ready to use. Once connected, the app gives you complete control over the purifier's features, from setting timers and schedules to checking detailed air quality readings in real time.

It also sends useful insights about the environment, like temperature, humidity and overall air condition, so I can easily monitor what is happening in my daughter's room wherever I am. Plus, I can also set it up for the bedtime routine from downstairs, before I've even entered her bedroom for the evening.

Performance

When it comes to performance, the Levoit Sprout quickly proved itself to be a highly responsive and capable purifier. It continuously monitors air quality using five advanced sensors, tracking seven factors in total, from dust and pollen to volatile organic compounds (TVOCs), temperature and humidity.

What impressed me most was how quickly it reacted to changes in the air. Every morning, without fail, it would detect my husband using hairspray (I know) in the bathroom (which is a good four metres away from our daughter's rooms) and adjust its fan speed to compensate. That level of sensitivity is seriously impressive for a purifier of this size.

To see how it handled more direct pollutants, I decided to put it to the test. I lit a match and let it burn out right beside the unit, releasing the familiar smoky scent into the air.

Within seconds, the purifier's sensors kicked in, the air quality changed colour, and the fan speed ramped up audibly as it got to work. I also got a cute little notification that read 'Auto mode to the rescue!' and in less than five minutes, the air cleared again.

It was the same story with the deodorant spray. The purifier instantly recognised the spike in TVOCs and reacted swiftly to clear them. However, it did take around another five minutes or so to clear this.

I also tested it against everyday household challenges. Bacon in the kitchen and dust being stirred up. Both times, the Sprout registered the change in air quality straight away.

During the bacon test, the app's air quality readings climbed quickly, showing exactly what was happening in real time, before dropping back to 'good' once the purifier had done its job. When dusting, I noticed the fan speed quietly increased again, confirming that it's not just sensitive to strong odours but also to fine airborne particles.

What I really liked was how discreetly it managed all this. Even when the fan ramped up in response to smells or smoke, the noise was more of a soft hum than a loud roar, so I could imagine it to be easy enough to sleep through and not at all intrusive.

The air in my daughter's room felt fresher within 10 minutes, and over the course of a few nights, I could tell her breathing and cough were easing. It also gave me peace of mind knowing the purifier was constantly adjusting itself, even when I wasn't paying attention.

Overall, it genuinely exceeded my expectations. It's not only fast and effective at removing smells and pollutants, but it also provides clear, real-time data that shows exactly what it's doing.

For such a compact and nursery-friendly purifier, it packs an impressive punch, proving that you don't need a bulky unit to keep the air in a child's bedroom clean and healthy.

Noise levels

One of the things I appreciate most about the Levoit Sprout is how quiet it is, especially considering how powerful it can be when it ramps up. On its lowest fan speed or sleep mode, it produces just a gentle hum that blends perfectly into the background.

In fact, I've found that even without the baby sleep mode on, I've found it actually helps my daughter drift off, thanks to its soft, consistent sound that masks other household noises. Even when the lights go out, it continues to run discreetly, with no bright indicators or distracting mechanical sounds.

When the fan automatically increases in response to pollutants, like hairspray, deodorant or cooking smells, it does get slightly louder but not in an intrusive way.

It's more of a calm rush of air than a harsh whoosh, and it quickly quietens back down once the air quality improves. Compared to other purifiers I've tested, it does actually strike a great balance between quietness and efficiency, making it ideal for a child's bedroom or anywhere you need clean air without background disturbance.

Cleaning and maintenance

It's actually refreshingly easy to keep the Levoit Sprout clean and maintain, which is exactly what you want from something that runs quietly in the background every day.

The main filter can be accessed quickly by removing the top section of the unit, and the app helpfully sends a reminder when it's time to replace it, typically every six to eight months, depending on usage. Swapping it out takes next to no time, and you can pick up the specific filters via Levoit or Amazon, £59.99.

You can also give the pre-filter a quick vacuum every couple of weeks to remove surface dust and pet hair, which helps the main HEPA filter last longer and keeps performance consistent.

The exterior is simple to wipe down with a soft, dry cloth, and because the design is smooth and minimal, there are no awkward crevices for dust to settle into.

How does it compare to similar models?

It's hard to compare the Levoit Sprout to any other air purifier on the market, because it's such a unique blend of smart technology and child-friendly design. The closest in size and noise levels would be the Blueair Blue Pure 511, which is a great purifier for the price. It's compact, efficient and impressively quiet for everyday use, but that's where the similarities end. Unlike the Sprout, the Blue Pure 511 doesn't have an auto mode, WiFi connectivity or any real-time air quality data.

It's a straightforward purifier that you switch on and off manually, whereas the Sprout constantly monitors the air, reacts automatically to pollutants and offers app-based insights and controls. The extra sleep-friendly touches, like lullabies and the soft night light, also make the Sprout far more suited to a child's bedroom.

Another close comparison would be the Shark NeverChange, which has a similar level of filtration power and is equally easy to use. It's extremely responsive and offers impressive purification, but it's designed more for convenience than comfort.

You don't have to replace the filter regularly, which is a definite win for low maintenance, but it lacks WiFi connectivity and doesn't include the same child-centred features that make the Levoit Sprout stand out. There's no soothing light or sound options, no child lock to stop little hands from tampering with the controls, and it's noticeably noisier, meaning it's not quite as suited to bedroom use.

With the Levoit Sprout, it's not just about purifying the air, it's about creating a calmer, healthier and more comfortable environment for children to sleep in. That combination of smart features, soothing extras and sleek, compact design makes it a one-of-a-kind choice for family homes.

How does it rate online?

The Sprout has been generally well-received online and has an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars, with reviewers praising its smart features, compact design and suitability for children's bedrooms.

At the same time, a few users mention the premium price point and suggest that the exact coverage may be smaller than larger room purifiers. Overall, the consensus is that if your top priorities are smart control, low noise and a calming environment for your child's bedroom, it stands out in its category.

Verdict: Should you buy the Levoit Sprout air purifier?

If you're looking for a bedroom-friendly air purifier for a child, especially if they suffer from allergies, colds, coughs or breathing issues, the Sprout is absolutely worth considering. It brings together premium filtration, smart sensors and real-time air quality data, plus child-focused extras like lullabies, a soft night light and quiet operation, all of which help create a calmer, healthier sleep environment.

Yes, it comes with a higher price point than basic purfieirs, but if you value those smart features, peace of mind and a truly tailored set-up for a kid's space, the extra cost does feel somewhat worth it.

So, for a kid's bedroom where health and comfort are key to a good night's kip, the Sprout delivers. If your needs are more basic (larger space or fewer features) your budget might stretch further with a simpler model, but you'll miss the full kid-friendly, sleep-savvy package that the Sprout offers.