If you are a new parent, you may have seen humidifiers on the list of top items for your baby registry. You may also be a parent with so many different things to balance that this product slipped your mind. Either way, a sick or plugged-up baby is one of the worst experiences in parenthood. We want to make them feel better and get back to our happy children as soon as possible. Knowing important information and features about humidifiers can help you to make the best choice.
What Is a Humidifier?
A humidifier is a small appliance that creates moisture in the air. It is important to help breathability and eliminate dryness. Dryness can cause issues for many parts of your body. Humidity in your room will help to combat dry skin, lips, nose, and throat. Added moisture into the air is a great tool to help your baby sleep better and longer. It is important to provide an optimal environment for your child. Consider adding products such as a humidifier to their room and nightly routine.
Types of Humidifiers
There are several different types of humidifiers. It is essential to know about each kind so you can make the best decision to meet the needs of your little one. Some options will be a better fit for your family based on your home environment.
Cool Mist Humidifier
A cool-mist humidifier is likely the best choice for use with babies. The steam used is cool and will not have any risk of hurting your baby due to temperature. Cool mist humidifiers provide a similar feeling to the outside as the atmosphere post-rain. The cool crisp and moist air will provide optimal breathing for your baby. This option will work best with distilled water as the impurities will be removed.
Warm Mist Humidifier
Warm mist humidifiers are guaranteed to kill any mold or bacteria in the air. This option is also great for improving cold symptoms such as a cough. These products are cleaner but can be more dangerous for children. The heat from this product has the potential to burn you with direct contact.
Vaporizer Humidifier
Electricity is used to produce steam in this option. The moisture in the air produced by a vaporizer will be very clean due to this steam process. However, it can be a dangerous choice for those with small children or pets as the steam can burn if touched or knocked over.
Evaporative Humidifier
The evaporative humidifier is a specific type of cool mist humidifier. A motorized fan is used to blow air through this product to send moisture into the air. This option is generally inexpensive and can make for a great choice for your next humidifier.
Ultrasonic Humidifier
This option will produce a cool mist using plates that vibrate at an ultrasonic or high frequency. This is a quieter type of humidifier compared to its competition. The downside to this type of product is that it can create bacteria as the water is not boiled inside. If you choose an ultrasonic humidifier, make sure to clean it regularly.
When Should I Use a Humidifier?
There are a few different signs that you should consider using a humidifier. If your hair has static and is standing on end, that is one major sign that your air may be too dry. You may also need a humidifier if you regularly experience a runny nose, nose bleeds, asthma, allergies, sinus issues, or a dry throat. Air with plenty of moisture will help to relieve these symptoms for you and your baby.
Benefits of a Humidifier
There are several benefits to using a Humidifier. Humidifiers can be effective for individuals of all ages. Here are some top benefits.
Nasal Congestion
The added moisture in the air from a humidifier will help to keep your baby’s nasal passages moist. The additional lubrication will prevent congestion. As babies breathe primarily through their noses, the added moisture will help them sleep better too. Baby congestion can be fought with humidity through the use of a nursery humidifier.
Preventing the Flu
Humidifiers are said to help prevent the flu. In one study, a humidity level above 40% deactivated the particles in the virus. Deactivated particles will not only make it unlikely that the virus will survive but make it even less likely that you or your baby will get it. Cold and flu season comes on strong for small children. Learning tricks to help fight the cold and flu is so important. Products that help to protect our children are unmatched. A baby humidifier will help you to keep your baby healthy year-round.
Preventing Dry Skin
Dry air can cause dry skin. With the use of a humidifier, you can keep your baby’s skin as soft as can be. One of the top features of many baby care items is moisture. Your little ones’ skin is extremely sensitive and delicate. Utilizing products to help combat rashes and eczema is crucial to their well-being. A nursery humidifier is a great tool to help your baby maintain soft skin.
Reduced Snoring
If your snoring is caused by dry air, a humidifier is a solid solution. Waking up with a sore throat from snoring can be uncomfortable. Children can also be affected by this. Raspy breathing that leads to snoring can be eliminated with the use of a humidifier.
What Should I Look For In a Humidifier?
There are so many different options for humidifiers. It can be challenging to find the one to best meet your needs. Here are a few top tips to help you decide what features to consider in the best humidifier for babies.
Size
Consider the square footage of the room your humidifier will be in. A unit that is too large can produce too much moisture and make the room feel stuffy. Too much moisture can also have adverse effects such as the creation of mold in your room. It is essential to pick the right size of humidifier.
Runtime
You will also want to consider how long your humidifier can run. This largely depends on the size of the water tank. If your baby sleeps through the night, you may want to consider a two-gallon size water reservoir. This will provide plenty of moisture at a low setting for 12 hours.
Noise Level
Some humidifiers can be quite noisy. The sounds may disturb your baby unless you use other products such as a sound machine. There are silent or quiet humidifier options available if noise will be bothersome from the humidifier.
Maintenance
Some options will require more maintenance than others. If you have to frequently change an air filter or refill/change the water, it could become more pain than it’s worth to you. Consider how often you will need to change out the water and air filter in each option.
Travel
You may also want to consider the ease of portability. Whether you move your humidifier around your home or need to take it on a trip, some models will be easier to travel with than others. If one of your children has a stuffy nose, it would be great to have the option to easily move it to another room.
What Safety Factors Should I Consider In a Humidifier?
Heat
Heat should be the biggest safety factor for you to consider. While a warm steam option is cleaner, it could potentially burn your baby, other children, or animals.
Water Refresh
You definitely need to change the water in your humidifier daily. With cool mist options, mold and bacteria can grow in the remaining water.
Air Filters
You will also need to change the air filter in your humidifier. Providing moisture for the air is only beneficial if it doesn’t also add bacteria and mold. A new air filter and clean water is essential to providing your baby with clean and moist air.
Automatic Shut-Off
This feature is essential to the health and safety of your child. Your humidifier needs an automatic shut-off to ensure that it will not keep running after the water tank is empty. If you forget to fill it or it runs out of water, you will not want to be concerned that it could become a fire hazard.
Best Humidifier Options For Babies
Once you have understood all of the great features available to you, it is time to begin to identify the best humidifier option for babies. You will want to ensure it is safe and provides moist and clean air to your child. Here are our top picks.
Vicks Warm Steam Vaporizer
The Vicks Warm Steam Vaporizer is created for small to medium rooms. It offers a 1.5-gallon tank that has an 18-24 hour runtime. It doesn’t require a filter so it is easy to maintain. This is a great option to provide clean moisture into your air. It also has a night light for your child. There are several different Vicks Vapopads you can add to your unit to get additional soothing effects. For example, there is a Vapopad that provides a cough suppressant for your baby. Using the combination of humidity and cough suppressant will be effective in fighting cold symptoms such as nasal congestion. This will get your baby back to feeling good in no time. This product is lightweight at only 2.6 pounds before the water has been added. This is great for those who need the portability of their humidifier. The Vicks Warm Steam Vaporizer has a 4.3 out of 5-star review and is $34.
AquaOasis Cool Mist Humidifier
The Cool Mist Humidifier by AquaOasis is another great choice. It is a quiet ultrasonic humidifier that offers a 360-degree nozzle rotation. It is perfect for a bedroom or a large room such as your living room. This product boasts a 2.2-liter water tank and has an automatic shut-off for your baby’s safety. The AquaOasis humidifier does not make any whistling, humming, or cracking noises that are very common with many humidifier options. It is also filter-free and has a lifetime warranty. The product is also easy to use as it has an easy-to-operate knob to adjust the output to meet your needs. This cool-mist choice is rated 4.4 out of 5 stars by over 62,000 reviewers. One reviewer states “At last I can actually BREATHE (literally!!) a HUGE sigh of relief! We simply couldn’t be more delighted with this Humidifier”. You can also breathe a sigh of relief as this product is only $39. It is a great choice for your nursery humidifier.
LEVOIT Humidifiers For Bedroom
The LEVOIT Store has a solid option with their Cool Mist Vaporizer. This classic option is quiet and offers a 360-degree rotation nozzle. It provides fast relief of dry air and issues such as sinus headaches, dry skin, and congestion. This product utilizes a micro-mist to provide a super-fine mist that stays in the air rather than on the furniture or the floor. The LEVOIT humidifier is also great for your baby. It is BPA free and very quiet to provide a soothing night of sleep. It also has a night light. This option can provide humidity in rooms up to 290 sq ft. with the 2.4-liter extra-large water tank. The company also provides a cleaning brush, power adapter, and quick start guide for ease of use. This selection is rated 4.5 out of 5-stars for $39.
Pure Enrichment MistAire
The Ultrasonic Cool MistAire XL by Pure Enchriment is another popular choice. If you need a longer-running humidifier this is a good option. The 3.7-liter extra-large tank will run from 10 to 24 hours based on the setting options you select. This choice can provide humidity for up to 500 square feet. The Pure Enrichment Mistaire also offers a convenient night light and has an automatic shut-off for your safety. With your purchase, you will receive the humidifier, power adapter, cleaning brush, user manual, a 5-year warranty, and customer support available to you 7 days a week. This option is a bit pricer than the others at $59. But, it may require less attention and fill-ups than the other models. It is rated 4.5 out of 5-stars.
Frida Baby 3-in-1 Humidifier
Frida Baby is one of the most popular options when it comes to great products for your baby. The Frida Baby 3-in-1 Humidifier is no different. This selection uses ultrasonic vibration to provide a cool mist to your baby for up to 12 hours. The adjuster in this option can give off a gentle mist up to a tropical rainforest based on your preferences. It also acts as a diffuser and night light. The diffuser can be used to add vapor drops or any other aromatherapy essential oils you prefer. This is a safe choice for your baby as it is BPA-free and designed to turn off when the water level runs low. This option will cover up to 320 square feet with only a half-gallon tank. The Frida Baby 3-in-1 Humidifier is top tanked at 4.6 out of 5-stars. It is also on the more expensive end of the range of options at $46. This is a safe and solid choice for your nursery humidifier.
Cool Mist BPA-free Humidifiers For Baby
The Tatotronics Ultrasonic Humidifier is another option for the best humidifier for your baby. It is a cute whale-shaped design for your changing table or nightstand. It lasts up to 30 hours with continuous mist. This is a great option to set and forget a bit longer than once a day. It has a quiet operation that doesn’t have any additional water dripping noises or beeping. You can also add essential oils to this humidifier to provide a calming environment for your baby. This option has a 2.5-liter tank and a 3.6-inch opening for easy cleaning. This option is highly rated and only $39. The Tatotronics Cool Mist humidifier is a great choice for your little one.
Making a Decision
There are a lot of variables to consider when choosing the best humidifier for your baby’s nursery. Whether you decide to choose a warm mist humidifier or a cool-mist humidifier both will provide a solid humidity level. While you will have to be cautious about bacteria with a cool-mist option, you can provide a germ-free cool moisture environment. With warm mist humidifiers, you will need to ensure the vapor will not be close enough to burn your baby, small children, or pets. Any of the listed choices are great baby care products to provide essential moisture to prevent dry skin and baby congestion as well as to help to combat other cold and flu symptoms. Make sure to add a nursery humidifier to your baby list or registry.
