Humidifiers for Your Baby’s Nursery

Humidifiers for Your Baby’s Nursery--KELOPA

Preparing for baby’s arrival involves lots of planning and list-making. You’ve got a crib, plenty of diapers and bottles, and adorable little outfits.

So what’s this about a humidifier? You’ll likely see a humidifier on all those must-have baby registry lists — and for good reason. If your baby gets sick with a cold or other respiratory illness — and this isn’t really an if as much as it is a when — you can’t always give medicine. Humidifying the air may help ease your little one’s symptoms.

Although they all serve the same purpose, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all humidifier. Here’s what you need to know about choosing the right type for your unique baby, what features you may want to look for, and how to keep your chosen humidifier running safely.

Benefits of humidifiers — and drawbacks

A humidifier may be particularly useful if your baby is born in cold weather months. For example, if you have forced hot air heat, your home may feel dry and give your little one congestion or dry skin. Colds and flu may cause cough, sore throats, and stuffy nasal passages.

A humidifier can help with these complaints because it adds water back to the air, easing symptoms without medication and restoring moisture to dry skin and nasal passages.

Of course, there are some drawbacks to humidifiers. They can be difficult to clean, especially if you use tap water and minerals build up in the tank. They can also be noisy, disrupting precious sleep. And some types may even be unsafe for your infant or young child.

Cool mist versus warm mist humidifiers

To make matters more complicated, there are actually two main types when it comes humidifiers, and they work differently.

  • Cool mist humidifiers release moisture into the air in a few different ways. Ultrasonic humidifiers use sound waves (vibrations) to create mist. Impeller humidifiers, alternatively, use a rotating disk. There are also evaporative humidifiers on the market that make mist by blowing air through a wet filter or wick.
  • Warm mist humidifiers — also called steam vaporizers — boil water, turning it into steam that’s released into the air.

Both types of humidifiers work equally well at adding moisture to a room. And despite how the mist is created, the temperature is the same by the time it reaches your child’s airways.

Regardless, the American Academyof Pediatrics (AAP) recommends cool mist humidifiers for babies and children. Why exactly? Because the boiling water and hot steam from warm mist humidifiers is a burn risk, particularly in the event that a child gets up close to the unit.

Keep in mind: Warm mist and cool mist humidifiers work equally well at getting the job done, but experts generally recommend cool mist as safer for nurseries and children’s rooms.

What to look for in a humidifier

There are many solid choices when it comes to a humidifier for your baby’s nursery. Choosing the right one for your family comes down to the features you need, the extras you want, and — of course — your budget.

Some tips:

  • In general, the price range for bedroom humidifiers falls between $30 and $90. Most fall within the $30 to $60 range. When choosing based on price, also consider any additional supplies you may need, like filters or wicks, to keep your unit running safely. These can add up!
  • Price may be impacted by built-in features, like night-lights or sound machines. So, if you’re in need of a few different devices, you may be able to get them in one convenient unit.
  • The size of your baby’s room matters when choosing your humidifier. Some are more appropriate for large spaces and others work best in small rooms. You should be able to find some guidelines for square footage on the packaging or in the instruction manual.
  • You’ll likely come across a variety of humidifiers that also feature essential oil diffusers. While this may sound like a nice bonus, not all oils are safe for babies and children. Speak with your doctor before diffusing oils or other scents in your little one’s room.
  • If you decide to use humidifier you already have, check to make sure it hasn’t been recalled. You can look up humidifier recalls on the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission’s website.