The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the use of an installed, whole-house humidifier for babies and children or—in lieu of that costly option—a portable cool-mist humidifier. Because these models send a cool mist into the air, they're safer for children and pets than warm-mist humidifiers, aka vaporizers.
The general rule of thumb is 3-4 feet from the crib or sleeping space. If you place a humidifier too close to your baby's bed, the mist may saturate their sleep space, which could introduce harmful mold and bacteria.
Many doctors recommend humidifiers in certain circumstances for babies. “If it feels really dry in your baby's room, and they are really uncomfortable, a humidifier, if used properly and safely, and maintained properly can definitely help. But remember to periodically let the water reservoir dry out completely,” Dr.
Humidifiers and kids: how to use them safely
Advantages: Because these heat water to boiling, the vapor they release is germ-free. Disadvantages: They get hot and can burn, especially if left in children's rooms unattended, such as overnight.
As with adults, it is best to incorporate a humidifier during both the winter months and summer months or when your home hygrometer reads below 40%. You can also introduce a humidifier for baby when you notice signs of minor nasal congestion.
While using a humidifier can help with dry sinuses, it can also cause harm. Dust mite and mold growth is promoted more in humid environments, so if people are allergic to dust and mold, or if they have asthma, using a humidifier could aggravate these conditions.
The rule of thumb is to place a humidifier 3 to 4 feet from your baby's crib or sleep space. Not only will this ensure the crib and bedding don't get too moist, but it will also eliminate the risk of your baby pulling the humidifier down.
This mainly can cause problems for people with asthma and allergies. But dirty humidifiers can be trouble even for healthy people when they release mist or steam tainted with bacteria or fungi into the air. That may trigger flu-like symptoms or even lung illnesses.
Use filtered or distilled water for your baby's cold-mist humidifier. Tap water may contain minerals and matter that allow organisms to flourish inside your humidifier. Don't purify water yourself. Disinfectants and other chemicals in the water also reach your baby's lungs.
So, can you use tap water in a humidifier? While you technically can; it's not recommended. Instead, look for demineralized, distilled, and purified water at the store. This kind of water is less likely to result in mold and bacteria growth inside your humidifier.
Given these factors, it's often recommended to run a humidifier for at least 12 hours per day, typically during sleeping hours when people spend the most time in the room.
The Vicks Filter-Free Cool Mist Humidifier is so intuitive and easy, it's no wonder BabyCenter parents voted it the Best humidifier in the 2023 BabyCenter Home Awards. The 1.2 gallon tank is big enough to provide 30 hours of mist, but small enough to refill under your kitchen sink.
Make sure they get plenty of rest and fluids while treating their nasal congestion. You can also try to relieve your child's nasal congestion by: Humidifying the air in the room where they sleep with a cool air humidifier. Keeping babies in an upright position for longer after they eat to reduce spit-up.
The Best Humidity Level for Babies
Doctors recommend keeping your baby's nursery between 50 and 60 percent relative humidity. Setting the humidity below 60 percent will lessen the chances for allergen growth and their consequential allergic reactions.
Using a humidifier in the home can help relieve a stuffy nose and can help break up mucus so you can cough it up. Humidified air can relieve the discomfort of colds and the flu. Follow the instructions that came with your humidifier so that you will know how to use it the right way.
While both are effective in adding humidity to the air, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends the use of a cool mist humidifier. Vaporizers can cause burns if your child gets too close to the steam or accidentally knocks over a device filled with hot water.
The dryness can make mucous even more difficult to blow out or cough up. Hence, adding humidity to the air makes sense. But as with many things in parenting and medicine, there is actually no good evidence to support the use of humidifiers for treatment of upper respiratory infections.
However, it is advised to use them only if your baby is old enough or at least 2 years of age. Since the vapors from a Vicks humidifier can contain some irritants, it's important to follow the safety guidelines that come with your purchase.
Although running your humidifier all night is perfectly safe, there are humidifier safety tips to bear in mind: Monitor your home humidity levels: The optimal home humidity levels range from 40% to 60%. Humidity levels exceeding 60% create a breeding ground for mold and bacteria, which can infiltrate your home.
It is a small change, but using a humidifier at night can make a big difference. It can help you to sleep better and help your body stay healthy. During both the winter and summer, in particular, maintaining a relative humidity level between 40 and 60% indoors has a number of surprising benefits.
Running your humidifier around the clock may seem like a good idea in theory. However, if you're making your home too humid, you're risking issues as well. High humidity can cause poor indoor air quality and become a breeding ground for mold, bacteria and viruses.
Cool mist humidifiers are generally safe for babies, though you still want to make sure they cannot pull them down or tip them over. However, a warm mist humidifier for baby is very risky.
For safety, always use cool-mist humidifiers for children. Hot water or steam from a warm-mist humidifier or steam vaporizer can burn a child if he or she gets too close. Hot water might also cause burns in the event of a spill. Humidifiers add moisture to the air.
Best place to put a humidifier in your bedroom: A few feet from your bed. To keep the air from getting too dry at night and help aid with congestion, dry skin, allergies and more, keep your humidifier a few feet from your bed.