What Type of Humidifier is Best for Baby?

Babies have delicate lungs and airways. We need to make sure that they inhale air with just the right amount of moisture.

One of the ways to do this is by using a humidifier. Thus, what is the best between a cool mist and a warm mist humidifier for babies?

Is this just a matter of popping into the market and picking the best humidifier available? Well, don’t we all wish it was that simple?

Why you might need a humidifier for your baby

Why you might need a humidifier for your baby

Buying a humidifier online is not as simple as buying the best humidifier for a baby on Amazon.com. It is about doing research, reading reviews, and finding out what is best for your beautiful munchkin.

Now, when it comes to buying the best humidifier for a baby, it comes down to a choice between a warm or cool mist humidifier.

It is not really a matter of personal choice, but what you buy is determined by the climate of the place where you live. Check out images of both varieties below:

Warm mist humidifier for the baby’s room. You can click the image for more details.

And here is a cool mist humidifier that you can use in the baby’s room. You can click the image for more details.

Just as the names cool mist humidifiers and warm mist humidifiers suggest, it is more about the nature of the mist that either deploys.

A warm mist humidifier will give you a warm mist. A cool mist humidifier will give a cool mist. A mister for the home does not only regulate the level of humidity in your rooms. It can also help with other things.

For example, as we learned in this article, it can help a person with sinuses!

Which’s better? Cool mist vs warm mist humidifier for babies

Cool mist vs warm mist humidifier for babies

Without going into technical jargon, a humidifier works by breaking down the water into tiny droplets (ultrasonic vibration) or by boiling water to form vapor (warm mist). It then disperses the tiny droplets, or the mist into the air that we breathe.

A humidifier is a very useful appliance when you are looking to get through winter. However, you would rather buy the right thing and choose it carefully so that you can keep it for a long time.

Cool mist humidifier: Good for the respiratory health of the baby

That is right, a cool mist humidifier is one of the best appliances to buy if your baby has sinus problems.

When the moist, cold air hits the membranes of the sinuses, they contract. This gives more room for air to pass through.

The way that cool mist humidifiers are designed is such that they have a wick that absorbs water. The fan then sprays the water through the filter, creating a smooth mist that is then spread throughout the room.

You may fear that this appliance will be noisy, but that is not the case. I mean, there is some noise, but it is what is referred to as white noise. Your baby will sleep right through the noise.

When you are considering cool mist vs warm mist humidifiers for babies, safety is always at the top of your mind.

If you have a toddler, you know how they move around fast. Get a cool mist humidifier because it is safer for the baby’s room. I mean, there are no parts to get hot and burn the baby.

A cool mist is easier to inhale than a warm mist. It has a softening effect on the throat, just the thing you would like to do to prevent the occurrence of a sore throat.

If you have a larger room, a cool mist humidifier would be much better. You see, when you have a warm mist humidifier, the warm mist can cool down before it reaches the furthest end of the room.

You will also save more money on energy bills than you would with the warm mist humidifier. OK, it could be just a few dollars, but hey, any money that you save is good money.

Warm mist humidifiers: good for indoor allergens and bacteria

From the section on cool mist humidifiers, you must think that warm mist humidifiers are no good. However, depending on the circumstances, you have to buy a warm mist humidifier for your baby’s room.

But first, a peek-a-boo into how a warm mist humidifier works…

This humidifier is going to boil water, and then it will release it in the form of mist into the room. It operates silently since there is no fan involved.

In the process of boiling water, the humidifier kills all the bacteria in the water. Thus, for your baby’s room, you can be sure that your little one is breathing in a fine, healthy mist.

Just as happens in the cool mist humidifier, a rotary disk moves fast, cutting the hot water into a fine and smooth mist.

This, in turn, is dispersed through the mist so that your baby can breathe it. The temperature will be higher than that of the cool mist humidifier.

If you think the water from your taps is not free of bacteria, it is better to use a warm mist humidifier in the baby’s room. It is pretty easy to carry out a test to determine the quality of the water that you use at home.

A warm mist humidifier also keeps the baby’s room warm

You need not worry about heating the baby’s room if you are using the warm mist humidifier. As it disperses warm mist, it will also keep the room warm.

It is the best humidifier for a small room during the winter. No one wants to inhale ice-cold air, and in winter, your air can be quite cold.

Image of Cool mist vs warm mist humidifier for babies

Another thing to note is that warm mist humidifiers are good for loosening mucus. If your baby has been suffering from a cold, help them clear the airways. Run a humidifier for a warm mist.

While cool mist makes mucus thicker and harder to dispel, warm mist makes the mucus thinner and easier to dispel.

But the warm mist humidifier is not all glamour. There are some downsides to think about. One of them is that the tank requires to be cleaned more frequently than that of the cool mist humidifier.

As the water boils, minerals in the water will line the interior of the tank. That is why you must clean it more often.

Cool mist vs warm mist humidifier for babies: Pros

There are many benefits to using a warm mist humidifier or a cool mist humidifier in a baby’s room. There are a few disadvantages too, but you know when the pros outweigh the cons, you have a good product.

One of the most obvious benefits is that if you live in a place that experiences too much dry air during the winter, it could hurt the baby’s nasal passages. However, a humidifier makes the air more moisturized and easier to breathe.

Good humidity is good for the skin of the baby. Yes, that’s right – no chapped lips, no dry skin at all. Babies have very sensitive skin, which responds to changes in climatic conditions. If your indoor air is too dry, which usually happens in winter, get a humidifier.

When you use a warm or cool mist humidifier for your baby’s bedroom humidity needs, you can expect improved health for the baby.

Moisturized air soothes the throat. Thus, it can prevent the development of conditions such as sore throats. In case your baby is suffering from a cracked throat, the moist air is going to soothe it.

Another thing that you should know is that you can do essential oil therapy with the humidifiers. For example, when your baby is experiencing nasal congestion, you can buy recommended essential oils.

Add a small amount to the water in the humidifier tank, and it will be diffused in the mist.

Cons for the best dehumidifier for baby

After you have bought the best humidifier for your baby and have ascertained that it is working just right, you will relax.

And feel good about yourself.

However, all is not done. You see, humidifiers need to be handled with care. If you are not very keen, they can cause more harm than good.

Since the work of a humidifier is to increase humidity, this can create a good atmosphere for indoor allergens to thrive.

Talking about indoor allergens, one of the most sinister of them is mold. It grows on walls, especially in the dark corners that you hardly reach when cleaning.

Needs frequent cleaning to avoid mold

Mold can grow inside the water tank of the humidifier. It can cause respiratory problems. It can also cause asthma. Now, you can be sure that you do not want that to happen to your baby. That is why you must only use a humidifier when necessary.

Mold poisoning is another serious condition that you do not want anywhere near your baby. Unfortunately, mold spores are not visible.

Note that mold can only harm your baby if you do not clean the humidifier very well. You should do the cleaning in a solution that has 10 percent bleach.

Another thing that you have to consider is the cost of running the humidifier. It is a small addition to your energy bill, one that you hardly notice, but an addition all the same.

The warm mist humidifier can cost more to run at the end of the month since it boils water, thus spending more energy.

A warm mist humidifier means there is boiling water involved. In that case, you would need to be extra careful because hot water poses a danger to your baby. A spill would be nasty.

Will my baby sleep through the noise of the humidifier?

Will my baby sleep through the noise of the humidifier

Yes, more than you know. You see, both cool mist and warm mist humidifiers for babies will accommodate all the needs of a baby.

There is some noise, granted, but it is white noise. It lulls your baby to sleep! Even the humidifiers in the bedrooms can run through the night without disrupting your sleep.

Conclusion

In the debate of what is better between cool mist and warm mist humidifiers for babies, you have seen that you should buy one depending on your needs.

Many people tend to lean more in favor of cool mist humidifiers for smoothing the baby’s airways.

However, even warm mist humidifiers have their benefits, such as killing mold, bacteria, and germs in the water as it boil.

Also read my other articles on:

Best air purifier for cigarette smoke removal

How to control humidity in grow tent

Humidity too high in incubator