Is a Dehumidifier Safe for the Baby? It is Healthy!

A dehumidifier that has an auto-shutoff feature switches off once the tank is full or as soon as the set humidity level has been attained. Also, the dehumidifier should be easy to clean to prevent the spread of bacteria and mold spores from its tank.

Is a dehumidifier for a baby nursery really safe? You cannot believe how many parents ask this question.

And it is easy to understand why a new parent would be apprehensive about using or not using a dehumidifier in baby’s room.

Is a dehumidifier good for babies?

Image of dehumidifier for babies room

You see, babies’ airways are delicate, right from the nostrils to the lungs. You do not want to make the air too dry because it might affect them badly. On the same note, too much dampness in the air is also not good.

Another question that most parents ask is: Do you need a humidifier or dehumidifier for a baby? Well, in most cases, it depends on the circumstances.

However, I would say that you need both for your baby’s room. You see, the right humidity level should be between 30% and 50%.

If your hygrometer shows your indoor humidity to be 25%, you definitely need to crank up that humidifier and increase the humidity.

However, avoid using an ultrasonic humidifier in a baby’s room because it causes humidifier white dust.

Likewise, if the hygrometer shows the indoor humidity level to be above 50%, you need to lower it. Therefore, you are going to crank the dehumidifier to drain the excess moisture from the air.

If you have high moisture levels in your indoor air, then a dehumidifier is good for your baby’s nursery.

Therefore, the question of whether a dehumidifier is good for babies depends on where you live. For instance, if you live in a humid city like New Orleans, you will probably need a dehumidifier for the nursery throughout the year.

However, if you live in a place like Utah, you would need a humidifier for your baby’s room more than you would need a dehumidifier.

Some places only experience excess humidity in summer. In such places, you would definitely need a dehumidifier in the winter.

Are dehumidifiers safe for babies?

By and large, these appliances are safe for babies.

However, as a parent, you always want to take that extra caution. You need to be 100% sure that the dehumidifier is indeed safe for your baby.

But to make a decision regarding the safety of a dehumidifier in a baby’s room, let us consider how this appliance works.

First, it sucks in all the humid air in the room. That is why you should buy a dehumidifier that is rated for the space that you want to dehumidify.

Second, it removes the moisture from the air, filters the air, and then its fans whip the dry air back into the room.

So far, so good, right?

But there is a slight difference in how these dehumidifiers work. For instance, some varieties will release warm air back into the room.

Therefore, some parents feel that they don’t like the heated air around their baby. For example, if you live in a hot and humid place, you need cool air more than you need warm air.

But to assuage your mind, you can always get a dehumidifier that runs cool air back into the room. Problem solved.

Another thing that you need to know about whether a dehumidifier is safe for your baby is that it prevents the formation of mold and mildew.

These two are some of the most notorious indoor allergens. They occur in dark spaces when there is excess dampness in the air.

Therefore, during the humid months, run your dehumidifier. It will lower the humidity level, which will in turn discourage the development of mold and mildew.

What is the right dehumidifier for a baby’s room?

Now that we have agreed that you can use a dehumidifier in a baby’s nursery safely, we need to find out what the right dehumidifier is for the baby’s room.

The best dehumidifier to use in your baby’s room should have the following features:

1. Proper space rating

If you buy a large 70-Pint Frigidaire dehumidifier for a 10-by-10-foot baby nursery, you will obviously be overdoing yourself. A small room needs a smaller dehumidifier.

Find out the size of your baby’s room. For instance, if it is 150 square feet, you should get a dehumidifier that is rated for a space of up to 200 square feet.

On the other hand, if you get a dehumidifier rated for a smaller space, it will take a long time to dehumidify the baby nursery, and at the end, it might not even do a good job of the same.

Just check the space rating.

2. Auto-shutoff feature

dehumidifier auto shut off feature

The last thing that you want to do is drain all the humidity from the baby’s room. Therefore, the best baby dehumidifier should have an auto-shut-off feature.

When the optimum or set humidity level has been attained, the dehumidifier in the baby’s room shuts off automatically.

For instance, if the humidity reading on the hygrometer was 80% before you switched on the dehumidifier, you could set the ideal humidity level to 55%.

And then the best dehumidifier for babies gets to work. When the humidity level of 55% is attained, it switches off automatically.

When the humidity level starts to rise again above the set level, the dehumidifier switches on again automatically.

3. The best baby dehumidifier should be easy to clean

One disadvantage of a humidifier or dehumidifier for a baby’s room is that both appliances can release harmful bacteria into your indoor air.

Therefore, any of the appliances that you use in your baby’s room, whether they are a humidifier, dehumidifier, or air purifier, should be easy to clean.

In another article, we looked at how to clean a dehumidifier with vinegar. Such a cleaning agent helps in disinfecting the appliance. It also kills mold and mildew.

If you use a dehumidifier for your baby every day, you should clean it every two days. And you don’t even need a pediatrician to tell you that!

So, if you have been asking: Can you use a dehumidifier with a baby? Of course, you can. However, always make sure that it is clean so that you do not pass pathogens into the air that your baby breathes.

In this regard, you can check out our article on how to clean dehumidifier coils.

4. It should make minimal noise

Both humidifiers and dehumidifiers make some noise when they are running.

However, this is nothing to worry about. When you order a dehumidifier for your baby, you will get one with low noise levels. Manufacturers make them that way.

In any case, a dehumidifier makes what we refer to as “white noise.” White, in this case, means harmless noise.

In fact, this noise lulls your baby to sleep instead of disturbing him or her.

How long should you run a dehumidifier in a baby’s room?

If you have bought the best baby dehumidifier with the auto-on/off feature, you need not fear running it 24/7 if the conditions demand you do so.

When the dehumidifier tank is full, this appliance will switch off automatically. There is no danger of the dehumidifier running until it gets spoiled by overheating or something.

In addition, you do not want to draw all the moisture from the baby’s nursery. Therefore, you want a dehumidifier that can switch off once the optimum humidity level has been attained.

A small dehumidifier for babies that you might want to try is the Pro Breeze Electric Dehumidifier for 205 Square feet.

Using a dehumidifier in the bedroom with a baby: FAQ

New, and even at times, second- and third-time parents are never too sure about the appliances they are using in their baby’s room.

Do you still have doubts about using a dehumidifier in the nursery? These frequently asked questions and their answers will help you:

How close should a dehumidifier be to a baby?

While keeping a dehumidifier in the bedroom for babies is fine, you should leave it at a safe distance.

Place the dehumidifier in a free area with a lot of airflow. Read the article on dehumidifier on floor or up high to see where you should place them.

The closest the device should be to your child’s bed is 4 feet. The unit will lower the humidity of the air immediately around it.

Therefore, if it is placed too close to the bed, there is a small risk of your baby inhaling air that’s too dry.

Where should a dehumidifier be placed in the baby’s room?

Place the dehumidifier within a range of 4 to 6 feet from the baby’s bed. Placing the unit any closer than that exposes the baby to some risks.

The dehumidifier filter captures microbes and even mold. Your baby might experience mold exposure symptoms in toddlers.

There is also the danger of exposing the baby to very dry air. The air that surrounds the dehumidifier will be drier than the air that is farther away. Keeping the dehumidifier at a distance gives an opportunity for humidity to stabilize.

What happens if a baby’s room is too humid?

While slightly higher humidity in the baby’s room is recommended, it has its disadvantages. It can cause the growth of fungi. In return, this can cause mold toxicity signs

High humidity causes dust mites to thrive. If your baby inhales these indoor allergens, they can have inflammation in their airways.

Too much moisture in the air can also trigger excessive sweating and dehydration. Since damp air feels warmer, it tricks the body into thinking it is overheating.

The body starts sweating to cool down. However, this is a false alarm since there is not that much heat. You end up losing too much water. Check out more information in our post on the effects of high humidity on the body.

If you are not sure how high the humidity in the baby’s room should be, just keep it at a maximum of 55 percent.

Can a baby sleep in a room with a dehumidifier?

Even a newborn baby can sleep in a room with a dehumidifier. Because of their delicate airways, the air that babies inhale should be soft enough. It should be at 55 percent and not higher.

If you live in a place of high humidity such as Florida, you need a dehumidifier in your baby’s room.

It will prevent the growth of many indoor allergens. Keeping the humidity at appropriate levels helps in many ways. Most importantly, it improves your baby’s health.

Conclusion

Is it safe to have a dehumidifier in the bedroom with a baby?

The answer is a resounding yes. In the summer, most people feel the need to run a dehumidifier. In the cold months, the air becomes too dry, thus warranting the use of a humidifier.

Either a humidifier or a dehumidifier is safe for the baby’s room. They are the most harmless appliances that you can ever have in a room.

Therefore, run the best dehumidifier for babies as much as you want. It will be safe.