Whether you are a new parent, an expecting parent, or a seasoned mama with 3 kids and a dog, you may be wondering whether a humidifier is a necessary tool for your child(ren).
A humidifier boasts many benefits for adults, but it is also a game-changing device for your baby or small child. A humidifier works by dispersing moisture into the surrounding environment to increase levels of relative humidity (RH). Humidity levels within optimal range (40% - 60%) provide ample benefits for your health and the health of your family.
Benefits of a Humidifier
Humidifiers are worth their weight in gold. There are countless health and wellness benefits as a result of regular humidifier use. Some of the most prominent benefits of using a humidifier are:
Relieve runny nose or congestion
Alleviate dry throat or cough
Reduce symptoms of the common cold
Improve allergy symptoms
Improve asthma symptoms
Kill the flu or COVID-19 viruses
Improve dry, itchy skin
Improve dry, flaky scalp
Heal dry or cracked lips
Reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
Reduce static electricity in your home
Improve lifespan of houseplants
Why are Humidifiers Good for Babies?
A humidifier has a myriad of health benefits for adults as evident from the list featured above. But, did you know that a humidifier is an incredible tool for your baby toolkit?
The benefits of using a humidifier in your baby’s nursery are abundant and can prevent your sweet pea from feeling fussy and uncomfortable through the cold, winter months.
A humidifier is particularly useful for babies due to its ability to ease congestion, prevent seasonal illnesses, improve dry skin, and provide comforting white noise.
Ease Congestion
It is magnificent to think that a baby is starting completely from scratch. Each bodily function we, as adults, take for granted is entirely foreign to a newborn. This includes something as natural as breathing.
A baby’s airways develop rapidly during the first 6 months of life, but they are very sensitive and temperamental during this development period. As a result, newborns are particularly prone to congestion as their nose and throat learn how to effectively function in an imperfect world.
A humidifier is the best tool to help your bundle of love breathe easy. The added moisture emitted from a humidifier lubricates their airways helping to pass mucus, debris, or any external irritant that would otherwise lead to congestion. A humidifier will make your sweet angel more comfortable and help to reduce your anxiety as a new parent.
Prevent Seasonal Illnesses
As we discussed, babies are more susceptible to congestion, which makes them more likely to develop a cough, a cold, or the flu during the winter months.
The frigid, dehydrated air that accompanies late fall and winter is a breeding ground for bacteria and viruses. In fact, air with a RH level of less than 40% increases the lifespan of airborne viruses. This means that dry air or air that lacks sufficient humidity increases the floating time of a virus, meaning that it can survive for a longer duration in your home.
Using a humidifier in your mini’s nursery can help to reduce the survival rate of bacteria or viruses that enter your home, preventing your child from contracting a seasonal illness. Healthy baby, happy parents… It’s a simple formula!
Improve Dry Skin
Dry skin is a very common condition among babies and young children. In fact, one of the most shocking things about a newborn that no one tells you is that their whole body will peel around one month old. It’s shocking!
That fresh, new skin that your munchkin is revealing to the world needs some TLC. A humidifier is a great tool to incorporate into your child’s nursery to ensure their skin remains well-hydrated. Hydrated skin means no dryness, no itch, no irritation, and a happy little camper.
White Noise
White noise machines or “shushers” are commonly listed at the very top of baby registries. Who wouldn’t want a device that can lull a crying baby to sleep? The answer is: no one.
Did you know that a humidifier can provide a calming white noise for your little in addition to soothing, hydrated air? Yep. The slight noise emitted from most humidifiers can provide additional comfort to your sweet pea while they blissfully sleep through the night.
What’s the Best Humidifier for Babies?
Now that you can confirm, without a shadow of a doubt, that a humidifier is an important and helpful tool for your babe’s nursery, it’s time to choose a device.
Ultrasonic, evaporative, and steam-based, oh my! Which type of humidifier is best for a baby?
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends using a cool mist humidifier for your little bundle of joy’s nursery. Warm mist humidifiers (known as “steam-based” or “vaporizers”), while they have a myriad of benefits, are considered a burn hazard for your child.
Warm mist humidifiers work by boiling the water in the water tank to create a warm mist, which is fanned out into the room. While the mist that disperses into the environment is not hot in itself, the machine can get pretty hot. If you have a child or have done your fair share of child sitting, you know just how curious little ones can be. A slight tug of a vaporizer cord or a head-on collision to the night stand can knock that hot, boiling water right onto your precious bean.
An evaporative or ultrasonic humidifier is the best choice for your baby or young child to prevent burns and well-intentioned mishaps.
Canopy Humidifier is the safest, healthiest option for your children's bedroom or nursery. Canopy is clean and easy with dishwasher-safe parts and proprietary anti-mold technology. In addition, Canopy’s built-in aroma diffuser makes it easy and safe to add subtle, soothing aromas to your baby’s environment.