Baby humidifiers are one of the most important devices that a parent can use in their baby’s nursery. Babies have extremely delicate lungs and mucous membranes that can be irritated by dry air. They help to keep the mucous membrane moist, so the baby is comfortable—even during the cold, dry months of winter. That’s why we decided to do a whole article on the subject. We want to give our readers access to some of the best humidifiers for babies, so they can find the one that suits their needs. We also wanted to write a guide on the subject as well, a guide that we feel many parents are going to find quite useful.
Quick Summary of the Best Humidifiers For Babies
- Best Overall: TaoTronics Cool Mist Humidifier (Amazon) – Review
- Best Cool Mist: HiAir Cool Mist Humidifier (Amazon) – Review
- Best Value: TaoTronics Ultrasonic Humidifiers for Babies (Amazon) – Review
Best Overall: TaoTronics Cool Mist Humidifier
This is one of the best humidifiers for babies not only because it provides up to 10-hours of mist on a single fill-up, but also because it’s packed with the most useful features. This model features a 60-ounce tank and has a minimum mist output of 1.7-ounces per hour and a maximum mist output of 7.1-ounces on high.
It’s approximately 8.4×5.1×10-inches, so it’s small enough to fit on just about any nightstand, and it only consumes about 20-watts of power. That makes this a small, discrete and energy-saving humidifier that many parents are going to be proud to have in their child’s nursery.
As we said, however, this humidifier is packed with a range of features that make it quite handy to use. It has a nozzle that has a 360-degree range, so the mist can be directed anywhere it’s needed in a room. It also has a dial-knob control that makes it very easy to use. The dial can be set to low or gradually set to higher and higher levels.
Another thing worth mentioning is that this model is also fairly quiet. It comes in at about 32-decibels, so it’s just a little bit louder than a whisper. In our experience, even that level of sound wasn’t too bad because it’s a white noise sound kind of like what one would expect from a fan.
This model also has a small LED light that lets the user know the unit is in operation but isn’t as bright as some of the LED lights found on other baby humidifiers. Other things worth mentioning are that this model if FCC-certified, is BPA-Free and is safe to use because it has an auto-shutoff feature that will turn the unit off if it runs out of water.
And once this model has run out of the water, it’s special design makes it very easy to fill up. All things considered, we feel that this humidifier for babies is one that parents are going to want to keep in their nursery or children’s room, or even use for themselves if they want to.
Best Cool Mist: HiAir Cool Mist Humidifier
Even though we’ve listed it’s 8-hour operating time as a con, for some people that’s long enough to keep the air in their nursery moist through the night. Sure, there are 10-hour models available that provide mist longer, and if the consumer needs those they should consider them, but 8-hours isn’t exactly bad.
We only noted it as a negative because our pick for the number one spot on this list works for 10-hours. Having clarified our position, we do think that this is a great model. A model that has the power, the features, and the mist output to help keep the air in a nursery comfortable for a baby.
The first thing that we would like to mention about this model is that it has a half-gallon tank. That’s 64-ounces of water. That’s why we were surprised when it only delivered 8-hours of mist on high. However, we did notice that if we set it to low, it did provide mist for a considerably longer amount of time—up to a full day, so we can see that feature being useful for smaller rooms.
Another thing that we liked was that it had an automatic shut off that turns the unit off when the water level drops below a certain point. And if the user wants to shut off the water before that, this model has a timer that can shut off the unit in 1-hour, 3-hours or 6-hours.
It’s also worth noting that we felt that this model was easy to fill. With some humidifiers, it feels like a struggle trying to get water into it, but with this one, it was quite easy to fill up. Before we conclude this review, we would also like to state that this humidifier is pretty quiet. It can operate at only 32-decibels, so it won’t disturb the baby when it’s being used. And this unit can also be used as a night light if the user desires. If the consumer decides that they would prefer that it didn’t have a light at all, they can easily turn it off if they want.
Best Value: TaoTronics Ultrasonic Humidifiers for Babies
Another baby humidifier that we would like to review is this one from TaoTronics. It’s a humidifier that has a whimsical whale shape to it that fits in with any child’s bedroom and it has a price-tag that’s very reasonable for what it offers. This model has a 2.5-liter tank that’s made out of BPA-free plastic and is capable of providing up to 30-hours of continuous mist when the unit is run on low.
It also features a soft night-light that can provide children with a comforting glow or can be used as a soft light for breastfeeding a baby in the middle of the night. And it’s a light that can be adjusted or turned off if needed.
Another thing that we appreciated about this humidifier was that it was very quiet. Even quieter than some of the other humidifiers on this list. It operates at about 26-decibels, which is quieter than a whisper. We also liked that this unit has a large tank opening, so it was easy to rinse, clean and refill.
This unit is also equipped with an automatic shutoff that turns the unit off when the water is low. And although we don’t recommend that any humidifier be used with fragrance additives when it’s being used for a child’s room or nursery, this one is capable of being used with essential oils.
With all of these features and it’s reasonable price-tag, many of our readers are probably wondering why this unit is in our number three position and isn’t higher up on our list. And the answer to that inquiry is easy. We’re not all that confident with this unit’s build quality. Although we didn’t have any problems with it while we were using it, it just doesn’t feel very durable.
And to some extent, that’s too be expected. After all, this is a low-cost model. If it had felt more durable, we would’ve certainly ranked this as our number one choice, it does have a lot of great features on it, but as it stands, we’re not sure how long it will last.
A Guide To Buying & Using Humidifiers For Babies
Although we could’ve written a generic guide on how to choose a humidifier, we thought that it was extremely important that we create a guide that dealt with the specifics of choosing a humidifier for a baby. After all, babies have particular needs that are different than adults and their delicate systems aren’t able to tolerate air variations as much as an adult. Therefore, the parent must take particular care in buying and using a humidifier.
Now that we’ve stated our purpose for writing this guide, we would like to kick this article off by talking about the specifications of the humidifier that the parent needs to think about before proceeding. The following specifications are important considerations for any think about before deciding on a humidifier for their nursery.
Choose A Model With Sufficient Misting Properties
The first thing that the consumer is going to want to do is to find a model that’s capable of producing the amount of mist that they require. Some smaller models are only capable of producing 6 hours of mist, and some larger models produce up to 10-hours of mist. Generally speaking, the higher the capacity of the humidifier, the longer it’s capable of operating before it needs to be refilled, so look for a model that’s at least 60-ounces.
It should probably be mentioned here that some models claim that their humidifiers can operate for 24 or even 30-hours at a time, and for the most part that’s true. However, the consumer should keep in mind that they can operate this long on a single tank only when they’re used on low. If the unit is used on high, then the amount of time it can provide mist will drop dramatically.
Choose A Cool Mist Model
The next thing that we would like to discuss is whether the user should choose a cool mist or a warm mist model. Cool mist models don’t actually refrigerate the water, so cool mist humidifiers actually use room temperature water to produce a mist. However, due to the evaporation process, the room temperature water feels cooler when it’s transformed into a mist. On the other hand, warm mist models do heat the water to produce a warm mist. And warm mist models do tend to make a room feel warmer. That’s why many middle-aged and older consumers like to use warm-mist humidifiers in their rooms.
Our recommendation, however, is for parents to use cool mist humidifiers in homes with children. And there are two reasons for doing that. Hot water around a baby can create a hazardous situation. That’s the first reason for not using a warm mist humidifier. The second reason is that studies have shown that cool mist humidifiers are better for a baby’s sensitive respiratory tract that warm mist humidifiers. Besides, cool mist humidifiers are also the most energy-efficient models because they don’t have to run a heating element to warm up the water. That can save parents quite a bit of money over time.
Other Features To Consider
Before we move on to the section of this guide detailing how to properly use these humidifiers, we would like to list some of the other features that parents might want to consider before they purchase their next humidifier for their baby. Let’s take a closer look at some of the additional features that can be found on the best baby humidifiers.
- Quiet Operation
- Automatic Shutoff Feature
- Built-In Night Light
- Timer Shutoff Feature
- Easy-To-Use Controls
How To Keep A Baby Humidifier In Good Condition
Now that we’ve covered how to buy the best baby humidifier, we would like to turn our attention to using that humidifier properly and keeping it in good condition. Below are some general tips that will keep the humidifier safe and effective for years to come.
Read The Humidifiers Instructions
The first step to using a humidifier is to follow all of the unit’s directions. The manufacturer’s instructions are the best way to know how to operate the unit and get the most life out of it, so always operate the humidifier according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Use Purified Water
Although we do realize it’s not always possible to use purified water with a cool-mist humidifier, the consumer should try to do so as much as possible. That’s because tap water has impurities and minerals in it that can be tossed out by the humidifier. These can cause allergic reactions or cause respiratory problems with sensitive respiratory systems.
Keep It Clean
The last thing the consumer should do to keep their humidifier in good conditioner is to clean it according to the manufacturer’s instructions. This will prevent mold and bacteria from developing in the humidifier, conditions which could present a health risk to babies or small children.
For some models, it’s sufficient to empty the humidifier out daily to keep it in good condition, but other models require a little bit more care. Although it’s always best to clean according to manufacturers’ directions, not all manufacturers list cleaning directions, so we’ll list our own recommendations for cleaning a humidifier below.
Deep Cleaning A Humidifier
One way to keep a humidifier clean, and our preferred method of doing it, is to use vinegar. All the consumer has to do is add 1-cup of white vinegar to one gallon of purified water to their humidifier. They can then run it for approximately 1-hour to 1.5-hours. After that time has elapsed, the consumer should turn the unit off and unplug it before they dump it out. After they dump it out, they should then rinse it with clean water and then fill it with purified water. When this has been done, it should be run for another hour. Now all that’s left to do is to dump out this water and give the humidifier a final rinse. Congratulations, the humidifier is now clean and ready to be used. If the consumer cleans the humidifier using this method every week, and they make sure to replace the water daily, they will ensure that their humidifier stays in good condition and is healthy and safe to use.
