The 11 Best Baby Nursery Humidifiers

Does your baby suffer from congestion, cold, or flu? How about dry and itchy skin, throat, or eyes?

Pediatricians widely agree that humidifiers can help prevent the spread of germs and soothe these common symptoms which are made worse by dry air.¹te Pas, A. B., Lopriore, E., Dito, I., Morley, C. J., & Walther, F. J. (2010). Humidified and heated air during stabilization at birth improves temperature in preterm infants. Pediatrics, 125(6), e1427-e1432.
pediatrics.aappublications.org

But which type of humidifier should you buy? And are they safe to keep in your baby’s nursery?

In this guide, we hope to show you some of the best humidifiers for your family’s needs. We’ll then give you some simple tips for keeping your humidifier clean and safe and avoid the genuine risks associated with poor water tank maintenance.

What is a humidifier?

A humidifier is simply a device that adds moisture to the air. This is particularly important in dry or cold climates, or when you are looking to ease the symptoms of congestion and common colds.

A humidifier stores water which it then converts into a fine mist or steam. This is then pumped into your room until it reaches an optimum moisture level.

Different humidifiers achieve this goal in different ways. We’ll take a look at this in a moment, but first…

What are the benefits of a humidifier?

Adding moisture back into your home’s dry air has many advantages. It can:

• Prevent or slow the spread of germs. Likely moist air can limit or even eliminate viruses and bacteria which thrive and move around more easily in dry air. Sure, that’s not to say that adding a humidifier to your home means that no one will ever get sick again, but it does swing the odds in your family’s favor when it comes to avoiding the latest flu outbreak
• Treat cold, flu, and allergy symptoms. Soothes dryness, irritation, or itchiness in the nose, sinuses, throat, and eyes. [Source]
• Soothe dry skin and cracked lips. Humid air can help to relieve dry and itchy patches of skin;
• Help with congestion. Humid air keeps mucus flowing rather than blocking up;
• Improve breathing for asthmatics. Always consult your doctor first, but using a humidifier may improve breathing in children with asthma.²The Benefits of an Air Humidifier ³healthfully.com/the-benefits-of-an-air-humidifier-5690165.html
• Improve sleep. Due to low-level white-noise emitted by unit
• Prevent nosebleeds. Helps to keep mucous membranes moist
• Preserve home furnishings. Optimum air moisture protects the integrity of wallpaper and wooden furniture, eg, cribs and baby gates.

Too much moisture in the air can contribute to sickness by causing dampness on walls, floors, and other nooks and crannies. This allows harmful bacteria and mold to grow. The same is true if you don’t properly clean and maintain even the best humidifiers – nasties can grow and be emitted into the air.

The takeaway… keep your humidifier clean and don’t overdo it.

Editor’s Note:

Many humidifiers recommend sterile water, and regular cleaning. A moist environment can lead to mold, to prevent adding mold to your child’s environment follow the manufacturer’s directions.

Related: Are Humidifiers Good for Babies?

What is the best humidifier for baby?

All humidifiers generally do the same thing, ie, emit water vapor into the air. However, they achieve this in different ways. Some are very baby-friendly, others less so.

Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of each.

Cool mist vs Warm mist

Cool mist humidifiers are (nearly always) best for babies.

Babies and children are curious creatures and having any hot water in an area they can get to is not safe. This is why most pediatricians recommend that you avoid vaporizers or “warm mist humidifiers”.

Additionally, warm mist humidifiers have to heat up the water, so they use more electricity.

The only time you may wish to consider a vaporizer is if (1) you have a child that is prone to getting ill and so “germ-free” is your top priority; (2) you can absolutely guarantee that your child won’t be able to reach the humidifier; and (3) you live in a cool region and want to warm the room a little. (To be perfectly honest, though, an evaporative humidifier ticks all the germ-free boxes without the burn risk.)

Evaporative vs Ultrasonic

There are two main types of cool mist humidifiers: evaporative and ultrasonic. Both can be good for babies but each type has pros and cons. Which is best, depends on your family situation.

Our quick recommendation is this:

Organized and good at daily routine? Then go for an ultrasonic humidifier.

If you are confident that you can create and sustain a daily maintenance ritual, then an ultrasonic humidifier may be your best choice. They do require more frequent cleaning and maintenance but are quieter, use less energy, and look great. (Note: if you live in a hard water area, then you may need to use distilled water which is an added hassle.)

Sound right for you? We recommend the MistAire XL ultrasonic humidifier (link goes to Amazon).

Want less hassle and don’t mind extra ‘lifetime’ cost? Then go for an evaporative humidifier.

Evaporative humidifiers do not require daily maintenance. They will stay germ-free with less frequent cleaning (though you will still need to clean now and again, plus you’ll need to change the filter every few months). If you don’t mind the extra cost of filters but fancy the idea of less cleaning, then an evaporative humidifier is the way to go.

Sound right for you? We recommend the Honeywell “Germ-Free” evaporative humidifier (link goes to Amazon).

Editor’s note: With a new baby or children the last thing a parent wants is more cleaning. Paying a little extra for efficiency and less work is worth it.

Different types of humidifier

So that you can make an informed decision, let’s look at the main three humidifier types more closely.

Ultrasonic humidifier (cool mist)

These humidifiers create a fine mist by exciting and evaporating water using a small diaphragm that vibrates at ultrasonic frequencies.

PROS

Filterless – Ultrasonic humidifiers do not have a filter which saves you the hassle of remembering and ordering new ones.

Cheaper ‘lifetime’ cost – Having no filters to replace (which can be costly), ultrasonic humidifiers.

Quietest – If you want a near-silent humidifier, then this is the one for you.

Beautiful design – Ultrasonic humidifiers tend to come in beautiful designs whereas evaporative ones are boxier.

Compact – Due to the mechanism they use, ultrasonic humidifiers tend to be more compact and therefore can fit into smaller spaces.

Energy-efficient – Ultrasonic humidifiers use the least energy (some use less than a standard light bulb).

CONS

White dust – Dissolved minerals in hard water are picked up and emitted in the mist. These then settle as a fine white dust around the humidifier. The dust is harmless but can be a nuisance to clean. There are solutions to this issue: (1) Some ultrasonic humidifiers contain demineralization filters which prevent the problem but do require replacing over time; (2) Many parents choose to fill their ultrasonic humidifier with distilled water. Again this solves the problem but is an added hassle.

Require frequent cleaning to avoid germs – Because they do not have a filter and don’t use boiling water, ultrasonic humidifiers lack some of the germ-busting abilities of evaporative and vaporizing humidifiers. To make up for this and to keep your ultrasonic humidifier safely germ-free you’ll need to clean and maintain it more frequently than the others.

Evaporative humidifier (cool mist)

Sometimes called “wick humidifiers” these include a large wick or “wet wick filter” which draws up water from the reservoir. The large surface area encourages evaporation as air is forced through it by the fan. The moist air is then blown into the room.

PROS

No white dust – Evaporative humidifiers use a more “natural” method of creating water vapor which doesn’t pick up minerals. This means no issue with white mineral dust.

“Germ-free” – In lab tests, evaporative humidifiers come out on top. [Source]. Their method of evaporation and their filter means that they tend to emit fewer pathogens into the air.

Less daily hassle – It is still important to clean and maintain evaporative humidifiers to avoid stagnant water and mold; however, this can be done weekly rather than daily.

CONS

Expensive filter replacements – The main drawback is the ongoing cost of filters which range from about $7-15 each. Parents have reported having to change them anywhere from 2-weeks to 6-months, though the average seems to be every 2-3 months.

Bulky & Uglier – Evaporative humidifiers are generally large, boxy, and not overly pretty. (At least, that’s our subjective opinion!)

Noisier – Due to the fan mechanism, evaporative humidifiers are noisier than other types. That said, it is generally no more than a gentle hum, and many parents actually see this as a good thing because it helps their babies to sleep.

Vaporizers (warm mist)

Also known as a “steam humidifier” or “warm mist humidifier”, this type of humidifier heats or boils water to create steam which is then pumped into the room.

PROS

Kills germs – Boiling water kills most bacteria. Vaporizers can kill up to 95% of germs.

CONS

Burn risk – The heating element and boiling water create a safety hazard, especially with young children around.

Fire anxiety – Quality vaporizers are generally pretty safe, but having an electrical heating device in your home can be a source of anxiety for parents, ie, worrying about fires. (Or maybe this is just me!?)

Now that you have gotten the basics down, let’s move on to our top pick humidifiers.

Choosing the best humidifier for baby

If you’re still not sure which is the best humidifier for your baby’s nursery, then here are some features to be mindful of as you continue your research. 

• Ease of cleaning – Mold and bacteria can accumulate in dirty humidifiers; since frequent cleanings are needed, units that make cleaning easy are ideal;
• Noise level – The best baby humidifiers aren’t noisy, though some babies do adapt to the white noise;
• Controlling mist output – It can be handy (though not necessary) to control the amount of mist being emitted. Some allow this, others not;
• Auto shut-off – This prevents overheating and damage from running on empty.
• Adjustable humidistat – A humidistat allows the unit to measure relative humidity and set the mist output accordingly. They’re helpful but not essential, as external hygrometers/humidistats are inexpensive.
• Antibacterial features – These give you added peace of mind that your baby’s humidifier is free of germs, mold, and bacteria.

How humid should the air be?

The ideal humidity level should be between 40-60% Low humidity can cause dry and itchy skin, nasal passages, throats, and eyes, and often accompanies winter months. Too much humidity can cause condensation leading to mold growth and breeding of bacteria and dust mites, so set levels carefully.  These levels can be monitored with a built-in hygrometer or humidistat, but an external monitor like the AcuRite Humidity Monitor can also be used. [Source]

*Image courtesy of Vicks 

To ensure you are achieving a healthy humidity level in your home or baby nursery, you can either purchase a humidifier with an in-built hygrometer (sometimes called a humidistat) or buy one separately for under $10 (eg, the best-selling AcuRite Humidity Monitor).

How to clean your humidifier (and how often)

Dirty water tanks quickly go stagnant and become breeding grounds for bacteria and mold. Vaporizers and evaporative humidifiers are better at preventing the spread of pathogens, but even so, you’ll need to be on top of cleaning and maintenance. Obviously, this is even more important when placing a humidifier in your baby’s nursery.

Here are some actionable tips you can follow. (For the sake of caution, we recommend more frequent cleanings than the manufacturers suggest)

Fear not!

Staying clean and safe is actually pretty simple. It’s all about creating a cleaning ritual and then sticking to it.
Here are some actionable tips you can follow. (Note that since babies are involved, we urge you to err on the side of caution. Hence we recommend cleaning more frequently than product manufacturers may do on their packaging.)

<strong>Editor’s note:</strong> Humidifiers can provide more comfort for baby and will help promote an ideal sleeping environment.⁴Kim, K. W., Ahn, K., Yang, H. J., Lee, S., Park, J. D., Kim, W. K., … &amp; Hong, S. J. (2014). Humidifier disinfectant–associated children’s interstitial lung disease. <em>American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine, 189(1),</em> 48-56.

<a href=”https://www.babysleepscience.com/single-post/2019/01/22/its-winter-do-you-need-a-humidifier-in-your-childs-room”>babysleepscience.com</a>

Tips for Cleaning and Maintaining a Safe Humidifier

1. Change water every day – Unplug, empty, dry, and then refill with fresh water.
2. Do a ‘deep’ clean every 3 to 7 days – Ultrasonic humidifiers should be cleaned more regularly, but even with evaporative or vaporizer humidifiers you should do this every seven days. Here’s how:
   1. Turn off and unplug humidifier;
   2. Disassemble and pour out any water;
   3. Add 2 tbs of white vinegar to half a liter of water (or use a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution);
   4. Add solution to the humidifier tank, shake it all about, then leave for 20mins;
   5. Repeat this process (ie, 2 tbs vinegar/half-liter water) but add the solution to the base. Again, leave for 20 mins;
   6. Finally, rinse several times until there is no smell of vinegar remaining. If you have used hydrogen peroxide, then do this even more thoroughly as you don’t want any chemicals being added to the humidifier mist.
3. Change filters regularly – This applies to evaporative humidifiers. Check the manufacturer’s guidelines.
4. Keep vicinity dry – Sometimes the area around a humidifier can get damp. Ensure you keep it dry.
5. Storing humidifiers – Before storing a humidifier away, perform a deep clean and then thoroughly dry it. Throw away any used filters etc. When you take it out again, give it another clean.
6. Use distilled or demineralized water – Though not absolutely necessary, this has various benefits. Firstly, it will prevent the build-up of mineral deposits which can encourage bacterial growth. Secondly, it will prevent mineral “white-dust” from settling around the humidifier.Proper Humidifier Care nationaljewish.org/conditions/allergy/overview/allergens/mold/humidifier-care

Wrapping up

Humidifiers come with lots of great health benefits, but regular cleanings are essential. We know that, as a parent, nothing is ever too clean for your children, including the air they breathe. So, keep that baby skin healthy, fight against germs, and even keep that lovely wooden crib looking good as new by choosing the right humidifier for your family.