Best Baby Humidifier - 2024 Reviews

The Very Best Humidifier For Your Baby

Sharing is caring!

Do a quick search on the internet for the baby humidifier and you’ll see countless choices. Some of the units are cute and seem perfect for a nursery. They come in shapes like monkeys, penguins, and other animals, but how well do they work?

Do they provide the necessary amount of humidity to help your baby? In the quest to find the best humidifier for babies, you should be looking for one that has features that will make your life easier, and your baby’s health better, and won’t break the bank.

Read on for more information on why a humidifier is a good addition to your baby’s nursery, which type of humidifier is the best choice, and the features that are most important (and those you can live without). Don’t forget to check out the best baby humidifier reviews where you can compare what others have to say about their own experience with each unit.

Best Baby Humidifier Comparisons

Why Your Baby Needs a Humidifier

Baby and humidifier

A humidifier is rarely the first item a new parent lists on the registry, but it could be one of the most important. Dry air is a common issue that many new parents and babies face, especially in the winter, and the argument could be made that the air is getting warmer and drier with climate change underway. One of the best defenses against dry air is a humidifier.

Humidity helps to kill viruses and bacteria, ease cold and flu symptoms, and generally helps us get to sleep easier, and encourages a deeper sleep. If you or your little one is waking up with nose bleeds or congestion, then a humidifier could be a solution.

Science shows that we are most comfortable in a room that has a humidity level of about 40 to 60 percent. Any higher and it would be a bit stifling. Lower humidity could result in stuffy noses and potentially nosebleeds.

Adding water vapor to a nursery can help soothe sore throats and open up nasal passages, so your baby breathes easier. And a baby that breathes more easily can sleep more easily. So, it’s a win-win for the baby and parents. Of course, like anything, there are always cons mixed in with the pros and there are negative effects of too much humidity.

Modern humidifier in children room

Cool or Warm Mist: The Ultimate Humidifier Debate – Solved

warmandcold

It’s important to understand how humidifiers work and the difference between each brand and kind; cool and warm mist. Both have their benefits and drawbacks. First, let’s go over the similarities, and you’ll see that it doesn’t really matter which one you choose.

The water vapor that pours out of either humidifier is essentially the same, and the temperature of that mist is about the same once it reaches your lungs or your baby’s lungs. Both types of humidifiers can combat flu and colds, and the vapor helps ease the symptoms if you are sick. Now to talk about the differences.

Warm Mist Humidifier

A warm humidifier, or vaporizer, heats up the water in the tank to create steam. That steam is then released into the air as humidity. The benefit of using a warm mist humidifier is that it can keep the water in the tank cleaner because of the heat. Heat can stave off the growth of bacteria and other germs. However, it still needs to be cleaned regularly because of the threat of mold growth.

Also, a vaporizer could increase your energy costs because of the heating elements. And this is not the type of humidifier to keep in a child’s room. The hot water or parts, if touched, could burn your little one. For a baby’s nursery, however, it should be fine. These are also nearly silent because there is no fan blowing.

Cool Mist Humidifier

Cool mist humidifiers work in a different way. Nothing is heated, so there is no danger of burns, which is why this is a popular type of humidifier for children’s rooms. Water drips over a screen and a fan blows against that screen. Water evaporates into a mist, which is then blown out of the nozzle and into the room.

This is an effective way to add humidity to the air, but it won’t kill off bacteria in the tank. You’ll have to keep this extra clean. Most people say a cool mist humidifier has a pleasant white noise sound, but others think it’s too noisy. Also, if you have hard tap water, the minerals may be released in a cool mist humidifier as white dust. It’s harmless but could be annoying to have all around the room.

Which Features Are Most Important for a Baby Humidifier?

Better Faster Cheaper Three Benefits Features Signs

You’ll notice a lot of humidifiers have long lists of features, but which ones are the most vital to have for your baby? It’s a matter of preference in most cases. Here are the features you probably don’t want to do without.

Large Capacity

The larger the tank for water, the less often you have to refill it. You’re busy enough as a new parent, so why add more chores to your to-do list? Get a humidifier that’ll last about 24 hours, and you’ll only have to refill it every couple of days.

Auto Shutoff

This important safety feature can be found on almost any humidifier. When the tank runs dry, the unit should switch off on its own. This protects your humidifier, and also your home. Also, great for kids and a kid’s room because you don’t have to worry about it running all night.

Nightlight

While a nightlight isn’t necessary, per se, it’s an important feature that adds to the convenience of a humidifier. If you’re keeping this in a nursery, the nightlight can help you find your way to your baby without having to switch on a blinding light in the room. This feature is great for models being used in infants, toddlers, a newborn baby rooms.

Top 5 Baby Humidifier Reviews

Let’s take a look at the best-rated humidifier for babies and which one would work best for you.

Everlasting Comfort Ultrasonic Humidifier

50-Hour Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifiers for Bedroom

This one has great ratings. The Everlasting Comfort ultrasonic humidifier (from Amazon) is a larger unit that is suitable for a 400 square-foot space, which may be larger than you need for a baby’s nursery. However, if you share your bedroom with your little one, this could be a good cool mist humidifier to help both the baby and the parents. Alternatively, you could keep this humidifier in a larger room in your home to keep the humidity levels higher. It can run for up to 50 hours without a refill, which means this could work round-the-clock for more than two days.

As with most humidifiers, this one has an automatic shutoff, so even if you forget to add water, it’ll be just fine. You won’t have to worry about mold growing on a filter, as this unit doesn’t have a filter for you to clean or replace. You will need to keep the tank and nozzle clean to prevent bacteria and mold growth, though. You might find it a bit difficult to clean this unit, as there are lots of moving parts and tight spaces that are hard to get to. Some users reported leaks with this humidifier, so keep an eye out and don’t place this on a surface that would be damaged by water.

If you want a cool mist humidifier for your baby that runs for up to 50 hours, this could be a good choice.

Pros

  • Auto shut off
  • No filter
  • Quiet operation
  • Long runtime
  • LED nightlight
  • Allows essential oils

Cons

  • Hard to clean
  • Leaks common

Check Today's Price


Honeywell Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier

Honeywell Cool Moisture Humidifier, Medium Room

The Honeywell HCM350W (from Amazon) is a cool mist humidifier that’s a little different than the ones you typically see for a baby’s room. You might notice first that the price is much higher. The reason for the higher price may have something to do with its other differences. The unit has an antimicrobial tank, which helps keep it clean and 99.9 percent free of germs. The fan runs at three different speeds, and at its lowest, it’s very quiet. The runtime is about 24 hours, which makes sense with a tank that holds about a gallon of water.

Another big difference is that this humidifier uses filters, which could be a plus, but for many, it’s an issue. A filter adds another thing for you to keep clean. However, a filter also ensures cleaner water vapor and no more white dust. Use distilled water and you can use the filter much longer. Eventually, you’ll have to replace the filter, and that’s an added cost. There’s no nightlight on this unit, which lessens this humidifier’s multifunctional score.

If you want a cool mist humidifier that uses filters for your baby, then this one could be an ideal choice for you.

Pros

  • Auto shut off
  • Three-speed settings
  • Quiet operation
  • Long runtime
  • 99.9% germ free

Cons

  • No nightlight
  • Filter changes necessary
  • List Element

Check Today's Price


URPOWER 2nd Version Essential Oil Cool Mist Humidifier

URPOWER 2nd Version Essential Oil Diffusers,Aroma Essential Oil Cool Mist Humidifier

The URPOWER diffuser and cool mist humidifier is easily one of the most popular choices. It gets high marks, and it’s one of the most affordable units available. However, this personal humidifier may only be suitable for the first few months of your baby’s life. The tank only holds about 100 milliliters, so it only pumps out water vapor for up to six hours. You’re looking at having to refill it often. And if you use the continuous setting, you might get three hours of vapor out of it.

Other features that are fun include a nightlight that changes color. You also have the option to turn the light off completely. There’s no filter that you need to change or clean, but the unit itself will need a good scrub or soak at least once per week. A bonus feature is that this humidifier will act as a diffuser, so if you get the go-ahead from a pediatrician, you could add essential oils to the water to help soothe your baby.

For a small humidifier that’s quite affordable, this little unit could work well for your baby’s nursery.

Pros

  • Color changing LEDs
  • Auto shutoff
  • Quiet operation
  • Allows essential oils
  • No filter
  • Affordable

Cons

  • Short runtime
  • Hard to open

Check Today's Price


LEVOIT OasisMist

LEVOIT OasisMist Smart Cool and Warm Mist Humidifiers for Bedroom

The LEVOIT cool/warm mist ultrasonic humidifier here has a large tank and doesn’t look like it belongs in a hospital, which is a huge plus when you’re adding it to your baby’s nursery. This unit can hold up to a gallon of water, and it has a runtime of about 45 hours, which means you won’t have to refill it every day if you’re using it sporadically. It includes a couple of filters to help keep things clean: a ceramic and a carbon one. You can change the carbon filter, but the ceramic one is permanent.

There are two settings on this humidifier, so you can crank it up and really let the water vapor flow, or you can choose the lower setting for a longer runtime. It has a quiet operation on the lowest setting, but the higher setting does offer a bit of white noise. There’s an essential oil tray, so you can add your favorite scents to help soothe your little one. Sometimes this unit can be finicky and needs to be adjusted so water flows properly. And some people report that this humidifier can leak sometimes.

If you want a sleek cool mist humidifier that holds more water than the personal units out there for your baby, then this could be a good option.

Pros

  • Auto shutoff
  • Quiet operation
  • Allows essential oils
  • Nightlight

Cons

  • Needs to be positioned just so
  • Might leak

Check Today's Price


Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier

Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier

One of the most popular choices for a cool mist humidifier is the one from Pure Enrichment. It’s sized ideally for a large nursery or children’s room, and it can run for up to 17 hours. Of course, that runtime is for the lowest setting, so you may still need to refill the tank once per day. Because it’s cool mist, it’s safe for use in a child’s bedroom, as they won’t be at risk of burns. The humidifier does have a little sound to it, but it doesn’t seem to be bothersome, and it could soothe a baby to sleep.

There’s no filter to deal with, but you do still need to clean it often to keep bacteria and mold from building up. The good news is that this humidifier is easy to disassemble and clean. There’s a nightlight and an auto shutoff feature, as you’d expect. And while you aren’t supposed to use this as a diffuser, many people have used essential oils in the tank with no issue. There are reports of defective units being shipped out, but customer support seems to be good about offering replacements when there are issues.

If you want a larger cool mist humidifier for a larger nursery or child’s bedroom, this one could work well for you.

Pros

  • Auto shutoff
  • Easy to clean
  • Quiet operation
  • Nightlight
  • Affordable

Cons

  • No essential oil tray
  • Reports of defects common

Check Today's Price


The Bottom Line

You want your baby to be comfortable and healthy, and a humidifier can help with these things. All the units above get good marks from those who have purchased them, and there’s always the occasional poor review based on defective units. Thankfully, customer support responds quickly and usually sends out replacements when there are issues. There’s a single humidifier on this list that meets almost any need for a baby’s nursery, though.

The Pure Enrichment Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier (from Amazon) offers all the standard features you expect from a humidifier, and it’s easy to clean. It’s important that whatever appliances you add to your baby’s nursery or child’s room be easy to care for because you have enough going on in your life right now. There are no filters to change or clean on this unit, and it can double as a nightlight and diffuser. There’s no essential oil tray, and you’d be going against the manufacturer’s suggestion if you use oils in the tank, but many consumers have had no issue doing so.

Best Baby Humidifier

Last update on 2024-03-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Sharing is caring!