Whether you have a little one on the way or you already have a baby or two in the nursery, you might wonder what the best humidifier for a baby is and what a cool mist humidifier even does?
First, you need to understand why humidifiers top the list of many parents’ registries and pediatricians’ lists of must-own electronics for the nursery. Then you’ll see why humidifiers are one of the best purchases you can make for you, your baby, and your home – especially if you live in a cold climate.
Best Cool Mist Humidifier for Babies Comparisons
There are lots of choices out there for a great cooling mist humidifier, though, so how do you choose the best one? Before you click “add to cart” on a name-brand humidifier just because you recognize the name, read through this guide to find out which ones really are the top ones, and how to pick the best one for your baby.
Don’t forget to go through the reviews top rated cooling mist humidifiers for babies all the best cold mist humidifiers for babies, too, so you can learn from other people’s experiences with the appliances!
Why Does Cool Mist Work for Babies?
When it comes to humidifier choices, you pretty much have two options: warm or cooling mist. The only big difference between these humidifiers is the way in which they produce humidity for a room. The resulting humidity is pretty much the same.
A cooling mist humidifier is the safest choice for a nursery because there’s no risk of your baby getting burned by the appliance. There are other reasons you might want to choose cooling mist over warm mist.
Temperature of Mist
It’s relatively the same temperature, whether you start out with a warming appliance or a cooling appliance. So, don’t let this part sway your decision. Winner: Either.
Safety
A cooling mist humidifier never heats the water to create steam, while a warm mist one has heating elements. A warm mist humidifier could cause burns if a child gets too close or the humidifier spills. That’s never an issue with a cooling mist humidifier. Winner: Cooling mist.
Energy
A warm mist humidifier uses more electricity to work because it has to heat water to produce steam. A cooling mist humidifier uses the power of evaporation to create humidity, which means it uses far less energy – and that could be a cost savings for you. Winner: Cooling mist.
Type of Water
Whether you choose tap water or distilled, both humidifiers can turn it into effective humidity. If you have hard water or water with lots of minerals, you might notice some white debris blown out of a cooling mist humidifier, which creates a little more cleanup for you to do, but it’s harmless. Winner: Warm mist.
Year-round Use
Both types of humidifiers can be used throughout the year, and both types can contribute to lower heating costs because humidity helps keep rooms warm. However, a warm mist humidifier could increase the temperature in a room more so than a cooling mist humidifier, which might be uncomfortable in the summer. Winner: Cooling mist.
Health
Both cool mist and warm mist humidifiers need regular cleanings. Warm mist ones might fight the growth of bacteria, but not fungi. Cooling mist has a greater chance of allowing bacteria growth, along with fungi, but either way, these machines need to be kept clean. Winner: Either.
The overall objective winner is the cooling mist humidifier. You’ll get more bang for your buck, and you’ll get the same benefits as the warm mist humidifier, but you won’t have to worry about a nursery getting too warm, nor will you have to worry about your baby getting an accidental burn.
Why Would Your Baby Need a Humidifier, Anyway?
Your baby is perfect in every way, so why would you need extras like a humidifier, anyway? A great cool mist humidifier helps keep your little one as close to perfect as possible. Dry air can wreak havoc on a little person’s sinuses. And a stuffy congested baby is an unhappy baby. Sinus problems can lead to sleepless nights – for your tot and you. Adding moisture to the air can help your baby breathe more easily, and that results in a happier baby (and parents).
An arid climate may do wonders for making shade feel better in the summer, but it does a number on our skin. The weather has a lot to do with how our skin feels, and for your baby, dry air could lead to irritated skin, dry patches, and more. You can help soothe that itchy dry skin by introducing a cool mist humidifier to the nursery.
Colds, flu, and other illnesses are going to happen. You can do your best to protect your little one, and a humidifier is one way to keep some of those icky bugs at bay. Once your baby has a cold or flu, though, you may think that meds and comfort are the only ways to ease the symptoms. Nope! Break out that cool mist humidifier and raise the humidity in the rooms where your baby spends time. The moist air can help clear out nasal passages, soothe the sore little noses, and help your baby breathe better.
Humidifier for Babies: Features You’d want to have
You want to make sure you get one of the top-rated cool mist humidifiers for babies, so look for features that make the unit better, or that make your life easier.
Noise Level
Many babies sleep more soundly when there’s a bit of white noise happening, and many humidifiers can provide that sound. Some are louder than others, but the cooling mist humidifiers seem to offer a hum from the fan that can be soothing. So you don’t have to worry about when to use it and when not.
Auto Shutoff
An auto shut-off option is more than just convenient. It can be considered a safety feature, at least for your humidifier. The last thing you want to do is use your humidifier once in the nursery, and then it runs out of water, but keep going, only to burn out a motor.
Large Capacity
The larger the container that holds your water, the better because you won’t have to refill the tank all the time. If you’re using an intermittent function, though, this might not matter as much.
Timer Function
If a humidifier doesn’t include a humidistat or other smart controls to help keep the humidity levels precisely where you want them, you can get by with a timer function. Set it to run just the same number of hours you plan to put your baby down for a nap, and it’ll shut off after that set amount of time.
Diffuser Capability
Check with the pediatrician first about using essential oils for your baby. If you get the green light, then you might want to find a humidifier that allows you to use essential oils in the tank or in a tray to give your baby a soothing scent in their nursery.
Top 5 Cool Mist Humidifier for Babies Reviews
Tekjoy Air-Joy Premium Cool Mist Ultrasonic Humidifier
The Tekjoy Air-Joy cool mist humidifier (from Amazon) is one of those appliances that includes just the right number of features, and it doesn’t go overboard with bells and whistles. The tank capacity is about 2.5 liters, which means you may only need to fill it up every couple days, depending on how often you use it. It can run up to 24 hours if you use the lowest mist level. You can choose from low, medium, and high mist outputs, so if you choose the high mist option, you can expect to be refilling the tank more often. Some babies sleep better when there’s a nightlight on, and it can make it easier for parents to find their way into the nursery without having to turn on a blinding light. This humidifier includes an LED light with nine different options, including turning off the light altogether. The top can be a challenge to get off when you need to clean the unit or refill the water tank, but at least it’s secure. Also, you won’t be able to use essential oils with this humidifier. If you’re looking for a simple cooling mist humidifier for the nursery that has a decently sized water tank, then this could be good for you and your baby.
Pros
- Auto shut off
- Three mist levels
- Quiet operation
- Long runtime
- LED night light
Cons
- No essential oils allowed
- Filling it can be difficult
URPOWER 2nd Version Essential Oil Diffuser Aroma Essential Oil Cool Mist Humidifier
Although the URPOWER cool mist humidifier and essential oil diffuser (from Amazon) is tiny, it’s a powerful unit that can work well in any nursery. It has a smaller water tank that only holds about 100 milliliters, but it can run for up to six hours, which should be enough for when your little one sleeps in their crib.
Also, there’s an added benefit of the diffuser option. You can add essential oils to the water to help soothe your baby. The LED lights can change colors, making it a fun night light for your baby’s nursery.
Its small size makes it ideal for taking with you when you travel. So, even if your baby is going to be sleeping in a hotel or a relative’s home, they can have the soothing cooling mist of their humidifier with them. There’s no filter that you need to change or clean, so that’s a bonus for busy moms and dads. However, the humidifier still needs to be cleaned, and that might be a little difficult because the top is a bit hard to remove.
If you want an affordable, small cooling mist humidifier for the nursery, your baby could benefit from this little unit.
Pros
- Color changing LEDs
- Auto shutoff
- Quiet operation
- Allows essential oils
- No filter
- Affordable
Cons
- Short runtime
- Hard to open
Pure Enrichment MistAire XL
Some humidifiers seem too small or too big for a nursery, but the Pure Enrichment ultrasonic is sort of the Goldilocks of the humidifier world. This cool mist humidifier could be an excellent addition to your baby’s room because it’s a size that’s just right for turning up the humidity for your baby for up to 17 hours. If you’re using this every day, then you only have to refill it once per day. And if you’re using it less often, you could go a couple of days before having to add more water.
This isn’t specifically a diffuser for essential oils, but you can add oils to the water tank with no issue. The nightlight is a nice bonus that can make a baby more comfortable and make it easier for you to find your way into the nursery at night. This humidifier is mostly quiet, and the small hum produced should be soothing for a baby. Pure Enrichment is not only easy to use, it’s also easy to clean, and you should be able to reach every part to scrub.
If you’re looking for a humidifier that isn’t too small or too big, this cooling mist humidifier could be ideal for your baby’s room.
Pros
- Auto shutoff
- Easy to clean
- Quiet operation
- Nightlight
- Affordable
Cons
- No essential oil tray
- Reports of defects common
GENIANI Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier
The size of the GENIANI ultrasonic cool mist humidifier may be the best for babies because it isn’t huge, but it has a surprisingly large tank for water. This unit should fit on the dresser in any nursery, but it holds up to 3 liters of water. You’d expect a much larger humidifier for capacity at that size. And with a 3-liter capacity, you should be able to get up to 24 hours of vapor. The nozzle of this unit is adjustable, too, which means you can point the nozzle away from your baby if that makes you more comfortable.
As is the case with most cool mist humidifiers, this one comes with an automatic shut-off, in case the unit runs out of water. Plus, this humidifier is nice and quiet, so it shouldn’t disturb your baby’s sleep. There’s a nightlight option, too, which some babies prefer, and it makes it easy for you to navigate the nursery in the dark. You won’t be able to use essential oils in this unit, but if that’s not important to you then it isn’t much of a negative. One thing that was agreed upon is that this humidifier can be difficult to refill, as the cap is at the bottom, and the handle for the unit is on top.
If you want a cooling mist humidifier that has a large water tank and will run for up to 24 hours on one fill-up, then this one may be best for your baby.
Pros
- Auto shutoff
- Control the mist direction
- Quiet operation
- Nightlight
Cons
- No essential oils allowed
- Difficult to refill
Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier
One of the best things about the Pure Enrichment MistAire cool mist humidifier is its size – it’s a great unit for a nursery and for keeping the humidity level high for your baby. If you’re just looking at the features of cooling mist humidifiers, then it’s good to know that this one includes almost all the standard features you’d expect, such as auto shutoff, a nightlight, and quiet operation. Some people aren’t a huge fan of the LED “on” light, as the little red light is quite bright and won’t shut off, so it won’t work for your nursery if your baby prefers pure darkness.
Although this humidifier comes with a cleaning brush, the actual job of cleaning this unit can be a chore, at best. You’ll need to clean the tank out every day, and then let it dry before refilling again. Once per week, it’s suggested you give it a vinegar bath, too. Still, the tank is a good size at 1.5 liters, which will allow this humidifier to pump out cooling mist water vapor for up to 16 hours. So, you may only need to fill it out every two days. Keep in mind that leaks are common, so watch for water.
If you’re looking for a cooling mist humidifier for your baby that can pump out vapor for two nights in a row without refills, this might be the one for you.
Pros
- Auto shutoff
- Includes cleaning brush
- Quiet operation
- Nightlight
- Affordable
Cons
- Leaks are common
- Cleaning is a chore
The Bottom Line
You want your baby to be happy and healthy all the time. The best cool mist humidifier can aid in making your baby sleep more peacefully, breathe better, and just overall be a healthier baby. All the units featured here are excellent choices, but if you’re looking for the best, then take a look at the Pure Enrichment MistAire cool mist humidifier. It offers a generously sized water tank, which means fewer refills. And it can run for up to 24 hours on the lowest setting, which saves you time, too. It’s a quiet unit, so it won’t wake your baby up, and it has an optional nightlight, which is a plus for your baby and for you. The nozzle is adjustable, so you can point and aim the vapor wherever you’d like it to go in the nursery.
Last update on 2024-04-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
