Babies are precious little things that must be protected and kept safe until they are old enough to make their own decisions. Every parent wants to ensure their children are kept free from harm; both harm of a physical nature, emotional nature, and importantly harm of a health-related nature.
Unfortunately, babies are most susceptible to a multitude of viruses and parasites that can wreak havoc in the body’s immune system and even cause more serious long-term health problems.
However, there is a device that can help remove viruses and dust from the air of your home, and hence removing the threat to your baby. What is this device you ask? Well, it’s a misting humidifier! Mist Humidifiers are not just a device that help level out the humidity of your home and in the air inside it but also can prevent, and even treat, several new or existing health conditions.
| Humidifier | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
 COOL MIST |
Advantages
|
Disadvantages
|
 Warm Mist |
Advantages
|
Disadvantages
|
WHAT IS A HUMIDIFIER?
Humidifiers are household or industrial mechanical devices that can add humidity to the air by the use of fans, filters, water, etc. They can be purchased as single-room units or can be installed directly into your home’s central air and heating system.
Humidifiers operate through a combination of internal wiring and motors to omit moisture for us to breathe. The motor is powered either by propane or a battery but most commonly, electricity. A humidifier should come with a power cord that is plugged directly into a common wall outlet and should burn no more than 20 watts of electricity during use.
Most people will not notice a drastic increase on their monthly utility bill by using a humidifier and if you do notice a change, then it could be time to replace an aging unit.
Currently, there is a variety of different styles of humidifiers one can choose from to use in their home, some that are better suited for installation throughout the residence’s central air system and ones that are designed to control the humidity in a single room. Single room humidifiers come in a warm mist option or a cool mist option but which one would be better set in your baby’s nursery? Let’s explore each and find out!
Cool Mist Humidifiers
Cool misting humidifiers add needed moisture to the air by dispelling a cool mist throughout the atmosphere with the use of a rotating disk. This disc will rotate with enough force that it will cut through water to create microscopic droplets to dampen the air with a mist. This can lower air temperature as well, which can be beneficial in warmer months.
It must be noted that this kind of humidifier, as well as the warm mist versions, are considered to be louder than other types of humidifiers. This unfortunately can disrupt a baby’s slumber, so some parents choose to place the device in the hallway, just outside the door of the nursery. If your baby seems to sleep more soundly when there is a higher level of noise in their room, then it is quite possible this won’t disrupt their slumber.
How Can It Help?
A baby’s skin is extremely sensitive to external elements, as it has not had the time to develop and thicken over time, like an adult’s. The additional moisture to the naturally drier air in a home can irritate the skin, leaving your baby covered in rashes or dry spots that just a moisturizer cannot touch.
Babies are also more susceptible to the common cold and will experience the symptoms in a higher magnitude than adults. A humidifier can restore the air in the nursery to peak breathing conditions, allowing for mucus and congestion on that little chest to loosen.
Remember that like the warm mist version, the air dispel will change the temperature of your baby’s nursery, only this type will cool the room faster than a warm mist. While a definite plus during summer, it is important to do when it is being used in winter months; to increase the temperature of the heat source in your nursery.
Warm Mist Humidifiers
Warm mist humidifiers operate in the same way as the cool mist variety, with the use of a fast rotating disk cutting through water to dispel microscopic droplets of mist into the air. The noticeable difference, however, is the temperature of the mist.
As previously mentioned, these humidifiers tend to be on the noisier side than other models, so some parents find it more useful when placed in the open doorway of the nursery. Some babies may sleep more soundly though, as the white noise creates a soothing atmosphere to increase restful slumber.
How Can It Help?
A warm mist humidifier will help your baby by increasing the moisture in the nursery to peak breathing conditions. This is extremely beneficial during winter months when viruses and common colds are running rampant. As the hotter mist enters the air, room temperature can also rise, a major benefit during winter months when your home’s heating system is drying the air out. A baby cannot cough through congestion with the same force as an adult, leaving them with restricted breathing and tighter lungs.
Humidifiers can help the baby loosen the mucus and congestion in their chest, allowing for the deeper sleep needed to fight such viruses. Babies who suffer from irritated skin and rashes could also benefit from a warm-mist humidifier to soothe skin and add more moisture to it.
One thing to note is that a warm-mist humidifier does dispel water droplets at a higher temperature than that of cool-mist, so once your baby is mobile, it is important to either remove the humidifier or place it in an area out of reach. Burns from warm mist humidifiers are the top complaint from parents, whether it be for the child or for themselves. It is quite possible to get a burn from a warm mist humidifier, as it is essentially creating hot steam to add to the air in the room.
The Best Option for Your Baby
Ultimately the furniture and appliances you choose to install in your baby’s nursery are entirely up to you, the parent or guardian of the baby. If you prefer one type of humidifier over another, just ensure to research both the advantages and disadvantages of using it. Follow instructions exactly as directed, as failure to do so may result in more than just wetter air.
Any parent wants their baby to be healthy, without any respiratory or skin conditions to hamper their development and overall mood. A humidifier can decrease the symptoms of irritated skin, congestion, mucus, and even irritability itself.
A misused humidifier can dampen the air to the point it encourages the growth of mold throughout the home; in the linens of your child’s crib, in the walls of their nursery, and on the windowsills of the home. This mold can threaten the structural soundness of your home, creating long-term and expensive issues to fix.
Mold can also have a negative physical effect on the body, creating rashes and other skin conditions, while causing problems in the respiratory system – especially that of a newborn infant, which is still in development. Anyone with existing skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis, may notice a flare-up of their condition in a home where damp air outweighs dry. Those suffering from asthma may notice an increase in breathing issues, caused by the humidity in the air.
Conclusion
Now that you are aware of the better options when it comes to choosing a humidifier for your baby’s nursery, perhaps it is time to make the investment and install a single-room humidifier in your home. This humidifier can be used through each stage of life, providing controlled humidity in your home and in the bodies of your children, along with yourself, and their parents. Parents want to protect, nurture, and provide the essentials of life for their children; and this want starts from the moment you learn of their existence in the womb.
Consult with a trusted healthcare provider, either your pediatrician pharmacist or general practitioner about the benefits of a humidifier for your baby and what option would be the best for their individual needs.
If you currently use a humidifier in your baby’s nursery or have in the past, let us know in the comments below of your experience. If you prefer a warm mist over a cool mist humidifier, we want to know why! Feel free to share this article with family and friends who may be seeking the same information!
