Babies are one of the most delicate and fragile beings in existence, and so everything that relates to them has to be inspected and maintained.
Their immune system isn’t strong enough to resist bacterial infections and germs that lock around their immediate environment.
If you require a humidifier and do not want to read the entire article, below are the recommended items from the article. (Low, Medium and High Price)
When dealing with Baby Colds, the best humidifier is the TotalComfort Warm & Cool Mist Ultrasonic Humidifier
However, this will depend on several things, like if you want it to do several tasks – like Dorm Room, or Cold and Flu symptoms.
There will also be costs for the humidifier - like Mist Type, Water Tank Capacity, Coverage Area and Noise Level. So as you can see, there is a lot in picking the right humidifier!
Therefore, things like flu, dry cough, and other symptoms are not far away from them, but what if I tell you there's a way to get this under control. With the use of an appliance known as the 'Humidifier,' these infections can be minimized.
A humidifier is a device used to add moisture to the air in a room. Its major aim is to increase humidity during the winter season and ease the symptoms of cold, dry, flaky skin, and flu in your baby’s body. There are different humidifiers in the market, but not all are appropriate for a baby's room.
Thus, there are factors to consider before deciding which humidifier to purchase and bring into your home. Now, what are you to look out for in choosing the best humidifier for your baby that’s dealing with colds?
The foremost factor to consider in choosing a humidifier is deciding if you want a vaporizer or humidifier. Normally, pediatricians recommend using cool mist humidifiers because vaporizers are at risk of burning young ones. Though vaporizers are great for babies with respiratory problems, it helps to drain colds and mucus from the nasal passage.
Baby humidifiers are warm mist or cool mist, but the cool mist is preferable as they transform water into vapor. They also help to battle bacteria using cartridges and filters. Humidifiers, especially the cool mist, are still considered the best options because warm mist can pose a burn risk for babies.
Cool mist humidifiers are the best for babies, but they have a downside to them. They are highly vulnerable to mold growth, such that the mold grows in the furniture and walls when its humidity level is high, and the humidifier itself is not cleaned from time to time. For the health of your baby, the humidifier must be regularly taken care of.
Hence, the need for a humidifier that is easy to clean. Clean it involves draining, rinsing, and drying every day. Under normal circumstances, all baby humidifiers are easy to clean, but that's not the case. Therefore, it is your duty as the guardian and buyer of the appliance to get one that wouldn't stress you such that you'd be lazy to clean it.
An important feature to look out for in a baby humidifier is the water volume the tank can keep. The capacity of the tanks is usually in the product description or on the package. The larger the capacity of a water tank, the more convenient it is to use and maintain.
This is because it will not quickly run out. Therefore, look for a model with a water tank capacity of roughly 2.5 to 3 liters of water. This way, it can last for a minimum of 12 hours. For instance, if you refill in the evening, you can use it throughout the night, and you would not have to wake up to refill.
Most models of baby humidifiers come with the automatic shut-off feature. This kind works in a way that the function kicks off when the water tank runs low. The device shuts off on its own to conserve energy and prevent the humidifier from overheating, which causes damage. This shut-off feature may also be used with programmable humidity levels, such that it goes off as soon as they attain the set level of moisture.
It is important to note this factor as not all humidifiers work with essential oils. This is not a compulsory feature, but if you prefer one that features this, then you can do well to check it out. Some baby humidifiers are a combination of humidifiers and diffuser, which works with essential oils to produce a soothing fresh fragrance with the vapor.
Using aromatherapy essential oils makes baby, so they can fall asleep faster because it gives a relaxing atmosphere. Also, remember the reason some models do not include this feature is that oils can cause mold growth, and that renders the warranty useless.
The best baby humidifier has to be compact, lightweight, and portable so it can be moved around, anywhere, and anytime. The dimension of the humidifier affects its shape as it determines how easily it can be refilled and cleaned. The size of the humidifier is usually stated on the package or product description.
The coverage area is also stated in square feet to ensure you know the right size of the unit that will work for your baby. The perfect level of humidity is between 40% to 60%, such that a unit too big will emit too much vapor, leading to mold. While a unit too small won’t cover the while nursery as required.
There are some other factors you can consider but note that they are based on your preference and not required in a standard baby humidifier. One of them is the timer, a feature that allows you to set the time the device should come on or go off. The humidistat; helps to detect the current moisture level and regulates it. There are also filters, adjustable settings, and other accessories.
You might want to use different humidifiers at different times of the day, depending on your needs. For example, during the day you could put in an evaporative humidifier because it doesn't emit any vapor. For nighttime and naps I recommend using a cool mist humidifier because they emit less water vapor and have a soothing effect on babies with colds.
The size of the room can also affect the type of humidifier you should use. If you have a very small room then a cool mist humidifier will work fine. If you have a larger room, such as an office, you might want to use a warm mist humidifier so that your baby's skin won't dry out.
If there is a heating or air conditioning unit in your home during cold-weather months that will need to be turned off and on several times during the day this could increase your humidity levels drastically.
If you live in a cold area and use a heating unit, you should consider getting an evaporative humidifier. The reason for this is because the warm mist humidifier would make it difficult for your heating unit to completely dry out your home.
The humidity level is the most important thing to take into consideration when making a decision about whether or not to make use of supplemental vapor. If you have any moisture problems with your house, such as mold or mildew, then you need to make sure that the humidity level in your home stays at comfortable levels.
Most warm mist humidifiers are designed to be cleaned by simply tipping them upside down and emptying the water. However, I recommend cleaning your humidifier every 2-3 weeks to ensure that the water in your house stays at a healthy level.
I would also recommend checking on your humidifier periodically. If you see that it is becoming rusted or has been leaking any of the white crystals from inside the unit then you should get it fixed.
If you intend on using your teether with a warm mist humidifier then keep this in mind: DO NOT store the unit on its side or upside down. If you do this then the water in the tank will push its way all the way to the bottom and possibly leak causing damage or ruin your unit.
This will also cause it to leak into other parts of your home. First remove all water before storing, and then allow it to dry completely before putting it away.
If you are unable to clean your humidifier every 2-3 weeks you will want to purchase some demineralizer in order to prevent mineral buildup and scaling. If you use hard water to fill up your humidifier then you should also purchase a demineralizer. It is important that you always read the instructions with any cleaning products before making use of them on your humidifiers.
You will want to be sure that you clean out the reservoir at least once a week. You can do this by disassembling it and using a water hose or just simply rinsing it out with warm soapy water. You should also be cleaning the vents by using a brush or some sort of small vacuum cleaner.
If you are looking to purchase a humidifier then you have two main options: warm mist and cool mist. Warm mist humidifiers will heat up the water before it is emitted into your home, while cool mist humidifiers will not heat up the water before it is released.
For baby's with colds, the use of a cool mist humidifier is recommended because they emit less vapor and sound exactly like a fan, which can help put babies to sleep easier.
They are quite cool to the touch and emit cool vapor into the air. These types of humidifiers do not emit any heat, which is usually a plus when you have a baby sleeping nearby. Evaporative humidifiers are my favorite type because they have numerous benefits for both baby and parents.
For one thing, babies with colds seem to breathe easier while sleeping with these types of humidifiers running in the room. You can also use them for babies who don't have colds during the night because they will help keep nasal passages from drying out due to changes in temperature and humidity levels in the room.
They may also help relieve constipation, another common problem with babies who get colds and flu.
Using hot steam humidifiers is not recommended for babies who are suffering from colds or flu. These guys produce warm vapor and some models actually heat water that turns into warm vapor. The problem is that you want your baby to breathe in cool humidified air, not warm air.
Therefore, it is not a good idea to use a hot steam humidifier at night when the baby is sleeping in bed next to you because breathing in warm moist air can make their cold that much worse. If your baby has a cold or flu, consider using an evaporative or cool mist humidifier at night instead of a hot steam vaporizer.
Baby humidifiers are perfect for every home with a baby, and so try as much as possible to purchase one. These humidifiers are of various qualities, such that if you are ready to spend a lot of money, you definitely can, and you should. But if you have little money and you're working with a budget, then get one with standard features.
Also, before you get one, ensure that the one you go for comes with a warranty. This is simply to make sure it has good coverage.
Please Note: Just because a humidifier is marked, for example “Baby Room”, it will still work for other things, for example “Living Room” or “Plant Humidifier”
Again, the humidifiers below are probably the ones that you will need to buy!
The prices of these are low, medium and high. This will give you the best range. The lower prices will not have all the bells-and-whistles, and the higher price one's will.
Distilled water is best suitable for a cold mist humidifier. It has fewer mineral deposits, hence no risk of molds and bacteria. Adding some drops of peppermint oil or eucalyptus oil may also be helpful.
The menthol in peppermint has a relaxing effect and also helps in opening up airways. Eucalyptus oil is good for its soothing effect when inhaled during a cold or cough.
Cool mist humidifiers are not antibacterial. They release moisture into the air, which reduces the number of germs. Cool mist humidifiers, help your body fight the bacterial infections. By reducing dry air allergens.
Cool mist humidifiers may not clear germs. But vapor from the distilled water keeps the air pure. Most cool mist humidifiers have inbuilt filters. They prevent impurities in the water from diffusing into the air.
For effectiveness, humidifiers need maintenance, and proper cleaning to ensure no mold. Adding water to an existing reservoir without cleaning it, increases molds in the air.
While humidifiers have many health benefits, dirty humidifiers can breed bacteria. So yes-humidifiers may spread germs. Microorganisms generally breed in a moist environment. This means using a dirty humidifiers mists pathogens into the air. And spreads the germs you are trying to end.
Cleaning the humidifier frequently - every two to three days may be safe for you. Distilled water works best since it's bacteria free. When these bacteria get in the vapor, they are breathed through to the lungs. And can cause serious infections if it’s repeated.
It is also important to ensure you track the humidity. If possible, maintain it between 35% and 50%-you can invest in a humidity track for this. You do not want to compete with molds and spores in your space!
If you require more information, please check these references
What is croup? , article, "www.babycenter.com.my", retrieved on, Wed 14-October-2020
Treatment Options for Managing Cough and Cold in Children , article, "www.4healtheducation.com", retrieved on, Wed 14-October-2020
How to Stop Colds, Allergies & More , article, "books.google.co.uk", retrieved on, Wed 14-October-2020
