How close should the humidifier be to the baby?
Using a humidifier in a baby’s room is a wise choice to effectively add moisture to dry air. Having a dry space anywhere with a low humidity level will lead to health issues. This goes without saying on the importance of using a humidifier for a baby’s nursery.
Apart from paying attention to the baby’s health and baby’s sleep, there is another important factor to remember when you place a humidifier in your baby’s room. You must know exactly how close should humidifier be to the baby and follow all the humidifier safety tips and safety guidelines.
In this article, we will discuss in detail how to keep a baby safe when you place a humidifier in your baby’s bedroom and how close should humidifier be to the baby. Let us take a brief look at the benefits one gain from how humidifiers work and why you must place the humidifier correctly.
How humidifiers can benefit your baby?
The reason why most parents agree to place a humidifier in their baby’s room is because of the several benefits. Humidifiers work to add moisture to dry air. With dry air comes poor indoor air quality, unwanted mold growth, bacteria, and most importantly airborne pathogens. Any space having small children must be maintained to care to keep health issues away. Therefore, investing in the right humidifier in your baby’s room is essential.
The moisture emitted from warm mist humidifiers and cool mist humidifiers ensures that the baby’s room is filled with moist air. Having moist air in the right measure (without too much moisture which will lead to unwanted mold growth), will make the skin moist and resolve dry skin problems. The moisture emitted will prevent dry skin and keep the baby’s skin free from rashes, dryness, eczema, and other skin allergies.
Most humidifiers work to add moisture sufficient to relieve nasal congestion. Dry air can lead to dry nasal passages, stuffy noses, nasal congestion, and chest congestion. When the humidity level is balanced and there is enough moisture, it will make nasal passages moist by loosening mucus. Relieving nasal congestion and opening up the nasal passages facilitates easy breathing.
With easy breathing comes peaceful sleep. Most babies struggle to sleep comfortably when they have a stuffy nose, whether, from dry air, airborne pathogens, or dust mites stuffed animals. Providing relief against colds and allergies will ensure the baby sleeps undisturbed. If you want your baby to sleep comfortably, you can place a humidifier in your baby’s room to balance the humidity level and keep allergens away.
Another reason why parents prefer to use a humidifier is the white noise. Both warm mist humidifiers and cool mist humidifiers generate a soothing white noise that helps most babies to sleep comfortably.
Are there any side effects?
Although humidifiers come with several benefits, using a humidifier can turn out to be harmful when not used correctly. You must follow all humidifier safety tips and safety guidelines when you place the humidifier in the baby’s nursery to keep the baby safe.
When you place the humidifier you must ensure that is it at a safe distance from the baby’s crib or baby’s bed. Placing the humidifier too close to the baby’s bed comes with many hazards. This is why you must know how close should humidifier be to the baby. The steam or water vapor coming out of the humidifier can harbor microorganisms that are harmful. You must avoid excessive exposure to moisture at all costs. When you put a humidifier too close to the baby’s crib there is a good chance to contribute to mold growth. In order to prevent mold growth you must avoid excessive exposure to moisture.
If you place the humidifier too close to the baby’s bed that can also disturb the baby’s sleep. Although the humidifier can make a pleasant humming sound that can help babies have a peaceful sleep if you place the humidifier too close to the baby’s crib it is going to be disturbing.
Using the humidifier for your baby the right way: Placement & Settings
Finding the right humidifier does not guarantee seamless performance and safety. You must place the unit in the right place. There is a calculation on how close should a humidifier be to the baby. The right placement will guarantee the baby’s health and safety in the room.
Direct sunlight
Whether you have a warm mist humidifier or a cool mist humidifier, you must keep the unit away from direct sunlight. A warm mist humidifier and a cool mist humidifier have a water tank that can become breeding grounds for bacteria and mold if they get some light source along with sufficient moisture.
Away from the child’s reach
It is absolutely crucial to keep any type of humidifier, be it a warm mist humidifier or a cool mist humidifier, to be kept away from the child’s reach. Electrical cords that come with the unit are a tripping hazard. You must therefore keep the unit away from the floor or anywhere it can be a tripping hazard.
Excess humidifier mist that is close to the baby’s reach is unhealthy and dangerous. A hot water tank and hot steam from a warm mist humidifier can lead to accidental water spills. Never forget to keep the unit away from the baby’s reach to avoid accidents.
Position in baby’s room
Remember to place the humidifier in your baby’s room in a central position where the entire space will receive humidification.
Distance from baby’s crib
The right distance of the humidifier from the baby’s cot will keep away too much moisture. Check with a professional to have to know how close should a humidifier be to a baby in their room. Both warm mist and cool mist humidifiers are suggested to be kept at 3 to 4 feet away from the sleeping area.
Must-Have Gadgets For Baby Room (Expecting Parents Guide)
There are plentiful smart gadgets available in the market to take away the anxiety from expecting parents and make the early parenting journey easy for them. Here are a few must-haves.
- Dehumidifier and humidifier– Both are important additions to the baby’s nursery to maintain a healthy indoor environment with the ideal humidity level.
- Baby monitor– A constant monitoring system while the baby sleeps is a must-have.
- Smart breathing and Roll-over monitor– With the provision to be connected to your smartphone, this smart monitor will detect any abnormal breathing and send an alert to your phone.
- Thermometer– A must-have in any home, not just for babies but for adults as well.
- Bottle warmer– If your baby is bottle-fed, it is recommended to have a bottle warmer handy in the baby’s nursery.
- Odor-free diaper disposal pail– Keep away those disturbing odors and dispose of used diapers hygienically with the odor-free diaper disposal pail.
- White noise machine– Many parents prefer to have a separate white noise machine, while others find a dehumidifier or humidifier sufficient to generate the desired white noise.
Best Baby Humidifier Brands:
Are you determined to have the best humidifier in your baby’s nursery? Here we have a list of the 3 best humidifiers that is suitable for babies.
1. Frida Baby 3-in-1 Humidifier
The Frida Baby humidifier for your baby’s room comes with a 0.5-gallon tank that can cover 320 square feet. Keeping the room filled with adequate moisture without excess humidifier mist is handled effortlessly. Make the best use of the cool mist from the ultrasonic Frida Baby humidifier for your baby’s room for 12 hours continually.
The other special features in this unit are; BPA free water tank that is simple and makes it easy to keep this humidifier clean, color-changing nightlights, Auto shut off, provision to use the humidifier, diffuser, and nightlight all together or individually, space to add desired aromatherapeutic essential oils, etc.
Do you want to bring home this humidifier for your baby’s room? Visit Amazon.com to get exciting offers on this model.
2. Crane Adorables Ultrasonic Humidifier
The next humidifier on the list is a popular choice among parents for its attractive character designs. The large 1-gallon capacity of the water tank is sufficient to cover a 500 square feet room. The reservoir is detachable and easy to handle, making it effortless to keep the humidifier clean and to clean the humidifier regularly.
This ultrasonic child’s humidifier comes with adjustable settings to set the desired humidity level. The Auto shut-off feature keeps away the risk of over-humidification. Do you want to bring home the Crane Adorables Ultrasonic Humidifier? Visit Amazon.com to avail of exciting offer prices on this humidifier.
3. UmorAiro UH4 Evaporative Humidifier
The last humidifier on the list is the UmorAiro UH4 Evaporative Humidifier. Provide your baby’s room with 4X effective humidification. The humidifier is equipped with a max-mist of 450ml/h. The intelligent control and top-fill design are special features that make it effortless to add moisture to the surroundings and the air.
The other specifications in this cool mist unit that make it an ideal choice are; quiet operation, night light, 3 modes for humidification, and user-friendly design. Are you interested in purchasing this unit? Head over to Amazon.com to purchase this humidifier at the best price.
FAQ Section
1. How much humidity should be in a room for a baby?
Experts advise that the ideal and healthy humidifier level is between 40% to 60%. Maintaining the humidity level of your baby’s room at this level is healthy and safe for the baby’s skin, lungs, and comfort.
2. What happens if humidifier is too close to baby?
If you have the humidifier too close to the baby it will eventually result in an excess moisture situation. This is unsafe and unhealthy. It will lead to the growth of mold and form an excellent environment for dust mites and other allergens to thrive.
3. Should humidifier be on all night in baby room?
You can allow a humidifier to run all night in the baby’s nursery provided, the model permits it, the pediatrician suggests it, and the humidity content of the room requires it.
4. How do you know if your baby’s air is too dry?
You can identify if babies are in a dry environment by taking a look at the baby’s skin. Dry nasal passage, nasal congestion, dry throat, and other signs of discomfort. Maintaining the right humidity level after you place a humidifier at the correct location can help to resolve the lack of moisture in the environment.
Wrapping Up
That’s the end of this article. Hope the article helped you understand how close should humidifier be to the baby and how the right placement can resolve dry skin and dry air problems in the baby’s room. Share with us in the comments below which humidifier you use for your babies and the tips you follow to keep the humidifier clean.
About The Author
Olivia — a self-confessed air quality addict — is a home climate enthusiast, fresh air advocate, and someone with deep personal experience and knowledge about mold extermination. Her work was mentioned in countless notable humidity publications. Previously she was an editor at Mold Remediation.