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Quick Summary
The best baby humidifier is the Crane Drop Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier, according to doctors andthe What to Expect community. When choosing a humidifier for your nursery, experts say it's most important to consider area coverage (in terms of square footage), how easy it is to clean and whether it has an automatic shut-off feature.
A humidifier probably isn’t top of mind when it comes to baby essentials, but it can be a valuable tool in your little one’s nursery in the winter. As a mom of four little ones, I regularly whip out my humidifier when my children are sick. I’ve found it really does make a difference in overnight stuffiness, allowing my kids — and me — to breathe a little easier when they’re not feeling well.
The best humidifiers can help your child breathe easier and keep their skin from drying out when your indoor heat is on, without making a racket. “Ideally, a baby’s room should have 30 to 50% humidity,” says Dyan Hes, M.D., a pediatrician at Northwell Lenox Hill Hospital, noting that a humidifier can help reach those levels if the room is dry.
Of course, there are plenty of factors to consider when choosing a humidifier, including the type, ease of cleaning and coverage area. If it happens to look good in baby’s space, too, even better. Here’s what to consider when shopping for a baby humidifier, along with some of our favorites to get you started.
How I Chose the Best Baby Humidifiers
In order to better understand what qualities to look for in a baby humidifier, I spoke with Dr. Hes, as well as Emily Wisniewski, M.D., a pediatrician with Mercy Family Care Physicians in Baltimore, Maryland; Lauren Levine, M.D., a pediatrician affiliated with NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center and NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital; Ellen M. Schumann, M.D., a clerkship director at the Medical College of Wisconsin; Luis E. Ortiz, M.D., a physician in the Sleep Center at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital; Melanie Sue Collins, M.D., medical director of the Division of Pediatric Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine at Connecticut Children's Medical Center; and Punita Ponda, M.D., a New York-based Northwell Health physician who specializes in allergy and immunology and pediatrics
Based on their guidance, in addition to feedback from parents in the What to Expect community, I ensured all of our selections met the following criteria:
Cool mist: The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends using a cool mist humidifier over a warm mist one, as the latter could lead to accidental burns if knocked over. These are preferred by the AAP because warm mist humidifiers can pose a burn risk to baby. Cool mist humidifiers may also help to tamp down on microbial growth, says Dr. Wisniewski. “We get worried if there is warmth—this can be an environment that allows mold and other infectious bugs to grow,” she explains.
Easy to clean: “It is important to clean and dry the tank and any parts that come in contact with water," says Dr. Levine. "Some tanks are designed to make this easier, others make it nearly impossible." Dr. Hes recommends changing the water and wiping the unit down daily, giving it a “good scrubbing with a brush” every week. (You can use vinegar and a toothbrush to get into any small crevices.) “This will ensure you clean out any mold or bacteria hiding in the humidifier,” Dr. Hes says.
Automatic shut-off: “Since you usually run a humidifier at night while your baby is sleeping, you also should look for a machine with an automatic shut-off so that if the tank runs out of water it will turn off,” says Dr. Levine.
Appropriate coverage: Too small and there will be no benefit; too big and you risk mold growth. Look at the model's recommended square footage when shopping.
Directional flow: While not always necessary, having the option to point the mist where you want it to go is always a perk, says Dr. Schumann.
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Settings: Auto shut-off, timer, variable output control
Why We Love it
Community Reviews
Why We Love It
The Crane Dropis overwhelmingly recommended by the millions of moms and dads in the What to Expect community, and it's easy to see why. First, it's whisper quiet and hardly emits any light (just a tiny green one when it's on), which makes it a super baby-friendly pick. The gallon-sized water tank lasts up to 24 hours, easily detaches and fits under a standard sink when it's time for a refill. What's more, the humidifier automatically turns off when the water runs out, making it a low-maintenance pick.
Parents also praise how easy it is to clean. Plus, it's made with an anti-microbial material which the company says reduces mold and bacteria growth by up to 99.96 percent. You don't need to worry about filters, as the humidifier is filter-free (although the company does offer an optional demineralization filter for those with excessive minerals in their water). There's also plenty of options to control how much mist comes out. Finally, its 360-degree lid means you can easily direct the mist in whatever direction you prefer.
"Crane 100%. My son had rapid airway disease as a baby (asthma) and we went through 3. We bought a cute one first that just didn’t do it. Second was the Vick’s - TERRIBLE! ... And went to Crane and haven’t had an issue since. Bought a pink Crane for the daughter that I’m pregnant with right now too:)"
"I second the Crane humidifiers. They are super cute, highly rated, quiet, and don't put off any light. We have one for each of our kids, and they're great."
This beloved baby brand has another product to add to your ever-growing collection: a quiet, easy-to-operate humidifierwith a sleek profile. It emits an adjustable soft, cool mist that’ll help baby through any congestion, and it also functions as a diffuser. What’s more: The small profile humidifier emits a soft light that functions as a night light with a range of colors at the ready. It covers up to 320 square feet.
Community Reviews
I’ve gone through a lot of humidifiers on Amazon and decided to give this one a try for my nightstand. It is quiet which I like a lot and for a smaller jug surprisingly last a while. ... Most importantly I like that it is easy to clean and NO filters to replace!
"I bought one last year when my 1 year old had a stuffy nose and have been using it ever since. Plan on buying one for our newborn just in case as well"
"I was gifted the baby Frida humidifier 2.5 years ago. The opening is small but I clean it with vinegar as instructed and I haven’t had any issues with mold or anything."
Despite being a big name in the humidifier and home care space, Levoit has several efficient humidifiers at lower price points. TheLevoit Dual 150 Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier, for example, offers 25 hours of moisture with its 0.79 gallon tank. But this machine gets rave reviews for how easy it is to fill up and use. The humidifier has a special top-fill design — just move the tank cover, fill the tank, and put it back in place. The humidifier is nearly silent, and can be adjusted with the help of a dial. It also offers helpful features like a 360-degree nozzle to direct mist around baby’s room and an auto shut-off.
“We got one from the brand Levoit. They have a few at different price points. It’s been great so far and you can get your hand in to actually wash it which is what I was looking for.”
If you’re willing to splurge, the Venta is an efficient, filter-free evaporative humidifier. With a 2-gallon tank and the capacity to humidify up to 430 square feet, it requires less upkeep than other models, too, and automatically shuts itself off. It measures about 12 inches long and 12 inches wide. Unlike some options, this humidifier can be used with tap water, making it easy to get up and running.
If there’s any downside, it’s the aesthetic. After spending so much time perfecting baby’s nursery, it may feel a little disappointing to add such a clunky machine to the mix — but if efficacy is any solace, you’ll get over it soon enough.
Community Reviews
I had a Venta Humidifier before and it lasted for well over 10 years. I love the convenience and ease of this product. It is easy to open to clean and easy to refill. I can easily carry it to another level of the house if I want to move it. I run it 24 hours a day and never had a problem.
We bought this a month ago and it is great. After having multiple other humidifiers that were cheaper, this one is well worth the price - easy to use, quiet, does a wonderful job and doesn’t make a mess!
"When my first was born my brother gifted us a Venta air washer which humidifies slightly and purifies. They are a bit spendy but the German engineering is great. We still use it 5 years later and when wildfires in our area get bad, it’s a lifesaver."
Settings: Color cycling, output control, smart compatible
Why We Love it
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Why We Love It
This sleek, modern-looking Miro humidifierwill be a stylish addition to a nursery and works in rooms up to 600 square feet. This model is the brand's most advanced to date, featuring touch-panel controls and soothing LED lights (which can be customized or turned off). You can add more water to the 1-gallon tank without turning it off and open it in one motion. Parents love that it’s powerful but also whisper-quiet, and it also scores points for being easy to clean. Tech-savvy parents will love that it's compatible with Alexa and Google home (with the additional purchase of a MIROT Connectivity chip).
"I ordered Miro brand from Amazon. It’s able to be taken apart and washed by hand or put in the dishwasher to be cleaned. Every humidifier we’ve used before always ends up moldy and hard to clean, at least if not using purified water constantly (not sure that would actually change anything though) so figured this was our best option!"
Settings: Smart control, variable output, auto mode
Why We Love it
Community Reviews
Why We Love It
Many humidifiers require you to pop in and out of baby’s room to turn them on and off. The Levoit OasisMist 450S Smart Humidifier, however, can be operated with your phone or home smart device. Create a timer, keep tabs on the humidity level and schedule the machine to go on and off, all from an app. It also boasts intelligent features like a top fill design that’s easy to use and a sleep mode that turns off all lights and lowers the sound while your little one is sleeping. A built-in handle makes it easy to remove the reservoir for refills as needed.
"It’s very high quality. You can operate it with Alexa or your phone, it goes completely dark so no lights on if you don’t want them, has a night light, big enough to fill the room and last all night if not longer."
Best Humidifier With Nightlight
Crane 4-in-1 Top Fill Humidifier with Sound Machine & Night Light
Settings: Adjustable output, night light, sound machine
Why We Love it
Community Reviews
Why We Love It
Whether space is at a premium or you just don’t want a slew of devices in baby’s room, the Crane 4-in-1 Top Fill Humidifier with Sound Machine & Night Light does the work of several machines in one. As the name implies, this humidifier has a built-in night light that changes colors. It also offers a sound machine with three white noise options, so you can soothe baby to sleep. The humidifier can run for up to 24 hours before needing a refill, and looks sleek sitting out. Fans say it’s easy to refill and clean, too.
"After dealing with so many humidifiers over the years, I love our Crane humidifier. We’ve had the same machines for a few years now and I just follow the manufacturer’s recommendations with the diluted vinegar rinse every week and it really hasn’t needed a deep clean. Every so often we have to wipe down the basin, but even that has been relatively low maintenance."
Easiest to Clean Baby Humidifier
Canopy 4-in-1 Dishwasher Safe and Mold Inhibiting Humidifier
Settings: Auto, low, medium, and high, night light, sound machine
Why We Love it
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Why We Love It
One of the biggest drawbacks of having a humidifier for baby is the cleaning it requires, and some machines are tougher to wipe down than others. This Canopy humidifier has parts that can be tossed in the dishwasher, making it easier to clean than most. But the humidifier is more than just easy to clean: It’s also resistant to mold growth. Enjoy additional features like a white noise machine and night light, along with an antimicrobial filter that traps dust and other gunk. This machine can also run for up to 36 hours before needing a refill.
"We have the large one in our room, small one in my 2 year olds room and getting another for this baby’s nursery. Love that they don’t mold or get the pink goo that normal humidifiers get."
"We’ve had one for about a year and a half. I love how easy it is to change the filter and to clean it. The one we had before was awful to clean. We just use tap water and check the filter every few days to see if it needs to be replaced."
If baby is in your primary bedroom or a roomy nursery, the 6-liter Levoitwill do its job for an impressive 36 hours (it can handle spaces as big as 753 square feet). It’s also quiet and dim, putting baby’s precious sleep first. It even boasts a display light that automatically shuts off. But this humidifier is good for sleep-deprived parents, too, with an easy-to-use remote control and timer, a large tank opening and included cleaning brush. It's one of the bigger humidifiers on this list, measuring just over 11 inches wide and almost 11 inches high.
Community Reviews
Best humidifier I’ve ever purchased. I live in a semi desert area. It’s very dry and hot. This humidifier has been amazing, and it’s quiet and easy to use.
"I got this one in December for my room and just cleaned it today for the first time. I was shocked that there was no mildew since it’s been almost 3 months! Easy to clean too."
What to Look for In a Baby Humidifier
There are a few factors to look for to make sure a baby humidifier will meet your needs.
Size: Each humidifier can only hold so much water. That’s why it’s important to look at the size of your baby’s room and the humidifier’s water tank capacity to make sure it will be able to distribute moisture throughout the night. Every product is different, but most 0.5 gallon tanks can push out moisture for 24 hours, while smaller and larger tanks will be able to go for longer.
Adjustments and settings: While they’re not a requirement, features like LCD screens, smart technology, scheduled run times and automatic on-off settings can make operation of your baby humidifier a little easier. You may also want to consider ultrasonic vs. evaporative humidifiers. “Ultrasonic humidifiers are quiet and create a very fine mist,” says Dr. Hes. “An evaporative humidifier pushes the water through a wick and removes particles in the water this way.”
Cleaning: Each humidifier has its own cleaning needs, making it important to read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully. Ultrasonic humidifiers can also turn bacteria and mold into a mist, making it important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning, Hes says. The wick and filter must also be changed regularly in an evaporative humidifier “because they get very dirty,” Hes says. Dr. Wisniewski stresses the importance of being on top of cleanings. “From a safety perspective, you don’t want to have any sort of mold growth which would then be humidified through the air,” she says. “This can be dangerous because your child would be breathing it in. It is important to following the cleaning instructions on the box.”
FAQs
Should I use a humidifier for my baby?
The short answer is that it depends. But they can be helpful in certain climates and situations — the AAP suggests using a humidifier for baby if she has a cold, for example.
“Benefits for using a humidifier in the nursery include protecting your child's skin from drying out and decreasing nasal congestionby helping loosen mucus — especially helpful if he or she is having a cold,” says Dr. Ortiz. “This can be a good thing, as there are limited over-the-counter remedies for children in this age group.”
Humidifiers could also help keep skin moist if your child has eczema, and could help keep nosebleeds at bay, says Dr. Schumann.
But you don’t necessarily need to use a humidifier for this, says Dr. Collins. “We have recommended passive humidification by placing aluminum lasagna pans filled with several inches of water in a place where the child cannot access them,” she says. “Then, changing the water and washing the pans in a dishwasher daily. Think about it, you can clean an open pan much easier than a closed humidifier.”
When deciding whether your child's room needs a dehumidifier, you need to make sure that it doesn't make the room too humid or too dry.
"Children, especially young children, if the air is too dry, will produce mucus," says Dr. Ponda. "You can't have it too warm, where it's too humid or too dry. So in a nursery, it's okay to have a dehumidifier, but you want to make sure it can regulate the humidity and it's not something that sucks humidity out of the air only."
Where is the best place to put a humidifier in baby's room?
The point of a humidifier might be to increase the humidity of a room, but you don't want a jet of mist hitting your child's face.
“As a general rule, you want to place it in an area where the mist can disperse easily through the air, but not accumulate moisture on surfaces such as the crib or ceiling,” explains Dr. Ortiz. After all, accumulation of moisture can encourage mold growth, which could make your little one sick.
You also want to make sure that the humidifier (and its cord!) are completely out of reach from your baby, says Dr. Levine. “You also do not want to place it on an elevated surface where your baby might pull it down on themselves.”
Keep in mind the size of the nursery, too. “If you put it in a room that is much smaller than it is meant for, you will end up with condensation on surfaces, which can be a breeding ground for microorganisms,” says Dr. Levine. On the other hand, if the humidifier is placed in a room that’s too big, it won't properly do its job.
How and how often should you clean baby’s humidifier?
"One thing that you have to worry about with use of humidifiers is the risk for increased exposure to bacteria and molds, as well as particulate matter and chemicals from cleaning the humidifier," says Dr. Ortiz. "These problems can be avoided by using distilled water, a humidifier with a filter and regular cleaning of the humidifier per the manufacturer's recommendations."
Keep in mind that some models require cleaning as often as every one to three days. Carefully read the instructions on your humidifier so you know how often yours should be cleaned.
Interview with Dyan Hes, M.D., a pediatrician at Northwell Lenox Hill Hospital
Interview with Emily Wisniewski, M.D., a pediatrician with Mercy Family Care Physicians in Baltimore, Maryland
Interview with Lauren Levine, M.D., a pediatrician affiliated with NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center and NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital
Interview with Ellen M. Schumann, M.D., a clerkship director at the Medical College of Wisconsin
Interview with Luis E. Ortiz, M.D., a physician in the Sleep Center at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital
Interview with Melanie Sue Collins, M.D., medical director of the Division of Pediatric Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine at Connecticut Children's Medical Center
Interview with Punita Ponda, M.D., a New York-based Northwell Health physician who specializes in allergy and immunology and pediatrics
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