In the colder months of the year, it is our duty as parents to keep our children warm and safe, however, there is a generally overlooked issue when it comes to winter months, it is the air quality and moisture of the room that your child lives and sleeps in. In colder months the air moisture drops significantly and the heaters don’t make it any better as they dry out the air a little too much, which results in harsher air that your child breathes in. Further on this may cause issues such as coughing, flu or as the majority of babies, sinus.
A great humidifier will solve the majority of these issues in no time, and most of these are very convenient, affordable, and don’t require any maintenance. They will help unclog sinuses and moisturize the air making it easier to breathe in the process. In my opinion, they are a must for every house, especially for houses that have babies and children in them, and today I will reveal the best humidifiers for kids, how to choose one, what you should be careful about, answer some frequently asked questions and so on.
Top 8 Best Humidifiers For Kids
8. Crane Ultrasonic
We are going to start this list with an amazing filterless cool mist humidifier, the Crane Ultrasonic. This humidifier comes as one of the most convenient ones in the market thanks to its filterless nature allowing you to save time and money, on top of that it has a gallon large reservoir that provides the device with water to run fro 24 hours straight, and also it has a 360-degree lid that allows you to direct the mist to specific areas around the room.
This device is a one-time investment, unlike other humidifiers that have a filtered nature, that will require you to buy a filter on a regular basis, which will also rack up the costs. It will also work just as well without a filter so you have all the functionality plus the added convenience. However, you should be careful about the water placed in the device, as super hard water will probably ruin your device.
It delivers a great cool mist that is produced by vibrations and it is perfect for babies since the water isn’t heated and it won’t affect sensitive skin. On top of all this, it is practically silent, so you can let it run all night long.
7. URPOWER OD-501
Next up we have a great humidifier with a built-in diffuser, the URPOWER OD-501. This humidifier is perfect for those that want to boost moisture levels in a room and want aromatherapy at the same time, and it is worth stating that this is one of the most popular products in Amazon. This thing is very convenient and very affordable so you definitely can’t go wrong with it, a perfect solution not just for children’s bedrooms but for larger living rooms as well.
This is a multifunctional device that can work as a night light as well, and on top of that, it is very aesthetically pleasing with its amazing design. The cleaning process of the device is also pretty straightforward. It has a 500 ml reservoir that can make it run up to 10 hours each time, it also has nice built-in controls, like the high and low mist settings, and the timer that lets you run the device up to three hours before shutting itself down.
It can deliver plenty of use for larger rooms since it has a great capacity and it is one of my favorite ones.
6. LEVOIT Humidifier
Coming up we have a super solid and advanced hybrid warm and cool mist humidifier the LEVOIT LV600HH. This humidifier delivers excellent functionality with its high mist output and a large tank, humidifies the rooms quicker than everything else, has programmable functions, silent operation, convenient controls, easy cleaning and maintenance, and filterless design.
The hybrid design means that this device is a dual-purpose one, so it can work both as a cool-mist humidifier and a warm mist vaporizer, depending on your needs. There are buttons on the control panels that allow you to select each function and you can select from three power settings, depending on your needs.
I like that you can use both functions since you may need warm mist to eliminate bacteria and allergens, and you can use the cool mist to keep your room moisturized in warmer weather as well. The reservoir of the device is 6 liters large and has a 24m2 effective range, on top of all this it can work as an aromatherapy box and has a large mist dispersing capacity.
5. Vicks Warm Mist Humidifier
The Vicks Warm Mist Humidifier like its name suggests is kind of a vaporizer that works excellently in drier climates and helps eliminate bacteria and allergens. Effectively stopping any kind of allergies and conditions that may come from dry air.
The Vicks Warm Mist Humidifier has a pretty modern and attractive design that will fit right into your child’s room, however, I would recommend you to place it out of reach since it works with heat children can get burnt with this device. It is pretty small and compact and the water tank is extremely easy to refill, I also like that the reservoir was transparent and you can keep an eye on whether or not it needs a refill.
Another interesting feature of the Vicks Warm Mist Humidifier is that all the parts of the device are dishwasher safe and can be cleaned easily. My favorite feature of this machine is its automatic shut-off feature that turns off in case you forget it on. It can also run continuously for 12 hours with its gallon large water tank and it has two comfort settings. Perfect for nursery rooms and babies.
4. Pure Enrichment MistAire
Nearing up to the top three, we have the most popular humidifier in the market, the Pure Enrichment MistAire. A humidifier which is pretty compact, lightweight, has a modern design, looks great, cools and moisturizes the air efficiently and is super quiet. This device effectively stops congestions, allergy flare-ups, dry skin and will keep your children safe at all times.
The whole setup process of the Pure Enrichment MistAire is amazing and you can easily do it in just a few moments, you can easily fill the water reservoir since it separated from the body and it works with all kinds of water. The reservoir tank for the water has a capacity of 1.5-liters and works perfectly for up to 16-hours, amazing for its capacity. The design of the device also adds to its value as it has a droplet shape looking good in children’s rooms and living rooms as well.
While the mist output is not strong it delivers a great performance overall, and I would recommend you place it in small to medium-sized rooms for the most efficiency, as it cannot quite perform in larger rooms. It also has tons of smart features such as its automatic shut-off and night light option, this is one of the most attractive options in the market.
3. Crane Filter-Free Cool Mist
Now I have another exceptional humidifier here from Crane that comes with cute designs that are perfect for children’s rooms. In my opinion, the Crane Filter-Free Cool Mist Humidifier is the perfect choice for kids since it comes with the amazing ultrasonic operation and adorable animal designs that come in different shapes and colors.
First, off I should mention that this device comes with various skins and shapes including, Bumble Bee, Cow, Duck, Elephant, Fox, Frog, Hello Kitty, Train and many more, the amazing selection of designs you can choose from depending on your children taste.
However, this device is not just a cute face, since it hides a great ultrasonic system that can humidify rooms up to 500 sq. ft. in size and it can pump out 2.1 gallons of mist daily. It also has the company’s trademark, Clean Control antimicrobial coating in the reservoir that eliminates all bacteria and mold from the water. On top of that, it has a quiet operation and I was extremely impressed with this humidifier.
2. TaoTronics Cool Mist
Nearing the top pick we have an affordable and multifunctional cool mist humidifier from TaoTronics. This humidifier is truly amazing, and you get the most bang for your buck with this one, it has three different speeds ranging from low to high, of which the low one is perfect for overnight and it is practically silent in operation, nonetheless the medium and high speeds are also pretty quiet and are won’t annoy you.
This humidifier also has a pretty large tank that can hold four liters of water, and it will run for 15 hours at the low setting before needing a refill. This means that the device is great at humidifying the air. On the front of the device, you will spot a good LED screen that has a built-in humidity meter, which eliminates the need for an air quality monitor for humidity metering purposes.
It is extremely reliable as a unit and you can easily clean the device in just a couple of minutes. One of the best and will deliver you the most for the price.
1. Honeywell HCM350W
On top of the list, we have a non-traditional humidifier that you won’t see any mist coming out of it, the Honeywell HCM350W. This device works in a different way, essentially this device takes the dry air in from the room and it blows moisture balanced air out from the fan effectively and perfectly.
This device also has high-power and it works great up to medium-sized rooms, on top of its humidifying prowess it also kills 99.9 percent of mold and bacteria in the water. Despite being extremely efficient and powerful the Honeywell HCM350W is quieter than most of the other humidifiers in the market, in addition to that, you can disassemble the parts and throw them to the dishwasher for easy cleaning.
However, this is a filtered humidifier meaning that you will need to replace its filter from time to time, to keep it in tip-top shape and working as its intended.
Kids Humidifier Buying Guide
What is a Humidifier?
Simply said a humidifier is a device that moisturizes the air, and they are used in rooms or houses where the moisture levels are low that they cause various symptoms that aren’t desirable. You should also know that a humidifier is a different thing from a vaporizer, and both those terms have been used interchangeably. A humidifier releases a cool or room temperature mist to the air which is then absorbed by the air, on the other hand, a vaporizer heats the water until it turns into hot steam which is then released and dispersed into the air.
Should You Use a Humidifier?
While it is dependant on preference there is a wide variety of factors that may answer this question and it will depend. First off, you should take a look at the climate of your area, for example, if you are living in an area where the weather is hot and humid all year round you probably don’t need a humidifier. However, if the winter months get pretty cold and dry, it is intuitive to invest in a humidifier.
What Are the Benefits for Kids?
First off I want to list you some risks that come with dry air, and those include, sinus and nasal irritation, asthma flare-ups, sore through, nose bleeds, coughing, infections in the respiratory system, dry skin, snoring, and most importantly the common cold, among many other conditions. When it comes to the common cold, a humidifier will ease the symptoms naturally, by thinning the mucus so your child can expel it naturally, it also soothes a dry throat, and it moistens the nasal passages, which as a result promotes faster healing. However, a humidifier will not just help your children’s health, it will also improve the quality of the air for adults as well as delivering great health benefits in the process. It is essential for baby’s though since they breathe only through their noses for the 6 months of their lives.
Cool Water Humidifier or a Hot Water Vaporizer?
Looking at both of them they are equally beneficial at improving the moisture of the air that your child is living in. In terms of efficiency, they are both equally beneficial and it won’t depend on the type of device, but on its specifications. On top of that, they won’t make the air hotter or colder as they will disperse and mix up with the air of the room and when they reach your child’s body it will be the same temperature.
However, there is a slight advantage of a vaporizer, since it works at higher temperatures, it kills bacteria and allergens before outputting water to the air. In the case that your child suffers from a kind of allergy, it would be intuitive to invest in a vaporizer instead of a cool water humidifier.
Are There Any Risks?
The biggest risk that may come from using a vaporizer is the burn risk. Since they operate in high temperatures, the risk exists, and you have to make sure that you are pretty careful with the placement of these devices.
You should also be careful about the maintenance and cleanliness of these devices, especially for the cool water humidifiers, and if your device has a filter you need to clean or replace it over time. Make sure to clean the tank as well since bacteria and mold can grow up there which may cause bigger problems.
In addition to that too much moisture in the air is also not beneficial and may cause problems, since mold and allergens can grow comfortably in a room with too much moisture. If you can’t tell which is the right air moisture you can invest in a hygrometer or an air quality monitor to tell you the moisture levels in your house, and always aim between 30 to 50 percent moisture in the room, to reap the most benefits.
Features That You Should Look Out For
First, off you should decide whether you want a cool mist or hotter steam, humidifier or a vaporizer, and make sure to read on the product descriptions carefully as the terms are used interchangeably.
Always prefer devices that have built-in filters to keep the most harmful irritants and bacteria out of the air. However, this will also mean that you will have to maintain the filter periodically.
Next up you should take a look at the effects are of the device, this will tell you whether or not the device will be able to humidify the whole room. Always buy a humidifier that matches your room sizes, to get the most efficiency.
In my opinion, you should always prefer humidifiers that have built-in diffusers, this is a feature that will allow you to use essential oils to get a more pleasing aroma in the room and also some essential oils have some health benefits.
Conclusion
I hope that you have a good idea now as to how to choose a humidifier for your kids, whether or not it will be worthy to invest in on, and what to look out for when buying a humidifier or vaporizer. I hope that you are pleased with this guide and I feel that you are ready now to make an informed decision knowing how a humidifier may benefit the health of your children. Until the next time!
Hi! I am Kimberly, living in Huntington, NY. I’ve raised 4 beautiful children, and i started this blog to help new and upcoming mothers with parenting.