Best Humidifier for Baby and Beyond

Last updated on December 8th, 2023 at 01:27 pm

Winter is coming… and so is the dry air for most parts of the United States, especially when your furnace kicks on. Time to pull out the good ol’ humidifier! Is it time for a new one, or even just a second one (this is one of those items you should have two of when you have twins)? Check out our list of the best humidifiers for baby and beyond!

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Humidifiers are an invaluable tool during those dry winter months. By increasing the moisture in the air, humidifiers can help with dry skin, sore throats, allergies, and asthma. My twin B has eczema, and adding a humidifier has helped his skin from breaking out into itchy, red spots. They also help reduce static electricity and keep furniture and electronics from drying out (WHAT!?!) Knowing all this, what’s the best humidifier for baby versus the best humidifier for the whole house? Do you want cool air or warm air?

When our twins were infants, we started with one version and then upgraded to something bigger when they were a little older. We also added a home humidifier that is attached to the furnace and thermostat.

When shopping for a humidifier, there are a few things to consider. First, the size of the space you need to cover. A small bedroom or nursery may only require a personal humidifier, while larger rooms will need something bigger with more coverage. Second, decide if you want a cool mist or warm mist humidifier (or both). Third, decide what type of humidifier you want. Ultrasonic (which creates a mist from a vibrating metal diaphragm) and evaporative (which uses a fan to blow air through a soaked wick filter) are the two main types. Each has its own benefits, so consider which one will work best for your needs.

Size of Humidifier

When choosing the right size of humidifier for your family, you should consider the size of your home and the number of people who will be using it.

Personal Humidifier

When it comes to buying a personal humidifier, size is an important factor to consider. Generally speaking, the larger the room or space you’re trying to humidify, the larger the unit you should buy. For a single room or office, a basic small-sized portable humidifier may suffice. However, if you’re hoping to humidify more than one room or an entire home, then you may want to look into larger-sized models.

Furnace Humidifiers

Furnace humidifiers attach to your home’s HVAC equipment. This option is pricier than the portable ones listed below, but if you have the budget and would prefer to have moisture pumped into the entire house, maybe this is the option for you. Talk to your local HVAC Tech about adding this to your furnace.

Cool Mist Humidifier vs Warm Mist Humidifier

There are benefits for both types of humidifiers. Both offer the benefits of moisture in the room.

Cool Mist 

• Disperses a cool mist
• Safer for children
• More energy efficient
• Cover a larger space
• Not ideal in colder weather

Warm Mist 

• Boils the water before dispersing into the air
• Healthier: boiling kills off water-born bacteria and mold
• Less safe for children: boiling water + kids = accident 
• Better for smaller spaces
• Best for cold weather use

Ultrasonic Humidifier or Evaporative Humidifier

The two main types of humidifiers are ultrasonic and evaporative. Each has its own unique benefits and drawbacks that should be weighed carefully before selecting the right one for your home.

Ultrasonic Humidifier

Ultrasonic humidifiers use high-frequency sound vibrations to turn water into a fine mist that is dispersed into the air. They are usually quieter than evaporative models, and they are also more energy-efficient. However, because they rely on an ultrasonic element to disperse the mist, they may require more maintenance than other types of humidifiers.

Pros: Ultrasonic is easy to use, easy to clean, and you don’t have a filter to change.  It also is very quiet.

Cons: Their mechanism to disperse water can also disperse minerals and contaminates.  Need to clean very frequently or the benefits of having a humidifier go right out the window cause you’re allowing bacteria to be dispersed.  Bacteria love moist environments.

Because Ultrasonic humidifiers don’t have a filter, the EPA recommends using distilled water in ultrasonic humidifiers and cleaning it thoroughly and regularly (around every 3 days).

Evaporative Humidifier

Evaporative humidifiers use a fan to draw in air, which then passes through a damp pad or wick. The air picks up moisture from the pad and disperses it into the room. These models are more affordable than ultrasonic humidifiers and require less maintenance, but they can be noisier and may not be as energy-efficient.

Pros: The filter inside does reduce the mineral dust released.

Cons: Although the filter is great in reducing the mineral dust released from the water, you’ll need to change the filter regularly (around 1-3 months, depending on usage and manufacturer).  The built-in fan can also be loud. Even with its filter, you’ll need to clean evaporative filters regularly.

What Is the Best Water to Use in a Humidifier?

There are several options when it comes to the type of water you can use in a humidifier. The best water to use is clean, filtered water because it will help prevent minerals and other contaminants from accumulating in the reservoir or filter of the device. This is especially important if you plan on using the humidifier for extended periods of time.

Distilled water, which has been purified and had its impurities removed, is also a good choice for humidifiers. However, it can be expensive and may need to be purchased from a store. Tap water should be avoided because it contains minerals, chemicals, and other contaminants that can build up in the device over time. If you choose to use tap water, make sure you clean your humidifier often to prevent these substances from accumulating.

Deciding on a Humidifier for Your Babies

Ask yourself, why are you getting this for your baby?  Is it because your twins have eczema?  Or is it cause they’re experiencing a nasty cold, and you want to help with their cough and congestion?  Humidifiers are great to combat all of the above: dry skin, congestion, and cough. Especially for infants and babies. There’s not much you can offer pharmaceutically to help with congestion and cough. 

Our pediatrician told us to add a humidifier to our twin’s room when Carter kept waking up from a nasty cough last winter. This goes right in line with what the American Academy of Pediatrics says about caring for your child’s cold. I honestly thought that warm mist humidifiers (aka Vaporizers) would be better for cold winter months and cold symptoms, but according to the FDA, “A cool mist humidifier helps nasal passages shrink and allows easier breathing. Warm mist humidifiers can cause nasal passages to swell and make breathing more difficult.”  Is it just me, or is that mindblowing? I really thought a warm mist humidifier was better! 

Now that we’ve run through the different types of humidifiers, the benefits of each (and the cons), and the purpose of the humidifier, let’s see what came up as the best humidifier for baby.

Best Humidifiers for Baby

Crane Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier

• Holds 1 gallon of water; can also be used in larger rooms like living rooms
• 24-hour run time
• Coverage up to 500 square feet

Frida Baby 3-in-1 Humidifier with Diffuser 

• Features a Nightlight
• 24-hour run time
• Coverage up to 320 square feet

Vicks Mini Filter Free Cool Mist 

• Compact Design
• 20-hour run time (on the lowest setting)
• Coverage up to 250 square feet

Safety 1st Connected Nursery Humidifier

• Control settings on your mobile device
• 24-hour run time 
• Coverage up to 500 square feet

Honeywell Cool Moisture Humidifier

• The tank can be thrown into the dishwasher for cleaning!
• 24-hour run time 
• Coverage up to 400 square feet

Canopy Nursery Humidifier

• The Tank is dishwasher-safe for cleaning! Features built-in sensors to keep humidity consistent. This brand also offers a filter subscription plan. 
• 36-hour run time 
• Coverage up to 500square feet

Humidifiers for the Whole House

If you don’t have in budget to attach a humidifier to your furnace or you live in a space where the heating is centralized to the building, Best Products Review has a list of portable humidifiers that are large enough to add moisture to your home.

UXIKAPEEN Humidifier

• Easy to clean
• 36-hour run time 
• Coverage up to 3,000 square feet

Aircare 83100 Spacesaver

• Features a check filter indicator
• 6 Hour run time
• Coverage up to 2,700 square feet

Dual Mist Humidifiers

If you want both the benefits of a warm mist and a cool mist but don’t want double the number of humidifiers, consider a humidifier that does both.

Levoit Humidifier

• Control manually or through the Levoit App
• 50 hour run time
• Coverage up to 753 square feet

The Vicks Dual Comfort Cool + Warm Mist Humidifier

• Cool Mist & Warm Steam Options
• Filter Free
• Use With Essential Oils
• Up to 40 Hour Runtime

Benefits of a Humidifier for Baby

Using a humidifier in the home can provide many benefits for babies. A humidifier helps to keep air moist, which is beneficial for infants because it helps them sleep better and breathe easier. It also helps to reduce the risk of common illnesses such as colds and flu, as well as more serious respiratory conditions like asthma. Having a properly humidified environment can help babies to have clearer nasal passages and less congestion.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, cool mist humidifiers are the safest type of humidifier for use in a baby’s room. Ultrasonic humidifiers are also safe, but they can create mold if not cleaned regularly. It is important to make sure that any water placed in a humidifier is sterile or distilled, as regular tap water may contain impurities that can cause health problems. A humidifier can also be beneficial for people of all ages, not just babies, as it helps to soothe dry skin and alleviate allergy symptoms.

There are so many options out there, is your head spinning yet? My family has gone through our share of cool-mist humidifier and warm vaporizer trials. We didn’t think about the size of the room or the functionality when buying a humidifier, but we soon learned!  We just got a Levoit Humidifier, and we are loving it. The Levoit offers an app to adjust the temperature, and with built-in sensors, it’ll auto shut off when the moisture in the room is reached. Learn from our trial and error and start your humidifier purchasing journey by asking a few key questions:

1. How big is the space you are trying to add moisture in? (Measure, don’t guess)
2. Is the humidifier for baby or the entire household?
3. What’s the purpose for the extra moisture?  Cold? Cough? Skin issues?

Hopefully, these questions help in narrowing down the best humidifier for baby and beyond!

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