Best Humidifiers For Baby's Nursery - What To Expect

A humidifier may not top your baby registry, but it can be a real comfort during dry winter months — especially when sniffles strike. As a mom of four, I’ve learned to keep mine close by whenever my little ones are under the weather. It’s amazing how much easier everyone sleeps (and breathes!) with a little extra humidity in the air.

The best baby humidifiers quietly add moisture to help ease congestion and keep sensitive skin from drying out, sans noisy gurgles or steamy surprises. “Ideally, a baby’s room should have 30 to 50% humidity,” says Dyan Hes, M.D., a pediatrician at Northwell Lenox Hill Hospital. If the air feels desert-dry, a humidifier can help bring it back to that comfy sweet spot.

Of course, there are plenty of factors to consider before buying a humidifier. You'll want to think about the type, ease of cleaning, and coverage area, for starters. And if it happens to look good in baby’s space, too, even better! Here’s how I picked the best baby humidifiers — with expert insight and parent feedback from What to Expect's community leading the way.

How I Chose the Best Baby Humidifiers

To make sure these picks were both safe and practical, I not only spoke with Dr. Hes, but several other pediatricians and sleep experts as well, including:

• 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
• 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 to ensure it's compatible with the room you're planning to keep it in.
• 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.