When Should I Use A Humidifier For My Baby? – Location, Tips & Precautions

Are there times when you can’t figure out why your baby is feeling irritated? You have fed them and tried everything to make them feel better. Does it happen mostly during the cold weather months? Can dryness be a factor responsible-amongst others-for their discomfort? Humidifiers are one such solution amongst others, which can provide a lot of relief to your newborn. To learn more, keep reading this article.

When your little one is born, everything about them is delicate, and so is their skin. During the colder months, your baby tends to get dry skin, with additional problems like getting a cold frequently, or they might even have allergies or sinus problems too. If not taken care of properly, these symptoms might cause further complications. This is where a humidifier plays a significant role in providing relief to your baby.

Importance of a Humidifier

Importance of a Humidifier

Humidifiers are one such thing that most parents don’t realize their little one need in the nursery. You might be thinking if it’s a good idea to put one in the nursery. Also, how it might be beneficial to your little one. A humidifier helps reduce congestion and makes breathing easier. It helps cure the dryness of skin, congestion caused due to cold, sore throat, and clear nasal passages.

Your baby is vulnerable to everything during this time, so even the slightest change in the weather could cause irritation in them. As an adult, you might not notice small changes, but your baby requires constant attention and care. A humidifier is not the ultimate solution, but it helps make your baby’s life comfortable and happy.

Outside Weather Conditions and how Location of Humidifier matters

Outside Weather Conditions and how Location of Humidifier matters

The location also plays a significant role in keeping your baby healthy. For example, living in places with harsh weather conditions can have a severe impact on your little one’s health, and more care is needed. If the nursery is located in an isolated area in your home, it also affects your baby’s health. Your little one can have trouble sleeping because of dryness caused to their sensitive skin.

Due to harsh weather conditions, there might not be enough moisture in the nursery. This is the cause of dry and patchy skin. Especially during the winter months, when the heating system is on, it steals the air’s needed moisture. This makes your baby irritated and can lead to serious health issues if not taken care of.

As a matter of fact, your baby’s nursery should be located in an airy room, with plenty of sunlight. This will not only maintain the airflow but also avoid the growth of any germs and bacteria. To keep the moisture content in the air humidifier is needed for your baby. The dry patches you might have noticed on their skin will also start to disappear. A humidifier will also maintain the required amount of mucus in their nasal passages and comfort them.  

Things No One Tells You About Humidifiers

While in a nursery, you have to keep a few things in mind while placing a humidifier. There are certain things you should be aware of before fixing a place for it.

  • Like, you shouldn’t be keeping it close to the bed, but away from it so your baby can’t reach it. “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,” says Dr. Ortiz.  
  • There are cool mist and warm mist humidifiers. From my experience, use cool mist. Warm mist requires hot water, so try to avoid it, not safe for your little one’s nursery.
  • Take care of the cords; they shouldn’t get in anyone’s way. If the cord is too long, tie it up together.
  • Applying petroleum jelly just below your baby’s nostrils while sleeping can prove to be beneficial, too, prevents the area around from drying out. 
  • Also, you can add Vicks to the humidifier, but only for kids over age 2. It helps provide relief to cold or seasonal flu symptoms and improves sleep, helping with respiratory infections. Infants below age two don’t do well with Vicks.

Cleaning your Humidifier

Like other things in your household, your humidifier also needs to be kept clean to avoid bacteria growth. Water should never be stagnant in your humidifier. Never start cleaning with the humidifier still plugged in. For the everyday purpose, unplug it and empty the water out. Rinse it carefully, and dry the base, once a day.

For once a week, after emptying out the water, put some vinegar in the water. Make sure to swish it around and rinse the whole container. Leave the solution for half an hour or so and rinse it afterward. Vinegar not only kills the growth of bacteria, but it also helps keep away the foul smell generated. You can also use baking soda to clean further by applying it on a cleaning brush and gently cleaning the container inside out.

As you are using the humidifier daily for your little one, you need to empty it out daily. Leaving water even for a day or two can cause bacteria to grow. With everyday use, the filter of your humidifier accumulates hardness caused due to minerals. For a humidifier with a filter, change it every 30-60 days. After you have cleaned it thoroughly, dab it dry with a soft towel and start using it again after 15-20 minutes.

Precautions aside from Humidifiers

While you should get a good humidifier for your little one’s nursery that meets your needs, there are other precautions you can take too. There are obvious precautions that every parent takes. If you are a first-time parent, do keep these in mind.

  • Making sure to bathe them in lukewarm water
  • Putting on plenty of lotion after a warm bathe
  • Some parents also massage their babies with oil frequently (like coconut or almond oil)
  • Use a gentle soap
  • Make sure to keep them hydrated with water

The above mentioned are a must, apart from using a humidifier. It might also depend on what works best for your baby. Also, consult with your doctor before trying anything you don’t feel sure about. But before that, let’s take a look at some of the frequently asked questions by parents worldwide. Maybe you too will find an answer to your question.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is a humidifier good for babies?

Yes! It helps the air retain its moisture content and keep your baby healthy and happy. It prevents dry skin and helps provide relief in other cold or seasonal flu symptoms. It’s especially needed during the winter months when cold air also starts irritating your little one. 

What kind of humidifier is best for the baby?

There are two kinds, cool and warm mist humidifier that you can use. Generally speaking, the cool mist is preferred for babies, infants, and children. A warm mist humidifier requires hot water, which can be dangerous for your little one. Both will provide the same functions.

Can you leave the humidifier on all night?

You definitely can. In fact, it’s preferred to keep it on 24/7. Several factors can irritate your baby during the night, like sore throat, dry eyes, dry nasal passage, and others. To provide a full, healthy sleep cycle to your baby is essential, and so using a humidifier at night is preferred.

Can you use tap water in a humidifier?

Tap water contains minerals, which can create deposits and provide bacteria growth when used in a humidifier. Using distilled or demineralized water is preferred as it has soft minerals.

Where should I put a humidifier in my baby’s room?

You should always put a humidifier on a raised platform, so mist can be distributed evenly. It should be at least 3 feet away from the crib, placed on a higher platform, where your baby can’t reach it. Take care of the cords too.

Is a humidifier good for the lungs?

When an air conditioner and heater are used, they take away needed moisture from the air. A humidifier can be of great use in your baby’s nursery. Usually, during cold weather months, cold air dries your nose, skin, and lips. So, a humidifier is actually useful in avoiding that. 

To Summarise

For first-time parents, it can be confusing and challenging. A lot of things are new, and you have a hundred questions about everything. A humidifier provides your little one with many comforts; not only helps them breathe more comfortably, but it also keeps their skin from drying out. It helps purify the air and keep the air circulating.

It would be best if you always put a humidifier on a raised platform so that mist can be distributed evenly. It should be at least 3 feet away from the crib, placed on a higher platform, where your baby can’t reach it. Take care of the cords too.

Keeping the location of your little one’s nursery in mind is important too. The slightest change in the weather might not be such a big deal to you, but for your baby, even a small change can affect them. There are different kinds of humidifiers available in the market too.

All in all, a humidifier is a must to keep your little one healthy and happy. It will elevate your little one’s mood, away from irritation and discomfort, giving you more time to sleep! 

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