Setting up Your Child’s Nursery: Should You Invest in a Humidifier?

You’ve read all the pregnancy books, packed your hospital bags, invested in postpartum shapewear that makes you feel like a more confident mom, painted the nursery, and even kitted it out with all the essentials. From oversize toys to rocking chairs and bassinets, your baby nursery seemingly has it all. But unless it has a humidifier, the nursery isn’t fully complete!

A nursery serves many purposes. From breastfeeding to changing, it’s important for the baby’s room offer some sort of privacy as well as being clean. When you bring your newborn home, you want to be sure you have everything you need. Whether that’s a reliable changing table or a humidifier, the only thing you should be worrying about is which onesie you should dress your newborn in. 

According to numerous research studies, humidifiers are becoming more and more popular – especially in bedrooms and nurseries! The following are just a few of the many benefits of having a humidifier in your baby’s nursery.

Clear Air

One of the biggest benefits of having a humidifier is the protection it provides against dry air., It’s even more important to have one during the winter, as indoor heating can rob the moisture from the air, leaving your home with dry and harsh air. This environment tends to leave us with sore throats, stuffy noses, and congested sinuses, which can be even worse for your newborn. 

Babies are much more susceptible to congestion, and their likelihood of developing infections and other illnesses is increased due to the quality of the air. Therefore, a humidifier adds that much-needed moisture that your newborn needs, while also helping them get a good night’s sleep.

Newborns are Obligate Nasal Breathers

Crane’s humidifiers are perfect for newborns, who are obligate nasal breathers. As they breathe through their noses for the first 4-6 months, nasal congestion can make feeding and sleeping a struggle for both baby and mom. Humidity helps loosen congestion so that babies can breathe and therefore sleep easier. 

Additionally, Crane’s humidifiers won’t just benefit your baby, as they are the ideal choice for anyone suffering from cold and flu symptoms such as congestion, chapped lips, and even dry throat.  

Clear Skin

A humidifier in your baby nursery will greatly benefit your newborn’s sensitive skin. Due to the moisture the humidifier adds to the air, your baby can be relieved of dry and irritated skin. Dry climates can result in red patches and chapped lips, and can also aggravate common skin conditions such as eczema. So, adding moisture back into the air can help soothe your baby’s skin and prevent a multitude of issues, as the skin will remain soft and clear. 

White Noise

While humidifiers can benefit the whole family, your newborn will get the most out of it simply from the white noise alone. Firstly, the rhythmic hum is very similar to the noises your baby would have heard in the womb, providing instant comfort and familiarity. Secondly, it will help to drown out background noise such as voices, pets, the television and even outside noise, helping your baby drift off and maintain a more peaceful sleep.

Alternatively, your child may sleep best when there is no noise at all. Crane Award Winning Humidifiers are whisper quiet, which means that there is no white noise. This is a great option for babies that need complete silence to achieve the perfect night’s sleep. 

Hot or Cold?

There are two main types of humidifiers – ones which contain warm mist and others which contain cool mist. Both types have their benefits, as they will both add moisture to the air, but there is a huge difference. A warm air humidifier releases heated air, while a cool mist humidifier releases air which will be room temperature or slightly cooler.

Although warm mist has its benefits, including a great ability to kill germs and viruses, warm mist humidifiers are not actually recommended by pediatricians. New generation pediatricians will always prefer cool mist humidifiers not only to relieve croup, but also because of the scalding dangers associated with warm mist. Inquisitive toddlers could be very attracted to the mist, which is why warm mist humidifiers should not be used when babies and young children are present. The vibrations from cool mist humidifiers produce fine mist particles that are cool to the touch; they do not contain a heating element, making them the safer option for your children and the whole family. 

Another concern pediatricians may have about humidifiers is the sitting water. Warm water can breed bacteria very quickly, which is why pediatricians recommend humidifiers that are one gallon or less. The water in one gallon humidifiers runs out after 24 hours, which means that the user has to change the water, therefore eliminating the risk of bacteria spreading.

Choosing a Type

There are three main styles of humidifiers to choose from. A tabletop humidifier is very popular in baby nurseries as it is compact and portable. This comes in handy if you want to keep moving your baby around in different rooms.

A console humidifier is much larger, and can emit moisture into the entire house. Depending on the model, they can hold between five to nine gallons of water at once, which could be good if you want a low maintenance piece that works throughout the whole house. 

Finally, an in-duct humidifier is a much more permanent – not to mention pricey – solution, as it is installed into your home’s air ducts. It keeps the air moist in the entire house, and requires very little maintenance if installed properly by a professional. These types are definitely something to consider if you are looking for something long-term!

At this point, your baby is your main focus. You’d do everything in your power to ensure their health, right? Placing a humidifier in your nursery is a great start to creating a healthy, clean environment for your newborn.