As a parent, you are keenly aware of the transition your newborn goes through after birth: breathing for the first time and trading their dark, cozy water dwelling for a bright (and comparably quite dry) home. And you might be wondering if your newborn would benefit from a humidifier, to soothe their delicate skin and ease their breathing.
After all, newborns and infants have tiny noses, says Dr. Liz Placzek, a pediatrician at Children’s Minnesota in West St. Paul, Minnesota. “Just a small amount of mucus can cause noisy breathing and congestion for these little ones,” she explains. And since they can’t blow their noses, and pediatricians don’t recommend cough or cold medications for babies, parents may turn to humidifiers for some relief, explains Placzek.
But it’s not as simple as merely purchasing and using a humidifier. There are safety considerations to take into account when using a humidifier in an infant’s room. Here infant experts share the benefits and risks of humidifiers, as well as how to choose the right one.
Key takeaways
- Cool-mist humidifiers are recommended for newborns to safely alleviate congestion and dry skin; avoid warm-mist models due to burn risks.
- Regular cleaning is crucial to prevent mold and bacterial growth; empty, dry and refill daily, and deep clean every three days following manufacturer instructions.
- Use distilled or filtered water in humidifiers and never add essential oils to avoid dispersing harmful minerals and irritants into the air.
Benefits of a humidifier for newborns
As with adults, there are numerous benefits to having a humidifier with a newborn. From easing congestion and itchy skin due to dry winter air to providing relief from illness, experts share below.
Easier breathing
Dry air can lead to stuffy noses in babies, says Dr. Manisha Relan, a pediatric allergist in Albany, New York, so maintaining appropriate humidity levels in your baby’s environment can improve congestion. After all, most babies breathe primarily through their nose during the first few months of life, so clear sinuses are vital for easy breathing.
Moisturized skin
During the winter months, turning on the heat can lead to the air in your home getting especially dry, says Relan. This can result in itchy, dry skin.
Cold relief
If your baby has a cold, the accompanying runny nose and congestion can prevent them from sleeping well and lead to a cranky baby. “Humidifiers add moisture to the air and can help break up that mucus, so it is easier for babies and children to sneeze out,” says Placzek.
And in a similar fashion, increasing the humidity in your baby’s space can also help ease a cough, adds Relan. Since dry air can irritate the throat, adding some moisture back into the air can help lubricate and soothe their respiratory tract.
Improves sleep quality
It can be difficult to sleep when your baby is audibly uncomfortable — snorting, coughing and sneezing. And while a humidifier is obviously no replacement for medical attention if your baby is in distress, it can help reduce their symptoms by soothing irritated nasal passages and helping thin out mucus so it’s expelled easier. When your baby can breathe better and more comfortably, everyone will sleep better, says Jay McClure, birth and postpartum doula, elder doula and senior care advocate.
When your baby can breathe better and more comfortably, everyone will sleep better.
— Jay McClure, birth and postpartum doula, elder doula and senior care advocate
Safety considerations when using a humidifier in an infant’s room
A humidifier can have so many benefits for your newborn, but as with most baby gear, there are risks, as well. Below experts share safety considerations to keep in mind when setting up a humidifier in your baby’s room and how to mitigate those risks.
Burns
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends cool mist humidifiers over warm mist humidifiers and vaporizers, says Dr. Ashanti Woods, a pediatrician at Mercy Family Care Physicians in Baltimore. The main reason for this? The heating element in warm mist humidifiers and vaporizers can lead to a burn injury if the device is accidentally knocked over, he adds. (More on the risks of warm mist humidifiers in a bit.)
Mold and bacteria growth
Too much humidity can breed bacteria and mold, says Relan. This can occur both in the humidifier and in your home if you’re not careful. And this can be exacerbated if you also have mineral buildup in the humidifier from using tap water and/or not cleaning it properly.
Regular cleaning reduces the growth of microorganisms, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (Stay tuned for more details on how to keep your humidifier clean.)
Allergies and asthma
Dust mites are one of the major indoor triggers for people with asthma, according to the American Lung Association, and high humidity leads to more dust mites in the home, since they absorb moisture from the air to survive.
That said, keeping humidity levels in check is also a must for anyone with a dust mite allergy.
If you have asthma or an allergy to dust mites, the American Lung Association recommends keeping your home below 50% humidity. You can do so by utilizing a hygrometer (a device that measures moisture in the air — more on it and the ideal humidity levels in your home later).
If there is any concern that the humidifier is causing or worsening respiratory symptoms , it may be best to discontinue its use and reach out to your pediatrician, advises Relan.
Cords and strangulation
When your newborn is essentially immobile, it may feel silly to be worrying about the dangers outside of their crib. But babies grow fast and will consistently surprise you with their abilities. To be sure your little one won’t be able to pull the humidifier down on themselves or become tangled in the cord, keep the humidifier and cord secured (such as with a cord cover) and far out of your child’s reach.
Airborne irritants
Humidifiers increase moisture in the air by converting water into a vapor, which means anything in the water will also be dispersed through the air. Because of this, experts warn that it’s important to be wary of what you’re putting in the humidifier. For example, use distilled or filtered water, instead of tap water. Tap water may have minerals and/or lead in it, and that can both build up in the humidifier and end up in the air, says Woods.
Even though many humidifiers have a compartment specifically for the purpose, Placzek advises against adding essential oils to the humidifier, because kids, especially those under the age of 3 years or so, can be especially sensitive to them. Inhaling some essential oils can cause lung/airway, skin and eye irritation, as well as other side effects — for example, peppermint oil can increase the risk of seizures in kids under 3 years old. And because they are not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), you can’t be 100% sure what you are vaporizing for your child to breathe, she adds.
How to choose the right humidifier
With so many humidifiers on the market, it can be hard to pinpoint the model that’s best for your family. Read on for pro tips on what to consider when buying a humidifier for your newborn.
Look for a cold mist humidifier
The experts we spoke to all recommended a cool mist humidifier over a warm mist humidifier. Warm mist humidifiers come with “a risk for scalding the skin if they are tipped by mistake or if the baby touches it by accident,” says Relan.
If the only thing available to you is a warm mist humidifier, Woods adds that it’s “fine in a crunch, as long as safety precautions are taken.” This would mean ensuring both the humidifier and its cords are out of reach, and the humidifier is secured in a way that it cannot tip over.
Pick the right size
If your humidifier is too small for your space, it may not be very effective. If it’s too large, it will likely lead to condensation build-up, says Woods. As mentioned earlier, this can result in mold and bacteria growth, as well as damage to your furniture, photos or artwork and more. To prevent this, Woods advises referring to the product info for potential humidifiers for a suggestion on ideal square footage.
Hygrometer: What it is and why you need one
Many people utilize a humidifier during the winter months, but they may not know that too high of humidity can exacerbate allergies and cause mold growth. This is where a hygrometer comes in. A hygrometer is like a thermometer, explains Relan. But it measures the humidity level in a room instead of the temperature, she adds. “You can then make an objective decision on whether to use the humidifier that evening or not.” For example, if your hygrometer shows the humidity level is at 60%, you may want to turn the humidifier off for a while.
After all, while a humidifier has benefits for the whole family, it is possible to have too much of a good thing. “The goal for humidity is 35-50%,” advises Relan. As mentioned earlier, overuse of a humidifier or using it in too small of a space can lead to condensation on walls and other surfaces, potentially leading to mold, bacteria growth and damage.
How to keep your baby’s humidifier clean
OK, you have the humidifier set up in your infant’s room and filled with distilled water and are utilizing a hygrometer — now what? Now you make sure you have a protocol in place to keep it clean. Humidifiers may help in certain situations (like if your infant has a cold), but they also have their risks since they have the potential to increase dust mites, bacteria and mold, warns Relan. For the humidifier in your infant’s room to be effective, rather than a health hazard, it’s vital that you keep it clean.
Many humidifiers come with their own cleaning instructions, but the experts we spoke to advise the following, in conjunction or in the absence of guidelines for your humidifier:
- Clean every 1-2 days: Unplug and clean the humidifier. Empty the tank in the morning and scrub everything clean, removing any deposits or film that have formed on surfaces. Rinse thoroughly, then wipe all of the surfaces dry (or let it dry completely) and refill the tank with clean water.
- Follow the manufacturer’s guidance in regard to any cleaning products. However, if your humidifier doesn’t have specific recommendations, the EPA recommends cleaning all surfaces coming in contact with water with a 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide.
- Take it one step at a time. Make sure you clean and let all the parts dry completely before storing it to avoid any mold and bacteria growth.
By keeping your humidifier clean, your newborn’s health and potentially your whole family’s well-being can benefit.
