Dehumidifier or Humidifier for Baby: A Definitive Guide

A refreshing atmosphere is a precondition for the good health of a baby. In order to ensure that, the indoor humidity is regulated by humidifier or dehumidifier. Humidity is the amount of moisture present in the air. So, the quality of indoor air greatly depends on the humidity level. Babies are more vulnerable to atmospheric moisture loss and excess humidity. Therefore, a parent should know the necessity of dehumidifier or humidifier for baby why these are necessary for babies?

Why do You Need A Humidifier or Dehumidifier:

To answer this question, we have to know what humidifiers and dehumidifiers exactly do. A humidifier can add up to 55% of moisture to the indoor air. As a result, your baby gets an optimal breathing condition and can sleep comfortably. When the air is dry, the baby’s nasal tract can dry out. Their skin also gets irritated. A humidifier adds moisture to the dry air and creates a favorable atmosphere. On the other hand, humidifiers are used for drawing out moisture from the air. Excess of moisture in the air results in sweating. Again, a moist environment is more prone to bacterial attack. Babies are very vulnerable to those issues. The humidifier dries the air out and makes the humid air healthy.

Do You Need A Humidifier or Dehumidifier or Both:

It is not a fixed deal whether you should only choose one of them or both. Purchasing a humidifier or dehumidifier entirely depends on the place you live in. Does it remain cold throughout the year? Does the air get too humid at the time of summer? Is your baby’s room in the basement? Reconsider all these questions while opting for a humidity controller. One thing which you can also do is to install a hygrometer or humidistat in your baby’s room. Check the humidity level and decide what you should buy. You can purchase a humidifier and dehumidifier both for your baby. Many humidifiers and dehumidifiers also come with a built-in humidistat. As a result, you will know easily when to stop using your humidity regulator.

All About Humidifier And Dehumidifier:

Since you have got to know about the basics, let’s take a look at different types of humidifiers and dehumidifiers and how they operate.

Types of Humidifiers:

There are basically two types of humidifiers, cool-mist humidifier and warm-mist humidifier.

1. Cool-mist humidifier: In this category, there are three more kinds, evaporative, impeller, and ultrasonic.
2. Evaporative ones have a sponge-like cylinder that absorbs water. A fan blows over that sponge-like cylinder.
3. Impeller category emits mist with a rotating disc.
4. The ultrasonic category uses ultrasonic vibration to emit water in the form of mist.

‌‌Warm-mist humidifier: This kind of humidifiers are less recommended because the hot water steam can pose a safety risk for the baby.

Advantages of humidifiers and dehumidifiers

1. Controlling the humidity: Humidity of indoor air does not remain unchanged. With this changing humidity, shortage or excess of humidity is always detrimental to your baby’s health. So humidifiers and dehumidifiers can maintain an ideal humidity level for your baby.
2. Ensuring better health for your baby: Maintaining an optimum humidity level ensures your baby’s uninterrupted sleep. When the humidity level is proper, your baby can breathe without any discomfort. Thus the baby’s internal organ system develops to be stronger. from. The skin and hair follicles are not blocked with sweat. Overall, the baby remains healthy in every way.
3. Disinfecting your house: Damp and moist environment is prone to fungal and bacterial attack. The surface gets infested with various types of germs. A dehumidifier draws out all the unnecessary moisture. On the other hand, humidifiers that use decontaminated water, produce moisture in the air when it is necessary. So the air remains hydrated, refreshing, and germ-free.

Disadvantages of humidifiers and dehumidifiers:

• Initial cost: Installing a humidifier or dehumidifier can be very costly. Depending on the external and internal features the cost may vary.
• Maintenance: The job isn’t really done right after installing it. Replacement of parts, cleaning, changing the water, servicing etc should be routinely maintained or else your indoor air will be contaminated.

Maintenance:

1. Many humidifiers and dehumidifiers contain built-in germicidal measures. But regular cleaning should be done in those cases also. While buying humidifiers or dehumidifiers, know about the parts which will require regular replacement. Make yourself familiar with your unit’s unique features. You can also have some extra replacement parts bought in advance.
2. The humidifier or dehumidifier bought for the baby should be strictly cleaned at least once a week. You can either use mild detergent and hot water or vinegar solution. Go through the user guide carefully to find out which parts are washable.
3. In the case of humidifiers, the unit should be filled with fresh water every day. You can repurpose that used water to water your plants. Distilled water is a very good option for the humidifiers so that less amount of minerals deposit around the unit.
4. When the season is over, before storing the humidifier or dehumidifier, make sure to clean it properly. You should again clean it at the beginning of the season before starting to use it for your baby.

How Long You Should Run Humidifier or Dehumidifier For The Baby :

You can run the humidifier or dehumidifier all night long. It is completely safe if properly maintained. Check the hygrometer or humidistat. If the dampness is over 55%, you no longer need to run your humidifier. For the dehumidifier, if the moisture level in the hygrometer goes below the optimum amount, which is 55%, you can turn it off right there.

Precautionary measures:

1. Never use a warm-mist humidifier for your baby.
2. Place the humidifier or dehumidifier on an elevated surface. This way you can make sure the distribution or drawing out of mist.

Never run a humidifier which is dirty and molded. Your entire indoor air will be contaminated with the dirty mist emitting from it. We also discourage using an unclean dehumidifier for the baby.