A humidifier is a very useful device for children's rooms. Simple ventilation is not always enough. How to choose the most suitable humidifier for your baby among different types of models?
Humidification of the air in the children's room
Why a moisturizer is useful
The baby's respiratory organs, as well as his eyes and skin, are very sensitive to environmental characteristics such as temperature and humidity.
Important! In the children's room, the required level of air humidity is from 50 to 70%.
Why do you need a humidification device:
- The device prevents excessive dryness of the air, especially in winter, when the heating is constantly on. While adults may not feel the difference, for a newborn it will be significant. His respiratory system has not yet reached maturity, dry air negatively affects the nasal passages, preventing the correct discharge of phlegm;
- Viruses and bacteria multiply better in dry conditions, humidified air prevents this;
- A lack of moisture can cause irritation and itching of the eyes in a newborn, dry mucous membranes, worsening cold symptoms, shortness of breath and malaise.
Important! In hot weather, a cold steam humidifier can also be helpful as it lowers the temperature in the room.
Types of humidifiers
The industry produces several types of devices that serve to make the air in an apartment more humid.
With cold steam
These devices are designed to disperse cold vapor in the air. They are equipped with filters that absorb water. Then the fan drives the humidified air over the filters and blows it into the room.
Cold Evaporating Devices
Important! Reusable washable filters should be cleaned regularly and disposable filters should be replaced as these components trap dirty particles.
Appliances with cold steam can be more or less noisy due to the fan. There are appliances without fans, designed for slow natural evaporation, but their efficiency is low.
With hot steam
These humidifiers do not have a fan, but there is a heating element. The water boils and evaporates, turning into hot steam. Appliances consume more electricity than appliances with cold steam, but they are much more efficient. The disadvantage of using them is the risk of scalding from hot steam, so the evaporator is installed out of the reach of the smallest children.
Hot Evaporating Appliance
The advantage of the device is the impossibility of the formation of mold and accumulation of bacteria in the inner parts of the humidifier due to the high temperature of water and steam.
Important! When choosing a humidifier for a child, which is better: with hot or cold steam, depends on the situation in which it will be used. Cold steam is recommended for inflammation of the airways, and hot steam for chronic nasal congestion.
Ultrasonic
Creates thick steam from fine water particles using an ultrasonic vibration system. These small particles can more easily reach the lower respiratory tract, helping to eliminate sore throat, reducing obstructions to the passage of air through the larynx, and normalizing respiratory rate and gas exchange.
Ultrasonic humidification
The ultrasonic air humidifier for a child operates on water at room temperature (distilled water is recommended, but not necessary).
With ionizer
A negative ion generator has been added to the design of the device, which acts on polluting particles and cleans the air that the child breathes.
Climatic complex
The most expensive device, in which the applied technologies make it possible to obtain even smaller particles of water when dispersed in the air. It can also purify air by blowing it through the apparatus with a fan.
Climatic complex
Advantages and disadvantages of humidifiers
In order to choose the right humidifier, it is necessary to consider the pros and cons of each type of device:
- Cold steam humidifiers have low efficiency, most models have an increased noise level, but they have high safety;
- Hot steam appliances are more efficient, but consume a lot of electricity and are also noisy during operation. In addition, their safety is poor;
- Ultrasonic devices are the quietest, safe, efficient, compact and inexpensive devices. However, the minerals contained in the sprayed water particles are capable of "white bloom" settling on the furniture surface. This plaque does not pose a health hazard; the problem disappears when distilled water is poured into the reservoir. Ultrasonic humidifiers are also available with hot steam characteristics;
- The climatic complex is efficient and safe, but makes noise during operation, consumes more electricity than an ultrasonic device, and is unjustifiably expensive.
The disadvantages of some models include the creation of excess air humidity in the absence of its visual or auto-control. If the devices are equipped with a shutdown device, they are taken out of operation when the set humidity level is reached. You can make sure that this figure is not exceeded using the built-in or separately purchased hygrometer.
Children's doctor Komarovsky does not advise constantly turning on air humidifiers in the children's room, but only as needed, for example, in winter, during illness or in a very dry apartment, and constantly cleaning and replacing filters to avoid the growth of harmful bacteria. You should not be guided by the readings of the built-in hygrometer, which shows the humidity, you need to purchase a separate device and place it near the baby's bed.
Where to place the humidifier
To ensure optimal performance and safety of the humidifier, select the appropriate location in the room:
- For the steam to be evenly distributed in the air, the device must be installed at a height of 0.5-1 m;
- The installation surface must be flat, to the edge must be provided with sufficient distance in all directions;
- Do not aim the device at plants, pieces of furniture, household appliances, walls;
- Hot vaporizers should be kept out of baby's reach;
- It is necessary to ensure a distance from heating installations of at least 0.3 m, devices with natural evaporation, on the contrary, are installed near radiators;
- It is not recommended to point the humidifier directly at the baby's bed.
Location of the humidifier in the room
Criterias of choice
The main factors that can tell you how to choose the best moisturizer for a child under one year old or older:
- The technology used. For children's rooms, devices with cold steam or ultrasonic are preferable;
Important! For allergy sufferers, humidifiers with ionizers are not recommended. They can worsen unpleasant symptoms.
- Device capacity. Choose a humidifier according to the size of your child's room. Most devices are designed for a room area from 10 to 30 square meters. m;
- Dimensions and weight. Compact models can be easily rearranged anywhere and even taken with you on a trip;
- Equipment. Some models are equipped with remote controls, backlighting, displays on which information is displayed, functions for autocontrol of humidity and stopping the device when the required level is reached, air purification functions, and a compartment for essential oils. All this increases the price of the model, but is not always necessary.
Top Models
The rating of the best models of humidifiers includes devices of all types:
- Chicco Humi Advice. The device of a well-known company specializing in the production of goods for children. A simple, compact hot steam humidifier suitable for babies;
- Ramili Baby AH800. Ultrasonic device designed for rooms up to 30 sq. m. Does not require distilled water and filter replacement. Equipped with an automatic switch that is triggered when the water in the tank runs out. The only drawback is that it must be installed in the center of the room, since the steam comes out in all directions;
Ramili Baby AH800
- Electrolux EHU-3710D / 3715D. The best baby ultrasonic humidifier. Can be used in large rooms up to 50 sq. It has several operating modes, touch control and an antibacterial ultraviolet lamp. The air purification system consists of 4 stages. Well suited for allergy sufferers;
- Ballu UHB-310. Economical ultrasonic model. Equipped with a rollover safety shutdown. Efficient and compact;
- Electrolux EHAW-9010D / 9015D MINI. The best humidifier with cold vapor produced by natural evaporation. There is an ionization function and fan speed control. Suitable for small rooms up to 19 sq. m.
The humidifier options are varied. The most important thing is to get your bearings and choose the model that suits your needs and budget.
