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Best Humidifiers for Babies

Candace Osmond

Babies are cute but a handful as well – there are so many little things to pay attention to make sure your child is healthy and happy. For some households, dry air and lack of humidity can become a general nuisance that can potentially lead to some issues along the way. That is where a humidifier comes in handy: it is an efficient accessory that can help alleviate symptoms of dry throat, allergies, asthma, nosebleeds, and congestion.

Humidifiers for babies are a literal lifesaver when it comes to colds, congestion, stuffy noses, and viruses that are common for infants. By adding moisture to the air in the room, this handy little gadget will ease your child’s respiratory problems and make sure that they sleep well and get much-needed rest when they are having any kind of respiratory issues.

RankProductHighlights
#1Crane Adorables Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier

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  • Dimensions: 9 x 12.75 x 9 inches
  • Tank volume: 1 gallon
  • Runtime: up to 24 hours
#2TaoTronics Cool Mist

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  • Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.12 x 9.96 inches
  • Tank volume: 60 ounces (1.8 liters)
  • Runtime: 6 to 20 hours
#3Pure Enrichment MistAire

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  • Dimensions: 8 x 6 x 9 inches
  • Tank volume: 1.5 liters
  • Runtime: up to 16 hours
#4Vicks Mini Filter Humidifier

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  • Dimensions: 8.30 x 8.30 x 9.13 inches
  • Tank volume: 0.5 gallons
  • Runtime: up to 20 hours
#5Homech Quiet Humidifier

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  • Dimensions: 14.50 x 11.30 x 7.50 inches
  • Tank volume: 4 liters
  • Runtime: up to 60 hours
#6Raydrop Store Humidifier

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  • Dimensions: 11.38 x 6.22 x 5.55 inches (package dimensions)
  • Tank volume: 1.7 L, 4 L
  • Runtime: 4 – 5 hours on the lowest setting
#7Pure Enrichment MistAire Cloud – Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier

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  • Dimensions: 10 x 5.5 x 7 inches
  • Tank volume: 0.48 gallons
  • Runtime: up to 24 hours
#8Livatro Kids Humidifier

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  • Dimensions: 7.1 x 7.1 x 9.17 inches
  • Tank volume: 1.6 L
  • Runtime: 40 hours on low mist

You may be interested in: Best Humidifiers

What to Look for in Humidifiers for Babies?

To deliver the benefits it promises, a humidifier needs to tick certain boxes. Different features can deliver a different experience, and opting for a low-end or poor product can leave you with a negative impression and fail at reducing symptoms of some common issues. That’s why it is important to opt for a well-made product that is designed to provide good performance, and if possible- at a price point that will match your budget.

But how do you know what humidifiers for babies are worth the price? There are a few key features that you should pay special attention to get your money’s worth and ensure your baby gets all the benefits that a high-quality humidifier can offer.

  • Liquid container volume

Most humidifiers are different in size and design, ranging from compact and sleek to square and bulky. This means that most will have different volumes for their containers, which is the area that holds the water for the humidifying process. In turn, the capacity of this container can dictate how long the humidifier can operate continuously. Continuous use is great for when you are away – at work, at the store, or anyplace else.

The humidifiers with the largest containers can provide you with up to 60 hours of continued use, which comes as a significant advantage. If this is important to you – for example, if you have to go work or just don’t want to constantly refill the humidifier – then certainly pay attention to this aspect and go for the bigger option.

  • Ease of maintenance

A humidifier needs to be cleaned often and thoroughly at that, especially if it is kept in a child’s room. A clean humidifier generates clean and safe mist into the air, which eliminates the potential for all kinds of pesky issues that come with dirty humidifiers. Neglecting to clean this little gadget regularly can result in clogged nozzles and pipes, the appearance of mold, malfunction, and unhealthy air in your home. And that is not something you want, even more so when it’s your baby’s room in question. This is why it is crucial to opt for models that can be easily cleaned and assembled back again.

The last thing you need is a hassle and a waste of time! Most humidifiers have several connecting compartments that allow for detailed cleaning and rinsing, as well as additional brushes to help you reach every little angle. Go for those that don’t have too many parts to put back again and are not too complex to clean.

  • Types of humidifiers for babies

Generally speaking, there are three main humidifier designs: ultrasonic, evaporative, and impeller. The latter two are rarely seen nowadays, and the ultrasonic design takes the top spot as one of the most reliable and efficient models. This innovative design relies on a subtle vibration that emits the water in the form of a gentle mist. Most ultrasonic models also have a 360-degree nozzle design that allows for an even and thorough spread of the water mist and great coverage of the room.

Besides this, ultrasonic humidifiers are also the quietest ones, with most of them boasting near-silent operation. In comparison, impeller humidifiers use an aged method of producing mist with a rotating disk, while the evaporative humidifiers blow the water with generated air and can be noisy. Combined with all the features and the ease of cleaning, an ultrasonic humidifier will certainly be your best choice for an infant’s room- but also in general.

  • Special features

Several brands on the market offer humidifiers with unique features and innovative design elements that could sway you in their favor. While you essentially don’t need these for the basic functions, you can nonetheless greatly benefit from them and boost your experience with a baby humidifier. A popular feature in many models is the automatic shut off, which ensures that the humidifier stops when the water runs out. This prevents “dry running” and malfunction, besides preserving energy. Another popular feature that you can opt for is the use of scented pads and essential oil, which can improve the overall experience and add a whole other aspect to using a humidifier.

These are a great choice if you practice holistic medicine and use aromatherapy to alleviate symptoms of respiratory issues. Additionally, filters are also becoming an increasingly popular addition to humidifiers, and are quite important to bring benefits to a new level. A filter helps to contain mineral deposits in the water, and everything else that shouldn’t be released into the air. While it isn’t 100 percent mandatory, a filter can boost the overall benefits that a humidifier offers.

1. Editor’s Choice: Crane Adorables Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier

Specs:

  • Dimensions: 9 x 12.75 x 9 inches
  • Tank volume: 1 gallon
  • Runtime: up to 24 hours

Not only that this baby humidifier does a great job, it looks the part, too! This brand offers a unique design: a fun and cartoonish look to make certain that the humidifier will not look out of place in a nursery, or if your kid’s a bit older- then they’ll love the new cute gadget in their room. That is why you can choose between 17 quirky and goofy designs that are really adorable and can be the perfect fit in any child’s room. And behind the imaginative kid-friendly design hides an efficient and modern humidifier with great features.

Its 360-degree mist nozzle can spray in any direction you want it to, and it’s great for mid-sized rooms up to 500 square feet. Its spacious water tank holds 1 gallon that gives this humidifier up to 24 hours of continuous run time. It is easy to refill and has a nifty carry handle for simple use. On top of that is the unique variable speed setting, giving you the ultimate control over the humidity levels.

Pros

  • Fantastic choice of fun shapes
  • Very easy to refill
  • 24-hour run time
  • Antimicrobial material
  • Whisper quiet
  • Easy to clean

Cons

  • Somewhat bulky

Who Should Buy This Product?

If you value the aesthetics part of the design as much as the performance, this innovative design offers a great balance between the two. This great gadget will fit any nursery or kid’s room and at the same time keep the humidity at an optimal level.

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2. Runner Up: TaoTronics Cool Mist

Specs:

  • Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.12 x 9.96 inches
  • Tank volume: 60 ounces (1.8 liters)
  • Runtime: 6 to 20 hours

This baby humidifier brings a sleek and modern design with a lightweight and portable aspect that makes it great for those cozy nooks and small spaces. From the get-go, you can notice all the modern touches, especially its intelligent air inlet design that catches the eye. This way the humidifier doubles as a stylish addition to your home and since it is minimalistic and neutral, it won’t stand out in a nursery, either.

The humidifier boasts a low noise output of 32dB, making it near-silent and great for the baby room. A dial knob gives you all the control of the output making adjustments easy and quick. Added are a smart LED indicator and a 360-degree nozzle, and a spacious 60 oz (1.8 liters) tank which gives you up to 20 hours of continuous use. It is great for rooms of 100 to 200 square feet, and perfect for a small baby room. Combine that with its affordable price tag, and you have a winner- by many’s standards.

Pros

  • Inconspicuous and sleek design
  • Modern touches
  • Great tank volume
  • Quiet operation
  • Suitable for small spaces
  • Good mist output

Cons

  • A bit tough to clean

Who Should Buy This Product?

TaoTronics provides you with a perfectly modern design that is shaped like a vase, so it can fit into every modern home without sticking out from other decors in the room. Moreover, it is packed with modern design elements which makes it one of the best humidifiers out there, both for babies and general home use.

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3. Customer Choice: Pure Enrichment MistAire

Specs:

  • Dimensions: 8 x 6 x 9 inches
  • Tank volume: 1.5 liters
  • Runtime: up to 16 hours

With its modern design and a unique look and its high-end features to boot, this mid-range humidifier is one of the best choices on the market and one of the most commonly picked baby humidifiers, too. This humidifier has several clever features that ensure that it offers great performance and do so at an affordable price. One of these is the 360 degrees mist nozzle which ensures an even spray that covers all of the room. And with its spacious container that will hold 1.5 liters of water (50 oZ), it can provide you with up to 16 hours of continued use. With this volume, you can easily humidify a medium-sized bedroom or a very spacious nursery.

Furthermore, this humidifier boasts an extra quiet mode of operation which is perfect for when you’re using it in a baby room. Another great feature is an optional night light – you can create a warm and soothing ambiance during the night, especially if your baby dislikes total dark. Or to make sure you don’t stumble around during night checks and feeding! Add to this a 5-year warranty, and you have an offer that’s hard to pass on by.

Pros

  • 360 degrees nozzle
  • Good container capacity
  • Optional night light
  • Whisper quiet
  • 5-year warranty

Cons

  • Difficult to clean
  • Should be used with distilled water

Who Should Buy This Product?

This is a perfect example of a balanced and well-rounded design that offers superior performance at a good price. From the design to the quality, and all the way to its features – the Pure Enrichment MistAire has everything you need in a humidifier for a baby’s room, and then some.

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4. Best for Respiratory Issues: Vicks Mini Filter Humidifier

Specs:

  • Dimensions: 8.30 x 8.30 x 9.13 inches
  • Tank volume: 0.5 gallons
  • Runtime: up to 20 hours

This humidifier has all the features that a quality humidifier for babies should have, but with an added perk that makes it perfect for alleviating symptoms of respiratory issues. It has an integrated scent pad heater that allows you to use Vicks VapoPads to disperse soothing and calming scents with the mist. Ideal when your baby has a cold and can’t get any sleep due to congestion and stuffiness.

But even as a preventative, this humidifier does great. With its straightforward features and ease of use, you can keep the humidity in your baby’s bedroom at an optimal level of 40 to 60 percent without any effort whatsoever. The tank can hold half a gallon or almost 2 liters of water. With that, you are ensured up to 20 hours of action without pausing. Quiet and compact, this baby humidifier won’t stand out but you’ll definitely know it’s there because the air in the room will be of much better quality. When empty, this humidifier will automatically shut off, and it also features variable control that gives you all the options for the adjustment you could possibly need.

Pros

  • Scent pad Heater can receive Vicks VapoPads
  • Easy to recharge and clean
  • Can run up to 20 hours on low setting
  • 0.5-gallon tank

Cons

  • Can require extra maintenance after long use
  • Can become noisy

Who Should Buy This Product?

Vicks humidifier is a great multifunctional solution for parents on a budget: not only that it will keep the air moisture levels in your baby’s room optimal, but it can also disperse scents that can help alleviate symptoms of respiratory issues and put your baby to sleep.

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5. Best for Continuous Use: Homech Quiet Humidifier

Specs:

  • Dimensions: 14.50 x 11.30 x 7.50 inches
  • Tank volume: 4 liters
  • Runtime: up to 60 hours

Homech comes forward with one of the finest and most balanced humidifier designs on the market, which offers all the staple features you’d need with a few extra perks. The defining feature of this humidifier is its very large tank capacity – an impressive 4-liter volume (135 oZ) gives you up to 60 hours of continued use: something you don’t see very often in humidifiers for babies.

A 360-degree nozzle gives complete coverage of the room you choose, at a height of up to 24 inches. This ultrasonic humidifier provides a fine mist spray and has an output of around 60 ml (2 oZ) per hour which will cover an any-size room. And with its noise output under 26dB, it is one of the most silent humidifiers on the market, so you don’t have to worry about it waking up your baby.

Pros

  • Impressive tank volume
  • Dry burn protection
  • Auto shut-off
  • Low noise – under 26dB
  • Three color choices
  • Easy to clean

Cons

  • Bulky

Who Should Buy This Product?

This baby humidifier is not amongst the most expensive on the market, but it is certainly one of the best. Rife with great design features, and boasting the largest tank of all, it is surely a fantastic purchase – if you need something that can run for days on end without needing a refill.

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6. Best Space Saver: Raydrop Store Humidifier

Specs:

  • Dimensions: 11.38 x 6.22 x 5.55 inches (package dimensions)
  • Tank volume: 1.7 L, 4 L
  • Runtime: 4 – 5 hours on the lowest setting

This compact humidifier is ideal for use in the bedroom as well as the office. It adds moisture to the air while maintaining a noise level that is less than 36 dB, which helps to create a relaxing atmosphere that will allow you to feel better and have better sleep.

The design of this unit is a pretty straightforward one. It has a dial knob on the front so that you can adjust the level of mist that’s dissipated in the air. Thanks to its transparent tank, you can always check the water levels and add more water accordingly.

Pros

  • Can fine-tune the mist output
  • Low noise output
  • Water levels are easy to check

Cons

  • Does not last 17 hours, as advertised

Who Should Buy This Product?

If you don’t have that much space in the nursery and want a compact humidifier that gets the job done, this is a product worth looking into.

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7. Best Design: Pure Enrichment MistAire Cloud – Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier

Specs:

  • Dimensions: 10 x 5.5 x 7 inches
  • Tank volume: 0.48 gallons
  • Runtime: up to 24 hours

This adorable cloud-shaped humidifier uses the power of cool mist to add moisture to the nursery without producing excessive noise. Turning the knob on the mist control will gradually alter the amount of moisture produced to fit your preferences for dryness. Simply turn the knob in the clockwise direction to raise the output, and spin it in the counterclockwise direction to lower the output.

It provides great coverage for areas up to 250 square feet. It has a capacity of 1.8 liters of water and can be cleaned by hand with ease. It’s also equipped with an auto turn-off feature meaning the device will shut down automatically when there is no more water left in the tank.

Pros

  • Quiet operation
  • Auto-shutdown feature
  • Doubles as a night light

Cons

  • A few complaints about leaking

Who Should Buy This Product?

If you want an adorable humidifier for a nursery that’s safe to use and can also double as a night light (with 8 cute colors), you need to give the Pure Enrichment MistAire Cloud a chance.

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8. Honorable Mention: Livatro Kids Humidifier

Specs:

  • Dimensions: 7.1 x 7.1 x 9.17 inches
  • Tank volume: 1.6 L
  • Runtime: 40 hours on low mist

This baby humidifier does not contain any BPA, which ensures that it is safe for use around infants and young children. The cool mist humidifier provides relief for a variety of symptoms, including dry skin or coughing.

The 3-in-1 design of this humidifier, which includes a diffuser for essential oils and a gentle night light, makes it ideal for use in the bedroom or nursery to produce a cozy and welcoming ambiance. Your home will be filled with fragrant and humid air thanks to this cool mist humidifier, which allows you to add drops of your favorite essential oils to the tank. 

Pros

  • BPA-free construction
  • Is also a diffuser
  • Low noise output

Cons

  • Questionable long-term durability

Who Should Buy This Product?

  • Not all humidifiers allow you to add essential oils to the tank for a diffuser-like experience. If you were looking for one of those, this might be the perfect product for you.

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Bottom Line

For every parent – especially the first timers – a humidifier can be an important accessory to have in your home. This one nifty gadget can ensure the best air and environment for your child and help with a range of respiratory issues common for infants. By adding moisture to the air, it can alleviate symptoms of cold, flu, viruses, allergies, asthma, and so many others.

Best of all, it is a fast and affordable solution that is also completely non-invasive: you’ll quickly see the results and won’t have to spend a fortune to make a significant improvement in your home air.