Which is the best humidifier for babies?

Why a humidifier is particularly important for babies

During the cold months of the year, the air in centrally heated rooms tends to be dry and can cause symptoms such as a scratchy throat, red eyes and dry skin. A poor indoor climate can become harmful to babies and toddlers far quicker than to parents. That’s because they have a higher body water percentage than adults, making them more sensitive to fluctuations in relative humidity, which is why it is so important to ensure optimal humidity for babies. A humidifier will keep the humidity in the nursery at a constant desired level, helping to create an optimal indoor climate. For the better the indoor climate, the more comfortable and healthy your offspring will feel.

What is the optimal level of humidity for babies?

The recommended ideal room temperature for nurseries and children’s rooms is 18 to 20 degrees Celsius, though this can be adjusted to individual requirements. The level of humidity should be between 40 and 60 per cent. The question as to whether the level of humidity indoors is ideal mainly arises in the winter and in heated rooms. It can be clarified by measuring the humidity using a hygrometer, ideally several times throughout the day. From these values, you will be able to establish whether the humidity in the nursery is too high or too low. Attention: the level of humidity is always higher in the morning than in the evening as the air we exhale adds to the humidity and ventilation also has an impact on the measured values. If the air is too dry, action is required and while humidifiers are not the only way to increase the level of humidity in a nursery, they are the most effective.

The benefits of a humidifier for babies and toddlers

The immune system of infants in particular is not yet developed enough to withstand all the attacks by germs on the little organism. If the level of humidity is too low, skin and mucous membranes can dry out, making it easier for germs to enter and spread within the body. Using a humidifier can help to prevent dry mucous membranes in toddlers and thus protect against infections – or if it’s too late for that, it can relieve cold symptoms such as coughs, sniffles and sore throats. Optimal humidity for babies can also alleviate skin conditions such as neurodermatitis, minimise the development of allergies and asthma and ensure that the baby or toddler sleeps better.

The best humidifier for the nursery

When using electronic appliances in the nursery, the safety of your offspring is naturally the top priority. That is why we recommend that you choose a humidifier that operates based on the natural principle of evaporation. Evaporators emit cold water vapour into the indoor air – without heating the water used in the process – so there is no risk of scalding. A fan directs the dry indoor air through the water-saturated humidifier filters so the air only ever absorbs as much moisture as it needs. Evaporators are also energy-efficient and super-quiet during operation, like our Oskar little.

Besides safety, another criterion to be taken into account when choosing the ideal humidifier for infants and toddlers is the level of noise it produces. For nothing should disturb your offspring’s restful sleep which is crucial for a child’s development. The same goes for annoying lights and flashing lamps which is why Oskar little has fully dimmable LEDs – just like all evaporators from Stadler Form. These features and being easy to take care of make him the ideal humidifier for nurseries and children’s rooms. He may be small but he is powerful and energy-efficient and can humidify small rooms of up to 30 m². He can also be used with essential oils^* if you wish. And anyone wanting a stylish design and high-quality materials when furnishing their baby’s nursery will certainly get their money’s worth with Oskar little.

Hygienic and safe use of your humidifier

Choosing the right humidifier is just as important as using it hygienically and safely. A humidifier should be placed so that both the appliance and the cable are out of reach of little ones, especially in a nursery and children’s rooms. That’s what makes compact models like humidifier Oskar little so good: he can ideally be placed somewhere high up such as on a sideboard where little ones can’t get to him. To make sure that you use your humidifier hygienically and optimally, it is crucial for you to clean your appliance regularly and replace the filter on time.

What you need to bear in mind when using a humidifier:

• Safety: In a nursery, place your humidifier where it is safely out of reach of babies and so that the cable does not present a trip hazard.
  
  
• Cleaning: The easier an appliance is to clean, the better. To prevent germs, it is important to change the water and clean the water container/tank on a daily basis. Be sure to adhere to the recommended intervals in the process.
  
  
• Descaling: Germs and bacteria can also build up in limescale deposits, even if you always use fresh water. It is therefore essential to carry out descaling on a regular basis for safe operation.
  
  
• Changing the filter: The filter for the humidifier should be replaced every 2-3 months. If you use the filter for longer than this, not only may the humidification output deteriorate significantly but also the antimicrobial action of the filter can no longer be guaranteed.
  
  
• Hygiene: In principle, we recommend using the Water Cube with humidifiers from Stadler Form as it ensures optimum hygiene.
  

If you have questions related to indoor room climate, please get in touch with us. Or subscribe to our newsletter to regularly get informed about current topics regarding indoor climate, experience reports or Stadler Form insights. 


Guest author of this article is Micha Eicher from scharfsinn - many thanks!


^{* Care should be taken when using essential oils and we recommend that you should consult a doctor or pharmacist first as not all oils are suitable for babies.}