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The months leading up to the delivery of the baby are usually jam packed with the parents buying every possible item they can think of for the nursery: a crib, a bassinet, a diaper changing station, and a gadget just to sterilize bottles. But there’s one thing that you need in your arsenal that most parents don’t think of, and that is a humidifier. This is a device that is used to add moisture into the air. Although it may not strike you as a necessity, there are several benefits to using a humidifier at home for your little one. If you’d like to know what it is and how to go about using a humidifier safely, then keep reading!
Benefits Of Using A Humidifier
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1. Helps Keep The Baby’s Skin Moisturized
There’s nothing worse than dealing with a baby that’s ill and uncomfortable. This is exactly what your baby can be if there isn’t enough moisture in the air. Dry air and cold weather can give way to irritated skin, red rashes, and painful cracks on your baby’s delicate and vulnerable skin. But the best way to avoid parched skin is to introduce some humidity into the air by using a humidifier. This way, your baby’s skin will remain soft and supple all year round!
2. Helps In Preventing The Baby’s Sinuses From Drying Out
Cold and dry weather can really do a number on your baby and leave them with inflamed and painful sinuses. Dealing with this pounding headache can be extremely difficult for your little one and may cause them to be cranky and irritated. Using a humidifier can help ease these symptoms. It can keep your baby’s sinuses moist and healthy and, therefore, prevent this condition from arising in the first place (1).
3. Helps In Reducing Allergens
We live in a day and age where something as simple as dust or pollen can be a huge problem for some kids due to allergic reactions. But using a humidifier can keep various kinds of allergens far away from the baby. No matter how much you clean your house, the allergens present in mold, dust, house pets, and bacteria can be unhealthy for your little one. A humidifier will reduce the growth of these allergens in your house by making the environment unsuitable for them to spread in.
What Type Of Humidifiers Are Good For Your Baby?
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1. In-Duct Humidifier
These humidifiers are great. They can be installed in the air ducts around your house. They will humidify the entire house instead of just one room. Although they are a huge financial investment initially, the cost of maintenance for these humidifiers is low and the benefits are many. In-duct humidifiers are a good option if you live in a place with a colder climate and would like the air in your home to be moist all year around.
2. Console Humidifier
These humidifiers are large and although they do not fit into the air ducts of your house, they are capable of humidifying the entire house. There are many models and varieties of console humidifiers that are able to carry different loads of water. Usually, they are able to store around 5 to 9 gallons of water in one go. But keep in mind that these humidifiers are massive and can take up a lot of space.
3. Tabletop Humidifiers
These humidifiers are extremely compact and are the most popular amongst parents. They are usually placed on a tabletop in the nursery and can be easily moved from one place to another as they are light and easy to carry. The disadvantage of using this kind of humidifier is that they only humidify one room and that your child will be able to reach them once they start to move about, which can be dangerous.
Precautions To Take While Using A Humidifier
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- Clean Your Humidifier Frequently: Read the instructions and make sure to clean your humidifier often so that mold and bacteria don’t get a chance to grow in it. This will prevent any kind of infection from spreading.
- Beware Of Warm Humidifiers: These emit hot air, so they must not be kept directly in front of your baby as it can be harmful to them. Make sure that it is placed far enough so that the temperature of the air emitted from the humidifier does not disturb your little one.
- Pay Attention To The Water Used: The kind of water you use also makes a huge difference. Tap water can sometimes have minerals that the baby can unintentionally inhale. To keep this from happening, opt for using distilled water instead. This is better for your baby and for the unit.
Using a humidifier to improve your baby’s health and keep them warm is a great parent cheat code. But make sure you do it the right way. We hope you utilize all our tips and enjoy the moist air!
