Would you run a cool mist humidifer in your newborn's room 24 hours/day?

Question

My mom said that she ran a cool mist humidifer for the first three years of my life and I was never sick...Will this really help? It seems like it is making my 4 week old's nose stuffed up when he sleeps....I could use some opinions...

Answer 1

A humidifier is only necessary when you want to keep the air moist.  Having more humid air prevents stuffiness, keeps mucus more liquid and in turn makes it easier for the baby to breathe (especially during a cold)

I would only use a cool mist humidifier in a baby's room (unless for some reason you needed to steam medicine).  Though warm mist humidifiers are slightly quieter most pediatricians recommend the cool-mist for the simple reason that there is no danger of burns from spilled hot water or steam.

So depending on where you are in the world, you can either run the humidifier when you baby is sick and stuffy or when the air is dry...for example, i run a humidifier in all the bedrooms in the winter and I live in NYC...the heat is a killer on your sinuses....

Answer 2

Actually, warm mist vaporizers are better. Warm air is cleaner. Dry air causes the mucus that lines the breathing passages to thicken and accumulates into globs. Eventually, these globs grow too thick to be coughed up; they get stuck in the airways and result in an infection. Warm, moist air equals easier breathing.

If your baby feels fine, I don't see why it's necessary to run anything.