Humidifiers - Baltimore, MD

Hi T.,

I use a cool mist humidifer, because with the heat on in the winter I feel it keeps the air from getting to dry in his room and keeps his nose from getting so clogged up. The one I have has two settings so I usually keep it on low so that it doesn't cool his room off to much.

Run cool-mist all year long. My 3 y.o. son has allergies w/frequent sinus infections & mild-asthma. Dr. said it kinda helps "lubricate" the airway passages. When any of us is really sick, warm-mist helps "open up" the sinuses, but that's more a temporary help.

I just bought a humidifier last night at Walmart. I bought a cool mist one because that is what the pediatrician recommended. My daughter is 19 months old. She has been sick for about a week. It really seemed to help last night. It is the Vicks V4500 FilterFree Humidifier. I didn't use the scented Vick's cartridge.

T.,

I lived in Minnesota for years and they have the driest, coldest winters on record. I used the warm mist humidifiers all over my home until I had my first child. Then I switched to warm mist ones in the living room, dining room and kitchen, and cold mists in the bedrooms. I did this because I could monitor my little one better in common areas, but they can get into mischief so quickly in bedrooms and I was always afraid of him getting burned. I now live in western Maryland. The winters here are not as dry but I still use a cool mist humidifier in the bedrooms at night. My doctors have all recommended their use as well. They help with breathing and allergies/asthma control also.

We were told to always use a cool mist with the kids.
1. warm mists aid in bacteria growth
2. cool mists don't heat and they won't cause burns if the child gets to it
I haven't researched further, but number 2 was enough reason for me.

It depends on what you are trying to do. If you are using it for a cold or stuffiness, use a warm mist. If it is just to increase the humidity in a dry room, use cool. The warm mist helps loose things in the chest. A cool mist keeps mildew and bacteria from growing, especially if you use it around a crib or bed where the water can get into the sheets and mildew can grow. And if you use it long term. It grows best in warm water and warm mist helps it grow faster and in places you wouldn't think to look or clean. I think there are some that are pricier that are capable of doing both warm and cool mist.

We have used a cool mist humidifier on all three of our children. The warm mist seems to make their coughing and muscus worse. All three have suffered from asthma like symptoms, ear infections, sinus, you name it.

I really like it.
S.

I use cool simply because I'm afraid my son will some how knock it over and I don't want him to burn himself.

We use humidifiers with our daughter because the air in the house is so dry when we're using heat. As adults we feel the difference if we don't use it, our noses get really stuffy.

We also use it because my daughter and I both have asthma. The extra moisture in the air helps.

Tip: Do not completely close the doors in the rooms that have humidifiers. The room has to still be able to "breathe" because of the risk of mold.

Hi! we use a cool mist humidifier for our baby (6 months). The dr. recommended cool mist in particular. It is especially important to keep a baby's room humidified during winter months or whenver heat's on to prevent the mucus membranes (in nose, sinuses, etc) from getting dry. When they get dry they can get tiny cracks in them, which increases chances for infection/inflammation. Don't know why exactly cool mist works better than steam, but my husband just mentioned to me the other day that steam could be harmful (?) Not sure about why. But since the doctor said cool mist, then cool mist it is!

I had the same question as you do. I bought one from B&B Beyond that gives me the options between cool or warm mist on the same machine. I can't remember the model now. I am happy to have the options.

T. - we use cool air humidifiers all winter long as they add moisture to the air due to the heat being on in the house. They are most helpful when the kids (or myself) are sick and congested. Rub some Vicks on the chest and place the humidifer on the floor near the bed so you can feel the cool air, it will help relieve some congestion and coughing!The cool air also helps you sleep better because the heat dries out the house and sometimes makes you hot! Make sure you change your filters regularly so they don't get moldy.
C. J.

Hi T.,

Does your baby need a humidifier? If she does, Why?

Just want to know. Thanks D.

We use a warm mist humidifier, Vicks V-745A Warm Mist Humidifier, and we love it. It's easy to refill, quiet, and works relatively fast. It also has a high and low control level. We have a temperature and humidity gauge that we check periodically, so when the humidity goes above 50%, we just knock it down a notch and it adjusts well.

You do have to clean it at least once a week to prevent mold, but all humidifiers have to be cleaned. We simply let it soak for a day in vinegar and tea tree oil, and rinse it out.

Hope this helps,

~L.
www.accesspilates.com
http://notaboutfood.typepad.com/

Hi! My name is A. and I have two boys, Jacob~7 and CJ~5. COngratulations for being able to stay home! My husband (8 yrs) and I tag-teamed worked for 2 years so that I could stay home with our kids (til I started my own daycare)! As for the humidifiers, cool mist is the safest bet. During the winter, I used a couple of warm mist vaporizers to keep our heating costs low and to help with dry air/stuffy noses. (I was able to put them in places the kids couldn't possible get to)
Cool mist humidifiers won't get burn-you-finger hot like a hot vaporizer will. So they are safer around kids. God bless!

I actually use a humidifier ever night in my daughters room (2 1/2 yo) and will with my 2 mo once he moves into his own room. I find it helps with her nasal congestion and I have to say she's the least snotty nosed kid in her day care class. I believe that warm mist hum's are recommended for winter time but I just use the same one year round.....

I have read that cool mist is better. They both work the same way but cool is safer if your child gets near. Hot steam comes from the warm mist and a child can burn herself.

I use a cool humidifier quite often, whenever one of my three get a cold. I use a cool humidifier just for the sake of safety with 3 little ones. A warm mist humidifier can get quite hot with the steam coming out. I keep the humidifier out of reach but you just never know. It's my understanding that there really isn't a difference in the outcome whether you use a cool or warm mist humidifier.

I use a warm mist humidifier in the winter as it keeps the air moister with the heat on. During the summer I go with a cool mist.
L.

Cool Mist is what our doctors have recommended. I think because bacteria are drawn to warm,moist air. That's also a breeding ground for them.

Hi T.,

I have a 5 month old son. We have a cool mist one in his room. We let it run day & night. I had a warm mist one in his room first. He had a cold and it was not going away. As soon as I took out the warm mist and put in the cool mist one it went away the next day.

Hope this helps!

J.

Hi T., I do use humidifiers. In the winter, when the cold weather dries out the air, I use a warm mist humidifier but keep it well out of reach of my little ones. In the other times of the years when cold isn't an issue I have two cold mist humidifiers when we go to sleep. My poor babies suffer with allergies (hayfever). So when they are congested and snotty and coughing I place a humidifier where they sleep to ease the discomfort of the mucous membranes and the dry cough.

I use a cool mist humidifier because I was concerned my 14 month old would stick her fingers in it and burn herself. I was right. We hadn't had it turned on an hour before she was exploring it. I think it works just as well to clear up her congestion. Mainly I just felt the cool mist would be safer for her.

Hi T.. I think it depends on exactly why you are using it. My daughter is prone to nose bleeds and her Dr. told me to get her a cool mist humidifier b/c it would help prevent the nosebleeds and if she got them the coolness would keep them from being as bad. Along the same lines as to why O.R.s are always cold. Good luck!

I use the Pedicare Vapor nightlights. It plugs into the wall, and sends out the menthol vapors without worrying about the room being too damp. You just have to remember to unplug it.

M.

Cool mist is healthier... doesn't encourage mold to grow and helps with nose and chest congestion. It's similiar you might say to a breathing treatment that asthmaics get for their breathing...helps loosen and encourage coughing whcih helps clear the chest!

Hey T., I use cool mist for my son when he has a cold. The doc said it keeps him from drying out. I also use a ecoquest air cleaner (whole house) because he has BAD asthma. He was hospitalized twice in two months before we got the air cleaner, hasn't been sick since(knock on wood). Thought that I would add that in case your daughter has any resperitory issues.

I use a cool mist humidifier. My peditrican recommended a cool mist over the warm mist. The warm mist can cause an environment that welcomes bacteria due to the increased temp and moisture. My baby also responds better to cool mist. We used the warm mist once and she was all hot & sweaty when she woke up. I don't have that problem now.