Warm mist? Cool mist? We break down all the best baby humidifiers on the market.
By Elizabeth Kadar
Updated Jan 31, 2024kmk-vova/ Getty Images
At the first sign of a sniffle, bust out the baby humidifier. While not the most riveting registry purchase, the best baby humidifier comes in handy when your little one comes down with a cold. Because when baby doesn’t sleep, no one does! These machines may also help alleviate dry skin, soothe a sore throat and reduce congestion, which is precisely why you’ll find cool-mist humidifiers topping every newborn checklist, ours included.
We’ve scoured the Internet, reviewed the best and done all our homework chatting with a holistic skin scientist and a pediatrician, to discover the safest, most reliable and top-rated baby humidifiers. You'll feel good about putting these in your babe’s room.
You can’t put a price on sleep so a baby humidifier is definitely worth investing in for those nights your little one needs a little relief. “Baby humidifiers help keep the air moist, which can help prevent irritation of the nasal passages and throat,” says pediatrician Dr. Bidisha Sarkar of ClinicSpots. “In addition, it can reduce congestion and make breathing easier.”
Children with skin issues will also benefit greatly from a baby humidifier in their room. “Babies and kids have thinner skin than adults making them more susceptible to moisture loss from the skin,” notes holistic skin scientist and skin wellness coach, Dr. Jennifer Davis Alexander.
“Humidifiers add moisture to the air, helping to keep skin hydrated, and are great for kids with dry or sensitive skin, as well as those that suffer from eczema.” It's a feeling the American Academy of Pediatrics echoes. To eliminate the risk of burns, Dr. Jen recommends purchasing a cool-mist humidifier that’s easy to clean.
Other key features to consider when shopping for the best baby humidifier, according to Dr. Sarkar, include:
Frida Baby does it again! We're suckers for any baby product that does multiple things—and does them well. This parent-approved, three-in-one cool-mist humidifier is extra quiet, space-saving and actually looks good in their room instead of a giant eye sore.
It has a built-in mist adjuster so controlling humidity levels in baby's nursery is an actual breeze and the ability to run for up to 24 hours straight with an auto-stop feature so it turns off when there's no water left. We love that it also functions as a diffuser (just add some Breath Frida Vapor drops) to help them breathe easier and sleep better and can be used as a color-changing nightlight so that's one less thing you have to buy.
Toddlers will especially love choosing their favorite color to snooze to, though you can turn this feature off and just keep the room dark for babes who sleep best with a newborn pacifier when it's pitch black.
Over 600 parents agree this modern, budget-friendly baby humidifier is a game changer. It's near silent and comes with an optional, soothing glow nightlight so you don't mess with their precious sleep. If your kiddo is particular and can't snooze without the best kids mattress and blackout curtains, the Orgtoy allows parents to turn off all display/indicator lights at night so no one's sleep is disturbed.
The large, 2.5-liter water tank is easy to fill and will moisturize the air for up to 30 hours on the highest setting. There's also the option to set the timer at one, two, four or eight-hour intervals, though this humidifier will automatically shut off when the water is drained. The tank has a wide opening too so getting it clean isn't a huge chore.
You and your little one can breathe a collective sigh of relief. This highly-rated humidifier has so many smart features, making it 100% worth the investment for big spaces. With a 2.5-liter water tank, it has the capability to hydrate a nursery or big kid room up to 500 square feet for up to 36 hours at a time, depending on your settings, which is longer than any other cool or warm mist humidifier on our list.
It's tiny too, with a sleek and modern design, that will look good on your nightstand or theirs.
Because you've got a lot going on, the Canopy is designed with anti-mold technology and embedded sensors to maintain optimal moisture throughout the day or night so you don't have to think. And it's dishwasher safe so cleaning it isn't a pain in your you know what. Use it for cold and flu relief or to hydrate your little one's dry skin.
When it's time to change the filter, a little light will illuminate letting you know to swap it out. It's available in six chic colors too so you can choose something to fit in with their nursery design. Be sure to read our full Canopy humidifier review to get all the details on this game-changing ultrasonic humidifier that truly is worth every penny (and then some).
It's already tough enough for a sick baby to get good sleep so an extra quiet humidifier that won't wake them up is worth its weight in gold. The AquaOasis Cool Mist Humidifier is nearly silent, which is a huge selling point for parents, and fully adjustable too. It features multiple mist settings and a 360-degree rotating nozzle so you can control exactly where and how much moisture comes out.
An impressively large (2.2L) water tank eliminates extra middle-of-the-night wakings for mom and dad, as this humidifier can last a full 24 hours before a refill is needed. And it shuts off automatically so that's one less thing to stress about. Any issues? The AquaOasis comes with a lifetime warranty so you're always covered.
Need a travel-friendly humidifier that won't take up a ton of space? From trips to grandma's house to flights across the country, this Crane Cool Mist Humidifier collapses down to easily fit in your bag, making it perfect for travel. It's also awesome for storing compactly at home when not in use, especially if you're the type to only bust out the humidifier when your babe is sick.
Holding a gallon of water, it can humidify babe's room with moist air for up to 24 hours and has adjustable settings so you can tailor the moisture levels precisely to their needs. The top-fill tank is super convenient, easy to use and even easier to clean by hand so you can keep mold at bay.
Every parent knows you don't wake a sleeping baby so the fact that you can operate this ultra-quiet, Smart WiFi Baby Air Humidifier from the comfort of your own room is huge—and it even connects with Alexa so you can tell her what to do. Simply download the "Eco Smart" app to adjust the mist levels (there are three).
Turn on or off the night light, set it to sleep mode, set the timer and more—this device is beyond smart—it's brilliant. With a top-fill design, cleaning and filling the humidifier is easy-peasy. It also operates as a diffuser to calm the atmosphere in baby's room and relax them even more at bedtime.
The optional night light allows kids to select their favorite color from eight LED options or it can auto change from one to the next throughout the night for little rainbow lovers. It works best in rooms from 150-400 square feet.
Brought to you by your favorite baby and convertible car seat brand, this filter-free, cool mist humidifier from Safety 1st will keep your baby nice and comfortable through the night, which is the goal obvs. It has an adjustable knob so you can get the moisture levels just right in their room and a carry handle for convenience and portability purposes.
It's easy to fill, and the water tank is spacious enough for up to 36 hours of run time. We love that it automatically shuts off when it's empty. That means you can breathe easier knowing they're safe. With thousands of rave reviews and an average 4.4-star rating, it's a solid choice that won't break the bank.
Plus, it comes in a pretty pink or blue color so choosing a humidifier for your little one's room is actually fun.
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