A nursery without a humidifier is like a beach without sand. Installing a good humidifier is extremely important for maintaining the overall health of the baby. It helps prevent colds and other respiratory problems while also protecting the baby against allergies, dry skin and sinuses. The immunity of babies is not as well developed as that of adults and hence extra care needs to be taken at all times. Overall adding a humidifier to homes with babies goes a long way in providing good quality air with the correct level of relative humidity.
The salient points that should be considered while buying a humidifier especially for babies are as follows:
1. Always keep in mind the temperature of the home as the aim is to maintain it around 65 degrees Fahrenheit or 18 degree centigrade. This is ideal for babies and makes them fell the most comfortable.
The humidifier should come with an auto shut off switch as it should stop humidifying once the desired relative humidity level is reached. This helps maintain the correct level of humidity and also saves on power bills while protecting the machine from damage.
2. The size of the room to be humidified is of utmost importance. A room with an area of less than 500 square feet will do with a humidifier of 1.5 to 2 gallon capacity per day while an area of about 2000 square feet needs a humidifier with an output of 10 or more gallons per day.
3. It is always a smart move to select a humidifier with an anti bacterial filter as it removes the disease causing harmful bacteria from the air and ensures that the child or baby lives in a healthy indoor environment.
4. If the water in your area is hard, it is a good idea to invest in a humidifier that comes with mineral absorption pads. These pads absorb the minerals from the water and eliminate the chances of white dust setting in the room.
5. Select either a cool mist or a warm mist humidifier depending on the requirement. Cool mist humidifiers as a rule are safer around babies as they do not come with the chance of burning the baby accidentally. It boasts a lower operating cost as well as the ability to humidify large areas. These however require replacement of filter regularly and make more noise as compared to warm mist options. Warm mist humidifiers go along better with the heating systems already installed in the house.
The main thing is to be sure of the requirement and the climate of the region. Also it makes much more sense to buy a humidifier from a known brand as they offer better service and warranties.
