"Keeping babies, toddlers, and little kids healthy can be hard when they’re prone to explore everything around them and get exposed to new viruses at school or daycare. Unlike bacterial infections, viruses that cause the common cold can’t be treated with antibiotics. So when your little one gets sick with a cold or the flu, the best treatment is to manage their symptoms, keep them comfortable, and wait it out.
In addition to helping them get plenty of rest, stay hydrated, and keep any fevers under control, many parents opt to use a humidifier to help comfort a sick kid. With so many choices, we’ve compiled our list of best humidifiers for babies, toddlers, and kids to make it just a little bit easier to find the right one for your family.
Why Use a Humidifier?
A humidifier can help ease some cold and flu symptoms and keep children more comfortable when they’re sick. Humidifiers add moisture into the air, which can help ease coughs, relieve dry skin, and loosen some of the mucus that causes stuffy noses in the winter months.
What Type of Humidifier is Best?
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends using a cool mist humidifier in your child’s room. This is because the hot water or steam from a warm-mist humidifier can burn your child if they get too close.
When Should You Use a Humidifier?
You don’t have to wait until your child has come down with a cold to use a humidifier. During the winter months, the added moisture from a humidifier can help keep your little one’s skin from getting too dry and can ease some eczema symptoms.
Best Humidifiers for Babies, Toddlers, and Kids
Easiest to Clean Baby Humidifier: Canopy Humidifier
Quietest Baby Humidifier: Crane Drop Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier
Cutest Baby Humidifier: Crane Adorables Ultrasonic Humidifier
Best Value Baby Humidifier: Safety 1st Ultrasonic 360° Cool Mist Humidifier
Best Smart Baby Humidifier: Levoit 200S Dual Smart Top-Fill Humidifier
Most Stylish Baby Humidifier: Objecto H3 Hybrid Humidifier
Easiest to Clean Baby Humidifier: Canopy Humidifier
The Canopy humidifier tops our list of easiest to clean humidifiers because it’s dishwasher safe. You can put the water tank, cap, and tray all in the dishwasher without any of your own rinsing, scrubbing, or cleaning efforts required.
It’s a no-mist humidifier, with anti-mold technology and replaceable paper filters that trap any particles from the water before entering the air. We also love that it can run for 36 hours at a time and has an auto sensor to monitor and adjust to the room’s humidity levels. If you’re looking for built-in aroma diffusion, you can opt for the model that comes with an Aroma Puck and fragrance oil.
Pros:
-easy-to-clean
-lightweight
-replaceable filters
-aromatherapy option
-multiple color options
Cons:
-expensive ($150)
Quietest Baby Humidifier: Crane Drop Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier
For parents of light sleepers, the Crane Drop is one of the quietest humidifiers out there. It doesn’t use fans or filters, instead using ultrasonic technology to send a cool mist into the air through sound vibrations, making it quieter than some other options.
The Drop humidifier can run for up to 24 hours, keeping your baby’s room at optimal moisture levels through the night. It also includes an auto shut-off feature when the water runs out, along with a light alerting you to fill the tank. With a detachable base and mist lid, we love how easy it is to clean, too.
Pros:
-quiet
-easy-to-clean
-adjustable mist knob
-price ($54.99)
Cons:
-night light doesn't turn off
-mist can cause puddle or damp spots
Cutest Baby Humidifier: Crane Adorables Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier
This animal-themed humidifier comes in 11 super cute designs, from hippo to unicorn to sheep and more. But there’s more to the Crane Adorables Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier than, well, being adorable.
With all the high-quality features of the Crane Drop, including whisper-quiet ultrasonic cool mist, 24-hour run time, and an adjustable knob to control humidity level, you’ll get all the perks of the Drop humidifier with all the cuteness of the Adorables humidifier.
Pros:
-cute
-quiet
-easy-to-clean
-multiple design options
-adjustable mist knob
-price ($54.99)
Cons:
-night light doesn't turn off
-mist can cause puddle or damp spots
Best Value Baby Humidifier: Safety 1st Ultrasonic 360° Cool Mist Humidifier
Ringing up at under $35, the Safety 1st Ultrasonic 360° Cool Mist Humidifier is a great option if affordability is your top priority. It doesn’t skimp on features either. Two mist outlets rotate 360º for full room coverage, along with an auto-shut off feature and alert light when it’s time to refill the tank.
Plus, you can control the moisture level in the room with the variable mist control knob, and it can run up to 24 hours on the low setting.
Pros:
-inexpensive ($32.99)
-quiet
-adjustable mist knob
Cons:
-can be hard to clean
-thin plastic
Best Smart Baby Humidifier: Levoit 200S Dual Smart Top Fill Humidifier
For those looking for something a little more tech-savvy, the Levoit Smart Humidifier is a top pick. Through the app, you can set timers and schedules, a target humidity, connect to voice assistants, and adjust the humidity level remotely.
You can also add essential oils into the base chamber to disperse any soothing scent you’d like. With a 25-hour run time, you’ll only need to refill it once a day.
Pros:
-adjustable remotely
-customizable settings via app
-aromatherapy option
-price ($59.99)
Cons:
-can be hard to clean
-more complicated than other options
Most Stylish Baby Humidifier: Objecto H3 Hybrid Humidifier
Both stylish and functional, the Objecto H3 Hybrid humidifier would look as chic in your living room as in your baby’s nursery. And don’t let its compact size fool you—it can still run up to 18 hours at a time. The timer mode can turn it off after two or four hours, and its auto-off feature will turn it off when the tank is empty.
Different colors indicate mist output settings, and if you’re into aromatherapy, the easy-to-use aroma trays make it double as a diffuser.
Pros:
-chic
-quiet
-multiple color options
-compact
Cons:
-expensive ($149.99)
A humidifier isn’t a cure-all by any means, but it can certainly help ease some of your little one’s cold and flu symptoms. Whichever option is best for you, keeping it clean and mold-free is important to your child’s health. Make sure to clean and/or dry it on a regular basis, as described in the package instructions.
