With the colder weather and the increase in use of central heating, the air in our homes becomes more dry, often leading to health problems from dry skin or eyes, sore throats to a dry cough. With the dry air, there is further concern that it poses a risk to exposure of infection, impacting negatively on those with allergies or respiratory problems. Parents with young children or babies will be more affected by this, as young children are more vulnerable to congestion and infections in the colder winter months.
How can a humidifier help?
Humidifiers can significantly reduce the dryness in the air around them. Beneficial for those living in dry regions or warmer climates, they not only help improve the environment around you, but your children’s well being too. Humidifiers operate by transforming the water into steam and dispersing it into the air through a nozzle. By raising the moisture levels in the air, and as you inhale the moist air through your nose or mouth, it will relieve the dryness in your airways.
Humidifiers are safe for use with mostly all skin types. As well as treating dry skin, they are often recommended to treat symptoms of eczema at any age. By restoring the moisture in the air, it allows the skin to replenish itself and provides your skin with a more soothing environment.
For babies’ delicate skin, which can become particularly sensitive in dry conditions, a humidifier is ideal in maintaining the skin’s natural moistness, putting an end to chapped lips and red patches.
Photo by Enrique Hoyos from Pexels
Which humidifier should I use?
Ultrasonic humidifiers are the most recommended to be used around children. The ultrasonic micro-vibrations divide the water into smaller droplets which are blown into the air, creating a refreshing and gentle mist, either warm or cool, and alleviating any issues caused by the dry air.
Pictured (right) the MeacoDeluxe 202 is our ultrasonic humidifier, with a moisture output that varies between 100ml (for cool) to 400ml (for warm mist).
How can a humidifier help babies sleep?
As well as helping remedy the skin or health problems caused by dry air, the humidifier is also an effective way of improving your baby’s sleep. Humidified air retains the air’s moisture and keeps the nasal passages moist and the mucus less sticky. This eases the baby’s breathing, which in turn helps them sleep much better.
Some find that cool mist humidifiers are best, they are an ideal solution for a more comfortable sleep when the baby’s nose is stuffed up. Not only will your humidifier add moisture to the air, it will also create white noise for your baby to sleep to.
When setting up your humidifier in your baby’s room, please keep in mind that they must be cleaned thoroughly to avoid the growth of mould and bacteria.
For more instructions on your humidifier, the instruction manual can be found here.
Products featured in this post: MeacoDeluxe 202.
