That’s when a humidifier comes into play, as it can balance out the humidity levels in your baby’s room, allowing for a much better sleep environment.
In this article, we’ll show you the 9 best humidifiers for babies & kids.
A Quick Overview:
- Best Overall: Honeywell HCM-350 Humidifier
- Best for Cold Symptoms: Vicks Warm Mist Humidifier
- Quietest Humidifer: MistAire™ Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier
- Best Smart Humidifer: Safety 1st Connected
- Largest Humidifer: TruSens Ultrasonic Humidifier N300
- Best Humidifier With No Filter: Safety 1st Stay Clean
- Easiest Cleaning: Canopy Humidifier
- Best Humidifier With a Diffuser: Frida Baby Humidifier
- Best Projector Humidifer: Vicks Sweet Dreams
What Is the Best Humidifier for Healthy Babies and Kids?
Here are the best-in-class humidifiers to date.
1. Best Overall: Honeywell HCM-350 Humidifier
Our Take
The large tank can supply your baby’s nursery for up to 400 square feet, so it’s guaranteed to keep the air moist. It also doesn’t have any bright light to keep your baby up. Instead, it has a small light to indicate that it’s powered up.
| Best For | Overall Humidifier |
| Price | $79.95 |
Product Specs
Run time: 24 hours on low setting
Tank capacity: 1.1 gallons
Mist type: cool mist humidifier
Range: 400 square feet
Product Description
Unlike many other humidifiers, the Honeywell cool mist doesn’t use ultrasonic technology. Instead, it uses evaporative technology, which produces invisible steam. There’s no beneficial difference between the two, except that some people prefer to see the mist for aesthetic purposes.
However, evaporative humidifiers require constant filter changing, bringing us to Honeywell cool mist’s one downside: its filter maintenance.
The thing with this humidifier is its selectivity. Even if you have a filter that’s compatible with the device, the manufacturer says that you shouldn’t use it. Instead, only use genuine filter replacements from Honeywell for the best performance and duration.
Pros
- Great duration and extended range for working overnight in large rooms.
- It has a tiny night light that won’t disturb your baby’s sleep.
Cons
- It’s very picky about the type of filter it needs.
2. Best for Cold Symptoms: Vicks Warm Mist Humidifier
Our Take
Since it’s a warm mist humidifier, it can help relieve nasal congestion and nose blockages. It’s also the best humidifier for baby cough, which is something cool mist humidifiers don’t often do.
| Best For | Cold Symptoms |
| Price | $54.99 |
Product Specs
Run time: 24 hours on low setting
Tank capacity: 1 gallon
Mist type: warm mist humidifier
Range: 300 square feet
Product Description
Warm mist humidifiers are often quieter than their cool mist counterparts, making the Vicks Warm Mist Humidifier a fan favorite when noise is an issue.
Since it’s a warm mist humidifier, it can help relieve nasal congestion and nose blockages. It’s also the best humidifier for baby cough, which is something cool mist humidifiers don’t often do.
Keep in mind that both cold and warm mist humidifiers won’t feel too different if the room is too large, as the mist will reach room temperature levels by the time it reaches your baby’s nose.
However, if your baby’s room is small, the warm mist will help relieve the cold symptoms. Just make sure to provide ventilation to prevent overheating the room and causing discomfort or, in worst-case scenarios, burn damage.
Some baby humidifiers require an occasional filter change, and the Vicks is one of them, which is, in our opinion, a bit of an inconvenience.
Pros
- Warm mist for relieving nasal obstructions.
- One of the quieter baby humidifiers out there.
Cons
- Requires constant filter changing.
3. Quietest Humidifier: MistAire™ Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier
Our Take
Its price is pretty affordable compared to all the items on our list. For comparison purposes, its largest size price is still fairly cheaper than our top pick, the Honeywell humidifier. It also has a 360° nozzle to ensure moist air reaches every part of your room. However, the greatest feature of MistAire™ is how quiet it can be, especially on the low fan speed.
| Best For | Quietest Humidifier |
| Price | $39.99 |
Product Specs
Run time: 25 hours on low setting (duration increases or decreases depending on fan speed and the tank size you choose)
Tank capacity: 0.2, 0.7, or 1 gallon (depending on the size you choose)
Mist type: cool mist humidifier
Range: 175, 245, or 500 square feet (depending on the size you choose)
Product Description
Most humidifiers emit a noise of around 40 decibels, which is 20 decibels fewer than a normal conversation (60 decibels). MistAire™, on the other hand, emits 30 decibels of noise, which means it’s whisper-quiet.
The humidifier also comes with a decent night light that you can adjust. However, this can be a double-edged weapon, as you can’t completely get rid of the light.
That’s because even if you switch off the night light, you’ll still have a bright blue power button that can disturb some people.
Also, regardless of the size you choose, the tank opening is pretty small, making cleaning a bit challenging.
Pros
- It’s one of the quietest humidifiers on the market.
- It comes with its night light, sparing you the extra cost of buying one.
Cons
- Difficult to clean and can be too bright for some people.
4. Best Smart Humidifier: Safety 1st Connected
Our Take
The continuous visits are because humidifiers fill the room with water vapor and can easily make the room overly humid. However, with this humidifier, you won’t go through all of that hassle. All you have to do is download the brand’s app and connect to the humidifier using your phone.
| Best For | Smart Humidifier |
| Price | $79.99 |
Product Specs
Run time: 24 hours on low setting
Tank capacity: 1 gallon
Mist type: cool mist humidifier
Range: 500 square feet
Product Description
The application will then help you monitor everything you need through your phone’s screen without leaving your seat.
The app also allows connecting to other devices of the same brand, like monitors and soothers. That way, you can have full surveillance of your baby without moving. It’s always recommended to check on your baby, though, as technology can sometimes be faulty.
Monitoring your baby isn’t the only thing this humidifier allows you to do. You may also connect Alexa to the Safety 1st baby humidifier to change the settings you want.
Once you connect to Alexa, simply ask her to change the humidity level to the desired one.
This humidifier also has an adjustable night light that you can control and turn off when needed.
Unlike the Honeywell baby humidifier, this one isn’t dishwasher-safe. However, you can easily clean it whenever needed, as the tank’s opening is wide enough to access the interior.
The one thing we didn’t like about Safety 1st Connected is how it needs Wi-Fi to work. A Wi-Fi connection in this baby humidifier isn’t a plus; it’s mandatory. If your home connection isn’t working, you won’t be able to control the humidifier manually.
Pros
- You have full control over your humidifier from your phone.
- You can control the light as you please or even switch it off.
Cons
- You can’t fully utilize this humidifier without Wi-Fi.
5. Largest Humidifier: TruSens Ultrasonic Humidifier N300
Our Take
This powerful 2.1-gallon humidifier can work non-stop for over 80 hours in a nearly 500 square feet room.
| Best For | Largest Humidifier |
| Price | $179.00 |
Product Specs
Run time: up to 80 hours
Tank capacity: 2.1 gallons
Mist type: warm and cool mist humidifier
Range: 485 square feet
Product Description
It has a touch screen that allows full control over the humidity level. You can also set a timer if you want an automatic shut-off. Moreover, you can turn off the touchscreen to prevent light during bedtime.
You can also utilize warm or cool mist as you see fit, so it solves that warm vs. cool mist purchase dilemma. However, the moment of purchase is where the disadvantage of the N300 lies. This thing has a spicy price tag and is the largest on our list.
Pros
- The largest baby humidifier on our list that can last up to 80 hours.
- It has both warm and cool mist settings.
Cons
- It’s the priciest baby humidifier on our list by a margin.
6. Best Humidifier With No Filter: Safety 1st Stay Clean
Product Specs
Run time: 24 hours
Tank capacity: 1 gallon
Mist type: warm and cool mist humidifier
Range: 400 square feet
Product Description
The Safety 1st Stay Clean Humidifier is one of the top picks if you plan to use your humidifier every day. Its LED technology actively kills viruses or bacteria or at least reduces the speed of their population. You’ll still have to clean the humidifier to prevent mold growth, though.
You can control the mist type, whether it’s cold or warm, and you also can use it for up to 24 hours if you use low speed.
The absence of a filter is a good plus since you won’t have to worry about changing it or buying a new one.
However, the LED light advertised as a pro can serve as a con, especially for those who prefer to sleep in complete darkness. The LED is quite bright, and there’s no way to switch it off.
Pros
- Active LED technology that prevents bacterial growth.
- You have a variable mist control to produce a warm or a cool mist.
Cons
- You can’t turn off the bright LED light.
7. Easiest Cleaning: Canopy Humidifier
Product Specs
Run time: 26 hours on low setting
Tank capacity: 0.6 gallons
Mist type: cool mist humidifier
Range: 500 square feet
Product Description
Advertised by Canopy as a “completely reimagined humidifier for babies,’ this Canopy Humidifier’s uniqueness comes from its ability to keep working non-stop.
That’s right; the nursery humidifier works as long as it’s plugged into an outlet. There’s no other way to stop it than disconnecting it from the power.
The device doesn’t produce actual mist but instead uses its sensors to keep the humidity levels of your baby’s nursery stable.
It’s an easy-to-clean humidifier with a large tank opening. And if you don’t feel like cleaning it manually, just put it in the dishwasher, and you’re good to go.
The tank capacity is a humble 0.6 gallons, which might require a refill during the night if you’re using the high fan. The highest fan setting also emits a “white noise,” which may be a pro or a con depending on the sleeping person.
Pros
- Easy to clean and maintain.
- It relies on sensors to provide optimum humidity levels.
Cons
- The tank capacity is low.
8. Best Humidifier With a Diffuser: Frida Baby Humidifier
Product Specs
Run time: 12 hours
Tank capacity: 0.5 gallons
Mist type: cool mist humidifier
Range: 320 square feet
Product Description
The Frida Baby Humidifier is a filter-free, 360° ultrasonic cool mist humidifier that also works as a diffuser. You can add essential oils without worrying about damaging the internal machinery, and the device will diffuse them into the atmosphere.
The tank capacity is limited to 0.5 gallons, which can be a little bothersome. Still, the device features auto shut-off, which automatically stops heating once the water runs out, ensuring safety.
Despite the small runtime of 12 hours, it can keep a 320-square-foot room humid for an entire night. It also comes with various night light options.
The tank opening is somewhat too small for cleaning. You might need a small cleaning brush to get the job done.
Pros
- A 3-in-1 humidifier + diffuser + night light combo.
- It has an auto shut-off feature for safety.
Cons
- The tank is small and difficult to clean.
9. Best Projector Humidifier: Vicks Sweet Dreams
Product Specs
Run time: 24 hours
Tank capacity: 0.5 Gallons
Mist type: cool mist humidifier
Range: 400 square feet
Product Description
Stars aren’t the only thing the Vicks Sweet Dreams Humidifier can project. It can also project the sea and some safari images! This may not seem necessary at first, but visual distractions actually help your baby calm down and sleep.
This baby humidifier can utilize Vicks menthol VapoPads to relieve congestion, making it useful throughout the cold and flu season. It also produces a cool hydrating mist that is safe for all ages.
Despite being a small humidifier with a humble tank, it’s able to run for an entire night without issues. It also has an opening large enough to make cleaning a simple process.
Pros
- It has a built-in projector for beautiful visual distractions.
- It’s easy to clean and maintain.
Cons
- Its tank is quite limited.
Features to Consider
Much like everything you buy, there are some boxes that you should tick before you purchase your baby humidifier.
Water Tank Size
The tank size determines the tank refill frequency. Humidifiers with a reliable tank will fill your entire room with mist for the whole night without requiring refilling the tank with water.
Typically, a one-gallon tank or higher will manage to stay working for an entire night as long as the room isn’t too big for the device.
If you choose a humidifier with a smaller tank, then it’s best to look for that automatic shut-off feature for safety.
Water Tank Design
The tank design should be convenient and easy to clean, especially if the humidifier isn’t dishwasher compatible.
It’ll also be a good plus if the humidifier tank is transparent so you can quickly see the remaining water amount without needing to rely on the screen readings.
Room Size
Always consider the room size compared to the output of the humidifier you’re buying. A great humidifier won’t do much if you place it in a room that’s too large for it.
The water tank will also empty much faster in that case.
Extra Features
Do you just want a humidifier, or do you seek other features? There are extra features like diffusers, projectors, and night lights that can be worth the price if you’re into them.
Conclusion
The best baby humidifier is the one that has the main features you’re looking for without punching a hole through your wallet.
The Honeywell HCM-350 seems to be the one ticking all the boxes without being too heavy on the budget. Meanwhile, the TruSens N300 sports the highest tank capacity for those who don’t like constant refilling.
The rest of the list features different other features like the easiest to clean, the quietest, the smartest, etc. It’s up to you to mix and match them until you find one that works best for you and your baby.
