Have you ever wondered about the differences between humidifiers, dehumidifiers and vaporizers?  Or tried to figure out why other parents get so pumped up when they talk about their child’s adorable animal or Thomas the Train character humidifier?

Until the pediatrician suggested I pick up a humidifier a couple of years ago to relieve my child’s congestion, I didn’t really understand the value of a humidifier.  In fact, I didn’t even think they were safe, especially around children.  That’s when I did a little homework to figure out what I didn’t know.

I learned that humidifiers and vaporizers add moisture to the air.  Dehumidifiers do the opposite.  They take moisture out. When your little one is congested due to a cold and has trouble sleeping comfortably, infusing moisture into the air can be a good thing.  Moisture even helps ward off dry skin and chapped lips.   

The notable difference between humidifiers and vaporizers is the temperature of the released mist.  Humidifiers tend to release cool or warm mist, but vaporizers (i.e. steam vaporizers) release hot mist. 

Hot mist poses a burn danger to children.  That’s why cool mist humidifiers are the choice for children’s rooms or when children are around the house.      

Cool mist humidifiers can provide instant relief from stuffiness and are often useful throughout the year–they can even eliminate those static electricity zaps!  Given the number of colds children will likely have in just the first few years alone, a cool mist humidifier is practically an essential.       

Wondering what to look for in a humidifier?  Here are a few features to look for:

–cool mist

–variable humidity control

 –quiet motor

–auto shut-off

–energy efficiency

–if special filters are required, ease in finding “replacements”