First of all, congratulations! Your bundle of joy deserves the very best that you can get him or her. The very best, also means that you need to be diligent in your research.

Knowledge about how to care for babies has been passed down from one generation to the next. Many sources are claiming to know all you need to know about babies.

Just remember that there are no do-overs when it comes to caring for the little person and so experiments are not the best route to take. You must go by what a qualified pediatrician says.

When it comes to baby products, also make sure that you are getting products that are approved and safe for babies. 

That being said, some of the important pieces you will buy for your baby’s nursery are air purifiers and humidifiers. The baby industry is a very profitable one and as such there are a lot of marketing gimmicks out there meant to nudge you in the direction of their product.

But you can not afford to go out on a whim when it comes to your baby, go with verified safe products. In this article, we take a look at the similarities between air purifiers and humidifiers and how they affect or improve air quality for your little one.

Difference between an air purifier and humidifier

The difference between an air purifier and a humidifier is that a humidifier increases the humidity level in the room, making more moisture available whilst an air purifier cleans the air of allergens, dust, and mold.

The two, serve different purposes. A humidifier will also help with dry skin as it moisturizes you whilst an air purifier will remove odor and mold as well as air pollutants.

Humidity and the effects of dry air on your baby

A humidifier, which helps add moisture in the air. This then creates the right type of atmosphere for the baby to breathe well and much easier. It is an especially necessary component in a baby’s room during the winter months when indoor air tends to get very dry.

Dry air can cause a sore throat, sinuses, dry skin, headache, dry throat, nose irritation, bloody noses, irritated vocal cords, dry cough, or cracked lips.

Babies are more likely to get congested in the colder months, and so it is important to be able to provide optimal breathing conditions. A humidifier will help loosen up the build-up of mucus by adding the right amount of moisture and improving the air quality in the room.

Another difference between these two is that a humidifier does not run constantly whilst an air purifier does.

How to check the humidity in your baby’s room

Besides a hygrometer, you can easily check the humidity level in your baby’s room using a humidistat. A humidistat is a small device that attaches to the wall and displays the current humidity level on an LCD screen. The humidifier will turn on when humidification is needed and off when humidity levels are met or surpassed.

What humidity level is best for my baby?

The most cited level by industry experts and researchers for a baby is between 30 and 50 percent humidity level. Always make sure you humidify your baby’s room and monitor the humidity level with a hygrometer.

Humidifier types & how they work

There are various types of humidifiers and they all work to add more moisture to the air to enable easier breathing. The humidifier that you choose, is dependent on the size of the room you want to add more moisture to, your budget, and your preference.

There are a couple of different types of humidifiers and these include central humidifiers, evaporators, impeller humidifiers, steam vaporizers, and ultrasonic humidifiers.

Central humidifiers work hand in hand with your air conditioner or heating unit, they are built into each other. These are quite costly however they are worth the spend especially if you want to increase the humidity level across the entire home.

These humidifiers do not emit steam and as such, they do not have the risk of scalding you, such as is the case with traditional humidifiers. 

The next type of humidifier is an evaporator which blows the moisture through a filter that is moistened. It is powered by a fan and is much more affordable.

It can add moisture to one room at a time. It is not advisable for people with respiratory illnesses because this humidifier increases the chances of mold growth.

Another type of humidifier is the impeller humidifier which is often cheaper than its counterparts. It runs on rotating discs which are rotated at high speeds and they are to be used in single rooms. They can not power up an entire house.

Steam vaporizers, on the other hand, are electrically powered and the cheapest on the market. However, they are not very safe as they can cause burns. They should not be used when there are children around.

The final type of humidifier is the ultrasonic humidifier, which makes a cool-mist using ultrasonic vibrations. This is a great choice for a child’s room. 

How do air purifiers work?

An air purifier will help make the air cleaner for your baby and protect his or her lungs from air pollutants. It may be one of the most useful things that you buy for the nursery.

Your baby’s lungs need all the help they can get because they are still developing. A lot of contaminants in the air that normally would not affect adults can have serious health effects on babies.

An air purifier will filter the air for particles that may be harmful to the baby. They clean the air using various filters and help create a toxic-free environment. They use technologies such as HEPA filters, and carbon filters,  and UV radiation. 

Can I use a humidifier and an air purifier together?

Yes, you can use a humidifier and air purifier together. Many humidifiers are advertised as having humidifier and air purifier capabilities. However, humidifiers will not sufficiently clean the air of pollutants or compensate for poor ventilation, and air purification is much more effective than humidifying alone.

Which is better for your baby

A combination of the two is ideal.

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