Warm or Cool Mist Humidifier for My Toddler?

Here's a couple links that I hope will help answer your questions about humidifiers.

http://life.familyeducation.com/baby/parenting/40590.html

http://www.articlegold.com/Article/Warm-Mist-Home-Humidif...

What I use, can be used for anyone of any age, is putting vicks on the bottom of your feet before bedtime, cover your feet with socks and that will help with the coughing. It's amazing how this works!! My little one also had a pnemonia and it worked wonders with her cough.

L.

1 mom found this helpful

Cool mist humidifier, my son had this too.

I was told by 2 different pediatricians to use the cool mist humidifier. I do and of course I can't really tell that it helps a substantial amount. And I find them quite messy as far as getting EVERYTHING sopping wet. With that said, when my son starts with a cough, I elevate the head of his crib with a pillow and plug in the humidifier. At least I feel like I'm doing SOMETHING!

My little one has nasal congestion right now, and I told the nurse all I had was a cold humidifier. So, she told me to put warm water in it and it will blow out warm air. So, to answer your question, I would guess the warm air humidifier would be best, except you take the risk of your toddler possibly knocking it over and burning himself on it. (I'm not sure how "warm" or "hot" they get, though).

Definitely cool mist but be sure to change out the water every 2-3 days to decrease mold growth.

J.,

I can DEFINITELY help you out on this one! Get the cool mist humidifier. I asked my pediatrician about a month ago which one to get and he said that they both do a good job. So, I went out and got a Vick's warm mist humidifier...MISTAKE, because it heats up and ends up spitting out hot water (it might not do that if I didn't fill it up to the line) but regardless, the water gets pretty hot so I would definitely go with the cool mist so that he will not end up getting burned.

Hope he gets to feeling better!
K.

I took my 6 mth old to the doctor last week for head cold/ nasal congestion and was told to use a humidifier (cool mist) not the vaporizer (warm mist). Give the nurse a call and she should be able to tell you which would be best for you.

Hi J.

I would ask your pediatrician. I think they use one for "nasal" issues and the other for "chest" congestion but I don't know which one uses the warm and cold....but your doctor will definately have a preference!
Hope that helps.
J.

I know this will probably not be well received, as they are 'popular' but here goes. As a medical professional, in my training we were taught to strongly advise against using room humidifiers.. why? they are basically bacteria havens that in turn spew the growing bacteria into your air which everyone then breathes in. If you are insistent on getting one of these germ farms, clean it thoroughly and often and use only sterile water in it and change the water daily.. not every 2-3 days.

Cool mist humidifiers are best.

Use cool. I had a warm and it got hot enough to burn me if I got too close to it.

I have had the same question about which one to use either, but I have asked my son's doctor (who has asthma and gets sick all the time) about which one to use and she said use the cool mist humidifier. She said that we want to put moisture into the air not take any away. I have been using one like its going out of style due to me wanting to keep my son from getting phenomoa (i know i didnt spell that right lol). Anyways with me using one it seems to be helping. I bought one that dont need an airfilter because it tends to grow mold and gets expensive to replace, even if you get the washable ones.

cool humidifier, my daughter has had pneumonia 4 times. and the last time was in the hospital and that is what they gave me to take home. and and also maybe tilt his head of his bed up with pillows. good luck

Ask the nurse at the Drs office, but be careful with warm mist humidifiers. Some put out steam hot enough to cause burns. If you get one that hot, be sure to put it out of reach and don't let him touch it.