Warm or Cold Mist Humidifier

I am not aware of any differences other than the cool mist is better because it does not get hot. It is safer when you have children that could possible get near it and touch it. If anyone else knows of any other differences I would love to know.

J.,

My doctor has always recommended for me to use a cool mist humidifier for my daughter. I don't know what the difference is. Maybe you could call a nurse help line on your insurance and asked them. But I do know that a warm hunidifers can burn your child if there was an accident. If you don't have a number to call try this one. 1-800-828-1120 that is the United Health Care Nurse help line.

We went with the cool mist humidifier when my daughter was born to avoid the burn potential, and the cute frog design was too irresisitable (and Thomas the train, and Hello Kitty, and Cow...). Pretty soon, we started noticing a fine white dust everywhere in the house, but especially on electronics and CDs etc. We realized that it was from the minerals in the water being vaporized and spewed into the air. I'm not sure if there are health consequences to this stuff (other than the white boogers my daughter always had) but we stopped using it. Some humidifiers have filters and specifically mention reducing/eliminating the white dust. We now have an evaporative model with a filter, but it doesn't produce nearly as much moisture I don't think. We're still looking for the "right" one.

Hi, don't know if you had any replies yet, but if you do use the hot one-be very careful. My son burned his hand on the steam because I forgot it was on and he got to it as I pulled his hand away. Not a horrible burn, but I felt horrible. Also, if you use Danvers water the hot ones get gross fast and need to be cleaned often.

Cold mist sprays cool water and is safer. (no danger of burns)
Warm mist is heated or is you may have vaporizer which produces steam. Any thing that heats could be a danger to a child. They could pull it off or over on themselves. If you are trying to add moisture to the air because of dried out stuffy nasal passages or such try the cool one. It can be run full time in the winter to avoid the dry air in a baby's or child's room. If your dealing with croup type cough, warm moist air usually works better. I would check with the doctor before using this. It needs to be used with extreme caution because of the safety hazards. Either type needs to be cleaned regularly. After washing soak of the parts in vinegar and water will get rid of bacteria, mold etc. and hard water deposits. Use about one cup of vinegar and 1 gallon water and soak for 30 minutes or longer. Hope this helps!

J.,

Cool mist works best for croup. Warm mist works well for other things, but there is a safety issue. My husband has a scar on his leg where hot water from a humidifier spilled on him when he was three. Our pediatrician prefers cool mist in general.

J. N.

This months issue of "Parenting" magazine has a great explanation and use guidelines in the winter survival section.

J.,

I am unsure exactly what the difference between the two are either, but was looking for a new humidifier last weekend, and the pharmacist and the pediatrician BOTH told me that if you purchase or have the Vicks humidifier, do not put Vicks in it as well as putting any on your self or your child, especially. Apparently it opens up the passages TOO much causing us to be more susceptible to additional colds/bacteria, etc........which I thought was crazy as I have been raised on putting vicks on your nose and chest during the winter. Just wanted to give you a heads up since you mentioned having one.

J.,

There may be good medical reasons to use one versus the other, but I don't know them. I've always used a warm humidifier when someone has a sore throat, because cold air passing across raw tissue isn't comfortable. We've tended to use cold air humidifier when it's summer, hot, etc. I have a daughter with asthma and also skin allergies, both of which have required a humidifier much of the time. Neither seemed to do a better job than the other.

My doctor, as well as my son's pediatrician, has recommended cool mist humidifiers. I have severe allergies with mild asthma and my doctor told me that warm mist humidifiers can irritate asthma. I'm not sure the reason the pediatrician told me to use cool mist in my son's room, but that is what I've always used and it works great. And like others said, I don't ever have to worry about my son burning himself like you would on the warm mist ones. Good luck!