Humidity levels play a big role in your baby’s comfort. More specifically, humidity for the room in which they sleep. Too much or too little humidity and your baby may feel uncomfortable to the point that they become fussy and unable to sleep.
In this article we discuss humidity for baby’s room, how it contributes to their well-being, and how to control humidity for maximum comfort.
Table Of Contents
- Why Does Humidity Matter?
- What Is The Best Humidity For Your Baby’s Room?
- Tips For Maintaining The Right Humidity In Your Baby’s Room
Why Does Humidity Matter?
Healthy Breathing
The humidity in your baby’s room can have a direct effect on the way they breathe.
Air with high humidity (wet air) is “thicker” and “heavier” because of the extra water molecules floating around and can be more difficult for your baby’s new lung muscles to move in and out.
On the other hand, air with low humidity (dry air) can irritate your baby’s delicate nasal passages and cause congestion — or make that congestion worse.
If your little one is congested and having a hard time breathing, consider changing the humidity in their room (see tips below) and removing the mucus with the Dr. Noze Best NozeBot.
(Tip: For more info about the NozeBot, check out this article from the Dr. Noze Best blog: How to Introduce the NozeBot to Your Baby.)
Comfort
Temperature plays an important role in keeping your baby comfortable throughout the day. Pediatricians recommend setting the thermostat between 72°F and 75°F for maximum comfort.
But the humidity in baby’s room can affect the actual feel of those temperatures.
High humidity can make it feel warmer than it actually is. So, for example, if the thermostat is set to 75°F but the humidity is 70%, it can feel like 77 or 78°F. That’s a bit warm for your little one’s comfort.
Similarly, low humidity can make it feel cooler than it actually is. If the thermostat is set to 72°F but the humidity is 30%, it can feel like 70°F. That might be too cool for your baby.
Maintaining the right level of humidity for your baby’s room can help you keep your little one comfortable.
Sleep
Your baby is especially susceptible to discomfort while they’re sleeping. A newborn is not able to regulate their body temperature at night as well as an older child or an adult and can become too hot or cold while they sleep.
As we touched on in the previous section, both temperature and humidity play an important part in keeping your baby comfortable. And maintaining the right humidity in baby’s room can help them sleep better at all hours of the day and night.
What Is The Best Humidity For Your Baby’s Room?
When considering the best humidity for baby’s room, think of it like the fairy tale Goldilocks and the Three Bears: there’s an option that’s too high, an option that’s too low, and an option that’s just right.
Too High
Humidity above 60% is too high for most babies. Humidity this high can make the room feel hotter than it actually is and make it difficult for your little one to regulate their body temperature (something they’re not very good at yet).
In addition, high humidity can promote mold, mildew, and dust mites, which might trigger an allergic reaction in some babies.
Too Low
Humidity below 30% is too low for most babies. Thes low levels can make the room feel colder than it actually is.
In addition, low humidity can dry out your baby’s skin and nasal passages — the latter of which can contribute to congestion and coughing.
If you notice that your baby is congested and having trouble breathing, raise the humidity to a more moderate level (see next section for suggestions) and remove the mucus with gentle suction from the Dr. Noze Best NozeBot.
Just Right
Humidity that falls between 40% and 60% is just right (comfortable) for most babies, children, and adults.
Keep in mind that there is a bit of wiggle room on either side of those numbers.
While the optimal level of humidity is 50%, humidity just slightly over 50% will not feel that much different from humidity that is just slightly under 50%. But, when the numbers start approaching 60%, the more you and your baby will notice the difference.
Similarly, humidity just slightly under 30% will not feel that much different from humidity that is just slightly over 30%. But, when the numbers get closer to 20%, you’ll be able to tell.
Tips For Maintaining The Right Humidity In Your Baby’s Room
Run A Dehumidifier Or Humidifier
Depending on which way you need to go to get the humidity for baby’s room between 30% and 50%, you can choose to run a dehumidifier or a humidifier.
As their names indicate, a dehumidifier will remove humidity from the air, while a humidifier will add humidity to the air.
If you live in an area with high ambient humidity, running a dehumidifier can help remove the moisture from the air in your living space and create a more comfortable environment for your baby.
If, on the other hand, you live in an area with low ambient humidity, running a humidifier can help add moisture to the air in your home.
Some dehumidifiers and humidifiers allow you to set a specific humidity level (or range of humidity) so that the machine stops when it reaches a certain level or starts back up if the humidity drops below or rises above the level you’ve set.
Use Distilled Water In Your Humidifier
If you need to raise the humidity in your little one’s room with a humidifier, be sure to use distilled water at all times. Water out of the faucet contains chemicals that can find their way into the air your baby breathes.
Tap water also contains minerals that can build up and create deposits inside the humidifier where bacteria can grow and, eventually, get released into the air. This bacteria can cause respiratory problems in your baby.
Using distilled water is the safest alternative to tap water because distilled water contains fewer chemicals and fewer minerals, so it won’t contaminate the air in your baby’s room.
Clean The Dehumidifier Or Humidifier Regularly
Both dehumidifiers and humidifiers need to be cleaned regularly so they don’t become spreaders of mold, allergens, and bacteria.
Depending on which type you need to run, the following tips can help keep things as clean as possible:
- Regularly rinse the tank
- Wipe down the inside of the tank with a mild cleaning solution
- Remove components to clean under them (where applicable)
- Disinfect the parts regularly
- Replace the filter as needed (where applicable)
Use Cool Mist Instead Of Warm Mist
Humidifiers come in two varieties: cool mist and warm mist. For regular use, choose a cool mist humidifier over a warm mist humidifier whenever possible.
Warm mist humidifiers can raise the temperature in the room (even if the humidity is at the perfect level) because they are emitting vapor that’s well above room temperature.
Cool mist humidifiers, on the other hand, use room temperature water and emit room temperature water, so you don’t have to worry about it becoming too hot in your baby’s room.
In addition, cool mist humidifiers don’t rely on a heating unit to work, so they’re safer for babies who can move around their environment and reach above their heads.
Monitor The Conditions In Your Baby’s Room
As we mentioned earlier, some dehumidifiers and humidifiers have automatic shut off and restart options to help you maintain the right level of humidity for your baby’s room.
Even so, it’s a good idea to monitor the conditions in the room to make sure the humidity doesn’t fall below or rise above the “just right” range.
To make this easier, consider installing a hygrometer — an instrument like a thermometer that measures humidity — in your little one’s nursery or sleeping space.
Helping Your Baby Breathe Better
The humidity you maintain in your baby’s room can go a long way toward helping them breathe better — especially when they’re congested (which can happen a lot in the first few years of their life!).
Maintain a comfortable level of humidity in the living space and, if they’re congested and having a hard time breathing, use the Dr. Noze Best NozeBot to clear their nasal passages and help them feel better fast.
And, remember, a healthy baby is a happy baby! So, to prevent humidity from becoming a bigger issue:
- Keep their environment clean
- Limit their exposure to tobacco smoke and vapor
- Consider running an air purifier to reduce air pollution
- Eliminate strong odors
Follow the tips in this article to control humidity, and use the Dr. Noze Best NozeBot when stuffy noses strike!
Want more tips for keeping your baby healthy? You’ll love these articles:
- How to Monitor Your Child's Breathing At Home
- Common Mistakes Parents Make When Their Infant or Child is Sick
- Chronic Congestion vs. A Stuffy Nose: What Parents and Caregivers Need to Know
- Is It RSV, Flu, COVID-19, Or A Cold?
- Causes Of Baby Congestion (And When To Visit The Doctor)
The Nozebot is a battery-powered suction device designed to clear nasal congestion in babies and children.
