How close should you sleep to a Humidifier?
By: Binish Sehar
Tags: Goodnight, Baby Sleep, New Mom, Humidifier, New Born Baby Products

Is It safe to sleep near the humidifier?

As a matter of the fact, placing the humidifier in your space might be confusing, especially when you cannot get enough knowledge on this topic through its manual.

You must be thinking if it is safe to sleep near the humidifier and create any potential damage to your room. Here you will learn where to place the humidifier in your room to have a healthy environment.

Types of humidifier

Most bedrooms do not have enough space. So how close should you sleep to a humidifier? Is the dilemma. Always consider some ultrasonic units, which can create condensation if they are overused. You must be surprised to know that excessive humidity can mold soft furnishings and wooden surfaces in confined spaces. Sometimes you can also observe the dampness. Instead, you can use an evaporative model.

On the other hand, ultrasonic humidifiers can be a quitter, and thereby they are best to sleep in any environment. You can also consider some automatic units, automatically turning the team off when it reaches the desired humidity level. In this way, they are trying to lower the chances of over-humidifying your room. Furthermore, the built-in humidistat is a particular feature for you to look at while selecting the humidifier.

Is it reasonable to sleep with a humidifier?

You must be wondering why you must sleep with the humidifier. Dry air has its consequences. Different seasons bring different hazards of dry air like:

Winter

Winder season is more prone to dry air when people are living indoors, and doors are enclosed. Ultimately, it makes the indoor air dry with a warm atmosphere. Dry air works as the host for spreading influenza, cold, and coronavirus.

Primarily, such problems can easily be transmitted when the air is dry. Hence, the foremost benefit of the humidifier is it prevents airborne disease, especially in seasonal viruses. Especially when the air is dry, the humidifier will ultimately moisturize the upper respiratory passages and nasal. Perfect thing that will support you to breathe more manageably when you have chest congestion, runny nose, sore throat, or cough.

Summer

Summer is the season when the indoor and the outdoor air is dry naturally. In addition, in summer, air conditioning will remove moisture naturally. Ultimately, it makes the indoor home dry, meanwhile, creating such health problems as well. In the end, the air-conditioner can dry out the nasal passages, sinuses, and throat, especially while you are sleeping. In the sensitive tissues, it leads to swelling and inflammation quickly.

Hence, a humidifier is overall the best option, which can protect you while sleeping in the summer and alleviating the symptoms of dry air, with some seasonal allergies. To counteract the mold and pollen, a cool-mist can play a practical part.

Other benefits of a Humidifier

Perfect sleep with a humidifier is the utmost benefit of having one. You can sleep better with a humidifier at night. You might be wondering why? Then here are the benefits of having one in your room:

· Increase the overall comfort

You can raise the optimal humidity level while enhancing your comfort, especially when you are trying to sleep when the humidifier is running at night. Easing an irritated throat and an itchy throat is also possible.

· White noise effect

A humidifier can also increase the white noise effect, especially when it is turned on overnight. Especially the soft hum can soothe the overall mental health and calm you down when you nod off.

· Decrease snoring

When the nasal cavities, pallet, mouth, and airway are dried out, it worsens the snoring. In addition, such vibrations make the snoring intensify while drying the tissues. At the same time, you turn on the humidifier before you are going to bed, which alleviates the loud snoring while providing more moisture to the tissues.

· Improving indoor air quality in overall home

It will provide you the same humidifier in your bedroom throughout the home while considering the whole house humidifier. In addition, such equipment will provide the best result while working with the central heating system and the regular furnace so it will deliver more humid air to your room.

· Best for sleep disorder

If you are facing different sleeping problems, there can be other underlying problems. Hence, the sleep health solutions will give you adequate support for treating and diagnosing the range of sleep disorders.

Types of humidifiers and their associated risks

There are several sorts of humidifiers with different essential functions to add moisture to the air. Such types are:

· Steam vaporizers

They use electricity to make steam; it gets cool before it leaves the unit. However, on the other hand, there is some risk of burning the skin. So especially avoid using steam vaporizers around your children.

· Ultrasonic humidifiers

For vaporizing water, these units use vibrations instead of electricity.

· Evaporators

Here the vapors can be produced when the air is blown past the evaporating water to make humidity.

· Impeller humidifier

A perfect child-friendly option uses rotating disks, not the heat to vaporize water.

· Central humidifier

To make your space moisture-rich, you can add all your space moisture-rich. You can connect the humidifier with the central air conditioning system in the office or in-home.

However, sizes can change. On the other hand, the console humidifier is sufficient to add moisture to your entire office and house. On the other hand, the personal humidifier is easy to carry and is portable.

Risks of humidifier

A humidifier is a perfect way to add more moisture to the air. However, there is some risk to consider.

· Dirty humidifiers

Most humidifiers can turn water into breathable vapor in the air. On the other hand, if the unit water tank is dirty, the smoke you will be breathing will also be contaminated. Especially, consider that the humid and dark tank is the environment that fosters the germs, but regular cleaning will assist you to prevent any of its issues.

Hence, it is recommended to clean the humidifier as directed by the manufacturers. In addition, water must not sit for too long if the humidifier has some filter in it. Finally, make sure to replace the overall dirt often.

· Too much humidity

The humidity in the air is a good thing. Still, most of the levels can make breathing difficult, and sometimes the allergy symptoms can worsen, including mold, mites, mildew, and especially in damp environments.

The United States environmental protection agency (EPA) must be between 30 to 50 percent indoor humidity levels. Moreover, humidity levels must be around 60 percent, or they can be a little high. Significantly, the one who is using a humidifier must have a hygrometer, humidity meter in the room. On the other hand, some humidifiers must have built-in ways of measuring the humidity. On the other hand, they can require a standalone meter.

· Using tap or hard water

Only it is better to use clean water or pure water in their humidifiers. Some reasons are mentioned below:

· Unfiltered tap water

Mostly the tap water has unfiltered water, which contains a significant level of minerals. However, on the other hand, some particles are also there, which are distilled or purified. In this way, a mineral that builds in the machine can wear it faster than expected. In addition, a humidifier can push the minerals into the air, and if the person inhales it, the particles can settle around as the dust in the room.

Other risks

A humidifier can help with dry sinuses. However, it can ultimately create harm. Mold growth and dust mite are the ones, which can be promoted in humid environments. Suppose people are allergic to mold and dust. If they have asthma, then a humidifier can work best in such conditions.

On the other hand, some other risks linked with a humidifier might include steam burns from the unit used for mold growth and heat where the moisture can accumulate on ceilings and walls. Getting too close to the machine is harmful in such an accord. Furthermore, while using one with children in there has its own risk, it is always good to guide them properly.

Where to Place a Humidifier in a Baby’s Room?

Since a humidifier is essential whether you are living in the cold or dry region, in this way, it is super important to have one in your little one’s room. However, if you get one for your baby’s room and wonder where to put it, then read on!

Distance of humidifier from the baby

It is always good to place the humidifier three feet away from the baby’s crib and bed. Create moisture at your place after placing it in the position where it can disperse quickly, in the area where you want the humidity, especially without accumulating it on the surface. In addition, it is good to place two feet away from the ground when the water-resistant tray is below.

Humidifier benefits to baby

If the indoor moisture level drops down, it can be more problematic for babies than adults. This is because Baby’s respiratory system and skin are super sensitive. For such reasons, humidifiers are essential for your baby’s room, especially in winter when you have some dry season.

Your baby will get comfortable breath, and the baby’s rash prevention is a plus in this regard. In addition, with the help of a humidifier, the child’s skin will be moist.

Best place to put humidifier in Bedroom

Hence, you must consider several things before placing the humidifier in your baby’s room, following are the Best place to put a humidifier in the bedroom

· Distance from your baby’s bed or crib

The best is to put the humidifiers some feet away from the baby’s bed. Because of the direct vapor and mist exposure, placing the humidifier too close to the baby is not a good option. Primarily, it is not good whether you are using warm mist humidifiers, cold mist, or ultrasonic humidifiers.

Always keep it 3 to 4 feet away from your little one’s position of sleep. Some humidifiers can also produce soft noises while operating, which can disturb the child’s sleep. If your little one has a cold, then the warm mist humidifier is the one to choose. You can place the humidifier a little close. It can only be a temporary measure.

· Positioning in the room

The best way is to put the humidifier at the center of the room. On the other hand, you can also set the humidifier on the top of the table with the cloth, which is water-resistant, and the material, which releases the damage on the table’s surface over time.

Suppose you are not able to keep the humidifier at the center of the room. Please do not keep it on the edges or side of the room. The moisture will not spread out widely and evenly. Hence, reducing the efficiency. The furniture or the table can also affect you so that the humidifier is not wobbly. Make it as fastened and sturdy as it is possible with the table along with the humidifier.

· Height from the ground

The humidifier must be at a position that your baby cannot reach. Kids are sometimes curious, and you do not need them getting their hands on the humidifier. Therefore, it is always better to place them 2 to 3 feet above the floor, especially where the baby cannot reach or move around independently. You need to put it somewhat above when your baby gets older.

Placement based on the humidifier

· Ultrasonic humidifier

This humidifier is infamous for making fine dust, which it makes from the mist. Thereby, distilled water is recommended here but make sure that you do not put it too close to your baby to prevent them from covering them from the mist.

· Steam vaporizer

One of the best choices of humidifier for your babies because boiling water can kill viruses and bacteria. However, the worst part of the story is it can burn your child and is super-hot. For best practices, place it 4 feet away from your child. Height must be ideally kept beyond the one of your baby’s height.

· Warm mist humidifier

A steam vaporizer works on the same principle as the warm mist works. However, it is slightly cooled. Such humidifiers are not that much risky and must always be placed away from your little one.

· Evaporative cool mist humidifier

You will not face any potential risk, which can burn your child. However, in this way, they must be placed far away from your little one if you want to prevent them from being covered in mist.

Maintenance and cleaning of humidifiers

A dirty humidifier can be the reason for different diseases for your little one. In this way, the best practice is to clean it daily. However, if you cannot, then you must do it after every 2 to 3 days. Some essential tips on the cleaning and maintenance of humidifier are as under:

Pour vinegar and water into the humidifier base and let it be there for half an hour.

Gentle brushing can also make it clean with a soft brush.

Use the bleach to disinfect the humidifier base.

In case of the cool mist, the humidifier must have a filter, and it must be emerged in the vinegar and water solution for about 20 to 30 minutes.

After then it is better to rinse the humidifier thoroughly and keep them dried before reassembling.

Always use distilled and filtered water inside the humidifier to prevent the buildup of minerals.

Leaving humidifiers unused for a long time can make them dirty and harmful. Therefore, it is good to clean them daily.

What placement to avoid?

Please do not put it near to any electrical outlet

Cord crossing can create the risk of tripping, so you must avoid it.

Please do not put it near any heated surface, for example, a radiator

FAQs

1. Is it OK to sleep next to a humidifier?

If you leave the humidifier running all night, then there is no problem at all. On the other hand, some people have a low tolerance for high humidity. Therefore, you must consider your health and how your body is reacting to it.

2. Where a humidifier should be placed in a bedroom?

Always keep the humidifier 3 feet away from the bed. It is because no one wants to breathe in the moist discharge of the humidifier directly. For better results, place it on the floor and on the shelf, which must be away from the bed.

Conclusion

Overall, it is recommended to have a humidifier in your room for better results. Furthermore, the mist and humidity are the overall requirements, especially in dry weather. In such a way, it is good to have a humidifier in your room.