Every parent wants the best for their little ones. From making sure they are well-fed to providing them with a safe place to play and grow, and a comfortable sleeping environment, there is nothing a parent wouldn’t do to keep their baby healthy and happy.
That is why the humidity level in your baby’s room is an important consideration. When the humidity level is too high, your infant may experience discomfort, disrupted sleeping patterns, and health problems. You can’t keep it too low, either. You don’t want the baby’s skin to crack or feel cold.
That said, keep in mind that the ideal humidity level may vary depending on factors such as room size, air circulation, and climate.
Below, we will discuss the ideal humidity range for a baby’s room and what causes low and high humidity levels. We’ll also go over some effective measures to keep your baby safe, comfortable, and sleeping sound.
The Ideal Humidity for a Baby Room
Humidity is the amount of moisture or water vapor present in the air.
According to the EPA, the ideal humidity level for a baby’s room is between 40-60%. Keeping it within this range helps to avoid skin problems and nasal congestion, as well as mold and mildew. It’s good for the body since bacteria will have a difficult time thriving within that range.
You might have read somewhere that keeping a relative humidity (RH) between 30-50% is fine. Well, yes, however, that is mainly for reducing mold and mildew in your home.
Why Does Ideal Humidity for Baby Room Matter?
A high moisture level in the air greatly influences the temperature in a baby’s room. It’s something that you need to address right away because your little one has poor thermoregulation. This means that they overheat or cool quicker than you.
On that same note, dry air or low humidity isn’t good for the baby, either.
How Does Dry Air Affect a Baby’s Health?
The dry winter air is often low in moisture, causing the nasal passage to dry up faster.
Ever wonder why you keep catching coughs and colds during the winter? That’s probably low humidity. The dry winter air encourages viruses and germs to dwell in the air for extended lengths of time when you cough or sneeze. And this isn’t good for the baby.
The poor infant will be more sensitive to the effects of winter air because they are more vulnerable to dehydration and have considerably smaller airways than you. This is why they get nosebleeds and cracked skin, and get unbearably cold during winter months.
Causes of High and Low Humidity
Excess water vapor in the air causes high humidity. This might be due to a variety of factors, like high temperatures and the client. Your everyday chores like laundry, showering, and doing the dishes can also introduce too much moisture in the air.
If you notice any condensation on the windows, mildew, and mold growth, it may be because the baby’s room lacks adequate ventilation. Humidifiers also adds more moisture to the air, resulting in high humidity.
However, there are a few factors specific to a baby’s room that might influence humidity levels like disposable diapers which hold moisture so it’s always a good idea to toss them out properly. Giving your baby a bath in the room can also increase humidity levels.
Low humidity, on the other hand, happens when there isn’t enough moisture in the air. Aside from winter, low humidity can be due to excessive use of an air conditioning unit, heating system, and dehumidifier.
In addition, your home’s construction and design also affect humidity levels in your baby’s room.
How To Control Humidity Levels in Baby’s Room
The first step is to address the problem. Then, taking the necessary steps will help regulate the humidity level in your baby’s room. Here are a few effective ways to do it:
Invest in a Hygrometer
It’s a small device but helps a lot. A hygrometer will help you keep track of the humidity levels in your baby’s room.
Improve Ventilation
When it’s hot, proper ventilation is essential, especially for small rooms. Make sure to keep the windows open to let fresh air in. You can also turn on your fan or air conditioning to help freshen up the space.
Add Some Plants
When the air is dry, maybe dot some rubber plants, peace lilies, pothos, and ferns around the room. Indoor plants not only provide oxygen but also eliminate harmful pollutants and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the air.
These plants are excellent for maintaining a balanced humidity. They can also prevent scratchy throat, sinus irritation, and other respiratory problems, and guess what? Wrinkled skin.
Check for Any Leaks
The reason the air in your baby’s room feels sticky is probably due to leakage in your pipes or roof. Make sure to have them checked regularly. If you don’t properly address it, your baby’s room will be at high risk of mildew and mold growth.
Use a Dehumidifier or a Humidifier
When the humidity level in the room is high, installing a dehumidifier helps remove moisture from the air, keeping the humidity at a comfortable level. But, if the humidity drops below the ideal range, a humidifier adds moisture to the air. This will help to maintain a pleasant level of humidity in the room.
Tips for Using a Humidifier and Dehumidifier in Baby’s Room
Planning to invest in these two devices soon? Here are some key considerations.
Type
For humidifiers, it’s best to use ultrasonic models. They are easy to use and come with a range of settings. Plus, they are incredibly quiet, making them ideal if your baby is a light sleeper. And they produce the softest white noise.
However, they may produce some warm mist. The warm water in an ultrasonic humidifier may pose a danger to babies if they touch or drop it. In this case, you would want to go for a cold mist humidifier.
When choosing a dehumidifier, go for one with a small capacity that’s made for spaces similar in size to your little one’s room. And make sure to regularly inspect and empty its water reservoir.
Humidifiers and dehumidifiers with built-in hygrometers also exist. This means you can monitor while also controlling the humidity in the room.
Do a Regular Cleaning
Clean both your devices and your baby’s nursery. If the room is dusty, such gadgets can collect dirt and moisture, allowing mold and mildew to grow.
And if you don’t clean your device, dust particles will spread in the air. Take out the parts and do a thorough cleaning. Not cleaning in general will harm both your equipment and your baby.
Keep It Out of Your Baby’s Reach
You should keep your toddler away from the mist. Keep a minimum of 6 feet distance between the humidifier and their bed. This avoids respiratory issues and irritation that excess moisture may bring, while also keeping a humidity level that promotes restful sleep.
You can minimize any water damage and achieve an even distribution of mist throughout the room by pointing the nozzle toward the center of the baby’s room and away from the walls and furniture.
Positioning the device at least a few feet above the floor will also help the mist travel through the space. And make sure it’s on a stable surface.
FAQs
Can a Baby’s Room Be Too Humid?
Babies could do well in a higher humidity level as long as it doesn’t go well above 60%. Extreme humidity affects babies by encouraging the spread of bacteria in the air, making your infant sick. A high humidity level can also make the room uncomfortable and the indoor air sticky, and this can affect the baby’s sleep.
What Temperature and Humidity Should a Baby’s Room Be?
As we’ve mentioned above, you should keep relative humidity between 40-60%. When it comes to temperature, make sure to keep it from 68 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit.
Can Humidifier Make Baby Cough Worse?
Yes, if you don’t clean your humidifier properly. Dust can accumulate in it and when the mist gets released into the air, it can worsen the baby’s cough.
We recommend using cool water or ‘cool mist’ humidifiers and don’t use essential oils. Also, make sure to use distilled or demineralized water in the humidifier to minimize mineral buildup.
Final Thoughts
It’s important to maintain the humidity level in your baby’s room at an ideal range. While the recommended RH for indoors is 30-50%, keeping the little one’s room at the ideal temperature from 40-60% will help them sleep soundly and gives you peace of mind.
Make sure to monitor humidity levels in your entire house to help in preventing mold growth and keep your baby healthy and comfortable. You can always seek a pediatrician if you have concerns regarding your baby’s health.
We hope you find this post helpful and if you have more questions, feel free to reach out. Thanks for reading!
