6 Best Humidifiers for a Baby, Tested by Experts and Parents
They're perfect for small spaces and nurseries.
Reviewed by Dan DiClericoHome Improvement & Outdoor Director
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There’s nothing harder than seeing your baby uncomfortable from a cold, especially when they're too little to clear their nose on their own. While tools like nasal aspirators can offer some relief, adding a humidifier to the nursery is another smart, pediatrician-approved way to help them breathe easier and sleep more soundly.
“A cool mist humidifier can keep the air moist and help prevent the inside of the nose from drying out,” said Tanya Altmann, M.D., a California-based pediatrician and spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics. Cool mist models are ideal for babies and young children because they don’t carry the burn risk that warm-mist humidifiers or vaporizers can pose. For this guide, we focused on quiet, easy-to-clean humidifiers that work well in small nursery spaces. If you’re looking to humidify a larger room or need options for older kids or adults, check out our broader list of the best humidifiers for the whole family.
Just one note: Proper maintenance is key. According to the Mayo Clinic, a humidifier that isn’t cleaned regularly or runs when humidity levels are already high can actually make symptoms worse. Personally, when my son had a persistent cough during his preschool years, we found that dialing back on the humidifier helped. Monitor the results in your space and adjust as needed to find the right balance for your little one.
Pros
- Easy to clean
- Whisper quiet
- Helpful smart features
Cons
- No visible mist output. Some users might not think it's on.
The Levoit Sprout Baby Humidifier earned perfect scores from our testers for its ability to add moisture to the air and improve overall air quality in small rooms. In both lab and nursery settings, it proved to be a reliable and effective choice for parents looking to ease dry air discomfort.
Setup is quick and user-friendly, whether you prefer manual controls or the connected app. Testers appreciated the app's ease of use and the helpful reminders to clean or refill the reservoir, which can often be overlooked. The top-fill water tank holds nearly a full gallon and ran through the night in our tests without needing a refill. The wide opening makes it easy to wipe clean, and the tank is also dishwasher safe, saving time and effort.
The Sprout uses evaporative technology, so it releases invisible cool mist without over-saturating the room. It also includes dual filters that help remove up to 99% of particles that are 0.5 microns or larger, improving both moisture levels and air cleanliness. Other smart features include a built-in humidistat, child lock, auto shut-off, voice assistant compatibility and a soft night light.
While not every parent needed the night light, most testers liked having it as an option. What stood out most was the quiet performance, especially in sleep mode. The Sprout runs at noise levels as low as 20 decibels, making it ideal for nurseries and light sleepers. With its thoughtful design, easy maintenance and consistent performance, the Levoit Sprout is a smart and trustworthy addition to any baby’s room.
| Capacity | 1 gallon |
| Run time | 36 hours in sleep mode |
| Room size | 219 sq ft |
| Weight | 6 lbs |
Pros
- Often on sale for under $40
- Cute designs for a kid's room
- Option to add a filter
Cons
- Not dishwasher-safe; must be cleaned by hand
This little elephant is an ultrasonic humidifier, which means ultrasonic vibrations generate the cool mist that can clear sinuses and keep air moist. Besides being an adorable addition to your kid's bedroom, our Lab experts found this quiet when operating. It comes in different designs, including a steam engine and an owl. Although prices may vary, this is consistently a bargain for parents looking to try a humidifier to see if it helps battle cold and flu symptoms.
There's an optional filter slot (filter sold separately), so while one isn't required, you can pop one in if you feel your water calls for it. The brand now sells a mini version that holds a half gallon and can more easily fit small spaces, like on a bookshelf, but it's a little more expensive. Or you prefer a less-kiddie look, the popular Crane Drop Cool Mist version wouldn't look out of place in a living room or an adult's bedroom.
Hang on to the user manual for cleaning and disinfecting instructions. You clean it with white vinegar and then rinse it out, much like cleaning an electric kettle.
| Capacity | 1 gallon |
| Run time | 24 hours on low |
| Room size | 500 sq ft |
| Weight | 3 lbs |
Vicks SleepyTime Humidifier
Pros
- Can add VapoPads for diffusion
- Also a nightlight with 7 different colors
- Nozzle adjusts to direct the cool mist
- Quiet and compact
Cons
- Filterless is a pro for some, a con for others
There's a slot in this humidifier for Vick's VapoPads, and adding that menthol to the air can make this particularly effective for fighting congestion. It won one of our most recent Parenting Awards and is at a great price.
This one is ultrasonic and filterless, a pro for some (no filters to buy or change!), but a con for others who want the water to pass through a filter first. You can always fill it with prefiltered water. It functions as a nightlight with seven color choices to help create a calming bedtime environment. Plus, it’s quiet, lightweight and compact, and includes an automatic shut-off when the water runs dry.
Consumer testers gave it perfect scores for being easy to set up, move around and fill with water. Parents loved being able to adjust the nozzle to direct the moisture. "This delivers solid output with quiet operation and lots of convenient features," said Good Housekeeping Institute Home Improvement & Outdoor Director Dan DiClerico. Read the user manual for cleaning tips, as the pieces don't go in the dishwasher.
RELATED: The Best Way to Clean a Humidifier
| Capacity | .6 gallons |
| Run time | 24 hours on low |
| Room size | 250 sq ft |
| Weight | 3.65 lbs |
Pure Enrichment MistAire Humidifier
Pros
- Quiet operation
- Nightlight mode
- Nozzle that's easy to direct
- Automatic shut-off
Cons
- Small tank is only ideal for small rooms
If you don't want the humidifier hum to compete with the sound machine that already helps your baby sleep, Pure Enrichment may be the one you're looking for. In Lab tests, we found it's surprisingly quiet while in use and ideal for small rooms due to its compact tank.
This model, which has more than 14,000 five-star reviews on Amazon, is another ultrasonic device that sends cool mist into the room with ultrasonic vibrations. There are two speed settings, a nightlight mode and a nozzle that spins 360 degrees to direct mist wherever needed.
Its automatic shut-off means once the water level gets too low, it will shut off on its own. You'll need to regularly clean and rinse this model off in the sink.
| Capacity | .4 gallons |
| Run time | 24 hours on low |
| Room size | 250 sq ft |
| Weight | 1.35 lbs |
Safety 1st Connected Smart Humidifier
Pros
- Reads and displays the humidity in the room
- Can be controlled remotely via app, or on the machine itself
- Timer can set it to go off or on at certain times or humidity levels
Cons
- Some online reviewers report trouble connecting to the app
The ideal humidity level for indoors is between 30% and 50%, but how do you know how your baby's room is faring? This Safety 1st ultrasonic humidifier has a hygrometer so you'll always know the humidity level of the room it's in. You can read it on the display or in the Connected Family app (iOS and Android), which also lets you adjust humidity levels virtually by turning the power up or down. Some online reviewers reported trouble connecting to the app.
The top-fill tank makes refilling this a breeze. Testers found it simple to use and loved the variety of settings. If you have trouble connecting to the app, it can function without it, but the app does give you more options.
A timer allows you to set this to go on or off at specific times, or triggers it to go off or on when the room reaches a specific humidity level. You'll need to clean the tank by hand at the sink, and if you use the app, it will send you a reminder that it's due for a cleaning.
| Capacity | 1 gallon |
| Run time | 24 hours on low |
| Room size | 500 sq ft |
| Weight | 5.25 lbs |
Pros
- Small and lightweight so it's easy to move around
- Can work with the brand's vapor drops
- Built-in nightlight in a range of colors
- Auto-stop feature turns off machine when water runs out
Cons
- A bit harder to clean than others because of the small size
- Not recommended to add other types of essential oils
There's an aromatherapy diffuser built into this ultrasonic humidifier. The Breathefrida Vapor Drops are made to work with this machine and can be added to help clear stuffy sinuses from coughs and colds. Using other brands of essential oils is not recommended for babies, as they can be too harsh. (The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia offers additional aromatherapy tips for children.)
This is small and lightweight, so if your kids seem to take turns getting sick, it's easy to move this from one bedroom to another. While testing, we found that this model is easy to set up and you can adjust the output level with a twist of the knob. The built-in nightlight features a range of colors to help set the mood.
This humidifier turns off automatically when the water runs out or if the tank is removed. The tank should be hand-washed in the sink. Some online reviewers said that the small tank can be a bit tricky to clean and disinfect.
| Capacity | .5 gallons |
| Run time | 24 hours on low |
| Room size | 320 sq ft |
| Weight | 2.5 pounds |
How we test baby humidifiers
The Good Housekeeping Institute tests everything parents could want or need for kids, including crib mattresses, diaper changing pads and baby monitors. When reviewing humidifiers, we interviewed consumers about their experiences, read through thousands of online reviews and, of course, completed rigorous testing in our Lab.
For each of the 15 humidifiers tested, our experts evaluated qualities like tank capacity, output and how well it achieved and maintained a set humidity level in our climate-controlled chamber. We also evaluated ease of use, which included how easy it was to set up, fill and move around. Some of the humidifiers were also tested in consumer homes as part of our annual Parenting Awards.
What to consider when shopping for the best humidifier for a baby
✔️ Room size: You want a humidifier that can handle the entire room. That said, if you have a small space, be cautious to not over-humidify the room, which can cause bacteria and mold growth. So not too big, and not too small, but just right.
✔️ Run time: Most last about 24 hours before requiring a refill. That does mean refilling it each and every night that you want to run the humidifier. Consider getting a humidifier with an auto-off feature so that the unit turns off and saves energy if the water runs out.
✔️ Tank design: Our favorite design is a tank with a large opening for refills. Translucent tanks help you keep an eye on the water level. For bigger units, make sure you can either easily remove the tank or fill it up with a pitcher without moving it from its spot.
✔️ Ease of cleaning: Our experts recommend cleaning your humidifier weekly so it doesn't get moldy. Most humidifier tanks and parts have to be hand-washed but our best overall choice has parts that can be run through the dishwasher.
✔️ Features: Some of the best humidifiers for babies are also the best humidifiers for adults too. However, some baby-centric humidifiers have options to make them even more kid-friendly, like cute designs or a nightlight.
Why are cool mist humidifiers better for babies?
Warm mist humidifiers and vaporizers have an internal heating element that boils water to make steam, then blows that steam around the room. The hot water is a burn hazard if the machine tips over on your baby. They're not great for colds either, despite what you might have been told. According to the Food and Drug Administration, warm mist humidifiers can cause nasal passages to swell, which is the exact opposite of what you want for congestion.
Cool mist humidifiers operate in one of two ways: evaporative cool mist or ultrasonic cool mist. Evaporative cool mist humidifiers use a fan to dry air through a wet wick (or wick filter) and then release the vapor into the air. Ultrasonic cool mist humidifiers use a high-speed vibrating plate to turn water into a fine mist. Either way, cool mist humidifiers tend to be safer since there's no heating element. They're suitable for year-round use and the cool air can help shrink nasal passages, so they're great for colds.
Unfortunately it's easy for cool mist humidifiers to accumulate bacteria. You'll need to clean and sanitize them often. And even if there's no heat, put a humidifier up out of the way of your curious kid. "Make sure a child can’t reach the cord or machine and accidentally pull it down on top of them," Dr. Altmann said.
What to put in a humidifier for a baby
Honestly, just water. That's it. All babies need is moisture in the air to help them fight off colds and coughs.
Some of the humidifiers on our list are meant to also work with the brand's matching aromatherapy products to help open up a child's sinuses. But that doesn't mean you can add any essential oil into a baby's humidifier. Essential oils are too strong for children, plus the oils make the machines harder to clean.
Never apply essential oils directly to a child's skin. You can read more cautions about aromatherapy for children from the American Academy of Pediatrics. They also have an excellent guide on how to care for your child’s cold.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
This list was originally compiled by Rachel Rothman, former chief technologist and head engineer at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she worked for 15 years. She has a B.S.E. in mechanical engineering and applied mechanics with a mathematics minor from the University of Pennsylvania and is a mother of three.
This most recent update was written by Contributing Writer Jessica Hartshorn, who has followed the juvenile product industry for 20+ years. She's a mom of two, a judge for the Parenting Awards and Toy Awards, and she gives frequent buying advice on infant products such as bassinets and travel strollers.
Jessica (she/her) is a freelance writer with several decades of experience writing lifestyle content and evaluating home and parenting products. A mom of two teens and two cats, her previous work can be seen in American Baby and Parents.
Having written thousands of product reviews and how-to articles on all aspects of home ownership, from routine maintenance to major renovations, Dan (he/him) brings more than 20 years of industry experience to his role as the director of the Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute. A one-time roofer and a serial remodeler, Dan can often be found keeping house at his restored Brooklyn brownstone, where he lives with his wife and kids.
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