Looking to get a device to improve air quality around your baby?

An air purifier or a humidifier both are great options but take care of very different air quality issues. So, in the humidifier vs air purifier for baby debate which one comes on top?

An air purifier for a baby can remove particulate matter from the air while a humidifier for a baby will add water into the air to combat dry air conditions. Air with the right amount of moisture will help your baby breathe comfortably while the cleaner air from an air purifier reduces the chances of inhaling lung irritants.

So, which one is better?

Both these methods can improve the air quality considerably but for your convenience, we’ll discuss the benefits of each device in detail and how they can improve the air for a baby.

Air Purifier Vs Air Humidifier – What’s The Difference

Air purifiers use the power of mechanical filtration (HEPA filter) to remove airborne contaminants and might feature multiple filters to remove different types of contaminants. An air humidifier is simpler in operation as it converts water into vapor and releases it into the indoor air to restore the moisture/humidity levels.

Air humidifiers cannot remove pet dander and other particulate air pollutants from the surrounding air but the fine mist can help your baby feel better.

Air purifiers do remove allergens and contaminants like dust particles and some air purifiers also bring activated carbon filters that can help keep volatile organic compounds and odors away (and also those pesky diaper smells).

Here’s a table that shows how your baby’s room can benefit from each of these devices and might clear some misconceptions when it comes to air purifier vs humidifier for baby.

	Air Purifier For Baby	Humidifier For Baby
Type of Operation	Removes airborne contaminants from indoor air	Releases a fine mist that restores moisture level inside
Pros	• Reduces chances of allergies and allergy flare-ups • Allows for proper breathing which leads to better sleep quality • Improves baby’s mood • Helps keep a pristine immune system	• Helps clear up congestion/stuffy nose • Produces White Noise that helps babies relax • Can help reduce respiratory inflammation
Cons	• Ion based air purifiers can release ozone into the air, which is a known respiratory irritant	• Using dirty water can release harmful ions into the air • May promote mold/microbial growth
Works best for	Highly Polluted areas	Dry climates + When using active heating indoors
Can assist with Aromatherapy	No	Yes

How can a humidifier help with my baby’s health?

If you’re looking to buy an air humidifier to help your baby’s congestion, a warm mist humidifier will actually make it worse. This is because it causes dilation of vessels in the nasal passages constricting the airflow.

Be sure to opt for a cool water vapor humidifier if you’re looking to fight off persistent colds as it can constrict the blood vessels in the airways and improve the baby’s health.

Humidifiers can also make microbes and pollutants less mobile leading to a reduced chance of allergy flare-up.

Air Purifier Vs Air Humidifier – The Similarities

While there may be similarities in the physical appearance of an air purifier and humidifier the operations are quite different. Interestingly enough for the consumer, both an air purifier and a humidifier can produce comparable differences in air quality.

Similar changes in air quality are due to the nature of the contaminants. The added moisture content from humidifiers can slow down the movement of microbes and other such pollutants and can cause them to stick to certain surfaces.

The right humidity levels can help your baby breathe better and more comfortably and the indoor air will feel fresher even if for a short period of time.

An air purifier also produces a similar sensation of fresh, breathable air and significantly reduces congestion, but the removal of contaminants is permanent until polluted air from the outdoors is allowed to flow in.

Air Purifier Or Humidifier For Baby – Which One Do I Need?

If you live in a spotlessly clean region that doesn’t have any apparent contaminant like dust mites or pet dander, but the air is cold, you probably don’t need a purifier. Cold air is very dry and can cause a stuffy nose and cause skin cracks.

This dryness can be even more problematic for babies as the baby’s immune system is not fully developed and can lead to aggravation of certain conditions like asthma while also causing dry skin among other issues.

On the other hand, if moisture is plentiful in your surrounding air and you’re not using any active heating to warm up the air indoors then you don’t need a humidifier for your baby. Air purifiers are best for such places if the AQI in your region is bad and you want to provide your baby with safe air to breathe in.

These conditions are hypothetical and don’t translate to real-life conditions as you might need both the devices in most regions. You can consult this detailed guide on both these devices and their functioning.

Best Air Purifier and Humidifier For Baby

1. Levoit Core 200S

If you’re looking for an air purifier that will help your baby’s congestion and also packs all the modern features that you can use with your smart home, then the Core 200S is an excellent option.

The Core 200S packs the best of Levoit in an inexpensive package and best of all, it produces only 24 dB of noise in the night mode. This allows your baby to rest and enjoy a sound sleep.

The Core 200S packs 3 stage filtration that will handle even the finest particles down to a size of 0.3 microns thanks to the inclusion of the HEPA filter.

Learn more about the full capabilities of the Levoit Core 200S in the detailed review here.

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2. SHARP KC850U Air Purifier and Humidifier

Sharp has been at the forefront of innovation for quite some time now and the best thing about SHARP air purifiers is that they are also offered with a humidifier variant. The humidifier comes packed with technology and features a HEPA filter to remove airborne contaminants.

The KC850U is energy star certified and operates at just 23dB making sure your baby’s sleep won’t be disturbed. The washable pre-filter, the true HEPA, and the activated carbon filter place it among the top air purifiers out there.

The inclusion of SHARP’s proprietary plasma cluster technology ensures that no microbes make their way into your breathable air.

It brings the best of both worlds in a boxy design that might not be the most aesthetic but is highly functional and promises a long life. Even though it’s a bit pricey but here are few things which we like the most:

What We Like

Is quiet enough to be used in the library
HEPA filter can remove as much as 99.97% of contaminants.
Durable build

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3. Sirena Twister Air humidifier/purifier

Sirena Twister humidifier/purifier is a great option if you’re looking for an inexpensive humidifier that will release water vapor into your baby’s nursery and help relieve congestion while also being quiet.

It can restore the humidity in indoor air effortlessly and can also double as a night lamp with 7 different colors. It is not an extremely advanced gadget but can get the job done without breaking the bank.

You can read the full review here and can see how it compares to other humidifiers/purifiers.

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FAQs

Can I use air purifier and humidifier together in baby’s room?

Yes, a humidifier and an air purifier perform very different tasks. You can pair them up and place them in your baby’s nursery if needed. Working parallel to each other, the air purifier can provide contaminant-free air while the humidifier releases a fine mist that makes breathing more comfortable for your baby.

Can I use air purifier and humidifier together in baby’s room?

Yes, a humidifier and an air purifier perform very different tasks. You can pair them up and place them in your baby’s nursery if needed. Working parallel to each other, the air purifier can remove particulate matter as the humidifier returns much-needed moisture to the air.