Warm Steam Vaporizer?

keeumm

DH and I have been struggling in our new house with very dry air, especially at night. After waking up at 3:00am last night and blowing my nose for the millionth time, I moved to the couch and spent the rest of the night there. DH is also tired of me snoring, which is caused from my perma-runny nose (thx pregnancy!) and the dry air in the house. 

I bought the warm steam vaporizer at CVS today, and when I brought it home, DH said that they weren't recommended for use with babies. I have already registered for a different, baby-approved humidifier for baby's room, and am planning on using this vaporizer for our room. 

Anyone have any experience with warm steam vaporizers? We googled and found mixed reviews, most of them dealing only with using in kid's rooms and using with medicine. We would just use it to add moisture to the air, and aren't planning on using it around baby or after the winter dry air is over.  I have the receipt and can return it, but wanted to check if anyone knew if they did the trick before going back to the store. 

lovey1

We had the Vicks one for when DD had a really bad cold but I didn't like it as much as a regular humidifier. It eventually stopped working. We have hard water where we live and it left black floaties in the water...I'm assuming those were minerals in the water that were burned by the unit? I would return it while you're still within the refund window.

rainydayluck

Cool air ones are recommended because warm air ones can encourage the growth of mold. After going through a zillion humidifiers, we now have a whole house humidifier (worth it) and a small travel one for DD's room.

https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/air-o-swiss-reg-portable-travel-humidifier/1016030902

https://www.iallergy.com/product_info.php?products_id=1359&osCsid=v9jl9uu8r6gdpveud3vh883td1

Xath

I think the issue with the warm steam vaproizers is the burn/fire hazard they pose for children, which is why they recommend cool mist humidifiers for them.  For you it's NBD.  Just make sure to clean them regularly, as any humidifier can grow mold/mildew issues which they can then vaporize to further complicate lung issues.  

pistolpackinmomma

I have had zero luck with the cool mist. We use warm in DS's room as well as our own. This LO will get a warm one as well.

pistolpackinmomma

rainydayluck said:

Cool air ones are recommended because warm air ones can encourage the growth of mold. After going through a zillion humidifiers, we now have a whole house humidifier (worth it) and a small travel one for DD's room.

https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/air-o-swiss-reg-portable-travel-humidifier/1016030902

https://www.iallergy.com/product_info.php?products_id=1359&osCsid=v9jl9uu8r6gdpveud3vh883td1

When we bought our house the home inspector told us that if we wanted to we could replace the whole house one that was already installed (because that one was packed with mold) but he didn't recommend it because he has yet to see one not get gross and moldy. A friend of mine in Maryland (I'm in Ohio) was told the same thing by another home inspector.

buggywhips

We have one for M and I like it. It keeps his room warm so we can leave the heater off (since he hates blankets).  They do require weekly maintenance or else they'll get mineral buildup and stop working. We have the Vick's one as well. 

cmitch01

Our birthing class educator recommended cool mist not bc of the mold but once the baby starts crawling/walking they're at risk to be burnt because of the boiling water used in the humidifier if they pull on the power cord or somehow knock it down

Dellaramsey

I'm almost always hot at night so the cool mist one works better for me. The warm one will warm up the room you are in. We are also in SE Texas so mold is always an issue.

Crazijewel

Not one, but two of my son's cool mist humidifiers broke and when my DH went to CVS to get another one he got a warm one. Honestly, the cool ones had more mold than this one! I love the warm one and it has lasted longer then the expensive Crane cool mist one.

pistolpackinmomma

Kimbus22 said:

cmitch01 said:

Our birthing class educator recommended cool mist not bc of the mold but once the baby starts crawling/walking they're at risk to be burnt because of the boiling water used in the humidifier if they pull on the power cord or somehow knock it down

I only have ours on when the kid is in his crib.  He can't get near it. Do people use these all the time? I only use it at night when he's sick.


Same here. Our's runs all day in our room but DS can't get in there unless I let him in, and then I would be right there with him. Also, are people putting them on a shelf? I just set ours on the floors. I think I would be more worried about the giant chunk of plastic falling off if the shelf than the few drops of water that's actually hot.

keeumm

Thanks for the info everyone! I think based on the comments, we are going to keep it. Our room is freezing, so anything that could warm it up is good with us! We would only run it at night. We have 2 cats, and I'm hoping that they don't think it's a fun new toy. At least it only cost $15, so we won't be out a ton of money if it doesn't do the trick.