DD has her first cold. :( HELP with humidifier please.

kristinamh6

So, DD has her first real cold. She is congested, runny nose and coughing (not too bad). I bought the vapor bath, waterless plug in vaporizer and vapor rub for her chest, but I am so confused about humidifiers. Do I get cool mist, warm, medicated etc.

The pharmacist recommended a cool mist one, but you can't add the medicine to it and it blows cool air. I know it's not freezing here compared to where most of you live, but it's still winter. Our heater just went out so she has a small portable heater in her room, which only turns on when it gets cool in there. I know that can be drying but I don't know what else to do. I also love in the desert, so it's extremely dry here.

What do you have and would you recommend it? Any other advice?

mrsolsenk12

Poor little girl. We have a cool mist humidifer. Ours is one of the animal ones (you can get at BRU, Target, etc...) I am sorry, I don't remember the brand name but ours looks like a frog. Even though it is winter, the cool mist comes out of the top and you can adjust the settings. I have never found it to make his room any colder but it really does help with keeping moisture in the room.

madhatter2003

we have cool mist. It's not that cold, but trust me once the toddler is up walking around you don't want any chances of burns.

Nicole.

We have a cool mist one. It's cool but not cold- not nearly enough to change the temperature of his room at all. Our pedi suggested we use that as opposed to the warm mist ones.  Also, she said no vick's or anything in the humidifier. She said the Vick's baby rub is safe so we do that on his chest and feet. Hope she feels better soon!

kristinamh6

Thank you all. I spent forever at Target yesterday trying to figure out which one to get, and I finally chose the cool mist. I wasn't sure if I should keep it, but it sounds like I made the right choice. I can't beleive DD is 17 months old and I'm just now having to figure this out. We've been very lucky.

dansbride06

Same as pp's, we have a cool mist one.  It doesn't really make the room colder, just helps with the moisture in the room.

GypsyEsq

Cool mist may not make it cooler but a warm mist does make it warmer.  We use warm.  And when DD is very congested we put eucalyptus or lavender essential oil in the water.  I've always preferred warm mist, my own opinion is that it works better for congestion.  If you just want a humidifier on year round to add moisture cool mist is fine. But think about all the suggestions to take baby into the shower or bathroom for steam when they are congested -- warm mist is preferred IMO.