Best humidifiers to help with baby congestion and cough

The Vicks Filter-Free Cool Mist Humidifier is so intuitive and easy, it’s no wonder BabyCenter parents voted it the Best humidifier in the 2023 BabyCenter Home Awards. The 1.2 gallon tank is big enough to provide 30 hours of mist, but small enough to refill under your kitchen sink. Best of all, the humidifier is supremely easy to operate, even in a dark room: There's just one dial to turn the machine on and control the amount of mist. 

Tika Fender, BabyCenter's Art Director, says the "super easy dial" is her favorite feature. She tried a pricier smart app-controlled humidifier, but preferred her Vicks humidifier, saying, “It does the job and lasts forever.”

The Vicks Filter Free Cool Mist Humidifier hisses quietly, so it won't keep babies awake, and automatically shuts off when the tank is empty. Cleaning is quick and straightforward; you'll just need bleach, vinegar, and a soft cloth. 

Heads up 

This humidifier is made to accept Vicks VapoPads. There’s no clinical evidence that sachets or additives are effective in treating congestion, and they should not be used for children under 2, says Dr. Poinsett. 

Parents say

“I’ve used the Vick’s humidifier and it works great and is very easy to clean which is super important.”

"It helps my baby breathe better when she's sleeping."

"Filter free! No more buying filters!"

"Works great when the baby is sick, also very easy to clean."

Specs

• Dimensions: 9.5 x 9.5 x 12 inches

• Capacity: 1.2 gallon 

• Runtime: 30 hours

The Honeywell Cool Moisture Humidifier's standout feature: Parts that come in contact with water are dishwasher-safe. So instead of a weekly de-scaling and bleaching, you just chuck the tank into the top rack of your dishwasher and deep-clean by hand only when needed. 

Stephen Klop, BabyCenter's Director of Product Management, has two of these humidifiers: one for each of his kids' rooms. "It's a bit bigger than other options, but you don't need to refill the tank every night and it is easy to clean," he says. 

The Honeywell humidifier has a 24-hour run time which, as Stephen mentioned, reduces the amount of times you have to refill it in a week. But Stephen found that if he set the mist at the lowest of the three settings, it could run for about 48 hours. 

In addition to a long run time and easy-to-clean pieces, Honeywell’s humidifier has a wicking filter, which captures minerals and keeps them out of the air. If you have pets, this may be a nice feature to have. 

Heads up

Honeywell recommends changing the filter every 30 to 60 days. 

Specs

• Dimensions: 18.6 x 13 x 10.4 inches

• Capacity: 1.1 gallon 

• Runtime: 24 hours

The Mikikin Cool Mist Humidifier does double duty in your child's room, providing a steady stream of cool mist and a soft light for comfort. It’s easy to turn off the light when you don't need it: Just press the on/off button for three seconds. That same button also allows users to cycle through three mist levels (low, medium, and high), and you can adjust the mist's direction by rotating the nozzle on top of the tank. 

Karen Sly, Finance Director of BabyCenter, has this humidifier and uses it daily in her baby's room. "I like that it has a large opening so it's easy to clean the tank," she says. 

Heads up

This humidifier has a special absorbent part meant to hold essential oils, but Dr. Poinsett does not recommend them for children under age 2. 

Specs

• Dimensions: 7.1 x 7.5 x 10.4 inches 

• Capacity: 1.2 gallon

• Runtime: 30 hours

The Levoit LV600HH Hybrid Ultrasonic Humidifier has premium features worth the price tag. Our favorite: the built-in moisture sensor, which automatically turns the humidifier on (or off) to ensure the room is at your pre-set humidity level. 

Melissa Bykofsky, Everyday Health's Executive Editor, says this is her favorite feature too: "It makes properly humidifying the room something I don't have to actively think about,” she says. “I turn on the humidifier, set the sensor to my preferred humidity level and then I just leave it. It will turn on if the room is too dry and shut off when it hits the humidity level. One less thing to think about as a busy mom!"

Melissa also appreciates the large tank, which she fills every two days in "peak winter," and about once a week in summer. As if it couldn’t get better, the controls are easy to operate. There are dedicated buttons to set mist level, temperature, and desired humidity level. Even easier, the LV600HH comes with a remote, so you can change settings from bed. 

Heads up

This humidifier can emit warm mist (there's a button to turn it on) but the AAP recommends cool mist only for childrens' rooms. 

Parents say

"This is a great humidifier from Amazon. It also has a slot for essential oils."

Specs

• Dimensions: 11.3 x 7 x 10.5 inches 

• Capacity: 1.5 gallon

• Runtime: 30 hours

The AAP recommends a 40 percent humidity level for baby’s rooms: It keeps the air moist enough to help with dry skin, coughs, and congestion, but not so much that it encourages mold growth. If your nursery is too humid, a dehumidifier can help. Favored by parents, the Pro Breeze mini machine reduces humidity in rooms that measure up to 205 square feet. Parents appreciate that it's portable and compact; it's small enough to sit on a nightstand that’s safely out of your baby’s reach. 

Whisper-quiet and efficient, this humidifier removes ounces of moisture from the air each day. An LED indicator lets you know when the tank is full, and auto shut-off activates if you're unable to empty the unit immediately. 

Heads up

If your child has a larger room, you may need two. 

Specs

• Dimensions: 6 x 6 x 8.5 inches 

• Capacity: 16 ounces

• Runtime: Continuous