Humidifiers for children: benefits, harm, rating, choice and operation

With the onset of the heating season, the problem of dry air arises in every home. The outgoing heat from the hot batteries eliminates the existing humidity of the indoor microclimate, which results in general discomfort and dryness of the respiratory tract in both adults and young children. In the recent past, our ancestors solved such a serious problem with the help of wet towels, hanging them on hot heating pipes. Today, you can forget about such manipulations. As an analogue of wet fabrics, technical progress offers special devices - air humidifiers, which can be placed anywhere in the apartment.

This is especially true for a children's room. Dry air and house dust negatively affect the general condition of the child, and thanks to the humidifying unit, you can forget about problems with child immunity, since the natural humidity of the air will have a positive effect on the health of the baby and his development. The main thing is to choose the right device and make the appropriate settings.

The idea of ​​creating a device for automatically humidifying the air space in a room came from Western developers. According to the ideas of the designers, the main task of this device is to maintain the humidity of the room within the specified parameters. In addition to the main purpose, air humidifiers are able to remove dust particles from the air, purify air flows from harmful bacteria and act as fragrances.

All models of air humidifiers have almost the same design, which means that the principle of their operation is similar to each other. With the help of a built-in fan, dry air enters the unit, then it passes through the filtration and purification systems, and then returns to the room, enriched with moisture.

When it comes to child health, pediatricians claim that the atmosphere in the nursery affects the development of the baby. The ideal room temperature should be + 18 ° C, respectively, the air humidity should be in the range of 50-70%. For this reason, most parents caring for their children purchase humidifiers exclusively for the children's space.

It should be noted that in winter, when the heating system is actively working, heating devices are connected, the state of air humidity is at minimum levels, namely: 20-25%... The more heat is supplied, the less humidity remains in the atmosphere, which means that the human body is forced to spend energy to independently wet the respiratory tract. In this case, it is much more difficult for the child, since the baby begins to experience discomfort, irritation appears. And this is an incomplete list of symptoms that children can feel when there is a lack of humidity in the atmosphere. First of all, the child develops a cough, then a runny nose and a feeling of nasal congestion.

If you do not deal with the problem of dry air, the child may develop lung diseases, diseases of thick blood, as well as allergies. To understand a complete list of features of humidifying units, it is suggested to get acquainted with the table, which indicates their main characteristics.

Many parents, who have never encountered units that humidify the air, begin to think about the need to purchase it, weigh the pros and cons, and study the advantages and disadvantages of the units. But even pediatricians argue that a dry environment adversely affects the health of the child, his delicate respiratory tract and mucous membrane suffer.

A humidifier can solve this problem without harming the baby's health. And to be convinced of this, it is suggested that you familiarize yourself with the list of advantages and disadvantages of humidifying devices, based on feedback from the owners of the units. And first you need to find out their useful sides:

• the air humidifier provides ideal heat exchange between the baby's body and the surrounding air microclimate;
• the unit helps to strengthen the baby's immunity, increases the body's resistance to the fight against various diseases, for example, pneumonia, rhinitis and bronchitis;
• moisturizing device helps reduce the risk of dry eyes;
• the humidifier during operation not only fulfills its main task, but also plays the role of a purifier, removing dust particles from the air space;
• thanks to the humidification of the environment, the baby will be able to sleep soundly, he will not be disturbed by dryness of the nasopharynx, cough and general ailments.

Having familiarized yourself with the positive aspects of air humidifiers, you can begin to study its shortcomings, which, according to buyers, are present in many units:

• in some models there is a risk of scalding by steam, which means that they cannot be placed in the public domain;
• in traditional humidifiers, the antibacterial cassette releases various types of viruses into the air;
• in ultrasonic models, the disadvantage is the spraying into the environment of chemical elements that are present in a liquid that turns into a water mist.

As it became clear, humidifiers do not have any harmful effects on the human body, especially a newborn baby.

Today there are several types of air humidifiers, each of which has a number of features and differs in technical characteristics.

The devices are distinguished by high rates of efficiency and productivity. The principle of their operation is the evaporation of liquid due to the oscillatory action of a special membrane immersed in a reservoir with water. The outlet vapors are at the optimum temperature for the area of ​​the room. At the same time, cool vapors will not be able to burn the body of a small child who, out of curiosity, wants to get to know the device better.

More damage is caused by electrostatic radiation from TV screens and monitors. But even if these devices are present in the children's room, the ultrasonic humidifier helps to reduce electromagnetic radiation.

Parents who decide to purchase an ultrasonic humidifier should be aware that the device is best placed at a low height, thereby increasing the speed of steam in the room. During operation, it should be remembered that the unit does not perceive hard water, so you will have to use purified liquid or replaceable softening cartridges.

The peculiarity of these devices is the saturation of the airspace with moisture in a natural way. At the same time, the working potential of the devices is much lower than that of ultrasonic units, especially in conditions of maximum overdrying of the air space. Initially, the humidifier has to restore the lack of moisture, and only then enrich the air masses. The recovery process can take several days, but when the room acquires the necessary humidity, the unit will show its capabilities in standard mode.

From the constructive side, traditional models are arranged as simply as possible. A filter is lowered into the reservoir with the liquid, through which the air flow moves. At the same time, the air is not only saturated with moisture, but also cleared of invisible dust particles. In traditional humidifier models, the fan is located at the top of the case, which is why the unit emits a little noise during operation. In general, this indicator differs from manufacturer to manufacturer, it all depends on the power of the motor. It is important to note that traditional humidifier models have little preference for water quality.

These appliances are very similar to traditional models of air humidifiers in a similar process of natural evaporation of liquid. A distinctive feature is the absence of a filter. The operation of the unit is ensured by the rotation of submersible disks in a container with water, which is blown by a fan. The total surface of the discs is a whole drum.

In addition, sinks are excellent fighters against dust particles and allergenic bacteria. During the filtration process, allergens get into the distance between the discs, after which they are washed off in a tank with water.

The only drawback of these units is their large size and high price. But during work, they do not make noise and cope with their duties even in rooms with a large area.

In the design of the presented units, there are several filtration stages, each of which is responsible for a certain work. It becomes clear that the dimensions of the device are impressive.

If we do not consider the specifics, we can say that climatic systems are traditional type air humidifiers with an additional filtration system, which can be represented as an evaporative filter or an aerodynamic design.

Climatic complexes, in addition to their main task, cope with the removal of fine dust particles from the air, allergens, bacteria and foreign odors.

A distinctive feature of climate systems is the absence of even minimal noise in any operating mode.

Today there is a wide range of air humidifiers, among which we managed to select the best models that meet the requirements of parents regarding the health benefits of their children.

This model is a 20W ultrasonic humidifier. The volume of the tank is 1.7 l, while the flow rate is 200 ml / h. Mechanical control, maximum humidification area 20 sq. m. In appearance, the device has a bright and cute shape that every little girl will like. Against the general background of the unit, the air humidification speed regulator is even invisible. The main feature of the device is the automatic shutdown of the unit when there are signs of a low liquid level in the tank.

This type of humidifier is the best climate system designed to serve a room with an area of ​​50 sq. m. In its system there is an option for natural air purification and humidification to a level set by the user. The water tank is 7 liters, which ensures a long operating time of the device. An additional power adjustment function allows the unit to independently control the rate of evaporation of moisture. In appearance, the device cannot be called childish; its design is made in a modern high-tech style. But, despite the external indicators, the unit efficiently copes with the tasks assigned to it.

In the rating of the best air humidifiers, this representative occupies a leading position among traditional units. The maximum service area is 40 sq. m. Power consumption is only 18 watts. Water tank 3.5 l, with a liquid flow rate of 300 ml / h. As additional functions, there is a liquid level indicator and aromatization. The working noise is 26 dB. In simple terms, when turned on, it practically does not disturb a person's sleep, and most importantly, it does not disturb the child.

The best model among the many designs of air sinks. The maximum service area of ​​the unit is 25 sq. m. Consumption 24 watts. The capacity of the tank is designed for 3.1 liters. And also in the design there are a hygrostat, a water level indicator and a timer. An important advantage of the presented model is the ability to leave the unit turned on on a permanent basis, since the device system has an automatic shutdown function. In addition, there is an additional health care function that allows you not only to humidify the air space, but also to get rid of bacteria.

There is a wide variety of air humidifiers from different manufacturers in modern stores, each of which has a lot of positive characteristics. Some are equipped with an ionization function, others blow hot, and others with cold steam. Some are installed on the floor, while others are important to be located on a pedestal. There are a lot of nuances of choice, and in order not to get lost during the purchase, you need to get acquainted with the basic rules for choosing humidifying devices.

• When looking for a budget option, consider traditional or steam models. They are very easy to install, easy to operate, most importantly, they do their job perfectly.
• When choosing a unit not only to maintain humidity, but also to clean the air from harmful bacteria, models with cleanliness control should be considered, namely: sinks or climatic complexes.
• For an apartment with small rooms, it is necessary to choose ultrasonic or traditional models of humidifiers, since they cope with the process of humidifying a small space as quickly as possible.
• If the water from the water supply is of poor quality, you should choose traditional models of humidification or washing, they have no preferences regarding the hardness of the liquid used.
• To maintain a light sleep for your baby, it is important to purchase a silent unit. In this case, climatic or ultrasonic design should be considered. Although, according to most parents, the most suitable option for a children's room are expensive models of climatic complexes, since they perfectly cope with the occurrence of dryness and air purification and are suitable for children's rooms in terms of technical characteristics.

In the designs of traditional humidifiers, the operation process is quite simple and does not require separate clarifications, which cannot be said about their counterparts, which need to be given special attention.

To begin with, you should know that there are the same requirements for all types of humidifier systems.

• Initially, you need to read the instructions.
• Place the device on a flat, dry surface. You can put the unit next to the baby cot.
• The unit must be in a stable position so that there is sufficient free space around.

For example, steam appliances are filled according to the level of the indicator, and then they are tightly closed with a lid. If the indicator lights up green, it means that the device has turned on, and only after that the operating mode is selected.

Manufacturers, in turn, are ready to give some useful advice to potential buyers so that they do not spoil the purchased device and remain delighted with its work.

• Do not add liquid to the device container when the system is on.
• Do not place the device near heating appliances.
• It is forbidden to add flavorings to the liquid. For these purposes, there is an additional compartment.

Many parents share their experiences with different types of humidifiers. You can get acquainted with their reviews on the vastness of the World Wide Web, from mutual acquaintances, friends or neighbors. They assure that little children first of all study the appearance of moisturizers... Until the baby has acquired motor skills, you can use the device with the image of a child's toy. But when the child turns one year old, he wants to play closer with the device, and the most harmless thing that can happen is a breakdown of the unit.

On the practical side, mothers of babies note that the active use of humidifiers occurs in the winter and summer seasons.

Along with positive reviews, there are also negative statements. The only causes of the problems were the improper operation of the devices.

Dr. Komarovsky will tell you how to choose a humidifier in the next video.