Moms - ? about humidifiers

sara76

Making a list of the things I still need for babys arrival.  I don't have a humidifier, will I need one?  I'm from NY and it is dry there and a humidifier is a necessity in the winter.  But we are already pretty humid here in FL and I've never used one since I moved here 11 years ago.  I read that you shouldn't use a warm one for babies because there is a burn risk, but it would be high up on her tall dresser.  So if you think I will really need one, should it be warm or cold?

I also don't have a monitor yet and while I was shopping them online I noticed that lots of them have humidity sensors.  I'm wondering if there is some danger in humidity?   

Do I sound like I shouldn't be allowed to have a baby? 

jennifer80808

We have a cool mist humidifier and I only have used it when Kennedy was congested.  I didn't buy one before, and I was pretty irritated that I didn't have one the night she got sick, and had to go buy one the next day.  But no, it's not something you need right away (hopefully.)

sara76

Alright sounds good, thank you:)  Maybe I'll just hold off until she gets her first cold and then send DH to WalMart or CVS in the middle of the night for one if we need it.  I'm half kidding about that second part, but I'm trying to only buy what we really need right now. 

dvroxy

We have this one and I love it.  We have used it more times than I can count on two hands.  It's nice for those nights where MacKenzie starts getting the sniffles.  We break it out and it makes for a much better night for her.  When they are little like this, there is no cold meds you can give them, so this is a great alternative.  I definitely recommend one ASAP.  And do your research on them.  We bought one that had a filter because it was cheaper.  What a pain in the butt!  We had to replace the filter all the time because it molded and it ended up costing us more in the long run.  Good luck!

sara76

Wow that one has 456 5 star reviews and is very affordable.  I'm going to add it to my Amazon registry and get another 10% off with my completion and put it on my to buy list.  Thanks   ( I love that it's also in pink!)

ETA -  Congrats on your pregnancy also!!

MrsChelseaP09

We bought this one: http://www.amazon.com/Vicks-Warm-Mist-Humidifier-Shut-Off/dp/B001FWXKTA/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1323135010&sr=1-1 on sale at BRU for $20. It was extremely dry this past winter and Lila got a cold when she was itty bitty, it helped a ton with her congestion.  

ETA: Make sure to only use distilled water. It will keep it from getting gross and growing bacteria.

sara76

MrsChelseaP09:

We bought this one: http://www.amazon.com/Vicks-Warm-Mist-Humidifier-Shut-Off/dp/B001FWXKTA/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1323135010&sr=1-1 on sale at BRU for $20. It was extremely dry this past winter and Lila got a cold when she was itty bitty, it helped a ton with her congestion.  

ETA: Make sure to only use distilled water. It will keep it from getting gross and growing bacteria.

Do you buy gallons of distilled water?  I've been looking up how to distill it and apparently you need a vaporizor.  I thought you just boiled it and let it cool but apparently that causes it to have even more minerals. 

ragazza19

Registered for one, got it as a gift and it sits in Ava's closet unopened to this day.

MrsChelseaP09

sara76:

MrsChelseaP09:

We bought this one: http://www.amazon.com/Vicks-Warm-Mist-Humidifier-Shut-Off/dp/B001FWXKTA/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1323135010&sr=1-1 on sale at BRU for $20. It was extremely dry this past winter and Lila got a cold when she was itty bitty, it helped a ton with her congestion.  

ETA: Make sure to only use distilled water. It will keep it from getting gross and growing bacteria.

Do you buy gallons of distilled water?  I've been looking up how to distill it and apparently you need a vaporizor.  I thought you just boiled it and let it cool but apparently that causes it to have even more minerals. 

Yes, we bought gallons. We would buy enough for the week when shopping, during the winter months. We used anywhere from a 1/2 gallon to a full gallon a day.

SouthSeasBride

We use ours for the twins all the time in the winter and when they are sick any time of year.  I think it's been a pretty important item!

diamondgrrl5

You can find gallon jugs of distilled water at the grocery store.  We don't have a humidifier but I would say it is a must have since the last thing you want to do when baby has acold is have to run to the store to buy one.  My parents used it all the time when we were kids and cousins used them a lot too.

nicoleg1982

DD has never had one nor have we ever needed one.  Waste of money if you ask me.

Floridamom224

MrsChelseaP09:

We bought this one: http://www.amazon.com/Vicks-Warm-Mist-Humidifier-Shut-Off/dp/B001FWXKTA/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1323135010&sr=1-1 on sale at BRU for $20. It was extremely dry this past winter and Lila got a cold when she was itty bitty, it helped a ton with her congestion.  

ETA: Make sure to only use distilled water. It will keep it from getting gross and growing bacteria.

We have this one as well, and I have used it for Isaiah as well as for myself.  It works great.  You can get it at walmart for under 30$$

Mrs.Jason.9.15.07

nicoleg1982:

DD has never had one nor have we ever needed one.  Waste of money if you ask me.

I second this.  Along with those diaper pail thingys.  I always end up throwing the pee pee diaper in the regular trash (as long as they are not left in for over a day they don't stink) and I throw the poopy diapers outside in the trash immediately.  I found the diaper pail thingy stunk to high heaven when it was time to change it.  Oh my gawd, that smell was awful.   

ChangeOfPace

Hmmm, I live in a desert and have yet to plug in a humidifier here.  Maybe I've just been lucky (knock on wood) that my kids haven't gotten super congested.  I'd wait and see and if you feel you need one.  It's always easy to run to Wal-Mart, Target, Walgreens, or CVS for one.  Not convenient, per say, but it might save you from having one more thing collecting dust in the closet.

blossomtg85

B&E have been congested so I'm using one. But it is not something I plan to keep going. Once they are all cleared up it will go back in the closet. Like PP mentioned, hopefully you don't need one anytime soon!!