Is It Good to Sleep with a Humidifier? The Key to Getting the Rest You Need
Good sleep is crucial to your overall health. It is one of the building blocks in managing your weight, uplifting your emotions, physical performance, and mental well-being. Besides feeling rested and ready to attack your day, you need sleep to regulate many critical body systems.
One of the best ways to boost your sleep hygiene and get the slumber you need is to use a humidifier. When you keep your home or sleeping area moist and comfortable, you end up with fewer sinus problems, bloody noses, cracked lips, and feelings of congestion.
Knowing how to improve your sleep with everything from a humidifier for baby rooms to a warm mist humidifier in your guest lodging is a great way to enjoy a happier, healthier life.
The Many Benefits of Sleeping with a Humidifier
If you’re still on the fence about buying a baby humidifier or installing a mobile solution for your personal living space, here are some of the benefits you can expect to experience.
Improved Breathing
Adding a steam humidifier to an area of your home imbues the space with moist air. It helps eliminate dry air that often clogs you up with nose congestion or dry mouth. The warmer, humid air enhances oxygen intake by opening airways and, in some cases, helps reduce or stop snoring that keeps your partner up all night.
Keep Skin Hydrated
Living in a dry environment or dealing with the dryness from a harsh winter means equally dry skin. Itching, flaking, and feelings of discomfort follow such dry skin because the natural moisture in your body evaporates into the air. With a large room humidifier, you get moisture that directly helps maintain skin hydration, preventing that feeling of itchiness in you and your baby.
Relief from Allergies and Asthma
Over 100 million people in the U.S.A. suffer from some form of allergy. About 1 in 3 adults have a seasonal allergy. While many of these are related to food or pet dander, the air environment in your home also plays a significant role. A warm air humidifier alleviates many symptoms of allergies and asthma, helping reduce airborne irritants like pollen, dander, and dust.
Stay Comfortable in Winter
Colder months bring indoor heat. All these systems, like wood stoves or forced hot air, dry out the environment. Whole house humidifiers help reinstate humidity into the air so you don’t get sleep disrupted by constantly aggravated throats or nasal passages – allowing you to enjoy a restful night while it’s snowing outside.
Support for Babies and Children
The best humidifier for baby family members works well to mitigate the effects of dry air. Your little loved ones need a healthy respiratory environment to get the sleep they (and you) need. Otherwise, you’ll be dealing with a fussy baby all day while trying to get work done or with other social obligations.
What Is the Best Humidity Level for Sleep?
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) suggests keeping your indoor humidity levels between 30% and 50%. This level offers the best balance of comfort and health. Anything lower will likely cause you to encounter dry skin or irritants. Going higher could lead to an increase in dust mites or mold around your home.
Always set your steam humidifier to that target range. That is where you’ll find the most benefit and get the full night’s sleep you need for tomorrow.
Potential Risks or Concerns
Like most other devices around your home, there are some risks you should always account for before utilizing that tool. A large humidifier is no different. Some common issues to keep an eye out for include:
- Excessive Humidity:Having too much humidity in the air leads to an increase in mold growth. It is like visiting an indoor greenhouse that feels like a jungle instead of a comfortable setting.
- Unclean Humidifiers:Always check your whole house humidifier for clogged filters or dust buildup. Maintaining your device is crucial to reducing minerals or potential microbes.
- Producing Mites & Dust:Humidifiers rely on water. If you have hard water in your home, you could emit “white dust,” resulting from mineral deposits. Stick to distilled water or install a home water softener.
Tips for Using a Humidifier Safely While Sleeping
It is equally important when using a humidifier for baby or a warm mist humidifier for your bedroom to keep things safe and functioning efficiently. Some ways to ensure that effectiveness include:
- Monitor Humidity Levels:Use a tool like a hygrometer or built-in system on the device to accurately measure the percentage level of humidity inside your room (30-50%).
- Clean the Device:Keep your adult or baby humidifier nice and clean by checking the filter, following the manufacturer’s instructions, and using clean water.
- Optimal Placement:Where you place your evaporative humidifier matters. You don’t want to over-concentrate moisture in any one area. Use a flat surface, preferably near a cold air return, to distribute the warm, moist air.
What Type of Humidifier Should You Use?
Steam Humidifiers
The best humidifier for baby depends on your unique situation. A steam humidifier heats up water, cools it slowly, then releases it into the air. This method helps kill unwanted bacteria and mold spores, making for a hygienic humidification process great for sensitive family members and colder months.
A good example is the YO 10L Steam Whole House Humidifier. It has a 3-year limited warranty, offering a 99.9% germ-free device that is perfect for large rooms and high-capacity usage.
Console Humidifiers
Those looking for whole house humidifiers may want a console device. They are designed to work in larger areas and come in a cabinet-style enclosure that can hold much more water than smaller models, often requiring frequent refills.
Cool Mist Humidifiers
Sometimes called “impeller humidifiers,” this option uses a rotating disk to fling water at a diffuser, breaking the water into fine droplets that float into the air. Without the heating element, they are a good choice for homes with pets or younger kids.
Ultrasonic Humidifiers
Instead of heat or flinging cool water, this device uses ultrasonic vibrations to cultivate a fine mist. Those needing a quiet sleep environment may seek out ultrasonic solutions in bedrooms and study areas.
Central Humidifiers
Some homes in hot, southern regions have central humidifiers built into the HVAC system. The warm air humidifier adds humidity to the entire living space in an efficient way for multiple rooms.
Getting Started with the Best Humidifier
The best-fit humidifier will depend on your unique needs and desired sleeping environment. If you still need a safe and reliable device choice, you cannot go wrong with the YO 10L Steam Whole House Humidifier.
Having a large room humidifier will help you finally get that long night's sleep you, your baby, your pets, and any other houseguests need to feel energized and refreshed the next day.
FAQs
Is it beneficial to use a humidifier every night while sleeping?
Utilizing a steam humidifier in your home helps reduce dry living spaces, boosts your sleep quality, and makes breathing easier by cutting down on nasal congestion, sleep apnea, or snoring.
How far away from the bed should the humidifier be?
The general rule of thumb is to place whatever small or large humidifier you’re using at least three feet from your bed. That helps distribute the moisture you want without overconcentrating on an immediate area that may grow mold or mildew.
Are humidifiers good for the lungs?
As long as you properly maintain your whole house humidifier, extra moisture can help keep the airways open and flowing well, often soothing irritated tissues around the lungs.
How long should you run a humidifier in your bedroom?
Try to keep a humidifier running for as long as you typically sleep. Be sure to have a way to measure the humidity level (like a hygrometer), so you are maintaining the optimal moisture you want.
Can a humidifier help improve my sleep quality?
Absolutely! A humidifier reduces dryness in the throat and nasal passages, giving you more oxygen flow as you sleep so you feel rested when you wake. That improves your mental, physical, and emotional well-being.