For new parents, protecting the health of a newborn baby is a primary focus of everyday life. When a baby becomes ill, new parents are often struck with anxiety and frustration in their percieved lack or inability to protect the new child. Often, following a pediatric visit for a baby with respiratory distress, the purchase of a humidifier is recommended. For many new parents, the use of a humidifier is foreign. Understanding the concept of humidifier use and the advantages and disadvantages to a steam humidifier, will ensure both parents and baby are provided with optimal health benefits.
When a baby suffers from an upper respiratory infection, and related breathing difficulties, more chronic health care complications may ensue. For this reason, and to provide additional comfort to a new baby, the pediatrician may recommend the use of a steam humidifier in the home. When humidity levels are low in a home, the illness related symptoms may worsen in your new baby. To improve humidity levels in the home, the pediatrician’s recommendation to utilize a steam room humidifier is effective. In the winter, especially, the air inside and outside of our homes becomes excessively dry leading to dry skin and drying of the mucous membranes. For a baby who is ill, the drying affect may further complicate the baby’s breathing capacity. Such conditions may persist until a steam humidifier is utilized.
By utilizing a simple steam humidifier, also known as a vaporizer, the water in the humidifer is heated and steam is released in the air. This, coupled with the added benefit of inserting medicated inhalant, will improve the humidity level of any room thereby incease the secretions of the mucous membranes in small children. With most steam humidifiers purchases at or around $10.00, the baby can receive the appropriate level of steam therapy in a convenient and affordable piece of equipment for the bedroom.
One signfiicant disadvantage to the steam humidifer, however, lies in the danger to extremely small children. Because direct steam is released into the air, small children, when permitted to roam freely about the steam humidifer, may suffer steam related burns. To avoid burns, consider placing the steam humidifier in an elevated level where the young child will not easily obtain access. Additionally, steam humidifiers, through the evaporation of water, will lose effectiveness throughout the night. To ensure consistent flow of humidity to the room, the steam humidifier may have to be refilled at least once through the evening. This, of course will be based upon the size and quality of the humidifier purchased.
As with most pieces of technology, making the correct purchase involves some research. However, when caring for a sick baby, the primary focus is to provide quick and efficient relief of symptoms. While most steam humidifiers provide excellent results, purchasing one with a large capacity for water retention as well as capacity for medicated inhalant administration are two key components to consider. Once purchased and installed, your baby will show significant relief of symptoms as the humidity levels in the home improve. For more information regarding humidifier purchases, visit www.consumerreports.org.
