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How Dry Air Affects Babies, Plus Care and Management Tips
It’s the middle of the night, and your toddler is tossing, turning, and struggling to sleep. As a parent, you know something is wrong and are frustrated that you can’t break the constant cycle of congestion and nosebleeds, of skin itching with eczema.
A common culprit? Dry air.
While many symptoms of dry air worsen at night, when your child is trying to rest, it’s a problem that should be treated around the clock. Dry air can lead to dry and itchy skin, nosebleeds, and chapped lips. It can also irritate the lining of the nose and throat, increasing the risk of nasal congestion and respiratory infections. And it can trigger or worsen skin conditions such as eczema.
Whether from indoor heating or poor ventilation, dry air is bad for your baby’s health and comfort, often resulting in poor sleep and daytime crankiness. Understanding humidity levels is key to keeping your baby healthy and comfortable, especially during winter.
A humidifier is one of the most effective ways to increase your home’s humidity level. In this article, we’ll explain the effects of dry air on babies, offer simple strategies to counter the effects of dry air, and help you choose the best humidifier that fits your baby’s needs.
The Effects of Dry Air and Why Babies Are Especially Sensitive
During cold months, air becomes drier for the simple reason that cold air holds less water content than hot air. When you boil a pot of water, for example, you heat the water molecules up to a point that they move fast enough to escape into the surrounding air. But as that water vapor cools, you’ll quickly see it collecting on nearby surfaces, such as the range hood or the glass door of your over-the-range microwave.
A similar thing happens, though on a much larger scale, in winter. Cold temperatures mean that less water vapor can stay suspended in the air, making the air drier. And that dry outside air affects the air quality inside your home.
However, there’s more to indoor air quality than outside temperatures; concerns also include the use of heaters and proper insulation and ventilation.
The age of the people living in a home is another factor in how seriously humidity should be treated. Babies are more sensitive to dry air than adults. A review of 37 studies found that ambient humidity is a major factor in the occurrence of climate-sensitive childhood diseases, respiratory system diseases, and allergies.
Premature and low-birth-weight babies are even more vulnerable to humidity fluctuations, which can cause respiratory issues for their developing lungs and airways.
Why Babies Are More Affected by Dry Air
Babies fare poorly in dry environments compared to adults because their skin and airways are still developing. We’ve outlined common health issues that can be triggered or worsened by dry air below.
Nasal Congestion
Babies have narrower nasal passages than older children and adults to begin with. Dry air dehydrates the mucous membranes in their nose, which can cause them to swell and cause congestion.
Dry nasal passages are also less effective at trapping bacteria, viruses, and other irritants, making babies more vulnerable to illness, allergy, inflammation, and sinus issues. Dry air can also irritate their throats, causing frequent coughing.
Nosebleed
Many tiny blood vessels sit close to the surface inside your nose. As babies have fragile nasal tissues, dry air can easily irritate these vessels, causing them to rupture. Fortunately, most nosebleeds are harmless for babies, though they can be uncomfortable and difficult to manage.
Dry, Irritated Skin
A baby’s developing skin is much more delicate and thinner than an adult’s, and the skin of very young babies is also chemically more neutral. Mature skin has an acid mantle that helps protect against external pathogens, and that doesn’t fully develop until after the first month after birth (in otherwise healthy children). But it can take as much as two years for a baby’s skin to be as effective as an adult’s at retaining moisture.
This means that cold, dry air will pull more moisture from your baby’s skin than from your own. Dry and cracked skin is less protective against pathogens and harmful chemicals, triggering infections, allergic reactions, and skin conditions.
Skin Allergies
When it’s cold, people tend to spend more time indoors where allergens like dust, pollen, and animal dander tend to accumulate and be circulated by poorly filtered heating systems. This can trigger skin allergies or make them worse.
Furthermore, babies and children with eczema struggle during winter due to the harsh, dry air. Atopic dermatitis (AD), the most common form of eczema, causes dry, itchy skin with rough, scaly patches. 45% of AD cases begin in the first six months of life, and 70% of children are affected before they turn five.
Illness and Poor Sleep
A baby’s young immune system is still developing, and in winter children often don’t get enough sunlight for their bodies to produce vitamin D. This can make it even harder for them to fight off infection. At the same time, cold air helps viruses and bacteria thrive longer, making babies with an already weakened immune system more vulnerable to flu and other nasty infections.
A viral infection in a young child can easily turn into a serious complication due to their smaller lungs and airways. For example, the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), common in winter, is often confused by adults for the common cold, but can lead to severe infections in babies. Every year, around 58,000–80,000 children under five are hospitalized due to RSV in the US.
Additionally, babies wake up more frequently during the night when sleeping in low-humidity environments. Air that’s too dry can make breathing harder, disturbing their much-needed sleep.
How to Mitigate the Effects of Dry Indoor Air
If you live in a dry or cold climate, indoor dry air is unavoidable. You need to take steps to increase the humidity level while managing the effects of dry air at home. Here are simple ways to help keep your baby happy and healthy indoors.
Invest in a Humidifier
A humidifier is your best bet to increase the amount of moisture in the air. It releases water vapor in your home to raise humidity levels. A good humidifier can relieve dry skin, ease respiratory symptoms, and maintain a comfortable environment for you and your baby.
Keep Your Baby’s Skin Hydrated
Make sure your baby’s skin is well-moisturized at all times. You can:
- Regularly apply moisturizers, creams, or any moisturizing solution suitable for babies.
- Moisturize right after bathing while the skin is still damp and moist.
- Massage with moisturizing oils such as coconut or sunflower seed oil.
- Add colloidal oatmeal to the bath or lotions for its moisturizing benefits.
Avoid Bathing Your Baby Daily
The general recommendation for bathing babies is around 2-3 times a week. When bathing or showering:
- Make it short (less than 10 minutes).
- The ideal water temperature should be around 100°F (38 °C).
- Use a fragrance-free, soap-free, hypoallergenic bath solution or just water.
Use Saline Solution, a Suction Bulb, or Steam to Ease Congestion
Use saline spray or drops to loosen the mucus inside your baby’s nose. Some parents find that suction bulbs provide instant relief by sucking out mucus. Alternatively, turn on the hot shower and sit with your baby. Sitting in an enclosed space and inhaling steam for a few minutes can help relieve congestion.
Maintain the Right Ambient Temperature
Babies can’t regulate their internal temperature as well as adults can, and dry air tends to feel colder on the skin. The ideal room temperature for your baby is between 68°F (20°C) and 72°F (22 °C).
Seal Cracks and Weatherstrip Doors and Windows
A home with insufficient insulation will easily let in cold, dry air. You should seal any visible cracks throughout your home, weatherstrip doors and windows, and cover door gaps with felt rolls or corner pads.
Add Indoor Plants to Improve Room Humidity
Indoor plants can add moisture to the room due to their natural processes, and are especially helpful during winter. Research shows that jade plants, spider plants, and English ivies are effective at boosting room humidity.
How Humidifiers Improve Indoor Air Quality
Humidity can be measured using a hygrometer, which compares the amount of water vapor in the air to the maximum amount of water the air can hold at a given temperature. This is called relative humidity (RH).
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends maintaining indoor humidity levels between 30% and 50% RH. Meanwhile, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) says that indoor humidity should stay below 65% to help prevent mold.
One of the best ways to combat dry air is with humidifiers. But before we jump into the benefits of humidifiers and how to choose the best one for your baby, we need to distinguish between humidifiers and dehumidifiers. Where humidifiers add moisture to the air and increase humidity, dehumidifiers decrease humidity by removing moisture from the air.
What Are the Benefits of Using Humidifiers for Babies?
Humidifiers help create a comfortable indoor environment for babies and prevent health issues related to dry air.
Humidifier Types: The Benefits and Drawbacks
Humidifiers come in a portable unit or can be built into a home’s central heating and cooling system. In this section, we’ll focus on portable humidifiers, which are the most common.
There are two types of portable humidifiers: cool mist and warm mist. Both release water vapor into the air, but the difference is in the process. Cool mist humidifiers release cool mist while warm mist machines release hot steam from boiling water in the tank.
Warm mist humidifiers are better at reducing pathogens in the air due to the emission of hot steam. They are also quieter than cool-mist humidifiers. However, warm mist units carry more risk in homes with children, as scalding or burn accidents can occur.
In the cool mist category, there are ultrasonic and evaporative humidifiers. The following image compares their differences:
How to Choose the Best Humidifier for Your Baby
Apart from the humidifier type, there are other factors you should consider when buying a unit.
- Room Size
Consider the size of your room when buying a humidifier. A unit that’s too small for the room will not sufficiently raise the humidity level, while a unit that’s too big will lead to a damp environment, which promotes mold and bacteria growth. Check the coverage rating, which tells you how much space a humidifier can cover.
- Run Time and Auto Shut-Off
A humidifier with a long run time means fewer refills and is suitable for overnight use. Some models have an automatic shut-off feature that turns the unit off when the water is low to avoid overheating and save energy.
- Nightlight Feature
You can opt for humidifiers with built-in LED nightlights with varying brightness and colors. This feature might be handy for night feeds and early morning nappy changes.
- Smart Technology
Costlier units have Bluetooth capabilities, allowing you to control them remotely using your smartphone. Other handy additions include built-in clocks and humidity sensors.
- Cleaning and Ease of Use
You need to clean your humidifier regularly to prevent bacteria and mold buildup, so selecting a unit with an easy-to-clean design will save you time. Consider ones with fewer parts, easy assembly, and that require minimal effort to clean.
- Ongoing Maintenance
Different humidifier types require different levels of maintenance. For example, evaporative cool mist humidifiers have filters that must be replaced every 30–60 days, while ultrasonic units typically don’t have filters. However, minerals in the water can accumulate in ultrasonic humidifiers, requiring a deep, regular cleaning.
- Cost
The price of humidifiers can range widely, from budget-friendly models to top-end units with extensive features. If you need to use humidifiers in multiple rooms at the same time, the price factor becomes even more important. Remember that ongoing maintenance, such as replacing filters, will add to the total expense over time.
Best Practices In Using, Cleaning, and Maintaining Humidifiers
A humidifier is a great addition to your baby’s room, but it can cause serious health issues if it isn’t maintained properly. Follow these best practices so that your humidifier remains a safe and effective appliance in your home.
- Avoid Essential Oils
Although essential oils may be beneficial for adults, they aren’t safe for babies, especially those under 3 months. Oils may also damage your humidifier in the long run.
- Place the Humidifier in a Central Location
Place the unit in a central area of the room to allow an even mist distribution. Avoid placing it near the baby’s sleeping area or directly against a wall, as this can lead to condensation buildup.
- Keep the Area Around Your Humidifier Dry
Don’t let the area around your humidifier become damp. Reduce the mist output if you notice dampness. Keep soft furnishings, such as carpets, curtains, and tablecloths, dry at all times to prevent mold growth.
- Clean Regularly
You should always follow the manufacturer’s manual for specific cleaning instructions. The EPA recommends refilling the water tank and wiping down the humidifier daily. For a deeper clean, disassemble the unit to remove dirt, grime, and deposits every three days. At the end of the cold season, do a deep clean before storing your humidifier for future use.
Conclusion
Your home’s humidity level will drop during cold months due to dry outdoor air, indoor heaters, and inadequate ventilation and insulation. Lower humidity leads to a range of health problems for babies, including dry skin, eczema flare-ups, nosebleeds, and congestion, all leading to poor sleep.
A humidifier is one of the most efficient and cost-effective tools to help maintain healthy indoor moisture levels during winter. Choosing the right humidifier for your baby’s room and maintaining it properly can make a big difference in preventing health issues brought on by dry air.
On top of that, simple daily habits such as moisturizing regularly, improving your home’s insulation, and keeping the home clean can create a comfortable space for your baby and support their overall health.