8 Humidifiers to Help Your Baby Breathe Better (Especially With a Cold)

The Crane Drop is overwhelmingly recommended by the millions of moms and dads in the What to Expect community, and it's easy to see why. Simply, it does the job extremely well. First, it's whisper quiet and hardly emits any light (just a tiny green one when it's on), which makes it a super baby-friendly pick. The gallon-sized water tank lasts up to 24 hours, easily detaches and fits under a standard sink when it's time for a refill. What's more, the humidifier automatically turns off when the water runs out, making it a low-maintenance pick.

Parents also praise how easy it is to clean. Plus, it's made with an anti-microbial material which the company says reduces mold and bacteria growth by up to 99.96 percent. You don't need to worry about filters, as the humidifier is filter-free (although the company does offer an optional demineralization filter for those with excessive minerals in their water). There's also plenty of options to control how much mist comes out. Finally, its 360-degree lid means you can easily direct the mist in whatever direction you prefer.

If you’re willing to splurge, the Venta makes for an efficient, filter-free, evaporative humidifier that new parents only need to clean every 10 to 14 days, with a deep-clean every half-year. With a 2-gallon tank and the capacity to humidify up to 430 square feet, it requires less upkeep than other models, too, and automatically shuts itself off. It measures about 12 inches long and 12 inches wide.

If there’s any downside, it’s the aesthetic. After spending so much time perfecting baby’s nursery, it may feel a little disappointing to add such a clunky machine to the mix — but if efficacy is any solace, you’ll get over it soon enough.

Range: 430 square feet

Water tank volume: 2 gallons

Weight: 8.5 pounds

Dimensions: 11.8 x 11.8 x 13 inches

It’s hard to say no to an adorable nursery design — so much so that this humidifier might be worth the extra cleaning time required for an elephant- or train-shaped humidifier (amazingly, there are 11 baby-friendly characters to choose from!). But clean freaks can rest easy: an antimicrobial base helps reduce mold and bacteria growth by more than 99 percent. With a 1-gallon tank, it runs for a good 24 hours filter-free and auto shuts off as needed. It's 9 inches long and 15 inches high, so won't overpower your space, but it can provide moisture to a room that's up to 500 square feet. 

Two mist outlets rotate a full 360 degrees, delivering even moisture all over the room. This humidifier is also easy to fill up and clean, holds 1 gallon and works for a full 24 hours. You don’t have to worry about turning it off, either, since it does that on its own and even alerts you when water is low with a tank refill light — all at a price that's more affordable than other humidifiers. It has a tapered silhouette, measuring 7.25 inches wide and 10.25 inches high.

If baby’s in your master bedroom or a roomy nursery, the 6-liter Levoit will do its job for an impressive 36 hours (it can handle spaces as big as 753 square feet). It’s also quiet and dim, putting baby’s precious sleep first. It even boasts a display light that automatically shuts off. But this humidifier is good for sleep-deprived parents, too, with an easy-to-use remote control and timer, a large tank opening and included cleaning brush. It's one of the bigger humidifiers on this list, measuring just over 11 inches wide and almost 11 inches high.

This sleek, modern-looking humidifier will be a stylish addition to a nursery and works in rooms up to 600 square feet. This model is the brand's most advance to date, featuring touch-panel controls and soothing LED lights (which can be customized or turned off). You can add more water to the 1-gallon tank without turning it off and open it in one motion. Parents love that it’s powerful but also whisper-quiet, and it also scores points for being easy to clean. Tech-savvy parents will love that it's compatible with Alexa and Google home (with the additional purchase of a MIROT Connectivity chip).

This beloved baby brand has another product to add to your ever-growing collection: a quiet, easy-to-operate humidifier with a sleek profile. It emits an adjustable soft, cool mist that’ll help baby through any congestion, and it also functions as diffuser. What’s more: The small profile humidifier emits a soft light that functions as a night light with a range of colors at the ready. It covers up to 320 square feet.

This mini model is designed for rooms under 205 square feet, making it a good choice for mildly humid nurseries. Since it’s compact enough to fit on a shelf or dresser, it’s easy to keep out of your child’s reach and a cinch to transport when you need to empty the tank. Plus, parents report that it's so silent, you won't hear it at all. To measure the indoor humidity in your nursery (and make sure you actually need a dehumidifier) we also recommend purchasing a hygrometer, an easily accessible device that measures the humidity in a room.