Flu Prevention: Humidifiers

The cold and flu season is here! To battle these nasty bugs, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has gathered some tips on how to care for your child’s cold.

One of the tips from the AAP is to place a humidifier where your child sleeps. With the dry winter air and so much nasal congestion, this is a great tool that can really help your kids get more comfy so they can sleep and recover.

“Doc, there are so many humidifiers to choose from! How do you pick one?”

First of all, go for the cool mist humidifiers instead of the warm ones because of the risk of hot water burns. Secondly, do some research and see what is available to you and fits your budget. Our very own Dr. Rivera loves to read articles from Wirecutter (not sponsored), and by coincidence they just published an article on humidifiers!

If you don’t have a humidifier handy, sometimes steam from a hot shower can help open up those little nasal passages.

Thirdly, please use the humidifier according to the instructions. No need to add any special oils or vapors to the water. In fact, sometimes these extra ingredients have been known to trigger asthma attacks. While the smell might be calming or give an illusion of the nasal passages opening, the plain vapor is what is most beneficial to your child. Be sure to clean and dry the humidifier daily to prevent yucky things like bacteria and mold from growing in there.