Articlesofmotherhood

POV: It’s fall. The air is crisp, the soup is warm….and everyone is sick, AGAIN.

Every fall I start to notice how dry the air feels. My skin starts getting that tight dry feeling. My nose starts getting that tickly dry itch. It wakes you up in the middle of the night and is so frustrating and it seems like you keep getting sick over and over.

That’s why a humidifier is a good choice.

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Why Humidifiers are good for you (Especially in the colder months)

When the air gets dry in cooler months, our bodies can start to feel it right away. Humidifiers add much needed moisture back into the air, which makes a huge difference for both comfort and health. Here’s some examples:

• They keep nasal passageways hydrated. This can help your body trap and fight germs more effectively. Plus waking up with that tickly dry itch and needing saline spray to get rid of it is very annoying.
  • Your body can more effectively trap and remove viruses when your membranes remain moist.
• They make it harder for viruses to spread. Research shows viruses thrive in dry air. The dry air makes it easier for the virus to move around. Keeping humidity balanced can actually lower your chances of getting sick.
  • Studies show that keeping your home around 40-50% humidity helps viruses settle rather than float. This means they don’t travel as easily through the air.
• They can relieve dry skin and lips. Similar to nasal passageways skin and lips can dry out and become uncomfortable.
• They actually support better sleep. Moist air helps reduce coughing, congestion, and sometimes even snoring.
• So great for kids & babies. Easier breathing and fewer middle of the night wakeups from stuffy noses and dry coughs.

Here’s the one that I have had the best results with:

After years and years of different humidifiers I finally found one that I stand behind. The Canopy Bedside Humidifier is the best I have had. It has remained in good working condition for the longest time, I’ve had my oldest one for almost 2 years and it still works great.

What to look for in a good humidifier:

I love the one we have because I have tried so many, but here are some general tips on what to look for in a good humidifier:

• Mold and germ protection
  • Humidifiers can get gross fast if they’re not designed well. Look for one that has mold-inhibiting tech or an easy cleaning system (bonus if it’s dishwasher-safe like ours).
  • A filter is a must. Once you have one with a filter, you will never want to go back. After seeing what you could be adding to in your air, you’ll know why its a non negotiable. (ESPECIALLY if you have babies)
• Easy to Clean
  • If it’s a pain to take apart or scrub, you’ll dread using it. Especially if you start to notice mold. A good humidifier should be simple to maintain.
  • Look for one that has a bigger water hole, so you can scrub in there. Bonus points if it’s able to be taken apart to clean.
• No Dusty mess
  • Some humidifiers leave mineral buildup or mist residue on furniture. Look for a system that filters water or has a “clean moisture” system.
• Keep sound in mind
  • This is more of a personal preference, I like the fan like noise they give off at night. It’s like white noise without a fan. You may prefer something more quiet though.
  • The newer version of the canopy humidifier actually has a built in sound machine and dimmable lights as well.
• Right Size for Your Space
  • Small humidifiers are great for bedrooms and nurseries, but you might want a larger one for open living areas. If you have a large open bedroom, a small one probably won’t cut it. The Canopy one we love also has a Large Room Humidifier!
• Auto Shut-Off or Smart Features
  • Auto shut-off when the water runs out gives you more peace of mind. Some even adjust to keep the humidity level in the room set automatically.
• Other things that are nice to look for:
  • Built-in aroma diffuser (for safe, light scent diffusion).
  • A cute design that looks good in your room or space.
  • Different speed/mist settings so you can customize if its just for general wellness, comfort or for sickness.

So what are my issues with certain humidifiers?

Finding mold in my baby and toddlers’ humidifiers was a big issue for me. I felt so terrible knowing I’d basically been pumping mold into the air. I was just trying to help them.

I had always used a mist humidifier (cool and warm) but there were 2 big issues with these.

#1. No matter how well I took care of it, they always ended up moldy. (If you haven’t had an issue with this, I highly suggest you check your humidifier.) You are leaving water in a closed space for a significant amount of time. To avoid harboring mold, you would have to let it dry out every few days. This is not always realistic.

#2. These humidifiers would always accumulate minerals. The buildup would clog the humidifier. I would have to replace it or spend hours scraping it away, just for it to keep happening, even when using the drop ins or add ins to keep it “clean”

That’s exactly why I love the Canopy 2.0, it checks all these boxes and more.

What I’m using now and why its different:

The Canopy 2.0 in both of my toddlers bedrooms.

• Arguably one of the best things abut this is everything but the fan/power source is dishwasher safe. That means no scrubbing. Mineral build up is minimal. You don’t have to keep up with expensive bacteria-reducing liquids. They are annoying and cost an arm and a leg.
• Smart sensors inhibit mold growth inside the device and run until it’s nearly dry inside too.
  • It has a filter designed with pre-filter and antimicrobial filter core
  • Water passes through UV light before it is evaporated into the air
• It is perfect for nurseries or bedside with its white noise and a dimming nightlight feature. The nightlight feature is great for bedside or late night nursing sessions with a baby. It has a red light and a soft warm light.
• Has a replaceable filter to trap dust and particles from the air before releasing moisture
• Is tap water safe. Meaning you don’t need distilled or filtered water every time you fill it.

Don’t forget to order filters and change them out about every 45 days.

So, do you actually need one?

At the end of the day, a humidifier might feel like just another thing that’s nice to have. but once you experience the difference it makes in your home, especially during the fall and winter. You’ll always want to have one.

For me, the Canopy 2.0 has become a non-negotiable in our nurseries. Soon, I plan to get the Large room humidifier. I will give a full review on that when I get it. It’s easy, it’s clean, and it actually gives me peace of mind knowing it’s not harboring mold. And even if it does, I can just change the filter and pop it in the dishwasher.

So, if you’ve been on the fence about investing in a humidifier, consider this as your sign!

And if you are looking for cleaner air overall and getting sick less often, Canopy just introduced this air purifier. We don’t have one yet but it’s on my list!

Don’t forget to pin this to your fall and winter survival board!