Do humidifiers really help when your child has a cold?

Question

They don't seem to help my son at all. I have it on as high as it goes.

Answer 1

A humidifier probably won't do much in the way of helping your child get through a cold. Their main purpose is to do exactly what the name suggests: humidify or saturate the air around them.

Colds stem from respiratory viruses, and can only be eliminated with time. I have a young child, and if he wants it on - for reasons of personal comfort - then I'll leave it on.

Just remember not to leave it running for prolonged periods of time, as mold can easily form in such a moist environment.

Answer 2

One person already identified the purpose of the humidifier; ie, to add humidity or moisture to the air. Unfortunately this really does nothing for a cold.
In general what your child, or anyone else for that matter, is experiencing is a plain ole stuffy nose. The virus that causes colds will typically cause the nasal passages to become inflamed. This simply narrows the passage, making it more difficult to breathe, just like trying to use a smaller straw as opposed to a larger one.
About the best you can hope for is to keep your child well hydrated, which helps to keep secretions thin, give tylenol or similar for pain and aches, and let it pass with time.
Things like vapor rubs are nothing more than menthol that, when inhaled, give the "feeling" that your breathing is better because you can sense the cool smelling vapors. But they don't do anything in a medical sense, such as reduce the nasal inflammation.
Nasal sprays are an option but they are highly addictive so I would avoid those if possible.
Enough said, I hope this has helped.

Answer 3

I even have constantly used a heat mist humidifier in my daughter's room whilst she is filled up. this is commonly a Holmes type one from Walmart. They artwork first rate and are particularly low priced and that i've got on no account had a concern with them leaking or something.

Answer 4

In my experience the cool mist humidifiers work better than the warm mist. If that really isn't working, rub some Vicks on their chest, works every time.

Answer 5

Maybe what you need is a vaporizer that puts out steam rather than a mist. For myself I use both on a "rotating" basis. It also helps to keep the bedroom as dust free as you possibly can, if he has window blinds this would mean dusting them at least every other day...

Answer 6

it usually helps them to sleep in comfort! if your using a cold humidfires..try using one that makes steam!

Answer 7

Breathing steam under a sheet is better.

Answer 8

DEAR
YES SOME TIMES DEPENDS ON THE COLD OK
TAKE CARE

Answer 9

Only if your child is all stuffed up. It loosens things up. So if his nose is running........it really wouldn't work.