The best baby humidifiers 2024

The 2-in-1 Vicks Sweet Dreams Cool Mist Humidifier is specifically designed to help when your baby has a cold or congestion. It can be used with Vicks VapoPads, which you might already use in the Vicks USB diffuser.

We probably all remember the Vicks Vaporub from our childhoods and know perfectly well how powerful it can be for helping with colds. 

This humidifier also features a nightlight projector with three images to help the baby get to sleep. 

The capacity is 3.8 litres which should last about 24 hours; it also features an automatic shut-off when the water runs out. 

It’s easy to use this and to keep clean, but do bear in mind the additional cost of the VapoPads, and also that this is a large item - great in terms of how long it can last, but you might not appreciate the size; one tester said: “The one thing I'd say we weren't so keen on was the size, it's rather large! A monster of a humidifier! We're fortunate enough to have space to store and put it on bedside tables big enough when in use. But those who are short on space/storage might find it a headache to store away when not in use.”

Our mum tester Katherine loved this humidifier. "The design is really good and feels really good quality. There’s no way it could be tipped over by tiny hands because the base is so sturdy," she says.

Working as both a humidifier and colour changing nightlight, its 360° funnel allows you to adjust the direction of steam diffusion. With a 2L capacity and 16 hours of autonomy for peace of mind, it's also super compact in the room. With an easy to read instruction manual, it's easy to set up in a matter of minutes.

One design flaw our tester found was that it does make a slight noise when working. "It’s very soft and similar to white noise so it’s totally acceptable," tester Katherine says. "I loved that the tank was very large so re-filling is minimal." 

The colour changing nightlight is a welcome addition, however, our tester did wish the light was red! "This would be so much better for nighttime. There’s also no humidity monitor, so unless you have a separate one, its hard to know if the humidity in the room is where it needs to be or not."

The Babymoov humidifier is ideal for babies and children because it is so quiet—at only 25dB, it is one of the quietest on the market. However, some parents reviewed it and thought it was too noisy, proving that everything is relative. 

It uses ultrasonic tech to create a cool mist, whether you want this to keep the air quality high or to help with congested chests and noses. 

This model has a 2.5-litre capacity and should run for about 22 hours; it automatically cuts off when the water level gets too low. It has an easy-to-read digital display at the front, which tells you the humidity level and the room temperature. There’s also an additional feature to diffuse essential oils, and it has a night light with seven colours. 

Parents loved how simple it was to maintain and there's no need for filters. In terms of downsides, some parents wished it was easier to control steam levels and wanted some clearer instructions; it also might not be the easiest to clean, with one mum tester saying: “After 2 months of use, I have had to return this humidifier because of the solid and sometimes sticky gunky residue that collected around various parts of the machine and were impossible to clean. I’ve been sent a replacement which I am now using but without the essential oils, which I suspect caused the problem.” So, if you intend to use this humidifier with essential oils, beware of cleaning thoroughly.

This diffuser is also a humidifier, but it’s designed primarily as an essential oil diffuser, so this would be a good choice if you want to primarily use it in the main areas of the house and not just in the baby’s room. It has a 500ml capacity which is smaller than some other humidifiers, but it should last for about 16 hours. It will automatically shut off when the water runs out; one tester said: “It’s powerful, and you can smell the scent right from turning it on. It has lights on, but I prefer them off. You can either have it on a timer or just continuously on. The fact that it holds so much water is a real bonus, too, as you’re not constantly refilling.” 

It also features seven different nightlight colours, which you can control with the app. The brightness is also adjustable. In terms of noise, it’s about 35 dB. 

You can control this diffuser using the Tuya Smart app. It’s also compatible with Alexa, so it’s easy to control it without being in the room—handy if the baby is asleep and you don’t want to disturb them. The app is free to download, and it’s compatible with lots of other smart devices, so it's great if you use other gadgets. 

Remember that essential oils are best used after the baby has turned three months old.

The Glow Sleep Easy is an innovative solution for parents seeking to enhance their child's sleep environment. This multi-functional device combines a night light, sound machine, humidifier and essential oil diffuser, creating the perfect atmosphere for your little one to get a restful sleep.

One of the standout features our mum tester Laura found was its soft, adjustable night light. "With various brightness settings, it provides just the right amount of illumination for bedtime routines without being too harsh. The soothing sounds, including pink noise, are effective at helping little ones drift off, making it easier for both children and parents to get a good night’s rest." Laura says.

The essential oil diffuser is a great addition, allowing you to create a calming aroma to promote relaxation. The ability to choose different oils means you can customise the experience based on your child's preferences, improving their bedtime routine.

Our mum tester Laura also found the setup very straightforward and loved how the sleek design fit seamlessly into baby's nursery and her bedroom decor. "Plus, the built-in timer options allow you to set it and forget it, so you don’t have to worry about turning it off once your child is asleep." She commented.

All this can be managed manually or via the Glow Sleep Genie App which allows you to change the settings from your mobile device. It’s recommended to set up the Glow Sleep Easy 20 minutes before setting your little one down for sleep, so using the app to do this remotely is especially convenient.

"Overall, the Glow Sleep Easy is a must-have for any parent looking to improve their child's sleep quality. With its combination of gentle lighting, soothing sounds, and the option for aromatherapy, it creates a nurturing sleep environment that can help establish healthy sleep habits. Highly recommended for both infants and toddlers!" Laura concludes.

This humidifier is certainly more stylish than some of the others on our list, so it’s easy to move it from the baby’s room to any other room in the house. 

The ultrasonic vibrations mean this is quieter than some humidifiers, which means minimal disruption to the baby’s sleep. 

The tank has a 2.5-litre capacity, which should last about 10 hours. You can also use essential oils with this. 

It’s definitely a style choice, given that its performance isn’t any more spectacular or impressive than other humidifiers we’ve tested; one parent tester simply said: "Easy to clean, does its job, looks nice, easy to use."

This Maxi-Cosi humidifier is another stylish option that can be used in other rooms, not just the nursery. 

The capacity is 3.8 litres, which should last about 24 hours before needing to be refilled; bear in mind that this is one of the larger humidifiers we've tested, so make sure you have the room; one mum tester said: "I hadn’t really taken much notice of the dimensions when purchasing this item, so when it arrived I was quite surprised how BIG it is!! However, literally, every feature listed works seamlessly, and it’s a great piece of equipment! The app is easy to use, and the item looks good… I’m happy!"

You can control this humidifier using the Maxi-Cosi app downloaded onto your smartphone. This means you can check the humidity levels and temperature of your baby’s room from anywhere. You can set timers for the humidifier to come on and off, and you can also receive notifications when the water level becomes low. 

This humidifier also allows the use of essential oils. The buttons are easy to use, and the digital display is simple to read. There’s also a nightlight, although, unlike some humidifiers, it doesn’t change colour.

Our mum tester Charlotte said, "The light and sound features are incredibly practical, meaning
there is no need for an additional sound machine or night light, providing a cost-effective bonus which is especially important when on a mat leave budget!"

Charlotte's baby daughter Margot usually sleeps best with background noise, so the sound machine feature proved especially effective for getting her off to sleep calmly and keeping her
relaxed. "The choice of 7 colours on the night light is also a fond feature as we were able to create a more personalised ambience within our bedroom, which was also great for night feeds."

The large 3.8-litre tank is easy to fill and lasts a long time without needing to be cleaned due to its antimicrobial properties and the integrated filter, which removes impurities from the water before it is vapourised. The top fill tank is also detachable and dishwasher safe, which makes it very easy and quick to clean when required, saving precious time for new mums.

"My partner suffers from allergies during the summer months, which can make it difficult for him to breathe at night. The aroma tray feature works brilliantly for adding your own essential oils and has made sleeping a lot more comfortable for him. This product benefits all the family with a very user-friendly design, it is easy to assemble and operate. The four-in-one feature offers a great product for new mums on a budget," Charlotte continued.

The design is a fun water drop shape; however, some testers prefer designs where you can’t see the water; one mum tester said, “This is a great functional humidifier, but I wouldn’t use it anywhere other than the nursery, as it’s a bit too functional-looking. I prefer some of the designs that are more stylish as well as practical.” 

Read our full Crane Humidifier review here

This humidifier is functional and designed for children with a funky whale character. It is great for the nursery, although this does mean it might not have longevity, as you might not want this in other rooms of the home. 

This functions as a humidifier and an aromatherapy diffuser; the nightlight has seven colours and will help soothe the baby at night, too. 

The capacity is small, at 180ml, lasting about five to seven hours—this is much smaller than the other humidifiers on our list; one mum tester said: “It’s a fun design, but it is a shame that it doesn’t run for very long. I would rather have a humidifier that would last all night long, rather than running out in the early morning hours and then the baby waking up because it’s stopped and she gets congested again.”

The style of this humidifier might be more clinical and less stylish than some of the others we’ve tested, and it certainly looks smaller; however, it’s compact and yet still very practical. One tester said: "This is a well-made little item that is intuitive to use. Fill the container with water and press the button. It is whisper quiet, and it starts to stream the moisture in the air almost immediately after it is switched on. There is a constant stream from the top."

The 500ml water tank lasts about 12 hours, which is longer than some humidifiers with a larger capacity (such as the DUUX Tag 2, which lasts about 10 hours on a 2.5-litre tank).

As with most, it features an automatic shut-off feature when the tank runs empty. You can turn it on and off with just one press of a button, so it’s nice and simple to operate. There is also a nightlight feature, although just with one colour. 

It’s powered with a USB port, which is handy for use in any house room, although the cord could be longer. The only real downside testers had was with the fitting of the base being fiddly; one tester said: "One thing to note is that the screw mechanism to put the base on once you have filled it is an absolute pain as it takes ages to find the thread."

This Challenge humidifier is really quiet, making it ideal for a baby’s room; on the other hand, the light is quite bright, which isn’t what you want in the middle of the night after a feed. 

The water tank capacity is 3.2 litres, which is mid-range when compared to other humidifiers we’ve tested; one tester said: "This holds a lot of water and, with a simple knob, produces a steady stream to a large wafting cloud. If, on maximum, it would fill a bathroom eventually. By the bedside it would produce a dropping cloud of vapour on the right setting, perfect when sleeping, reducing coughing and dry throats. Excellent product."

Some testers say the mist doesn’t spread far enough around the room and can leave immediate surfaces damp, whereas others report good misting through the room; we've found that it really depends on the size of the room. 

This is another humidifier with a practical gadget style—it might not match the decor in other rooms of your home.

This Rio humidifier is an aroma diffuser, humidifier, and nightlight all in one. The lighting is soft, calming, and not distracting; it has five different colours. The ability to use essential oils with this diffuser makes it additionally useful, and those essential oil scents can ease the baby off to sleep (lavender is a good choice for aiding sleep). However, do be careful with essential oils, and it’s best to use them after the baby turns three months old. 

The design of this humidifier, with the starry night style, means this is probably only suitable for use in the baby’s nursery, rather than using it in other rooms of the house once the baby doesn’t need it so much. 

This is one of the cheapest humidifiers on our list, however it’s also one of the smallest, with a water tank capacity of just 100ml. This means it will only run for about three to four hours; so not one to choose if you want it running all night; one mum tester said: “I wish this had a better capacity as it’s easy to use, but just doesn’t last long enough; it’s great for using during the day, but for night time I would want a humidifier that lasts until morning.”

This humidifier looks small, but it has a 1.9-litre capacity and can run for about 12 hours. The mist level is adjustable, which many of the humidifiers we’ve tested are not, so that’s a bonus. It features a nightlight in a variety of colours, which we love for the baby’s nursery. 

The humidifier will automatically shut off when water runs out; it can also be used as an aromatherapy diffuser. The control button is easy to use; one mum said: “I like how easy to use this is, as sometimes in the middle of the night you don’t want to be fussing with knobs and buttons or apps, whereas this is straightforward.”