Correct Humidity Level in Baby’s Room
“What is the correct humidity level for our baby’s room? My husband insists that the proper level is between 30-50%. And so I did some research, and found that the Environmental Protection Agency recommends a humidity level no higher than 50 percent.”
A humidity range between 40-60% is healthy for the body, mainly because bacteria have a hard time growing in this range. The EPA’s recommendation of 30-50% is mainly for preventing mold growth in the house. Our local children’s hospital keeps its humidity level at 55%. The problem is that higher humidity will promote mold growth. How a room is built and insulated is also a factor for promoting mold growth. If the walls are getting cold at night, then mold is more likely to grow.
Vaporizer Position
It would be best if you aimed for a higher humidity level, without any mold growth. This will vary depending on the season and the construction of the room. You can get an inexpensive humidity measuring device at your local hardware store. Remember that aiming a vaporizer at the baby’s bed will significantly raise the humidity level around the bed, but the room’s overall humidity will not be as high. This is a nice way to give the baby the benefit of humidity while keeping the mold risk lower. Just be sure the baby stays warm enough if you’re using a cold mist.
Dr. Jim