Humidifiers... PLEASE HELP?
By glords
@glords (2614)
United States
February 1, 2009 11:46pm CST
My husband swears by humidifiers and has insisted we put one in my sons room. I never used a humidifier growing up, and my sons breathing doesn't seem to be improving. Tonight I heard him wheezing in his room, so I'm starting to wonder if maybe the humidifier is actually making his problems worse.
We bought the humidifier at walmart, and I clean it once a week with vinegar. I asked my husband if that is how its done... since he would know better than I and he said he thought his mom used bleach when he was a kid. I just don't want my son breathing in any extra bleach... so I figured vinegar was a safer way to clean.
What are you thoughts on humidifiers... do they help, do they hurt? Which kinds are best, and how to you maintain them?
1 person likes this
3 responses
@Latrivia (2878)
• United States
2 Feb 09
I'm assuming your son has asthma since you alluded to a breathing problem. We need a specific amount of humidity in the air for good health. Too much (over 45% humidity) can cause irritation in children with asthma, as it can promote mold growth and dust mites. How often are you using your humidifier? I would suggest only using it when the air is starting to feel a bit dry, or you could buy a hygrometer to keep track of the humidity in the room (you can find it at any hardware store).
Humidifiers do help - but only when the air needs it. The air in your sons room may be too humid for his respiratory tract to handle.
1 person likes this
@glords (2614)
• United States
2 Feb 09
The doctors have not diagnosed a breathing problem, but he snores every night. Sometimes in the night he will gasp... and occasionally he wakes up too. I asked to doctors if he has sleep apnea or asthma and they didn't seem to concerned. I'm taking him in today to tell them about the new wheezing sounds.
We live in Utah... and it is always dry here... Even in the winters. We have the driest snow on earth. It is more like a fine powder since there is more dry air in it then most snow.
@sxrxnrr45601 (1171)
• United States
3 Feb 09
Maybe putting the Humidifier close to his room and not in it my son has breathing problems but before I had the humidifier I would just put a pan of water on the stove on simmer and that seemed to do the trick for him But to be safe if I were you I would contact a Doctor about it to be safe Humidifiers are not always best to use.
@AmbiePam (85531)
• United States
3 Feb 09
They do help. Now I don't know which kind is best, but several of my family members were told by doctors to use humidifiers. My sister especially when she was a small child. So my mom got her one and the difference was incredible. Maybe they don't help everyone, but they have always been a benefit to the people I know have used them. But bleach? I don't think that is a good idea.
