If you’re having trouble sleeping, using a bedside humidifier is one of the best ways to ensure you get a great night’s sleep every night. If you’re not getting enough sleep, you can experience a lot of problems that seep into your daily life, such as:
- Memory issues
- Trouble concentrating and thinking
- Mood changes
- Car accidents
- Weakened immunity
- High blood pressure
- Higher risk for diabetes
- Weight gain
- Low sex drive
- Higher risk of heart disease
- Poor balance
Of course, the best way to get better sleep is to look at what may be causing your lack of sleep. Is it stress, anxiety, or insomnia? Is it a side effect associated with something bigger? First, you should try and figure out what’s causing it. To do this, you may want to speak with your doctor. They can give you the best advice on how to fix your poor sleep schedule.
If they can’t figure out what may be causing it or there isn’t a root cause behind your sleep issues, you may want to start looking into alternative methods to help you sleep better. Our number one suggestion? Using a humidifier in your bedroom.
What is a Humidifier?
A humidifier is used to add extra humidity into the air. They are especially popular in the dryer, colder climates where the humidity is low. The humidity should be between 30% and 60%, but it can often get as low as 10% or 20% in people’s homes, especially in the winter. If you live in a cold, dry climate, you will definitely benefit (in more ways than one) from using a humidifier.
Are There Different Types of Humidifiers?
There are many different types of humidifiers, all of which have different uses, as well as their own sets of pros and cons. If you’re looking to use a humidifier for sleep, you can usually get away with any type of humidifier. However, you may want to look at the different types in order to make your decision. There are some key differences, but ultimately it’s up to your personal needs. The different types of humidifiers include:
- Cool mist humidifiers: Cool mist humidifiers emit a cool vapor into the air by using a filter that captures water and releases it clean and cold. Cool mist humidifiers are a great option in warmer weather, as they do emit cold vapor. They’re not great for winter use, as they’ll just make the air in your home colder. They’re safe for pets and children, easy to clean, and cost-effective. Because they use a fan, they tend to be a bit loud.
- Ultrasonic humidifiers: Ultrasonic humidifiers create water droplets by vibrating a metal disc inside the machine. Because of this, they are very quiet and very energy efficient. They also produce room-temperature vapor, so they’re great for both warm and cool climates. However, they do tend to be more expensive than other options.
- Evaporative humidifiers: Evaporative humidifiers also don’t generate heat, making them a great option for homes that have children and pets. They’re more affordable than ultrasonic humidifiers, but they do make some noise, so they might not be a great option for use at night.
- Warm mist humidifiers: Warm mist humidifiers or vaporizers are best used when you have a cold. They create vapor with a heating element, so they aren’t safe for use with children and pets, as the steam released is also hot. They’re very quiet, so great for use at night.
- Large room humidifier: Large room humidifiers are used to produce humidity for an entire room or floor. These are often installed by a professional. They’re not used much on residential properties.
When choosing a humidifier for help sleeping at night, you should consider the following:
- How loud is it?
- Will you be using it in a room with children or pets?
- How often do you want to fill and clean it?
The best options when it comes to humidifiers for sleep include cool mist humidifiers, ultrasonic humidifiers, and warm mist humidifiers (if you don’t have children or pets).
What are the Benefits Associated with Humidifier Use?
There are so many benefits associated with humidifier use. While they will help you sleep better, they can also help with the following:
- Dry skin
- Dry hair
- Sinus congestion
- Headaches
- Dry throat
- Nose irritation
- Bloody noses
- Irritated vocal cords
- Dry cough
- Cracked lips
When the humidity in your home is too low, it can be hard to fall asleep. Your throat may feel scratchy, or you may have a dry, unproductive cough keeping you up. By helping to ease the symptoms associated with low humidity, a humidifier can improve your sleep quality.
Do you know when you go to the spa for a facial and they use a steam machine to fill the room with water vapor? If you’ve ever experienced that feeling, you know just how relaxing it is, just how much it makes you want to fall asleep. Imagine having that experience every night in your own bedroom.
Are There Risks Associated with Humidifier Use?
Unfortunately, there are some risks associated with the use of humidifiers. For the most part, they are incredibly safe as long as you follow the directions and safety tips. Humidifiers with a heating element should be turned off when not in use or when you’re not home to prevent an electrical fire. They should also not be used around pets or children, as they burn themselves on the unit or the steam that it emits.
Humidifiers may also be harmful if they produce too much humidity. If the humidity in your home becomes too high (over 60%), it may become hard to breathe, especially for people who already have breathing problems (such as asthma). If you have breathing problems, you may want to stay away from the use of a humidifier or use it on a very low setting to prevent over-humidification.
Otherwise, humidifiers are relatively safe to be used in your home.
Other Products to Help You Sleep Better
Using a humidifier is just one part of getting good sleep. There are so many other ways you can amp up your sleep at night, allowing you to come the most restful and ready for your day each morning. To prevent poor sleep and restless mornings, try out these other solutions:
- Essential oils: Essential oil can be added to some humidifiers or diffused in a separate machine. There are many different scents that can help you sleep better, including lavender, clary sage, sandalwood, and bergamot.
- Scented candles: Scented candles are another great option, especially this Brooklinen scented candle set. Make sure to blow out your candles before you actually fall asleep though, you don’t want to burn down your house.
- Sound machine: A sound machine is also a great option if you have trouble falling asleep. Listening to soft sounds, like the ocean or rain, can help you easily fall asleep at night.
- Sleep mask: A high-quality sleep mask is a great way to get some shut-eye. Sleep masks literally allow you to block out the world around you.
Whether you try a humidifier or another combination of products for better sleep, we hope you find something that works well for your needs and that you end up getting the sleep you deserve.
