Nursery humidity: the ideal level and why it matters for your babe
Everyone talks about temperature. Humidity? Rarely gets a mention, yet it's the quiet other half of your babe's environment. Here's what's worth knowing.
What humidity even is
Humidity is just how much moisture is in the air. Too little and the air feels dry; too much and it feels damp. Both ends have downsides for comfort.
The commonly cited comfortable range
A commonly cited range is roughly 40 to 60 percent, a helpful target to gently aim for rather than a hard rule. That's the middle zone most guidance points to, but it's not a number to stress over.
Why it matters for your little babe
Very dry air can leave little noses and skin feeling it (hello eczema!), and can make congestion feel worse. Very damp air isn't ideal either, this encourages dust mite and mould production. Keeping things in the middle range is the comfortable spot.
Do you need a humidifier?
Not always. If your environment already sits in a comfortable range, you may not need one at all. They're most useful when the air is persistently very dry.
How to know your levels
You can't feel a percentage. Orbie reads humidity alongside temperature right where your babe sleeps, so you actually know where you're sitting rather than guessing.
Orbie tracks humidity alongside temperature. You can see how it works here.
This article is general information, not medical advice. If you're ever worried about your little babe, trust your gut and reach out to your GP, child health nurse, or Pregnancy, Birth and Baby on 1800 882 436.
Sources
Humidity is the half of the nursery climate almost no one talks about.
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