# Doctors: humidifiers, coughs, and babies

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-humidifiers-coughs-and-babies/255937>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 20, 2004, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-humidifiers-coughs-and-babies/255937 "2004-07-20T03:30:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\
**Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-humidifiers-coughs-and-babies/255937/1 "2004-07-20T03:30:30Z")

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Medical advice sought here; does a humidifier actually do any good when an infant has a cough due to a cold or flu? He’s past the fever, but still has a runny nose/sniffles.

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**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\
**Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-humidifiers-coughs-and-babies/255937/2 "2004-07-20T04:27:04Z")

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IANAD, but I can tell you that humidifiers are good in that it will keep baby’s secretions from drying out in his nasal passages. Cool mist humidifiers are the way to go; warm mist humidifiers breed bacteria.

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**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\
**Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-humidifiers-coughs-and-babies/255937/3 "2004-07-20T04:31:38Z")

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I’m well aware of that; my question (which I must admit I wrote in a great hurry) was meant to ask whether there’s any benefit to keeping those secretions moist and flowing when you’re already coughing on them. It just seems like it might choke him, is all.

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**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\
**Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-humidifiers-coughs-and-babies/255937/4 "2004-07-20T04:36:39Z")

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I’m in the medical field and I’ve heard pediatricians say its best to keep those secretions thin with humidifiers and give plenty of fluids so they are expelled easier.

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**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\
**Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctors-humidifiers-coughs-and-babies/255937/5 "2004-07-20T05:37:48Z")

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These days humidifiers are somewhat frowned upon because they are notorious for harboring bacteria. Unless you are very diligent about cleaning it daily, it would be better to just take the child into a steamy bathroom occasionally. And you can always try over the counter cold remedies (check with your pediatrician first).