Best Humidifier for Babies: Crane vs Vicks Humidifier

When it comes to the best humidifier for babies, Crane vs Vicks are familiar brands to most parents. But which one is better? In this article, we will talk about the most popular humidifier models by Crane and Vicks, and analyze their differences.

The models we will analyze today are Crane Droplet Cool Mist, Crane Drop Cool Mist, Vicks WARM Mist, and Vicks Filter-Free Cool Mist.

As always, you can jump directly to the comparison or read our full reviews of each item. Let’s dive right in.

Our Final Verdict

Why Are Humidifiers Necessary for You?

Like sound machines, humidifiers are another essential item to keep a child’s sleeping environment comfortable and healthy.

The main function of a humidifier is to increase the humidity in the room. The most comfortable and ideal humidity for kids and adults is between 30% and 50%.

What does this mean? This means that the air in the room holds about 30% to 50% of the moisture it can contain.

If the humidity goes below this level, your child will experience dry skin, irritable eyes, and sore throat. As for adults, you probably will notice frizzy hair or static electricity more often.

Higher than normal humidity will cause adverse effects on you and your child. Besides making the room steaming hot, overheating your body may also cause hyperthermia.

Besides making your more comfortable, humidifiers can also help relieve cold symptoms and seasonal allergies.

That’s why if you live in an extremely dry area or if you keep the heat on in the house, make sure that the humidity level is appropriate.

Important Features to Look For in the Best Humidifier for Babies

There are so many fancy features in different types of humidifiers. While you were looking for the best humidifier for babies, you might have seen terms such as “cool mist” “warm mist” “teardrop”, etc. So what are they and do really matters to you?

Comparison of Crane vs Vicks Humidifier

1. Filter

Similarities: All of these four humidifiers by Crane and Vicks are filter-free. That means you don’t need to worry about purchasing separate supplies and replace the filters.

Many humidifiers are going filter-less nowadays because buying and replacing the filters is very inconvenient. The manufacturers have updated their technologies so that even filter-less humidifiers can also reduce water build-up and bacteria effectively.

2. Mist Type

Similarities: Crane Droplet Humidifier, Crane Drop Humidifier, and Vicks Cool Mist disperse cool and cold mist.

Differences: Among all four models, the only one that disperses warm mist is the Vicks Warm Mist humidifier.

But this is not the only difference. These four humidifiers vary in terms of the direction and coverage of the mists as well.

For example, Crane Droplet Humidifier features three settings for the mist output. You can adjust it to low, medium, or high to control the density of the mist. Additionally, the output lid can be manually rotated to change the direction of the mist.

For Crane Drop Humidifier, you have more flexibility in adjusting the humidity level as you can turn the dial from low to high. This humidifier is able to cover up to 500 square feet, which is a standard medium to large room.

Vicks Warm Mist Humidifier is the only model that can disperse warm mists. Many parents prefer warm mist especially in winter because it can achieve a higher level of moisture saturation. This humidifier also filters out 95% bacterial and is great for cough and congestion relief. The only disappointment is that the output settings are limited to two.

Vicks Cool Mist humidifier also features a robust dial for humidity level adjustment.

3. Tank Size and Run Time

Similarities: All four humidifiers by Crane and Vicks feature one tank

Differences: In terms of the tank size, Crane Droplet is the smallest while Vicks Cool Mist is the larges. Here are the tank sizes of each model:

• Crane Droplet Humidifier: 0.5 gallon
• Crane Drop Humidifier: 1 gallon
• Vicks Warm Mist Humidifier: 1 gallon
• Vicks Cool Mist Humidifier: 1.2 gallon

Corresponding to the tank size, Crane Droplet has the shortest run time while Vicks Cool Mist has the longest. Here are the run time of each model:

• Crane Droplet Humidifier: 15 hours on high setting
• Crane Drop Humidifier: 24 hours
• Vicks Warm Mist Humidifier: 24 hours
• Vicks Cool Mist Humidifier: 33 hours

4. Compatibility with Essential Oils

Similarities: Except for Vicks Warm Mist, all other three models are not compatible with essential oils.

Differences: Among all four humidifiers, the only model that features a medicine cup is the Vicks Warm Mist. Therefore, if you need to use essential oil or liquid medical inhalants, then this is the only option.

However, we don’t recommend using essential oils for babies if the only purpose is to have a nicer scent. Studies show that essential oils can cause skin irritation and sun sensitivity in babies.

5. Compatibility with Vapor Pads

Similarities: Crane Droplet and Vicks Cool Mist are compatible with vapor pads while Crane Drop and Vicks Warm Mist are not.

Differences: The only two models that are compatible with vapor pads are Crane Drople Humidifier and Vicks Cool Mist Humidifier. A vapor pad is a more natural way to relieve cold symptoms and allergies compared to Over-The-Counter medicines.

Which One Is the Best: Crane vs Vicks Humidifier

So which is the best humidifier: Crane or Vicks? The comparison of all four models should have already given you a good idea about which one might be the best for you.

When it comes to a humidifier for babies, we recommend one with gentle mist and flexible settings in the humidity levels. Many parents also prefer warm mist for two reasons: one, the mist is more gentle for babies; and second, it filters out more bacteria. Therefore, we recommend Vicks Warm Mist Humidifier if you have an infant.

Read on to know more about the pros and cons of each model to help you further decide which one to buy.

Detailed Product Reviews

1. Crane Droplet Humidifier

---

If your child has sensitive skin or allergy, but you don’t want to resort to OTC medicine, then Crane Droplet is the ideal humidifier for you.

It is one of the few humidifiers that come with a vapor pad slot. Besides a soothing menthol aroma, a vapor pad is helpful in relieving congestion and cold symptoms.

Another big advantage of this humidifier is that its small and lightweight, therefore, great for travel. Given its minimalist design, it’s a breeze to pack in your duffel bags or suitcases.

The only downside is that the tank is only half a gallon big so you have to fill up the water almost every other day.

Who Is It for?

Crane Droplet Humidifier is great for parents who need a portable humidifier that is suitable for travel.

2. Crane Drop Humidifier

---

Crane Drop Humidifier is idea for parents who need to run the humidifier for extended period of time or have a large room to cover.

This humidifier is capable of covering a 500-squarefeet room for up to 24 hours. Besides, you can adjust the mist level by turning the dial rather than selecting a defined setting.

Another great feature is that this model uses Antimicrobial Material in the base so that it can effectively reduce bacterial growth and mold build-up. This is helpful as the base the most frequent target for water build-ups.

The antimicrobial material helps reduce the need for frequent cleaning. However, all humidifiers need frequent maintenance. The good news is that this model is easy to clean. You just need to pour vinegar into the bottom and let it sit for a few hours. Then you can rinse it off or give it a gentle brush. Of course, a way around it is to use purified water or filtered water.

Who Is This For?

Crane Drop Humidifier is the best for parents who need a large humidifier that is easy to clean.

3. Vicks Warm Mist Humidifier

---

If you or your child has severe cold symptom or allergic reaction, chances are you need a humidifier that is compatible with liquid inhalants.

That’s why Vicks Warm Mist Humidifier is the best option for you. It works with Vicks VapoSteam Liquid to help relieve coughing.

Another reason to choose this model is the only one that diffuses warm mist. Studies show that warm-mist humidifiers generally disperses less mineral buildup and molds into the air. That is partly why we recommend it for infants and toddlers.

Additionally, many users love how fast it is for the humidifier to warm up.

One minor annoyance is that the light stays on if the humidifier is plugged in. You can though cover it with a tape.

Who Is It For?

Vicks Warm Mist Humidifier is for parents who need the ability to use liquid inhalants in the humidifier.

4. Vicks Cool Mist Humidifier

---

Like Crane Droplet, Vicks Cool Mist humidifier is great for using vapor pads. Though it’s only compatible with Vicks VSP-19 VapoPads.

But comparing to Crane Droplet, Vicks Cool Mist boasts a 1.2-gallon tank that can last 30 hours on a single refill. So if you need natural relief of cols symptoms but also need to run the humidifier to cover a big room, then go with this model.

Another advantage of Vicks Cool Mist is that the mist level setting is more customizable. Unlike Crane Droplet, you can rotate the knob to set it to your own preference.

The downside is that mold builds up fast in this model and it takes more time to clean.

Who Is It For?

Vicks Cool Mist Humidifier is for parents who need to use vapor pads and prefer a humidifier with longer runtime.

FAQs about Baby Carriers

Final Words

Choosing the best humidifier for babies can be a daunting task as many parents are not sure about the health effect a humidifier has. Our analysis shows that Vicks Warm Mist Humidifier is most suitable for babies with sensitive skin. Crane Droplet is the best option should you need to travel with a humidifier. Crane Drop and Vicks Cool Mist are decent choices that cover a large area and can be used with vapor pads.