Baby care books and doctors say that we should keep babies at a comfortable temperature. Because babies are very susceptible to overheating. And you follow those instructions well.
However, every time your parents pay you and your little one a visit, they complain that the air conditioner is too cold, making the baby sick. And grandparents recommend using a fan.
Moreover, your baby sometimes sneezes in the air-conditioned room. This makes you worry about whether the air conditioner is suitable for your baby. Especially when the baby is sick, is it OK to use an air conditioner, or will an air conditioner only worsen?
So, let's find out if a fan or air conditioner for baby is better.
Fan or air conditioner for baby? Let's compare
The fan and an air conditioner both cool the space. But they are different in some critical points that we, as moms, will consider when selecting the right one for our treasures.
The table below outlines the differences in using each device so you can make the right choice.
Compare | Fan | Air Conditioner |
|---|---|---|
Energy | use less energy, the greener energy saving | consumes a lot of power |
Noise | generally make a purring sound, which can help to create white noise that some infants love | generate very gentle - almost silent noise |
Air | If the air from the fan circulates too strongly, it will blow directly into the baby’s nose. This makes his/her breathing difficult. To avoid it, let your fan spin or do not let the fan blow directly into the baby’s nose. | Air from the air conditioner does not cause any difficulty breathing. However, it dries out the room and makes your baby’s nasal passages blocked up. If you use an air con, make sure to arm yourself with a humidifier as well. |
Size | a lot of styles, sizes | a lot of different forms. You need to choose the one that is strong enough for the room size |
Portability |
conveniently shifted |
permanent installation |
Effectiveness |
takes a long time to get the hot air out of the home |
refrigerate and actively cool the home’s air |
Price |
cheaper |
more expensive |
Health |
circulate the natural atmosphere. Maybe the air from outside is better for health |
create cool air by removing moisture from the natural air. This decreases the humidity in your home, making dry air that can irritate your sinuses, dehydrate your skin, and affect your respiratory system |
Fan or air conditioner for baby: Which is better?
Depending on your circumstances, either a fan or an air conditioner for baby is a viable option. Fans will not lower the temperature of the room. But they will improve air circulation.
Do many parents worry that can a fan make baby sick? You'll relieve to find out that fans can do more good than make a baby sick. And cold for your infant should be the last thing on your mind. In addition, a fan can raise the humidity level in the air, giving more air circulation for the infant.
Besides, today's air conditioners are multi-functional. They have a variety of modes, keep the temperature stable, and dehumidify it. Another advantage is that they are silent. So if your little one loves the sound of lullaby songs, or some other white noise, you don’t have to put the sound machine too close to your baby’s head.
Some parents are concerned that an air conditioner is bad for babies with flu? But rest assured that these two things have almost no relation at all. Even though you sometimes notice that your baby seems to sneeze or cough more in an air-conditioned room, that is just a reaction of the body to the cool air. A flu is caused by a virus, not the temperature of your room.
However, if the air conditioner is not maintained correctly, mold, fungi, and bacteria can grow. These bacteria are dangerous enough to make a person ill. The juvenile body system of a baby is also to blame for catching a cold so quickly.
Best Fan and Air Conditioner for baby room
Best fan for baby room
It is your responsibility as a parent to ensure that your baby is as comfortable as possible in the oppressive heat. And the simplest and most cost-effective way to do so is to install a powerful but quiet fan. Here are some of the best fans for baby rooms you should think about.
Pelonis Pedestal Fan
You may change the wind speeds, set the timer, and control oscillation with the Pelonis fan's computerized control panel. It has 12-speed options for its five blades. With a 24-degree tilt, it can oscillate up to 85 degrees. The fan is ultra-quiet, with noise levels as low as 38 decibels, barely audible.
The broad base keeps it from tumbling over. But it adds weight to the fan, making it a little heavier to maneuver around than others. The grate keeps young fingers away from the blades, lowering the risk of your child getting to them. It also comes with built-in overheat prevention. This will turn off the fan if the motor becomes too hot, lowering the risk of fire and keeping your child safe.
Vornadobaby Breesi LS Fan for Baby Room
At first glance, the Vornadobaby Breesi LS nursery air circulator fan appears to keep your baby comfortable and safe. It has a finger-friendly design with no pinch points or sharp edges, and power cord storage and a topple-resistant base.
Even better, the fan grill is narrowly spaced, preventing the baby's fingers from getting through. This baby room fan is also suitable for parents. Because it has a removable grill for easy cleaning and simple controls. The fan also has a child lock feature that prevents it from being turned off even if curious fingers get their hands on it.
The Vornadobaby Breesi nursery air circulator fan also has a few extra useful features that help your baby sleep better and feel more comfortable. The fan is quiet and adds an acceptable background noise, but it also has an electronic white noise option with four unfamiliar sounds.
On the other hand, the little speaker is a little tinny and might not be a suitable replacement for any existing sound machines you have. Night light has five different brightness settings.
Vornado VFAN Mini Fan
The Vornado VFAN Mini fan for baby rooms should move a lot of air while taking up little space. With dimensions of 8.4 inches tall and 7.1 inches wide, this fan can be placed almost anywhere.
Fortunately, the VFAN does not sacrifice much power or functionality to achieve its small size. Despite its small size, it has a lot of enery and, thanks to its unique design, it excels at circulating air.
The Vornado VFAN Mini follows the same design ideas as many other Vornado fans. Dual injector cones and deep-pitched fan blades on the fan body allow air to spiral out of the fan and travel further overall.
The VFAN's design is extremely sturdy and solid, preventing it from being destroyed by curious little hands. We were a little stunned to see only two-speed options, but they both operate admirably, so it wasn't a major disappointment.
Benefits of a fan for your baby
There are many advantages to installing a fan in your baby's room. Many of these aids in keeping your baby safe while also ensuring that they get deep sleep.
- A fan keeps the air moving while retaining the natural humidity.
- Without raising the temperature to dangerously high levels, a fan can lower the temperature to a safe level for the newborn.
- A fan produces a constant light white noise, like what a baby hears while in the womb. This instills a sense of security in the baby and allows him/her to drift off to sleep.
- If you're going to use the air conditioner, make sure the fan is on as well. And the best temperature is between 25 and 27 degrees Celsius.
Best air conditioners for baby room
Any air conditioner that ensures proper air distribution in a room and is quiet is ideal for a baby. Cooled air does more than removing pollutants. It also regulates humidity levels so that the baby's underdeveloped respiratory systems are not irritated.
An air conditioner can use in any room or area of your home, including the baby’s room. Here are some best air conditioners for the baby room.
Frigidaire Energy Star
This Frigidaire 6000 BTU unit is ideal for older homes with a smaller, more traditional nursery. According to its assessment, the Frigidaire AC type is best for a tiny baby's room, with the most significant area footage of 250 square feet.
The energy efficiency of this tiny window air conditioner particularly pleased us. It is Energy Star certified, with an EER of 12.1 and an annual energy cost of only $48. (when used seasonally).
This machine can also dehumidify your environment, removing up to 1.3 pints of moisture every hour.
Unless you have extra cooling, I would recommend this compact air conditioner for rooms of roughly 100 square feet. The few critical reviews we found primarily complained about the unit running all the time and not meeting a cool temperature in big rooms.
BLACK+DECKER BPACT08WT Portable Air Conditioner
This 8,000 BTU unit can keep your baby’s bedroom cool without keeping him/her awake at night. It's quieter than other portable air conditioners, and at 53 pounds, it's not too heavy to move.
It's suitable for a small bedroom because it has a smaller recommended cooling area. In addition, the filter pulls out of the back for easy cleaning.
Whynter Elite ARC-122DS 12,000 BTU Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner
This double-hosed 12,000 BTU cooler and dehumidifier, like our Whynter all-in-one pick, is rated for space up to 400 square feet. The bundled remote and 24-hour programmable timer allows you to manage cooling throughout the day better.
Whynter claims it can dehumidify up to 76 pints per 24 hours, with a noise level of 52 dBA. Thus it should be possible to sleep during its operation. The accompanying storage bag keeps all the parts and accessories together for winter storage.
Tips for safely using an air conditioner for a baby
- You can accustom to the chill of an air conditioner. On the other hand, a baby finds it difficult to adjust to the sudden coolness of the air conditioner. So, if your baby is sleeping in an air-conditioned room, here are some precautions you should take.
- The temperature of the room is the first thing you should watch. If your baby sleeping at night, the air conditioner may quickly freeze the room. So, depending on the weather, maintain a suitable temperature.
- While the baby is sleeping, dress him or her comfortably. Maintaining an air conditioner temperature will not suffice if the baby feels cold or hot because of uncomfortable clothing.
- It is critical to watch your baby while he/she is sleeping. You can check his/her head, hands, chest, or feet to see if he/she is comfortable.
- Make a habit of cleaning and inspecting the air conditioner regularly. Otherwise, the dust in the air conditioner could easily make your baby sick.
Final Thought
If you are still concerned about whether to choose a fan or air conditioner for your baby, keep in mind that both of them do no harm to your baby’s health. And it all depends on your living environment, temperature and preference to pick one.
In this article, we have provided you a comparison between the two, as well as some suggestions for choosing a fan or air-conditioner for your baby, the next step is yours.