Question:
In the article about colds, you recommended using a vaporizer. What is the difference between a vaporizer and a humidifier and do they work equally well for relieving my baby's stuffy nose?

Answer:
A vaporizer is better and cleaner than a humidifier. Warm-mist vaporizers provide a clean steam that is naturally sterilized by the heating of the water. Warm-mist vaporizers are also better in the winter months, since they provide a heat source for a tiny bedroom and counteract the drying effects of central heating. Humidifiers, on the other hand, do not raise the humidity in the room or provide the steam to the high intensity that a vaporizer does. Also, humidifiers often harbor mold and germs, since the water is not boiled like in a vaporizer. Some new and expensive ultrasonic humidifiers do provide a cleaner and finer mist than vaporizers and studies have shown that this mist is better for lower airway problems, such as bronchitis; whereas a vaporizer is mainly for stuffy noses and sinuses. Our family preference has always been a vaporizer. A word of caution: Vaporizers should be kept out of the reach of toddlers, since the hot water can cause burns.