Danny as been writing about air purifiers for 10+ years. He is a major fan of home technology, which makes him the perfect person to test and evaluate products for HouseFresh
As a parent or carer, you’ll know that protecting your baby’s comfort and wellbeing is paramount. Unfortunately, however, high humidity and moisture levels may affect your baby’s health. Investing in the right dehumidifier can help to reduce these issues.
There are so many dangers in the home for babies and some of the most harmful are invisible to the naked eye. Dehumidifiers are highly effective in preventing mold and mildew from developing and also help to stop insects like dust mites and spiders from inhabiting the environment.
But how exactly do dehumidifiers work? Well, there are two main types. Refrigerant dehumidifiers attract warm currents of air which then move through refrigerated coils. Cool, dry air is subsequently released back into your baby’s room or nursery while condensation is maintained inside the dehumidifier. Desiccant dehumidifiers are a bit different and use a sponge-like wheel that absorbs and removes moisture, enabling dry air to be pushed back out again.
When picking out our top choices we looked at things like:
- Budget
- Weight
- Tank size
- Special features such as ultra-quiet technology
Room size is also an important factor when choosing a dehumidifier. You’ll want to consider whether the dehumidifier is being used in a bedroom, nursery, or playroom, all of which may be of variable sizes. The Pro Breeze Electric Dehumidifier is great for small areas and covers 215 square feet. But the Waykar Home Dehumidifier is ideal for larger spaces and covers up to 4,500 square feet.
To ensure we found the best dehumidifiers for babies, we used consumer reports analysis to remove any false reviews. All our recommendations came from genuine parents and carers like you who have previously used and can recommend these dehumidifiers.
Last update on 2023-06-02 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
1. Waykar Home Dehumidifier
The Waykar Home Dehumidifier is a powerful unit designed for the modern home, fitting seamlessly into nursery décor without appearing out of place. It is easy to set up thanks to its user-friendly design, and it even has built-in wheels and ergonomic handles on either side so it’s simple to move around as needed. You can control whether the LED panel lights up, providing your baby’s room with an optional nightlight that isn’t overwhelmingly bright. If your child is more mobile and curious, you can also lock the control panel.
Further functionalities include multiple fan speeds to address different levels of humidity control. At lower levels, the fan is near-silent, so you can run the dehumidifier without disturbing a sleeping baby. There is also a 24-hour timer so the dehumidifier runs only as long as you want it to. Otherwise, it will automatically cut itself off when the tank is full to prevent overfill.
If it’s possible inside the nursery, you can always attach a hose and set the dehumidifier up for continuous drain. Thanks to the four air outlets, the dehumidifier pulls in air at a quicker rate, reducing how long you need to leave it running.
Features:
- Tank Size: 72 pints
- Room Size Suitability: 4,500 square feet
- Weight: 30 pounds
- Special Features: Intelligent touch panel | 4 air outlets | 24-hour timer
What we love
- The unit restarts itself in the event of a power outage
- Features an intuitive and responsive touch screen
- The slim dehumidifier is easily tucked away in the corner of the room
We don't like this as much
- Due to the smaller size of the tank, you may need to empty it frequently
- We wish the drainage outlet was compatible with a standard size garden hose
2. Midea 35 Pint Dehumidifier
The Midea Dehumidifier is the solution for those larger nurseries that may have more serious humidity issues. With its multiple modes, you can operate the dehumidifier exactly as you need it. For maximum power at the highest fan speed, activate the turbo function. This produces a little bit of noise, so it’s better used when the baby isn’t sleeping. You can also use the auto-comfort mode for quick moisture absorption to reach optimal humidity levels.
The dehumidifier also has a Timer mode. You can set it anywhere from 0-24 hours, fully controlling how long it runs without relying on the unit to stop itself when the bucket fills up. If you want it to run non-stop, you can set it in continuous mode and use a drainage hose for constant emptying.
Such a mode does make it more convenient to use as it requires less oversight. If you’re unable to set that up in your baby’s room and have to use the other modes, the dehumidifier is thankfully easy to empty. There’s a handle inside so that you can maintain a good grip.
Features:
- Tank Size: 35 pints
- Room Size Suitability: 3,000 square feet
- Weight: 33.51 pounds
- Special Features: Auto-restart | turbo mode
More like this: 8 Best 35 Pint Dehumidifiers
What we love
- With its large tank, it doesn't need emptying often
- Quick dehumidifying as it draws in a lot of moisture
- The floating marker makes it easier to see the current water level
We don't like this as much
- This machine produces some hot, dry air, so it is best to allow extra clearance
- The wheels move better on hard flooring rather than carpet
3. Pro Breeze Electric Dehumidifier
The Pro Breeze Electric Dehumidifier is an ideal unit if you have a smaller nursery. Not only is it effective at dehumidifying a room, but thanks to it being more compact, you can easily set this dehumidifier up out of sight. This makes it worthwhile when space is a concern or you don’t want to sacrifice the décor in the child’s room. Being small and lightweight has the bonus of making the dehumidifier simple to pick up and move as need be.
Besides that, the space-saving design of the dehumidifier allows you to place this up off the floor. This design aspect can make the dehumidifier a safe option as well since active babies will be unable to get to it.
This portable unit is rather energy-efficient as well, so you can run it for hours on end without worrying about your energy bill shooting up. It should not disturb your baby either if you decide to run it at night as it boasts whisper-quiet operation. In fact, it may behave more like white noise, easily blending into the background.
Features:
- Tank Size: 1 pint
- Room Size Suitability: 215 square feet
- Weight: 2.4 pounds
- Special Features: Peltier technology
What we love
- The reservoir tank slides out smoothly without spillage
- Features a bright full tank indicator light
- Has an auto-off system so there's no risk of it overflowing when full
We don't like this as much
- With a slower dehumidifying process, it needs to run often
- Emptying takes time as water pours slowly out of the hole in the tank
4. TOSOT 20 Pint Dehumidifier
The TOSOT Dehumidifier handles rooms with high humidity levels well, sucking out all that excessive moisture at a fast pace. Its size makes it equipped to work well in medium and larger nurseries. At the same time, it has a modern design that isn’t bulky, letting you set it closer to the wall and out of the way. Despite its size, it doesn’t drain your energy bill as it’s Energy Star rated so that you can run it as often as you need to.
With this dehumidifier, you have better control over the exact humidity levels you feel best suits your baby. This is due to real-time humidity monitoring. Once the desired humidity level is set, the dehumidifier can automatically stop running once the room reaches that level. Of course, you can always set the unit to run continuously regardless of humidity levels.
If you have a drainage hose attached, the dehumidifier won’t stop running until you turn it off. Otherwise, it will stop when the bucket is full. This second mode may be more desirable if you don’t want a machine operating constantly in your child’s room. Nevertheless, the dehumidifier operates with a minimal amount of noise.
Features:
- Tank Size: 20 pints
- Room Size Suitability: 1,500 square feet
- Weight: 33.9 pounds
- Special Features: Spill-proof bucket | real-time monitoring
What we love
- Straightforward design and manual makes it easy to use
- Made with an accurate humidity meter indicator
- The dehumidifier features an alert beep so you don't have to look at it to know it's full
We don't like this as much
- As it's heavyweight, it can take some effort to move
- Best used in larger rooms as it produces a good deal of warm air
5. Hysure Portable Dehumidifier
The Hysure Portable Dehumidifier is a sleek, compact dehumidifier that fits effortlessly into your baby’s room. Rather than having the white color found on many dehumidifiers, this unit is black and offers a more unique appearance. Besides looking good, it is remarkably easy to use. It features one-button operation so you don’t have to cycle through several different control buttons.
Besides turning the dehumidifier on and off, the circular button serves the extra purpose of telling you when it’s time to empty the water tank. It does this via a LED color ring. Green tells you that it’s working, while yellow tells you that the tank is full. You can also listen out too since the dehumidifier automatically turns off so that it won’t overflow.
At the same time, the dehumidifier still runs quietly, not making noise beyond that of a common house fan. Concerning how well it operates, it can hold a comfortable amount of water taken from a small room with moderate humidity levels.
Features:
- Tank Size: 4.2 pints
- Room Size Suitability: 480 square feet
- Weight: 5.5 pounds
- Special Features: 1-button control
What we love
- Deodorizes well to remove musty odors
- Lightweight design with a handle for easier moving
- Easy to wipe the tank and wash the filter
We don't like this as much
- We wish the power cord was a little longer to reduce the need for an extension cord
- This dehumidifier is ideally placed away from a wall as the tank is located on the back
6. KTPOWER Midsize Dehumidifier
The KTPOWER Midsize Dehumidifier is an affordable unit that’s backed by plenty of power to handle any nursery. As a high-efficiency dehumidifier, it has two air outlets, one on the left and one on the right. This creates a noticeable difference in the overall feel of the room so that your baby is more comfortable over time. It is still an energy-saving dehumidifier as well so that you can run it for hours at a time. With it weighing less than 5lbs, you can pick it up and move it around the room or use it in any room in the house that you let your baby hang around in, maintaining a healthier environment for them no matter where they go.
This dehumidifier is a great choice if you need to operate it while your baby is sleeping whether at night or during naptime. With its ultra-quiet technology, it produces a sound that is around 39dB. It’s a sound level that is known to be faint, even quieter than the noise your refrigerator makes. So, feel free to run it at all hours of the day without ever interrupting your baby’s precious sleep.
As the dehumidifier sucks in air from the top and releases it through the back, it is useful to keep it away from the wall or any obstruction such as up on a table or shelf. Thanks to it being so compact, it is even easier to tuck it away somewhere so that it isn’t even noticeable.
Features:
- Tank Size: 4.2 pints
- Room Size Suitability: 500 square feet
- Weight: 4.8 pounds
- Special Features: Ultra-quiet technology
What we love
- Easy to notice when it's full thanks to the oversize indicator light
- It doesn't take up too much floor space
- The lid opens on the tank so it's faster to dispense the water
We don't like this as much
- The water tank fills nearly to the top, so take care when removing it
- Could benefit from having wheels so it can slide across the floor
7. SEAVON Electric Dehumidifier
The SEAVON Electric Dehumidifier offers a fast and effective way to lower humidity levels in small spaces. To start, it’s readily portable and lightweight so that you can bring it in and out of the room if you don’t have the space to leave it in the nursery. Otherwise, its smaller footprint can actually save space, working well for minimalistic spaces since you can tuck it in a corner or even set it up higher on a bookshelf or table so that it stays out of the way of an active baby.
This dehumidifier is as straightforward as possible to use too. It only has a single button to press to turn it on and off. So, this is a user-friendly dehumidifier for those of you that don’t want a unit that is high in technology and simply needs a means to handle a moderate amount of moisture in the air. It still has all the necessary functions such as the safe auto-off design that will stop the process once the tank reaches its full line. The LED light will shine so that you know to go over and empty it.
Also, this dehumidifier runs exceptionally quietly, mitigating any potential disruption to sleeping members of your family. It runs only at around 30dB, creating a whisper-soft environment that can even be used as white noise. Depending on your baby, this may also help soothe them if you run it at night.
Features:
- Tank Size: 1 pint
- Room Size Suitability: 220 square feet
- Weight: 2.4 pounds
- Special Features: 360-degree airflow
What we love
- It's easy to plug and unplug the rubber stopper on the tank
- The dehumidifier remains cool even after running for hours
- Seamless and quick to pull out the water tank
We don't like this as much
- We’d like to see the ability to customize the color of the device so that it can better fit in with different nursery decor
- We wish it was a little easier to clear the vent of the dehumidifier, as dust may accumulate over time
8. Gocheer Upgraded Dehumidifier
The Gocheer Upgraded Dehumidifier works well to remove moderate dampness in a small to medium-sized room. This compact dehumidifier does not weigh much so it isn’t difficult to pick it up and move around the nursery or even in a different room such as a playroom for your child so that they can sit in a consistently humidity-free environment throughout the home. It is designed to save you on energy as well, consuming approximately 1.15kW after running for 24 hours.
In a small to medium-sized room, the dehumidifier can easily reach across the entire area for even coverage, thanks to its 360-degree airflow design. So, no matter how and where you decide to set this unit up, it forms its intended job with ease. This gives you far more freedom to place the dehumidifier in your child’s room without having to completely overhaul the décor in the room.
To top it all off, the dehumidifier also operates quietly. It does not emit sound that is any louder than the hum from your computer. With this in mind, as well as the fact that it saves on energy, feel free to operate the dehumidifier at all hours throughout the day. Once full, it’s easy to grip the simple handle on the water tank and slide it out.
Features:
- Tank Size: 4.2 pints
- Room Size Suitability: 480 square feet
- Weight: 5.83 pounds
- Special Features: 1-button switch
What we love
- It has a small footprint as to not take up room
- Requires next to no set up so it's fast to get it started
- Contemporary design that blends well into the background
We don't like this as much
- Would benefit from having timer settings to better control how long it runs
- It could help if the power indicator lights up so you can see it from a distance
FAQs About Dehumidifiers for Babies
Are dehumidifiers okay for babies?
Dehumidifiers are beneficial and safe for use around babies. They can stop mold and mildew from growing. Alongside that, they can create an environment in which dust mites and other larger pests like spiders won’t live, making the room healthier overall for your baby.
Of course, a dehumidifier isn’t always necessary if the nursery is on the ground floor or upper floor levels. However, if a nursery is in a basement area, then dehumidifiers become more of a necessity since that area is prone to developing excessive airborne moisture. Furthermore, if you happen to live in a region known to have high humidity levels, a dehumidifier can help the entire family in the long run.
Will a dehumidifier help my child’s cough?
Since dehumidifiers are known to regulate and lower airborne moisture, they are not the most effective dehumidifiers at treating a cough. Instead, a humidifier will be more useful. This is because dry air can irritate allergy and asthma-related symptoms. Additionally, the drier the air, the more susceptible a child’s airways become to infection.
This can, in turn, lead to things like nosebleeds, sinus infections, the common cold, a sore throat, and even influenza. So, if a child does have a cough, then it may be best to turn the dehumidifier off so that moisture levels rise again or even invest in a humidifier instead.
Which Dehumidifier is Best for You?
With a dehumidifier in your baby’s nursery, there’s less chance of your child and the room itself experiencing issues from excessive moisture. This includes mold and mildew growth as well as the odors and airborne bacteria that can come with it. Even so, it’s important to know when it’s appropriate to use a dehumidifier around your baby.
Moisture builds up fast in high humid environments, a common occurrence if the home is heated often in the winter or it’s simply hot from the summer weather. If you aren’t running an air conditioner, then a dehumidifier is beneficial to keeping levels regulated. However, if it’s warmer out and the home isn’t excessively heated, or if an air conditioner is run frequently in the warmer months, then a dehumidifier may further dry the air out.
So, bearing in mind when to use a dehumidifier around your baby, you can focus more on finding the right one. Since it’ll be used in a nursery, features like quiet operation and easy mobility so you can move it around as needed are helpful. Our list should guide you down the right road to finding that perfect dehumidifier for your home. Meanwhile, check out our top choices for the best small-room dehumidifier, the best dehumidifier for mid-range rooms, and our favorite choice for larger rooms:
Budget/Smaller Rooms – Pro Breeze Electric Dehumidifier
Mid-range Rooms – TOSOT 20 Pint Dehumidifier
Larger Rooms – Waykar Home Dehumidifier