Humidifiers

Humidifiers are neat gadgets to have for us Pacific Northwesterners, especially during the winter months when the cold dry air can cause dry itchy skin and nosebleeds in those with sensitive noses. They can also help with cough and cold symptoms in a couple of ways.  By using a cool mist humidifier, we can basically increase the water content in the air around a stuffy kiddo. Then when they breathe this air in, that water can sort of mix itself with the mucous to loosen it, making it more watery, and therefore easier for the body to move and drain through the lymphatic system as well as easier to cough up postnasal drip buildup. 

The humidified air also helps with sore throats as often a sore throat can occur in kids when their nose is all stuffed up, forcing them to breathe more through their mouths causing irritation from nonhumidified air going past the throat and vocal cords all night. Air going through the nose to the lungs gets warmed and humidified by the nasal passages on its way in. Humidifiers help by sort of mimicking what the nose does making the air less irritating for the throat. 

But of note, we need to stick with cool mist humidifiers and stay away from warm mist which make the environment a bit too pleasant for mold and fungus to grow. Which reminds me, clean those humidifiers often.