Vicks Starry Night Humidifier #ProductReview

Hey, my calendar says SPRING starts this week! So... Why does my backyard still look like a frozen wasteland? Seriously, LOOK AT IT! When I was asked to review the Vicks Starry Night Cool Moisture Humidifier, I thought the cold & flu season might have run its course in my house. Luckily (?) I was wrong! Before I tell you about my experience, here are some fun facts:

New Health Survey of Canadians – A new survey of approximately 750 Canadians (random sampling of male & female reflective of Canada’s demographics) was conducted by the makers of Honeywell Air Purifiers and Vicks Humidifiers & Thermometers.  Below are some of the interesting findings:

• Nearly half (43%) of Canadians suffer from airborne allergies, and in almost a quarter (22%) of homes at least two people are allergy-sufferers.
• The majority of Canadians (69%) estimate that having a sick child costs over C$20 a day, and 18% estimate that it costs over C$100!
• Most respondents (64%) indicated that fever scares them, and 70% of parents call the Healthline or doctor at least sometimes when their child is sick.

 Dr. Dave Greenberg offers these tips about cold and flu:

• Flu Facts - When homes are kept at the optimal 40-60 percent relative indoor humidity level, flu virus survival in the air can be dramatically decreased - by up to 30%.  Homes with radiant heat see a bigger decrease in flu virus survival when using a humidifier compared to homes with forced air heat.
• Time to Recover - They might be running around the house, feeling healthy but it’s important to keep kids home from school, play dates, and after school activities for at least 24 hours after their fever breaks.
• Prevent & Protect - Many people say the best way protect yourself and your family from the flu is with the vaccine. It takes about two weeks for your body to develop protective antibodies, so the sooner you get vaccinated the better.

It turns out M was the first to need the Vicks Starry Night Cool Moisture Humidifier. I mean, getting sick sucks when you're nearly five, but having an awesome light show softens the blow, right?

The Good: This thing is quiet. Like less than a whisper, good thing it has a light on it because otherwise I wouldn't be sure it was on kind of quiet. It releases an invisible vapour, which keeps little hands away from temptation. The starry night display is really cute and made being sick a little less unfortunate.

The Things I Would Change if I Could: The light show is great, really cute. And very entertaining. So entertaining, in fact, that I think it may have disrupted sleep a little. I would LOVE to see a timer in the next iteration. There is a filter in the humidifier that filters out impurities, but needs to be replaced periodically. Maybe it's my own lack of organization, but I can see that being a problem down the road. "Uh-oh, she needs the humidifier tonight! Ah, crap. The filter is crusty!" A reusable version that could be cleaned would be awesome.

Overall, I think it's great and the quiet operation is enough of a boon to make put it in the recommend category. Want one of your own? Here's what the manufacturer has to say: "The new Vicks Starry Night Humidifier releases cool moisture into the air, providing temporary relief from dry air discomforts. A cool mist humidifier helps keep air at a comfortable humidity to help relieve nasal and chest congestion. Available at London Drugs, Wal-Mart, Loblaw, Toys R Us, Target & Rexall. SRP of $59.99"

Or, better yet, ENTER TO WIN The Mommy Knows Best Prize Pack, valued at over $350.


Disclosure: I received a Vicks Starry Night Humidifier from Vicks & Braun for review purposes, but no monetary compensation. All opinions expressed are my own.