Vicks Starry Night Filtered Cool Mist Humidifier, Medium to Large Rooms, 1 Gallon Tank – Cool Mist Humidifier for Baby and Kids Rooms with Light Up Star Night Light Display, Works with Vicks VapoPads

I really like this item and I feel it does a good job. I picked this for a few reasons:1. It's cheap.2. It cools the air as it works (I'm always hot at night and we don't have AC).3. I live in a dry climate (Eastern Idaho) so the "wicking" method works well here.I have two other similar humidifiers ( Vicks 1.0 Gallon Cool Mist Humidifier ) that we use for white noise in our boys bedrooms because they are a bit louder (but they also seem to blow more air, even on the low setting).This humidifier is much quieter (especially on the low setting) it's almost completely silent. I picked these same type of humidifiers because I wanted cool air and a sonic humidifier creates tiny dust particles from minerals in the water so I didn't want that.I like how all three use the same filters which aren't too expensive to replace ($8-9 each I think) and last 2-3 months for me but I usually get them to last a few months longer by soaking them in water with a couple cups of white vinegar and a bit of bleach (to kill any molds etc.) and they're good as new for a while but eventually they start falling apart and I have to throw them away.Also my boys, age 1 and 3, love the starry night light on it that changes color. My one year old likes to climb on it and had knocked it over many times causing it to dump out all its water on the carpet.My only complaints about this item are:1. You can't adjust the aim of the air and it blows out the bottom onto the floor. Don't you want cool air directed upwards so it can mix with the warm air? The air at ground level is cool already!2. It leaks very easily with the slightest imbalance when you try moving it while there's water in it.3. It must be placed on a perfectly level, water-proof piece of furniture or on the floor. I don't own a single piece of furniture like that. I wish I could put it on the dresser but that's just too risky because of spilled water.

I ended up buying this humidifier instead of the Honeywell one because it was $30 cheaper and the same 1 Gallon capacity. Very reasonably priced for an evaporative humidifier. This style doesn’t require distilled water, and is easier to clean and maintain than ultrasonic ones. The pink model was even cheaper, but I didn’t know the nightlight changes colors (I originally thought it was either blue or red and I didn’t want a red light). Operation is straightforward. It’s practically silent when running in Sleep Mode. The nightlight is a nice addition. It also comes with a slot for putting Vicks pouches that put menthol vapors into the air. That’s another nice feature, but one I wouldn’t use every day. Good when you have a cold or the flu though. I wish it had an auto-off feature, or a humidity sensor, but for around $50, I’m not complaining.

I waited two months to review. I originally bought this for my nephews when they got sick with bad colds and doctor suggested it. I recently just started using it the past two days due to my asthma acting up with the vapo pads. Honestly it has helped me sleep great with no breathing issues shockingly, so I will have to order another for me lol. I seen a lot of reviews about leaking, but so far so good for me. I’m guessing they maybe redesigned it? I use the max setting and it’s pretty loud which I enjoy since I sleep with a fan on usually for the sound, so this works just as good in place of a fan. Also gives off a cool air. My nephews used the sleep mode and it was mostly quiet. They love the night light mainly on this. Also noticed it did help them stop coughing in their sleep when they used it.

This is our second purchase I’m of this model. We are aware of the polarity in the reviews relating to the leaking. We love it with the major exception of a manageable design flaw in the humidifier: an L shaped dish floods when the reservoir is lowered and wicks the filter. The fan evaporates water from the filter.The problem is that this L shaped dish is tip-top filled. So if you bumpIt or move it, water spills into the bottom shell and is directed out to a hole in the back left corner.So if it needs to be moved, you have to do as I just did: remove the reservoir, remove the filter/wick, carefully pull the vertical plastic piece to lift the L-shaped dish (full of water) and empty it (a dish, the sink, or back into reservoir). Then hold the unit over a receptacle and tilt the unit back left corner down to drain the overspill from doing all of this moving. Once the base is drained, the L-shaped dish (emptied) can be replaced, then the filter/wick, then after placing the unit where you want it, then you can lower the (refilled) reservoir and proceed to using it again.If you never move it, never nudge it, then the L-shaped dish will fill but never overflow or spill and you won’t have to do all this. I imagine if the water reservoir empties the L-shaped dish will evaporate or remain filled to receive the refilled reservoir.(The first leaked an entire reservoir and ruined the veneer on our dresser) but... It’s a really nice, clean, effective unit. We recently purchased our second with me determined to figure out this “leaking”/spilling issue. I’ve got it figured out. I hope we don’t have to move it. If we do, it’s a test of patience.Not sure what would happen if you just plug the hole in the outer base shell, but as long as spilled water doesn’t rise to a level of electronics (or perhaps the front vent where the most comes out), it could be a decent fix.Next version would suggest moving the vent from the square to a strip along the front placed higher up and plug the drainage hole. [claiming royalties if this is what Vicks decides to do!]