With cold weather just around the corner, I’m stocking up on a variety of equipment to fight the inevitable winter colds. One that I’ve always found helpful for the whole family is a humidifier.

Gone are the days of huge, noisy and let’s face it, unattractive humidifiers. Today’s models are quieter, easier and all around better for fighting chapped lips, dry, itchy skin and tiny stuffed-up noses. This cute, Cow design, Ultrasonic Humidifier makes a great addition to a baby or small child’s room and does the trick on nights when the whole family could end up awake wiping tears and sleepily trying to comfort a sick and forlorn child.

It’s easy to use with a removable 1 gallon water tank and an automatic shut off switch when the tank is empty. It also boasts a control button to regulate the cool mist produced, ideal for nights when your child has a fever.

Since we try to limit the amount of cold medicine my son takes (with the recent news on the inadvisability of giving any at all that means….zero) we’ve been looking for more traditional ways to battle the inevitable colds. A humidifier is perfect, since it neutralizes the drying effects of forced air heat.