I have a Vicks cool mist humidifier and i always use it on a towel on the floor (hardwood floor ). Even the photos in the user manual shows it on the floor. 12 inches away from wall, furniture, etc. No problems in decades of doing it this way.

There are two types of humidifiers. Warm mist humidifiers can be put on the floor as the warmer mist will not immediately sink to the ground and will generally spread further before sinking to the ground and the moisture will be absorbed into the air before it reaches the ground . Cool mist humidifiers should not be put on the floor as the cool mist will sink more quickly and some will be absorbed by the carpet before it is absorbed by the air thereby making your carpet damp. Cool mist humidifiers should be raised at the table height or above. Then as the mist comes out and sinks, the moisture is absorbed into the air before it reaches the ground.

Most cool mist humidifiers have warnings not to put low to the ground and recommend on desks, tables, nightstands. If you can't put it up on the dresser and don't have a nightstand or similar in the kid's room, then get a tray table or similar and put it in the room. It should generally be at least 2 feet above the ground for a cool mist humidifier.

Anonymous wrote:Had same problem in small, carpeted room and the solution for us is to keep the ceiling fan on low when we run the cool mist humidifier. If there's a ceiling fan in the room, try that.

You can't have it on the floor. There are no workarounds to that. You will quickly start getting mold on your carpet. We have ours on an ironing board or chair.

It might be because it’s on the floor. Our humidifier’s instructions said never to have on carpet or a towel because it obstructs the fan and to keep it at least 2 feet above the floor.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, consider why the humidity in your house is already. If the air is already saturated, it can’t take more moisture.

OP has dry air, not wet air. She is using humidifier not dehumidifier.

You can think your air is dry, but if you aren’t using a hygrometer, you don’t know.

Exactly. OP - why exactly are you running a humidifier?

Anonymous wrote:OP here, thanks all. To answer q’s - it is a humidifier, blowing mist into the air. We’ve got to close the door as otherwise we would keep our son awake with our activities downstairs when we are trying to get him to sleep (small 1300 sq foot house). It isn’t a puddle as might result from a leak, but generally wet ground, like the mist is being absorbed into the carpet. I will play around with other setups and maybe by a smaller version. ThNks!

Get a hygrometer, it sounds like the air is over saturated.