SOUTHBOROUGH, Mass. — Kaz USA Inc. is providing another way to alleviate children’s cold and flu symptoms and help them get rest with the new Vicks Sweet Dreams Cool Mist Humidifier, which projects dream-themed images on the ceiling while restoring moisture to the air to ease breathing.

Kaz said Wednesday that the Vicks Sweet Dreams Humidifier offers three themes — safari, sea and starry night — that project on the ceiling to comfort and entertain young children suffering from cold and flu symptoms. The images also can be played on their own as a nightlight to help calm kids’ nighttime fears.

Meanwhile, the cool mist is quietly released into the air to counteract the effects of harsh, dry air and help ease congestion, stuffy noses, dry skin and chapped lips for a better night’s sleep.

“The Vicks Sweet Dreams Humidifier was developed by a mom who set out to make the evening routine easier by creating colorful projections that can soothe and send children off to dreamland, and even have them looking forward to bedtime,” stated Lara Peterson, vice president of health care at Kaz USA, which designs Vicks humidifiers. “The humidifier’s cool mist also aids in keeping the relative humidity of indoor air between 40% and 60%, which makes it a perfect addition to mom’s flu-fighting arsenal this winter.”

Designed for midsize rooms, the Vicks Sweet Dreams Humidifier’s one-gallon tank can run up to 24 hours on the lowest output setting. Its filter-free operation simplifies maintenance, and a variable humidity control enables regulation of moisture output. The humidifier also can be used with two Vicks Scent Pads for long-lasting and soothing menthol vapors.

The Vicks Sweet Dreams Humidifier comes in pink or blue and will be available at major baby and pharmacy retailers this month at a suggested retail price of $59.99.