The two most potent allergens in our homes are
mold and dust mites. We already know from Dr.
Sprott’s research that mold is linked to crib
death (SIDS). And according to recent research,
millions of people are allergic to dust mites.
One ounce of dust can contain over 30,000 of these
scavengers. That’s a lot of dust mites! So how
can these little bugs affect your baby and
toddler?
Well, let’s discuss how dust mites work. These
little nuisances colonize bedding and pillows and
feed off of sloughed off skin. They increase in
numbers as humidity increases, so having a
de-humidifier at about 50% humidity or less will
help control their numbers. The problem in a bed
is that your own body creates humidity and it is
for this reason that so many dust mites accumulate
there. Even if you manage to kill most of the
dust mites in your bedding, the feces will remain,
and it is these feces that contain the allergen.
According to
Clemson University, allergic reactions to dust
mite proteins cause a range in symptoms from itchy
nose and eyes to asthmatic symptoms.
Doctors and scientists recommend two important
steps in keeping your baby’s bedroom and your home
as free of dust mites as possible. The first step
is to keep your house as dust free as possible.
Make sure you dust on top of fans and in areas
where dust collects the most. Vacuum carpets
regularly with a hepa filter vacuum or with a
vacuum that vents outside. Regular vacuums just
distribute the dust into the air, making your
allergies worsen.
Secondly, cover your baby’s bed with a dust mite
cover. The
University
of Nebraska states the following
“Enclosing
mattresses in plastic covers decreases populations
of mites in the bed.”
BabeSafe mattress covers are dust mite free
and mold free, so you’ll eliminate both problems
with this cover.
For toddlers using pillows, Dr. Sprott suggests
making two pillows out of 100% cotton material and
keeping one in the freezer! Yes, the freezer.
Dust mites and molds cannot tolerate high extremes
in temperatures. You can also place blankets in
the freezer as well. Therefore, washing your
sheets in hot water and drying in a hot dryer, as
well as freezing your pillow (you can wash it
too!) is important in keeping an allergy free
bed. After one week of use, take your toddler’s
pillow and put it in the freezer and replace it
with the previously frozen one (which you’ve
allowed to come to room temperature). This will
reduce populations of dust mites in your bedding
and with a BabeSafe covered mattress, your baby
and toddler will have a dust mite free mattress.
by: Patricia Rider