As an infant mattress aficionado, my daily web browsings often show some odd happenings -strange new products, heartbreaking infant sleep accidents, effects of different sleep positions on the spine, etc. But rarely do they actually make my skin crawl&until recently. Have you read about all the bed bug outbreaks in the news?
It is downright disgusting.
There are registries in nearly all major urban areas where people report hotels and movie theaters with outbreaks - New York , Chicago , Houston , LA - all on the lists.
The State of Ohio is lobbying the Federal EPA to allow some new breed of chemical to be deemed safe for our homes.
Nationwide hospitality trade groups are trying to brainstorm how to combat the problem.
Even the City of New York is developing a special task force to combat these little devils.
Don't know what I'm talking about? Here is some background on the bugs from the New York City Council legislative text dated June 17, 2010... Bed bugs are wingless and spread from infested to non-infested areas through the transportation of clothing, luggage, furniture and bedding. In the early stages of infestation, bed bugs are found mainly in the tufts, seems and folds of the mattress and bed covers. However, they later spread to cracks and crevices in the bedsteads. According to the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene ( DOHMH ), Bed bugs often seek refuge in bedding during the day and feed on occupants at night. Bed bugs feed primarily on humans by piercing the skin as people sleep. Although bed bugs are not generally considered human disease carriers, they inject a fluid to assist in drawing blood, which causes a welt that becomes irritated, inflamed and uncomfortable. After feeding, bed bugs crawl back into hiding, where they may remain for 80 to 140 days before returning to feed.
Informative, but eeewwww! The statement goes on to say that while the bed bug problems in the US were largely contained with widespread use of chemicals like DDT, later findings on the dangers of these chemicals meant the little buggers were once again free to breed and feed. In fact, in the few short decades since widespread killing ended, the bugs have once again grown to epidemic proportions in some urban areas and these areas are growing. Think about what this means for hotels, dorms, hospitals, prisons, and apartment complexes - even private dwellings.
But beyond freaking out, what can we really do to protect our homes?
Keep your beds clean. Really clean. Eliminate excess hiding spots like toys and decorative pillows. Don't let bedding rest against the floor, and dry your bedding on a high heat. Further, don't buy a mattress that has the traditional "pretty rolled edges" that you're used to seeing. Bedbugs and their eggs love to hide in the seams along mattress edges and in the decorative surface sewing along the tops of traditional mattresses.
If you suspect an infestation, look for dried body casings, eggs, drops of blood, or even adult bugs by carefully examining carpet edges around your bed, your mattress corners and box spring or bed frame. For some of the adult population, bedbug bites cause no identifiable marks. In the other half, bites resemble mosquito or flea bites and can be raised or flat red marks. They may oftentimes be sequential-like three bites in a row-as the bugs were disturbed while feeding or were looking for a better blood source. Bite marks may have a bright red dot in the middle and are intensely itchy.
And of course, as you know, Moonlight Slumber mattresses have smooth edges, no decorative cording or sewing, and seams sealed in such a way that there are no needle holes to allow critters comfy respite. In essence, we "weld" our seams shut. The process is more expensive and takes more time. It also means we use a premium material that can handle this process, but ultimately it makes Moonlight Slumber mattresses cleaner, safer. Less nooks and crannies means fewer spaces for bugs to hide and breed. And fewer bugs, well, no one would argue about whether that was a good thing in a crib!
POSTED BY TERRY PAUL President and Founder of Moonlight Slumber
13-Jul-10
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As an infant mattress aficionado, my daily web browsings often show some odd happenings -strange new products, heartbreaking infant sleep accidents, effects of different sleep positions on the spine, etc. But rarely do they actually make my skin crawl&until recently. Have you read about all the bed bug outbreaks in the news?