New Bedding, Allergens Questions?

**nuisance26** · 06-14-2010, 12:13 PM

~I'm buying bed frames for the kids today but I'm having a hard time shopping for the bedding because of dd. She's finally moving out of her toddler bed(she's very petite) so I have to get her a new mattress. But her allergies have been so bad this year(she's starting to sound like my asthmatic brother) that I think I should go beyond a standard mattress for her.
Should I get a regular mattress and put some kind of allergen cover on it? Would an all foam mattress be best? Pillow types and covers? Any tips at all would be appreciated!~

**Libby** · 06-14-2010, 01:03 PM

I suggest a latex mattress - it doesn't hold anything in it like the standard mattress does (collects all the dust and skin particles etc). I know Ikea sells them for the grown up beds, not sure about smaller sizes. Also...they're not very cheap but in the long run you may be better off?

Here's a website to help you get started on researching the latex option.

HTH!

Latex Mattress Buyers' Guide

**monkeywrangler71** · 06-14-2010, 01:42 PM

A good mattress cover will completely enclose the mattress and zip up so that nothing can get into it, so it really shouldn't matter what the mattress itself is made of. I would select the mattress based on comfort and support, then invest in a high quality allergen blocking cover for it.

What is she allergic to? Dust mites or something that the bedding is made of? If it's dust, then keep the mattress enclosed in a cover, and vacuum it off every time you change the sheets. Wash the pillows regularly and rip out any carpet if she has it in her room.

**2ndGenGranola** · 06-14-2010, 02:30 PM

I use a regular mattress and a full cover on all beds. It is especially helpful in the kids rooms for when they have accidents -- no mattress to clean and no stains if you have to move.

Also keep the humidity below 45% (dust mites thrive in humidity) and no scented laundry products.

**nuisance26** · 06-14-2010, 02:59 PM

~Thanks for the tip on humidity. We've had a moisture problem in their room this year and I didn't know that that could be making the dust mites worse. I'd really like to rip everything out of the room(drywall that was wallpapered and painted over and old carpet) and put in paneling and a laminate floor but we plan to move. Don't know how much I should spend with that in mind. But I also don't want her to have to just tough it out either.
We actually don't have a diagnosis for her yet. Getting her to the allergist is on my to-do list. She's always had issues with household dust, tree and grass pollen but her bedtime reactions have gotten much worse over the last year. She's been constantly stuffed up and rubbing her nose and eyes for a couple of months now. She won't take any medicine.

~

**Libby** · 06-14-2010, 03:06 PM

Hmm...I'd kinda put that allergist visit to the top of the list. It could be a mold allergy and if you're having humidity probs...it won't get better

Do you know whats behind your walls/under your carpet out of curiosity?

**krbshappy71** · 06-14-2010, 11:26 PM

If you have pets, keep them out of the bedroom as well. They bring in so much stuff on their fur.

I have allergies and for the bedroom:
I keep it dusted, a mattress pad that is washed weekly, vacuum the floors weekly, and do not open the windows on high allergen days. I have an alert on my phone that tells me each morning what the allergen levels will be for trees, pollen, and weeds. If its low for the day I can get away with airing out the house, if its high for weeds I have to shut everything up.

No pets allowed in the bedroom, no removing clothes with high allergy items on them in the bedroom. For instance, if I come in after mowing, I will change in the bathroom and take those clothes directly to the laundry room. If I went hiking, same thing as I was exposed to more weeds than during a work week. Just try and really keep stuff out of the room.

**oh, and I have a waterbed which I wipe down when I change all the bedding and mattress pad weekly. Gross to see the body dust on the mattress but at least I get to wipe it all off and know its gone, y'know? Maybe your daughter could switch to a waterbed if you're concerned about the fabrics in the mattress holding in dust.

**nuisance26** · 06-15-2010, 07:58 AM

~No pets in our home. I stopped hanging laundry outside during the worst pollen months because of her reactions. And there's no mold under the carpet that I can see. I keep checking because we've had a bit of mold grow on the ceiling and wall corners after we had our new windows installed last year. I keep a hygrometer in their room and the humidity always reads high in there. No mold is growing now that I know of and we're painting that room with Kilz very soon. I'm trying to talk my hubby into pulling up the carpet and putting in a floating floor. The last floor he put in involved lots of gluing and he really struggled with it so I understand why he's reluctant to put a floor in again.
We were going to get a dehumidifier last year when we noticed the problem but we couldn't find any quiet enough for use on a main floor. They all seem to be designed for basements. My kids would not be able to handle the noise in their room. Having a fan on overnight was a huge adjustment for them.
I'm just thinking that with no carpet and wrapped mattresses there would be nowhere to hold the moisture(I think it's coming from the adjacent bathroom which has no exhaust fan).
And a water bed is not possible since she will be sleeping on a trundle frame but thanks for the suggestion!~