Posts Tagged ‘Mattress’

PostHeaderIcon Mattress Covers: Prevent Asthma And Allergies In Your Kids

There’s nothing more frightening for new parents than the thought that their child may be sick. While most parents do well keeping their child away from common cold and flu germs, not everyone takes into account the affect household allergens may have on a newborn. Common respiratory symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, coughing and difficulty breathing are often examples of allergic rhinitis, or respiratory allergies, and are caused by a simple factor in the child’s environment. Dust mites, pet dander, mold, pollen -young children can develop allergies to a number of everyday things. Luckily, removing allergens and thus preventing or reducing allergic reactions can be a very easy process. The most important part of the process, though, is knowing what you’re up against.
It is important to understand what respiratory allergens are if you expect to protect your child from them. An allergy is an immune reaction to an irritable substance in the child’s environment. The child’s body views these irritants as dangerous and releases chemicals, such as histamines, that cause uncomfortable and potentially harmful symptoms. While a child may eventually develop immunity to these irritants, untreated or ignored allergic symptoms can lead to such respiratory problems as asthma and emphysema.
The most common allergens are dust mites, animal dander and molds. Dust mites are microscopic organisms that live in carpets and fabrics and feed on dead flakes of human and animal skin. Children can develop respiratory allergies from inhaling accumulated mites in areas that aren’t cleaned properly or regularly. Bedding, clothing and comforters should be washed in hot water at least once a week. For additional protection, cribs and beds should be covered with an impermeable mattress encasement. These covers act as a barrier between your baby and allergy-causing dust mites. It is also important to vacuum and dust weekly; a vacuum cleaner with a high efficiency particulate arresting (HEPA) filter helps trap particles normal dusting and vacuuming can miss. It is also important to clean or replace heating ducts, furnace and air conditioning filters whenever they’re in use.
Stuffed animals and plush toys can also be a haven for dust mites. Make sure you wash your child’s favorite plush toys as often as you would his or her bedding and clothing.
Pet dander is another common household allergen. Unfortunately, the only sure-fire way to protect your child from dander is to give the animal away. This can often be a very difficult and heartbreaking decision, but if your child’s allergic reaction is severe it may be the only option. If your child has only a mild allergy you might consider simply keeping the animal well-groomed, shampooed, off furniture and out of the child’s room.
Mold is a versatile and particularly irksome allergen. Molds can grow in closets, attics, cellars, planters, refrigerators, showers, garbage cans, mattresses, carpets -just about any warm, moist area in the house. Mold allergies are caused by the spores the mold uses to reproduce. These spores can cause significant health problems. The best way to prevent mold growth is to keep the air in troublesome areas of your home dry. A dehumidifier can help keep air dry in the winter, while a good air conditioner can achieve the same effect in the summer. Keeping high-risk areas clean is also important-use mold-inhibiting disinfectants such as bleach or tea tree oil and water.
Of course, any respiratory symptoms should be checked by your child’s physician. Most doctors won’t prescribe allergy medication to newborns, especially children younger than six months, but they may have treatment options that better fit your child’s specific allergy problem.
It’s fairly easy to determine whether your child is going to have a tendency to be allergic. Allergic tendencies are inherited, though specific allergies are not. If either you or your mate is allergic to cats, for instance, your child will have a fifty percent chance of developing some sort of allergy as well, though not necessarily to cats. Allergies also take a while to develop. Newborns may not show symptoms of allergic reactions for a few months; then, suddenly, the child’s exposure level to mites, mold or dander will reach its threshold and the child will start to develop symptoms.
Newborn allergies can be a scary experience for parents, especially if you are unprepared for them. The best way to help treat allergies is to prevent them before your child is even home from the hospital. Thoroughly clean and disinfect any areas the newborn will occupy, invest in proper ventilation and vacuum symptoms, and keep clothes and bedding washed regularly and protected with impermeable covers. Taking care of a newborn can bring about a number of unforeseen obstacles, but with proper preparation, common household allergens don’t need to be one of them.
~Ben Anton, 2008

PostHeaderIcon What Is A Memory Foam Mattress?

Memory Foam is made with a polyurethane material. In order to increase its density, other chemicals are added which increases its viscosity level. The combination of the chemicals used determines the visco-elastic nature of the polyurethane foam and depending on such combination, the foam has the characteristic of being firmer in cooler temperature and softer in warmer environments. Higher density Memory Foam reacts with body heat. It reacts so that within a few minutes the product forms around the shape of the body. The property of the polyurethane foam could be demonstrated by pressing one’s hand on the foam and then on removing it. The foam retains a clear impression of the hand.
In 1970s, NASA developed Memory Foam for use in their space program. With the hope that with the ability of uniform distribution of pressure of such foam, the extreme G-force phenomenon would be taken care of. Ironically, the material was never used in any space program. In the 1990s, the product came onto the commercial market in the form of topper pads and then as foam mattresses.
A medical company, Tempur-Pedic, first realized the potential commercial application of the foam. They researched the various versions of the foam and came out with a product that they called “Tempur”. This Tempur was durable and had the property of pressure reduction.
When Memory foam first came out in the market, it was known as T-foam. It released chemical gasses making it unhealthy to be used in a closed environment. Over the years, this odor was reduced but could not be gotten rid of. The initial T-foam promised a great product as a bed topper or wheel chair cushion material. But it was noticed that it had issues with wear over a relatively short time. This early version of the foam was not found to be durable and would often crack and remain compressed after a while.
Memory Foam has shown excellent characteristics in responding to changes in temperature and its ability to reduce pressure by spreading the weight evenly over a larger surface area. Consequently, the foam also found an application in medical treatments of patients by preventing so called “bed sores” that a patient can develop when bed-ridden. In other medical applications, the foam is used in wheelchair seat cushions, pillows or padding for people suffering long- term pain from postural problems. For the heat retaining properties of the foam, it makes pain more bearable for a patient suffering from back injuries.
Memory foam is generally denser, making it heavier than other foams. Because it is heavier, the foam remains more supportive and comfortable. A new Memory Foam mattress has a chemical odor that is unpleasant to some people. Although airing does take most of this odor away, certain people remain sensitive to the smell.
Presently Memory Foam is used in many commercial products such as mattress toppers, mattresses and pillows, positional sleep aids, office furniture, automobile seat padding, footwear, infant cribs, car seats, wheel chair cushions, computer carrying cases, tennis racquet handles and more.

PostHeaderIcon Penny Wise and Mattress Foolish

Penny Wise and Mattress Foolish

The time has come to purchase a new box spring and mattress set. So you drive down to the local furniture store in search of affordable bedding set. If spending the least amount of money possible is the goal, youâ??ve already short-changed yourself. Whether we know it or not, we spend a significant amount of our lifetime in bed. On average, Americans spend almost 3,000 hours a year in bed. Thatâ??s over 800 hours per year more than average American spends at work! Thinking of sleep in still another way, the average life expectancy in the United States is around seventy six. This means that we can spend as much as 25 years of our lives in bed.

There is a lot riding on your choice of a sleep set and it can be more than just money. Getting a good nightâ??s sleep, properly supporting your body and the length of time you intend to keep the mattress are all very important considerations. The importance of sleep in out daily lives is never to be taken lightly. More and more evidence is being collected that strongly emphasizes the importance of getting enough sleep.

Getting an adequate amount of sleep involves more than just waking up refreshed and well-rested. Recent studies suggest that getting enough sleep is a very important part of our health and well-being. The length of time we sleep, while important is not the only consideration. The quality of the sleep we get is very important in order to avoid potential and significant health consequences such as how lack of quality sleep affects short-term memory, cardiac health and other medical concerns.

As the average consumer, the available choices in bedding can be mind boggling and more than bit overwhelming. The traditional inner spring mattress combined with a foundation such as box spring, is still the most popular choice of sleep systems among consumers. The increased availability of alternative sleep systems such as hybrid waterbeds, futons and mattresses using more modern materials like visco-elastic memory foam make the buying process all the more complicated.

For most of us, buying decisions are made in an attempt to get the best possible value for the amount of money we spend. The same is true for choosing a mattress. Newer mattresses have several advantages over their older cousins. One of the most important considerations is the increased use of fire and flame resistant materials in the construction of modern bedding. The benefits from this change are pretty self-evident and can be a matter of life and death

Used bedding may be seen as an economical alternative to investing in a new mattress, but going used may actually cost more in the long run. There is no way to know how long the bedding was in service and, like a book, you really canâ??t tell a mattress by its cover. The resurgence of bed bugs and the presence of other pests like dust mites may not be immediately obvious and makes purchasing used bedding a very risky business indeed. Older, used bedding is also less likely to have been constructed using flame and fire resistant materials adding to the risk.

So look for the best deal when purchasing bedding, but always buy quality bedding and donâ??t be penny wise and mattress foolish.

PostHeaderIcon Tips On Buying An Air Mattress On The Market

Have you been looking around for a mattress? Which type are you considering for your home? Here are some important considerations you should look out for.Air PumpMade from rubber or plastic, an air mattress is also an inflatable type. You will definitely need an air pump to make it work. The good thing about these sort of home furniture is that you can deflate it and store it for later use. The air pump can come in either manual or electric versions. Whichever air pump you buy, make sure you check its warranty period.UsesFor those who have guests or decide to go for a camping trip, going for air mattresses would be an ideal choice. Operating like a mobile sleeping, where you can inflate and deflate it, it is economical in space storage. You may be thinking of buying it for your toddler to play on, and our advice is not to do so. This is because it can grow soft and your toddler may be at risk.Extra FeaturesNowadays, manufacturers are smart to add more variety to their range of air mattresses products. For a bit more money, you could be looking at extra features such as built in pillow, remote pump or extra air bladders that come with it. These features are good to have and not necessary. You may want to weigh the conveniences against the added costs. In fact, these features may be over hype by the salesman, so beware.FoamAn air bed is also meant for short duration of sleep. It is not meant to replace the memory foam or spring mattresses that we are so used to. In a way, comfort is secondary compared to the special storage characteristics that is present. But still, you should buy one that is as comfortable as you can find. In such cases, you should look out for the quality of the foam material, which is easily judged by the top most padding. One suggested form you may be interested in is the “memory foam”.How to save costs?If you are on a tight budget and do not want to spend too much money buying one, that would not see a high rate of usage, you may want to go for those self-assemble type of air mattress. This can help you save tens of dollars off the shipping costs. However, one hassle is that you need to be hands on enough to assemble them yourself.Need help to buy an air mattress? Visit http://www.bestmattressreviews.com for more mattress reviews and other mattress buying tips.

PostHeaderIcon 3 memory foam mattress topper

3 memory foam mattress topper are actually 3 inch memory foam mattress topper. But for sometimes they are referred to as 3 memory foam mattress topper. When looking for this mattress product, it is important to know that there are many good selections out there, so there is no need to settle for any lesser quality products.

Currently, a very popular and new 3 memory foam mattress topper which just hit the market is the Advanced Concept 3 inch 4 lb Visco Elastic Memory Foam Mattress Topper Overlay Pad. This is a special product that is made using urethane foam. Urethane foam is the material that is used in the padding and cushioning in all kinds of products from football helmets to furniture. Viscoelastic refers to a property of the foam. Viscoelastic has appreciable and conjoint viscous and elastic properties that flows just like honey or syrup. This is how the product came about getting its name.

Another very similar product is the Comfort Clinic 3-Inch VE Memory Foam Mattress Topper. This product comes in Queen Size. This brand has an extra softness to your mattress with 3-inch topper made from memory foam which is originally created by NASA. The foam of this 3 memory foam mattress topper slowly conforms to every curve and shape of your body and also adjusts to your body weight and temperature. This is especially good for adapting to various climatic conditions. A very fitful product made for Queen beds.

Essentially, 3 memory foam mattress topper has three additional inches of Memory Foam to the bottom of the topper and finish the construction with a Hanes Grip-Tite Floor to keep the topper from sliding once it is placed on top of any mattress. By having a 3 memory foam mattress topper, you will get added softness to your mattress or even an extra layer of comfort.