The common bed bug (Cimex lectularius) is a small, nocturnal insect – feeding on blood and causing itchy bites on humans. The pests are reddish or brown in color, with a flat, oval shape body and an adult may grow to be the size of 4-7mm (about the size of Abraham Lincoln’s head on a penny). Young bed bugs are smaller and lighter in color. Bed bugs are primarily active at night and will feed on humans when they are sleeping. Adult bed bug after feeding. Bed bugs can come from a variety of locations. Most commonly, they are transported to people’s homes via clothing and/or luggage from hotels, motels and resorts, as well as many other high traffic sources including movie theaters, apartments, dormitories, parks and cabins. Bed bugs are very successful hitchhikers, moving from an infested site to bedding, baggage, boxes, and clothing with ease. Although they typically feed on blood every five to ten days, bed bugs are very resilient and are capable of surviving over a year without feeding.
Bites from bed bugs can be painless, but may become itchy later and can look like small reddish welts. They do not have nests, but tend to live in hiding places that provide them easier access to people that they can feed from. Common hiding places in the home can be in mattresses, box springs, headboards, nightstands, baseboards and even in cracks in walls. Baby bed bug feeding on a human. While bed bugs are visible to the naked eye, they generally only appear in dark conditions. You may have been bitten by bed bugs if you wake up with itchy areas on your skin that you didn't have before falling asleep. You can spot a possible bed bug infestation by looking for the following indicators: Bed bugs on a mattress. Although they are a nuisance, bed bugs have not been found to transmit any human diseases. Consider encasing both the mattress and box spring in a protective cover like those used for allergy relief to eliminate access to your mattress by bed bugs.
Mattress encasements will seal the mattress and box spring, keeping bugs in the mattress trapped (where they will eventually die) while also keeping new bugs out. While an encasement will not keep bed bugs from crawling onto a bed and biting a sleeping person, it will be easier to spot and destroy any bugs residing on the outer surface during examination. Without an encasement, once a mattress becomes infested, you should consider replacing it since treating your bed and pillows with pesticides can be harmful. Encasements for both mattresses and pillows specifically designed to help protect against bed bugs are available for purchase at any Sleep Train location. New mattresses are placed in a tightly sealed mattress bag immediately after being manufactured, creating an inhospitable environment for any living organism. New mattresses are not removed from this bag until they have reached the customer's home. Here are a few simple precautions that can help prevent bed bug infestation in your home:
Consult a professional pest control company. For more information on bed bugs please consult the following Websites. This bed changed the way we sleep. It’s supportive for both of us but also just cozy. You sink in just the right amount. And it’s quiet—we don’t disrupt each other if we move or get up. We love our Cocoon. It’s been perfect for us. It was crazy getting the Cocoon, especially because as you unpack it, you quickly realize it’s such a substantial and high-quality mattress. We were a little blown away. Getting married to (my husband) Dan, and moving into a new place, it’s been really fun to bring our things together. Our bedroom has a little bit of both of us. Every piece in the bedroom has a story. And there’s nothing like a cozy bed to get into at the end of the day. Videographer and TV/Web Creator For me, it’s really important to have a choice because it can be very hard to find the right mattress. I chose ‘firm’ because I think it’s better for my back and allows me to stay still at night.
When I first got it, it just felt well made. I guess when you’re making something for over 100 years, you figure out how to make it right. I’m very much a minimalist, so when it comes to the place that I lay my head, I like to keep it as simple as possible. The bed and a sleep schedule are the most important things for me. But the art, photos, paintings that I keep around are reminders of how important it is to constantly be creating. Interior Designer, Crowell + Co. Interiors I’m a very aesthetic person, so when we got our Cocoon I immediately noticed the clean lines and beautiful design. I love the stitching. It’s the first time in my life I’ve thought ‘oh my God, this mattress is beautiful .’ But it’s also just amazingly comfortable. I LOVE our bed. My life is so busy and scheduled—I’m running around all day long. My bed is my favorite place on the planet because it’s the one place where I can be peaceful and calm. Nothing makes me happier than curling up in my bed and reading a book.
But it’s also where we spend lazy Sundays when we have a family ‘cuddle puddle’—in pajamas all day, watching movies and just being together. That’s my favorite thing! Matt & Carrie Eddmenson Founders of imogene + willie Our first impression was 'how can something of this quality come in a box?' But they've mastered it. They’ve figured it out. Getting the bed was just as momentous as sleeping on it. You open it up, and it’s almost shocking. It’s top of the line. Anyone can put a mattress in a box. But Sealy knows how to make a mattress, whether it comes to you in a box or not. We loved our old mattress, and we consider ourselves “mattress connoisseurs.” I’m telling you, Cocoon is a really, really good bed. Matt coined our bed the “clubhouse of comfort.” We spend a lot of time in our bedroom—I think more time than most It’s age old…your bedroom is your room. It’s a safe place, a place to be yourself. For us, it’s a hodgepodge collective of all the things we’re in love with.