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.Definition: Co-sleeping, also called the family bed, is a practice in which babies and young children sleep with one or both parents. Co-Sleeping – Making it Work and Making it Safe - By Elizabeth Pantley, author of Gentle Baby Care Question: We’re expecting our first baby soon and thinking about using a family bed. We’ve done a lot of research on the “whys” ¾ and there’s lots of information out there. But what about theHow do we set things up? The family bed, co-sleeping, shared sleep ¾ no matter what you call it, it means that your baby sleeps with you, or very close to you. The family bed is becoming more and more common (or perhaps it’s always been common but more people are now talking about it.) Sharing sleep is very popular with parents (particularly nursing mothers) of young babies who wake throughout the night, since it
allows parents to avoid getting up out of bed and traveling up and down a dark hallway. Co-sleeping is popular also with parents of older babies who enjoy the nighttime closeness with their child. There are as many different styles of family beds as there areHere are a few of the typical sleeping arrangements: The family bed: Parents and baby sleep together in one bed ¾ usually Side-by-side: The child sleeps on a separate mattress or futon on the floor next to the parent’s bed. Sidecar: A cradle or crib is nestled adjacent to the parent’s bed, sometimes with one side of the crib removed. Shared room: The baby and parents have separate beds in the same The use of these arrangements varies from home to home also. the common sleep situations are: Shared sleep with the baby during the night and for naps. Part-time shared sleep for either naps or nighttime only, or some of baby in a crib, cradle or other place for other sleep times.
Mom’s dual beds is a common setup in which Mommy has one place where she sleeps with the baby, and another where she sleeps with herShe moves back and forth between beds based on how often the baby wakes up and how tired she is on any given night. Musical beds are a common arrangement. There are several beds in different rooms, and parents and baby shift from place to place depending on each evening’s situation. Occasional family bed is when the baby has her own crib or bed but is welcomed into the parent’s bed whenever she has a bad dream, feels sick, or needs some extra cuddle time. Sibling bed is often a natural followup to the family bed. children share sleep after they outgrow the need for the parent’s bed or the sidecar arrangement. Every family has different nighttime needs. There is no single best arrangement that works for all babies and parents. family, there may be several “right” options to choose from.
is to find the solution that feels right to everyone in your family. It’s very important to eliminate your need or desire to satisfy anyone else’s perception of what you should be doing. words, no matter what your in-laws, your neighbors, your pediatrician, or your favorite author says about sleeping arrangements, the only “right” answer is the one that works for the people living in your home. If you decide to have your baby sleep with you, either for naps or at nighttime, you should adhere to the following safety guidelines: * Your bed must be absolutely safe for your baby. The best choice is to place the mattress on the floor, making sure there are no crevices that your baby can become wedged in. mattress is flat, firm, and smooth. Do not allow your baby to sleep on a soft surface such as a waterbed, sofa, pillow-top mattress, or any other flexible surface. * Make certain that your fitted sheets stay secure and cannot be
If your bed is raised off the floor, use mesh guardrails to prevent Baby from rolling off the bed, and be especially careful that there is no space between the mattress and headboard or footboard. guardrails designed for older children are not safe for babies because they have spaces that could entrap babies.) * If your bed is placed against a wall or other furniture, check every night to be sure there is no space between the mattress and wall or furniture where baby could become stuck. * Infants should be placed between their mother and the wall orFathers, siblings, and grandparents don't have the same instinctual awareness of a baby’s location as mothers do. your little one should be able to awaken you with a minimum ofIf you find that you are such a deep sleeper that you only wake when your baby lets out a loud cry, you should seriously consider moving Baby out of your bed, perhaps in to a cradle or crib near your bedside.
* Use a large mattress to provide ample room for everyone’s * Consider a sidecar arrangement in which Baby’s crib or cradle sits directly beside the main bed as one option. * Make certain that the room your baby sleeps in, and any room he might have access to, is child-safe. (Imagine your baby crawling out of bed to explore the house as you sleep. Even if he has not done this — yet — you can be certain he eventually will!) * Do not ever sleep with your baby if you have been drinking alcohol, have used any drugs or medications, are an especially sound sleeper or if you are suffering from sleep deprivation and find it * Do not sleep with your baby if you are a large person, as a parent’s excess weight has been determined to pose a risk to baby inWhile I cannot give you a specific parent’s weight to baby ratio, examine how you and Baby settle in next toIf Baby rolls towards you, if there is a large dip in the mattress, or if you suspect any other dangerous situations, play
it safe and move Baby to a bedside crib or cradle. * Remove all pillows and blankets during the early months. extreme caution when adding pillows or blankets as your baby getsDress Baby and yourselves warmly. (A tip for breastfeeding moms: wear an old turtleneck or t-shirt, cut up the middle to the neckline, as an undershirt for extra warmth.) Keep in mind that body heat will add warmth during the night. Make sure your baby doesn’t * Do not wear any night-clothes with strings or long ribbons. wear jewelry to bed, and if your hair is long, put it up. * Don’t use strong perfumes or lotions that may affect your * Do not allow pets to sleep in bed with your baby. * Never leave your baby alone in an adult bed unless it is perfectlyFor example, placing Baby on a mattress on the floor in a childproof room, when you are nearby or listening in with a reliable * As of the now there are no proven safety devises for use in protecting a baby in an adult bed.
However, as a result of the great number of parents who wish to sleep safely with their babies, a number of new inventions are beginning to appear in baby catalogsYou may want to look into some of these nests, wedges * Make sure that your young baby is sleeping on his or her back – the safest position for sleep. Sleeping situations tend to go through a transformation process throughout the early years of a baby’s life. Some families make a conscious decision to co-sleep with their babies until they feel that their children are ready for independent sleeping. families make modifications as their babies begin to sleep better atOther families move their babies to cribs to accommodate a need for private sleep. The best advice is, go with the flow ¾ and make adjustments according to what works best for you. For more information: Read The No-Cry Sleep Solution: Gentle Ways to Help Your Baby Sleep Crib Tales - Sleeping With Baby