Pests That Can Disturb Your Sleep

Pests That Can Disturb Your Sleep
It's not just noise that can disturb sleep, allergens and other pests can make it difficult for adults, as well as children, to get the sleep they need each night. Some of these disturbances can also cause health problems.

Sleep allergens

The most common allergen that affects sleep is dust mites. Some people can be allergic to these tiny pests (only a quarter of a millimetre long), creating an uncomfortable sleeping situation. There are many products that can help to reduce the growth of dust mites, such as anti-allergy pillows, duvets, mattress toppers, encasements and bed linen, such as these from Allersafe. Another way to prevent sleep allergies from occurring is to buy a hypoallergenic mattress. All of our mattresses at Noa and Nani are hypoallergenic to help you and your little ones to sleep more soundly. Dust mites are also associated with asthma, especially in children, and eczema. Getting rid of dust mites can help with both of these medical issues. For the items that are not covered, for example sheets and bedding, be sure to wash these each week at 60 degrees or higher to ensure the dust mite allergen is destroyed.

Are bedbugs real?

Yes, they are very real. The most common bed bug, cimex lectularius, is the best known because it feeds exclusively on human blood. However, they aren’t dangerous and don’t spread any diseases but their bites can give a reaction on the skin. They can cause irritation that wakes you in the night, disturbing yours or your children’s sleep. Adult bed bugs are about 5mm in length and have a flat, oval shape similar to an apple seed. They range in colour from a red and brown to a dark yellow. To try and keep your bed a bug free zone you can use a plastic mattress cover that encases the whole mattress. If you do find the pests lurking underneath your pillow, it's best to call in the experts. The NHS provides guidance on spotting bed bugs here.

Pet dander

Another common indoor allergen is pet dander - dead skin from your cat or dog. As we've discussed on the blog before, this could become an issue if you allow your bed to sleep in the bed with you or lie on the communal furniture such as the sofa. You don’t have to give up your beloved pet though, instead you can keep them out of the bedroom and off the furniture. Be sure to also brush and bathe your pet once a week if possible and vacuum their favourite sleeping spots regularly. Create some boundaries and stick to them so that you and the family can get back to a restful night of sleep.

Article by Mickey Bryant