January is mattress shopping season. Even in December, furniture stores and mattress specialty shops start to advertise their latest sales. So when do you actually need a new mattress?

Many people use their morning aches and pains to help them make this decision. We all know the literal pain in the neck that can develop when we “sleep funny.” A bad mattress can have the same (but more subtle) effect on your back as well.

Yet not all backaches or other joint stiffness can be attributed to the mattress. It can be very hard to tell if your mattress is at fault. By the same token, you might need to replace your mattress but be fit and flexible enough to wake up without mornign aches and pains.

Most people are not affected by dust mites due largely to the low ambient humidity levels (below 50% RH) in most homes; as such there are generally no significant problems with dust mites or associated allergens, which are attached to their fecal pellets. Increase the level of humidity and you begin to provide ideal conditions for mites to thrive.

You might say I’ll just keep the humidity low and there will be no problems! However there’s one area often overlooked when dealing with dust mites and excessive humidity.

Our mattresses and pillows are the exception to this low humidity rule. We humans provide mites with a plentiful source of food, (dead skin cells), of which we shed some 300,000 skin cells on any given day.

Since we spend about eight hours in bed, a large amount of these skin cells wind up in the mattress, they sift down through the sheets as we toss and turn. Further, our bodies generate high amounts of humidity and moisture during the night, by means of perspiration, trapped body heat, and of course breathing…an oasis for our nocturnal bed fellows.

When one is pregnant there is a lot of excitement and all new mothers are in a rush to prepare for the new arrival. Everything related to the baby is bought fast and not much thought is given to safety. Well, lurking underneath many of those mattresses and bed sheets are products and chemicals which may not be safe for your baby. A crib is where your baby to be safe, secure and sound.