Ahh...Allergies

I made a quick visit to my local garden center today for spring garden supplies (I will be trying some container gardening this year), and I noticed how many people were sneezing and showing signs of seasonal allergies. Spring has definitely arrived early on the East coast - the cherry blossoms and other trees are blooming and budding, which of course means pollen! We are fortunate in our household that no one suffers from seasonal allergies - we are truly able to enjoy this weather by sleeping with the windows open at night and getting outside to enjoy the longer days. However, more and more of my friends and neighbors have children with allergies - seasonal, food, indoor/dust mites, etc.

If you have a child who suffers from dust mite allergies or other "indoor" allergens such as mold and mildew, you might want to check out our Allergen Pillow Protectors available for both our Toddler Pillows and Youth Pillows. These special allergen pillow protectors are zippered cases made of specially treated tightly woven yarn, providing a barrier against allergens and dust mites, yet allowing air to flow freely. The fabric is soft, comfortable, machine washable in hot water (up to 50 times), and noise free (unlike some of the vinyl pillow protectors that crinkle when you move around). The special fabric is also treated with a microbe shield to inhibit the growth of microorganism and to control mold, mildew, and odors. Again, these allergen pillow protectors are designed for use with our toddler pillows or other travel pillows sized 12 x 16. as well as our 16x20 youth pillows.

We also have a lot of customers who use our allergen pillow protectors to help extend the life of their toddler pillow. The allergen pillow protector acts as an extra layer of protection which cuts down on the need to wash and dry your youth or toddler pillow. You can simply zipper off the allergen protector and throw it in the regular wash.

Just as an interesting side note, I have been reading some theories about why allergies may be on the rise with the younger generations. The current theory that has peaked my interest is the "hygiene hypothosis" or "old friends hypothosis" which says that as we have become more "civilized", we have removed ourselves from nature by processing and sterilizing our foods and kitchens, and sanitizing ourselves. As we have become "cleaner" and more hygienic, our immune systems have not fully developed which leaves our bodies more sensitive to allergens. It is an intriguing theory - I like the idea that we should try to get back in touch with nature. I am reading more about the hygiene hypothosis and will write a more detailed post with some links to articles and websites for those interested.