Protect Your Bed With Aller-Ease; GIVEAWAY!

Winner is Carma of Carma Sez! Congrats!!

Do you know what's in bed with you? What about inside your pillows? I hope you're prepared to be thoroughly grossed out!

I was recently invited to attend a Webinar featuring Dr. Clifford W. Bassett, Medical Director of Allergy and Asthma Care of New York. He has teamed up with Aller-Ease to share his expertise on indoor allergies and how to best prevent them. This information is certainly timely, as most of us are noticing an increase in pollen with the arrival of Spring.
Did you know that 25% of Americans have allergies? And 40% of children have allergies. These numbers are on the rise too. Apparently scientists are noticing an increase in pollen production linked to Global Warming. Not good!

Do you notice that you feel more tired in the Spring? It could be allergies! Allergies can prevent you from getting a good night's sleep, leaving you feeling groggy and out of sorts the next day. Speaking of losing sleep......did you know there are between ten thousand and ten million dust mites living in your bed? Doesn't matter if your bed is new or old, they multiply so quick that you'll soon be sleeping with ten million bed mates in no time. Ready for something even grosser than that? An unprotected pillow increases in weight 10% every two years due to dust mites and dust mite feces. (guess how fast my husband tossed his over ten-year-old pillow when I told him that!). Yuck.

What to do? There's a list of tips on the Aller-ease website, but I'm going to focus on just one today. You can encase your mattress and pillows in protective allergen covers, to keep the yuckies away from the air you breathe! Aller-Ease manufactures an entire line of bedding products, including pillows, pillow protectors, and mattress protectors. The products are breathable, allowing air to circulate, but filtering common allergen triggers such as pollen, mold, dust mites, etc. Aller-ease products can be machine washed and dried too, so there's no hassle to using them. And you'll be happy to know that Aller-Ease products are phthalate free!

I was provided with a Cotton Top Mattress Protector, a Deluxe Pillow, and three pillow protectors (Deluxe, Cotton, and Microfiber). My toddler got the pillow and the Microfiber protector (the Microfiber protector was the only waterproof option!). I zipped up our other pillows in the Deluxe and Cotton protectors. Unfortunately, I was sent a full-sized mattress protector...and we don't own a full-sized bed....so I can't really tell you how that one worked out. It's going to my Mom for Mother's Day (Shh!!!), since she has awful allergies, two cats, and a full-sized bed!

**UPDATE** I purchased a twin sized Aller-Ease mattress pad for my son's bed, so as soon as we get it on there I'll update here and let you know how it works!

Since you place your regular pillowcase over the Aller-Ease protectors, you don't even notice it's there. There's no crinkly noises as you roll over, as with some protectors I've used in the past. I have honestly found that I've woken up less stuffy and congested since I started using the Aller-Ease protectors, so I can only assume they're doing their job! I'd love to try a queen-sized mattress protector to get "360 protection" and see if I notice an even bigger difference.

**WIN IT**
Aller-Ease wants you to experience a good night's sleep too, free from indoor allergies. Besides sharing helpful tips on preventing indoor allergies, they're giving one of you a Deluxe Pillow and Cotton Pillow Protector too!

To enter, visit Aller-Ease and have a look around. There's a ton of information and resources there, so just leave me a comment with something you learned. (Make sure I have a good way to reach you!)

Comments will close at midnight, Sunday May 3. A winner will be chosen by Random.org on Monday May 4 and contacted via e-mail. Winner will have 48 hours to confirm before I re-draw another winner. US addresses only, please.