Photo Credit: By Steve Evans from Citizen of the World (Will and Mommy Uploaded by russavia) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

During the study, which was conducted by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical medicine, researchers concluded that there is a solid link between co-sleeping and SIDS. As reported in a babycenter.com article, the study found that 22.2% of infants who died of SIDS had been co-sleeping when they died. Further, nine out of 10 babies who died of SIDS would not have died had they been sleeping in their own beds. Perhaps the scariest statistic reported by Robert Carpenter, PhD, in medpageotday.com following the study: “When neither parent smoked, and the baby was breastfed, less than 3-months old, and had no other major SIDS risk factors, the adjusted odds ratio for bed-sharing versus room-sharing was still 5.1.” So even the parents who co-slept responsibly–abstaining from drugs, alcohol, and tobacco while baby slept in the same bed–had a great risk of SIDS than those whose babies slept in bassinets or cribs by themselves. And for those parents who did co-sleep while using tobacco, drugs, or alcohol, the SIDS risk was exponentially greater.

Even proponents of co-sleeping situations are expressing surprise at the numbers related to this study. The statistics are sobering and the methodology was sound. While this certainly isn’t the first time parents have been warned against co-sleeping with infants, it may be one of the most revealing and opinion-changing outcomes in recent years.

Where do you stand on co-sleeping? Is it a worthy bonding experience, or do you deem it too risky to try?

By Dmytro.Tchystiak (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

According to webmd.com, magnesium plays an important role in regulating sleep in that it allows the mind to settle. In fact, the article goes on to say that even the most minimal of magnesium deficiencies can cause major issues when it comes to sleep. Science is proving this mineral is so important, in fact, that Dr. Mark Hyman calls magnesium “The Relation Mineral.” In Dr. Hyman’s huffingtonpost.com article linked above, he explains that the symptoms that accompany a magnesium deficiency specifically include insomnia, leg twitches, headaches, and irritability, among others.

All this information begs two questions: is magnesium safe and how do we get it? Unlike compounds found in sleeping pills, magnesium can be found safely in many of the foods we eat. Affordable, healthy, magnesium-rich food options include bananas, spinach, beans, brown rice, oatmeal, quinoa, and breakfast cereals like Shredded Wheat and Raisin Bran. Oddly enough, this mineral can also be absorbed in usable amounts by simply soaking in a bath of Epsom salts. For those who experience a greater magnesium deficiency, magnesium supplements are readily available over the counter in health food stores. That being said, some forms are more beneficial to the body than others in terms of usability and absorption. While they don’t present any immediate danger, it’s best to discuss magnesium supplements with your physician before blindly buying and using one of these powders or pills.

For those who experience problems falling asleep, it’s nice to know that it may be something as simple as a missing mineral in your diet. Best of all, gaining magnesium through naturally-derived sources (food) can actually be extremely healthy given that the most magnesium-rich foods are also chock-full of other extremely healthy and necessary vitamins and minerals.

(By Stilfehler (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons)

Pillows have the shortest lifespan in terms of bedding at only six months (up to two years if you keep it in a protective pillow cover). Frankly, pillows can also become just plain nasty, too, given that we tend to sweat, drool, and slough dead skin cells which lead to dust mites. While there really aren’t recycling plants that take pillows, there’s a lot you can do to clean them up and upcycle. Pillows stuffed with materials like batting or cotton can be tossed into a hot water cycle with a frontloading washer. Once dry, you can actually use the stuffing to create toss pillows. eHow.com offers a nice tutorial for upcycling pillows into cushions and throws in their article How to Recycle Bed Pillows. Some animal shelters will also accept used pillows, especially after they’ve been cleaned. Homeless animals can use them as bedding or just for play. Just be sure to call and ask if your local shelter accepts donated used pillows before you drop them off.

Beds (mattresses and box springs), with a lifespan somewhere around a decade, are really one of the most difficult bedding items to recycle. Mattresses made 25 or 30 years ago may actually contain chemicals that are hazardous, believe it or not, which means that special handling is necessary to recycle them. Newer mattresses, Spa Sensations products included, no longer contain those chemicals and materials and may be created using eco-friendly products, but there’s still the matter of what to do with the old one when it’s time to buy a new one. Googling “mattress recycling” for your area is often your best bet when seeking out recycling plants that accept beds. For newer mattresses that may still be in functional shape, it’s also smart to contact local crisis or homeless shelters. Not all will accept used mattresses. That being said, it’s always worth a quick call to learn their donation guidelines.

Bedding–sheets, pillow cases, blankets–can be one of the easiest products to upcycle, recycle, or repurpose. Whereas many shelters won’t accept used pillows and mattresses, most accept bedding product donations. As mentioned above, always ask before dropping off the donation, but oftentimes these items are very welcomed by the non-profit. As for upcycling or repurposing, sheets and blankets are wonderful sources for craft fabric. One of the hottest trends right now is the reusable shopping bag. With a few seams, old bedding can easily become a tote bag. They can also be used in an emergency kit either in the car or the basement. Think outside the box: cutting it apart for a mummy Halloween costume, using blankets in a playroom as a fort, cutting them apart to create keepsake quilts. And, on top of this, many recycling plants accept fabrics. Again, double check before you toss it into your recycling bin, but it’s usually fine.

No matter how large or how small your effort, every little bit counts when it comes to living in an eco-friendly manner. If you have suggestions on crafts or recycling efforts for bedding, feel free to let us know! We’ll be happy to share it with our readers.

Three Things You Should Do

• Take a warm bath or shower
  Whether it’s at bedtime or in the middle of the night, many problems that cause sleeplessness stem from a revved up mind and body. Soaking in a warm bath is preferential to a shower, but either can signal sleep and relaxation. One caveat: Don’t choose a bubble bath or shower gel that contains scents like citrus or mint. These fragrances tend to invigorate rather than calm.
• Read a book
  Turn on a light that’s bright enough to read by but not bright enough to completely wake you, then grab a book or a magazine. Unfortunately, e-readers can’t help you in the same way an old fashioned paper book can due to the light emitted. Involving your mind in a book takes it off the problem of not sleeping and helps it unwind. Some people find that thrillers engage them a little too much. Play around with genres and see what works for you.
• Write in a journal
  Much of the mind racing that keeps us awake can be minimized by writing it all down. You don’t have to be a great writer (or even a mediocre one) one to reap the benefits. Worried? Write it down and explain why it’s troubling or how you plan to attack the problem. You may not even read the entries ever again. The act of putting what’s in your mind down on paper tends to help your thoughts move on to other things…like sleep.

Three Things You Shouldn’t Do

• Don’t have a glass of wine (or other alcohol)
  There’s a reason why people turn to a glass of wine when they can’t fall asleep. It works. It really does make you sleepy and really does relax your body. The problem? It inhibits good, deep sleep. You may fall asleep easily only to find that you can’t even close your eyes at 2:00 a.m. A much better option is a glass of warm milk or hot tea.
• Don’t pick up your iPad or laptop
  As enticing at it may be to surf or do work on the computer when you can’t sleep, the electronic screen actually further awakens you. This includes e-readers, as we mentioned above. That imperceptible flicker and the stimulating, energizing light is the perfect storm for creating a totally sleepless night. Grab a paper book or magazine instead.
• Don’t stay in bed tossing and turning
  Sure, you should give sleep the old college try, but when you’ve been laying there with eyes wide open for an hour or so, it may be time to get up. Again, the goal here isn’t to begin your day with cleaning and housework or with computer work. Instead, get up and try that warm cup of milk or tea. Get into the bathroom and run a bath. Do something–anything–relaxing, then try heading back to bed again.

Although we spend most of our time away from bed, the bedroom is still the primary spot where dust mites, dead skin, and allergens build up. Although it takes a skin test to know exactly what one is allergic to, the allergens we create in our own homes do widely affect the population. Couple this with outdoor allergens and you have the perfect allergy storm.

Wash and/or vacuum fabric surfaces
Washing our sheets is a no-brainer, but there are plenty of other fabrics that need attention. All types of drapery can be surprisingly dusty and dirty. If yours are washable, pull them down and give them a good cleaning. If they are not, use your vacuum’s wand attachment to dust and clean them. Musty odors can get trapped in drapery, too. A little Febreeze can freshen them up nicely. Your mattress itself is another surface that many ignore. Like your sheets, dead skin, dust mites, and pollen can get trapped in the fibers of the mattress’s cover. A good vacuuming here works well. Just use the vacuum’s wand attachment as you did with the curtains. You also may need to flip your mattress this time of year if it’s the type that requires seasonal flips. Finally, don’t forget all your carpeted surfaces…yes, even under the bed. Especially if you have pets, all kinds of dust and debris can hide out under the bed frame. Move everything that you can, then give the room a thorough sweep.

Replace pillows and/or clean their covers
Pillows weren’t made to last as long as a mattress. If you aren’t replacing your pillows every year at least, dead skin, dust mites, germs, saliva–it’s all building up nightly. Since you can’t wash them easily and vacuuming doesn’t take care of the germs, just replace them. If you’ve been using a pillow cover, then kudos to you! That does prolong the life of pillows. That being said, using the protectors without regularly washing them kind of negates their purpose. Strip them off the pillows and wash the covers according to their laundering instructions.

Check your furnace’s filter
You’re probably still using your furnace from time to time. When was the last time you changed your filter? A dirty one can put allergens into the air. A very dirty one can actually cause the furnace to work inefficiently. Depending upon your heating unit, one of the many types of allergen-trapping filters on the market may be a smart choice. These types can trap amazingly small molecules…just the type that makes your cough and stuff up while you sleep.

A good top-to-bottom housecleaning can make a big difference both for your health and mindset this time of year. It’s also a really big job. We recommend starting in the bedroom, then moving your way throughout the house. Who knows? Once you get started, you may find the energy to just finish the job over the course of a spring break day.

With numbers like this, we feel like it’s important to make you (customers, friends, family…those who just stop by to read) aware of easy ways to combat heart disease, as well as available resources. We also know there is a sleep/heart health connection, which you need to know to be healthy. We’ll outline just a bit of all this today. If you have questions or concerns, it’s always best to head straight to your physician. The American Heart Association‘s website is also a wealth of information.

The Sleep/Heart Health Connection
Although we know by now that there really isn’t a magic number of hours we all need to sleep each night for better health, statistics show that those of us who sleep six to nine hours every night experience lower blood pressure and lower blood sugar. These effects build upon other health-related issues, too. Those who get enough sleep tend to eat healthier, weigh less, and experience lower stress levels. While the occasional sleepless night doesn’t immediately cause a detriment to health, many nights will eventually cause some of us to become unhealthy enough to find problems with diabetes and heart disease even when there is not a genetic predisposition.

Healthy Lifestyle Changes
The American Heart Association clearly outlines a series of lifestyle changes we can all make to create a healthier life and healthier heart. In fact, Heart Association statistics claim that smart lifestyle choices have resulted in 330 fewer women’s deaths per day (source: AHA). These lifestyle changes include managing blood pressure and blood sugar, smoking cessation, lowering cholesterol, staying active, losing excess weight, and eating a healthy diet.

While there are, unfortunately, those of us who are simply genetically predisposed to heart disease and related health issues, smart lifestyle choices–from rest to weight management–can help ward off the disease for others. As we mentioned earlier, it’s always best to work with your physician when it comes to your heart health. That being said, we could all benefit from simple changes like healthy eating and daily moderate physical activity.

Whether you’re attached and want to spice things up in your bedroom environment, single and just want a seasonal update, or are either and want to beat the winter doldrums, Valentine’s Day decor is actually a great investment. In reds and pinks across the spectrum, nothing says “cheerful” like a few well-placed hearts, flowers, or colors. We’ve been scouring the ‘Net looking for great Valentine’s Day fun finds and, wow, have we found some great and affordable goodies. If you’re brave enough, let us know here or on our Facebook page how you decorate your bedroom for the season of love!

When it comes to seasonal decor, nothing is easier than throw pillows. With the typography and letterpress trend still going strong, we like graphic-style throws for beds or sitting areas in the bedroom. How charming are these? Click the images to see more or buy what you see here.

Je T’aime 12X16 Pillow Cover, $24.95, dearlily.com

Custom Amore Pillow by HoneyPieDesign, $42, etsy.com

HoneyPieDesign on Etsy.com features dozens of color options for the Amore pillow. There are also other darling love-themed designs.

American Mills Wallpaper Heart Pillow set, $23, walmart.com

Of course pillows aren’t the only way to go. Trinket boxes and bowls that might otherwise go in a bathroom or even kitchen can look quite lovely in the bedroom. Then, for those who really feel the love, there are even grander options like sensual satin sheet sets.

Nesting Heart Bowls, $19 for a set of 2, potterybarn.com

JLA Basic Satin 6-Piece Sheet Set, $30-$37, walmart.com

And if adding extra “stuff” to the room doesn’t really interest you, think flowers or plants. Especially now, during the coldest part of winter, a few buds in a vase can liven up your bedroom, greeting you with a pop of color each morning. For Valentine’s Day or any day of the week, try your local grocery store or Wal-Mart Supercenter for out-of-season budding blooms like hyacinths or tulips. Happy Valentine’s Day!

Late last fall, Pantone proclaimed Emerald Green as the color of the year for 2013. Coming off a year (2012) in which Tangerine Tango (bright orange) was the trend, green seems easily adoptable. Especially in the bedroom, this gorgeous, rich jewel tone is just right and very conducive to rest and relaxation. If you already have a graphic scheme going on (chevron, Ikat, stripes), toss in emerald throw pillows or bedding to get a fresh new pop of color. If you are looking to completely make over your room, think about investing in neutral decor (beige, grey, white), then add the texture, color, and prints you love.

American Mills Moire Pillow Set, $25.04, walmart.com

Another (slightly more shocking) color trend for home in 2013 is all-black. Just days after the calendar turned over, Houzz.com–a Pinterest-style site for home decor–proclaimed all-black exterior and interior color as a major look for the new year. What was once reserved for the hipster set has now trickled down to the rest of us. And before you scoff at all-black as only for Emo kids, take a look. The homes featured in this Houzz.com article are extremely striking without feeling “haunted house-like.” The interior you see via this pin on Pinterest is ultra-chic thanks to the pops of turquoise and white. Therein lies the key: color and white trim. Every adoptee of this dark color trend is choosing to pair it with white and brights. Especially in the bedroom, these pairings help bring necessary light to what could out very much like a cave.

Finally, if you have or love graphic prints, this is not the time to get rid of them! The black-on-white chevron that has popped up everywhere for the last year or so is still going strong. The newest way to adopt this look is with color. Go with an emerald and white striped duvet, or place a colorful patterned rug on the floor. The trend for 2013 is practically anything goes as long as there is visual interest or texture. An expensive example, for sure, the bedding from Anthropologie shown below demonstrates the capabilities of texture. Pintucks and ruffles can create a look similar to a bold print.

Quilla Bedding, $78-$268, anthropologie.com

With pops of color, texture, and prints, it’s hard to go wrong if you choose this year to update your home. We do, however, recommend one money-saving tip: outfit the room or the whole home in neutrals, then add the trendy pieces as accents. That chevron-upholstered headboard that is so on-trend now will make you feel like a million bucks…until it’s totally out in a year or two. Be smart, have fun…isn’t that always the best motto?

While there are many excellent resources to help children deal with tragedy in general, the American Psychological Association offers a very specific and helpful article entitled “Helping your children manage distress in the aftermath of a shooting.” According to the APA, just listening without judgement or interruption can make a big difference in dealing with tragedy. They also recommend making your home a safe place where the family can enjoy common activities and comfort.

HealthyChildren.org is another wonderful place to go for a number of articles and tips on dealing with tragedy. More a compendium than a single resource, this site offers information for teens, parents, children, and even school districts. It also features articles like “How to stay cool when things heat up” and “Connecting with your community.”

And if you are having problems talking to your children, or if you are having problems coping yourself, your physician or child’s pediatrician can be an excellent place to start. He or she can help guide you or refer you to psychologists and counselors who may be able to offer help. Considered a cheerful time of year, the holiday season is also one of the most depressing for some, especially in the aftermath of a tragedy. Just talking with someone may be enough to help heal.

Finally, if you are searching for ways to benefit the victims and families in Connecticut, the United Way of Western Connecticut has set up the Sandy Hook School Support Fund. To make a donation, or to learn more, click the link embedded with the fund’s name here. The Newtown Memorial Fund has also been set up to benefit those affected by this tragedy. To learn more or to donate, click the link provided with the fund’s title.

]]> http://spa-sensations.com/opening-up-dealing-with-the-events-of-last-friday/feed/ 0 http://spa-sensations.com/comfort-joy-contest-winner-2/ http://spa-sensations.com/comfort-joy-contest-winner-2/#comments Wed, 05 Dec 2012 16:06:17 +0000 cstrimel http://spa-sensations.com/?p=1838

Last Thursday we chose @theboneblog as our second Comfort & Joy contest winner. As you can see from her entry below, the winning pillow has probably seen better days. With the two-pack of 36″ body pillows on their way to her, it’s time to toss (or recycle) that old one.

We’ll pick our third winner on Thursday, December 5, at 11:30 a.m. Central time. If you would like to enter, you have two easy options.

Twitter: Follow @Spa_Sensations on twitter.com, tweet us a picture of your old bed pillow, and tag the tweet #comfortjoy.

Facebook: Post on the Spa Sensations timeline telling us all about your sad, old, worn out pillow. You may also add a picture if you wish.

We’ll choose the oldest looking or oldest sounding pillow based upon entries.