If your child has allergies there are plenty of choices in bedding available to help. Some easy steps and shopping around can prevent allergic reactions in children due to their bedding or bedroom furniture harboring dust mites. I know it's yucky to think about but it's the feces of those mites that cause the allergies.

Any good retailer for bedding, whether they're online or down the street. offers a variety of certified hypoallergenic products at good prices. It's a good idea to start with a vinyl box spring case. They last a long time plus they're waterproof, easy to clean, and not hospitable to dust mites.

Secondly, and maybe even more important, is get a cover for the entire matress. Mak sure you measure your child's mattress beforehand so it fits good and tight.

Another very important way to prevent allergies is getting a hypoallergenic certified pillow because their fabric very tightly sewn to keep dust mites out. They also come in synthetic down which is an excellent deterrent to mite reproduction. Plus they can keep out mold or bacteria that just make things worse. Pillows should be replaced every two years at the very least.

Whatever bedding product you are looking at buying, be sure to find the asthma and allergy friendly certification mark. Not only are these products created with barriers to allergens, they are specifically made without chemicals that can irritate or cause allergic reactions. This goes for sheets and duvets as well.

Wash the bedding in high temp water and dryer. Every 3 months or so, thoroughly clean the mattress and box spring.

To inhibit dust mite contamination, change the linens once or twice a week. Run a vacuum over the mattress, pillow, or blankets when you do.

A couple other tips for helping your child's bed stay allergen free; when you make the bed, shake out all the bedding and fold back the blankets. This helps to stop humidity from building, which dust mites thrive in. Also be sure to keep headboards and bedside tables dust free.

After you vacuum the children's bedroom, wait until the dust settles for about 2 hours before you make up the bed so it won't settle there.

It's these simple changes that can mean the difference between discomfort and rest at night for the kids and you, the parent.

If your child has allergies there are plenty of choices in bedding available to help. Some easy steps and shopping around can prevent allergic reactions in children due to their bedding or bedroom furniture harboring dust mites. I know it's yucky to think about but it's the feces of those mites that cause the allergies.

Any good retailer for bedding, whether they're online or down the street. offers a variety of certified hypoallergenic products at good prices. It's a good idea to start with a vinyl box spring case. They last a long time plus they're waterproof, easy to clean, and not hospitable to dust mites.

Next, a mattress cover that encases the entire mattress. Before selecting a cover, measure your child's mattress (width, length and especially depth) to ensure you purchase the correct size.

Next lets talk pillows. You can find allergy friendly certified pillows which have tightly woven outer fabric that inhibits dust mites and even pet dander from entering. Many pillows are also available with hypoallergenic synthetic down and/or films that inhibit mold or bacterial growth that can also irritate an allergy. These pillows are durable, affordable, and comfortable. And remember that pillows should be replaced every two years.

Regardless of what brand you buy make sure it's got a mark of certification against allergies. They stop allergens but are also made without chemicals that can cause reactions. Remember it goes for all bedding including sheets, duvets, and pillows

And read each product's washing instructions, as they may vary. But the general rules of thumb for washing bedding is at high temperatures for both washing and drying. Conveniently, Box spring and mattress casings only need to be cleaned 3-4 times a year.

To inhibit dust mite contamination, change the linens once or twice a week. Run a vacuum over the mattress, pillow, or blankets when you do.

Since dust mites love humidity you can do a couple more things to keep it more inhospitable. When you make the bed fold the blankets down. Also ensure that the headboard and bedside tables are dust free.

When you vacuum your child's room, wait 2 hours before replacing the bedding. Dust settles after vacuuming somewhere in that time, and you don't want it settling on a fresh bed.

With a few changes, a child's bed can be a much more comfortable place at night, relatively free of allergy symptoms. This will help yourself as a parent rest better too.