Is there anything better than cuddling with your pets? You could argue the point, but we truly believe resting with your furry friend is an important past time you should share with them. Now, where that takes place is a different story. It’s common for people with pets to just let their animals jump up on the bed to snooze with them, but we can’t emphasize enough how bad this is for your Tempur-Pedic mattress.

There is a time and a place for napping with your little companion, but it’s not when you’re going to sleep. Read on to discover why your fur buddy should probably not participate in your bedtime slumber.

1) Dust, Pollen, and Allergens – Oh My!

If you have an outdoor cat and a dog that gets a lot of outside playtime, then you’ll probably be most affected by the mayhem that comes with that. These animals may be clean, but that doesn’t mean they don’t bring in fun allergens from outside. From dust particles to flecks of pollen, your pets have a way of bringing these inside and setting your allergies on fire.

If your pets jump into your bed every night, they’re likely to track those unwanted allergens all over your sleep space, which can easily be absorbed into your mattress. Don’t ruin your Tempur-Pedic Mattress or aggravate your senses by letting your “furiend” sleep with you.

2) Accidents Happen

Kids can’t always help it, and neither can your pets. Sometimes they get the urge to release their bodily fluids, and then it’s just too late. Your mattress is suddenly wet and smelly and there’s just no going back. So, the best way to keep a clean bed, free of from animal accidents? Just don’t let them on your bed.

You should always try protecting your Tempur-Pedic with a mattress cover anyways, but unfortunately, liquids still have a way of soaking through the protector. Keep the pets off and you’ll never need to worry about a mess occurring.

3) Catch a Bug

If you let your cats and dogs up on your bed often, there’s a good chance they’ll bring in more than just dust and pollen from outside. Germs, ticks, and other icky things could easily crawl their way into your bed sheets, and even your mattress!

Of course, even if your animals get all the appropriate shots to prevent ticks, worms, and other creepy crawlies, your animals still have microscopic bugs that can easily find their way into your bed which can ultimately mess with your immune system. To prevent waking up with a fever, keep the pups and kitties off the bed.

We know it’s a hard thing not allowing your pets on the bed, but a clean Tempur-Pedic mattress is much better for your health. Try finding another spot you can hang out with your animals on, such as a futon, or consider getting your pet their own bed! Either way, keeping the furry fellows off your Tempur-Pedic will keep your mattress, and you, in a better state. If a pet has ruined your bed and you’re ready for a fresh start, stop by our store today to find a Tempur-Pedic bed void of animal hair.

Sophie, Your Sleep Expert

As we are becoming a generation concerned with what we eat, I thought I would examine healthier but fun alternatives to offer at Halloween. When I was a kid, I barely made it home with my loot as I ate quite a few treats while “on the road”. Now that I am older, I consider myself very lucky I got through those years with no cavities. Many are not so lucky!

So how do we get ready for that night of goblins and ghouls without being known for that house that gives out chocolate covered tofu? Well, of course, we always assume that treats mean some sugary-laden food that sticks to the roof of your mouth or gets stuck between your teeth! Yes, that is true, however, we can redefine Halloween treats without spoiling it for the little monsters!

If you are concerned about your offerings, let’s look at some alternatives.

1) Many big box stores now offer all types of healthy snacks in little packets. So instead of reaching for the fat-laden chips or sticky candy, oven-baked cheesy crackers like Goldfish, yogurt or chocolate-covered pretzels, or your own homemade trail mix in a colourful bag will be a hit!

2) I love the idea of stickers and temporary tattoos to give as a Halloween treat. Hear me out! It’s all in the presentation so get some tall clear cellophane bags, and add to the stickers and tattoos, a balloon or two, a Halloween themed pencil for good measure, and OK if you must drop a little box of raisins!

3) Fruits are no longer considered a safe alternative but dried fruits in a closed box or bag are a great idea. Some fruits are dried up to look like long colourful gummy strings that are fun to eat. Choose the ones that have no preservatives and no added sugar as fruits are sweet enough!

4) School supplies and items you use at home are another great way to add fun to Halloween. During this time of year, most dollar stores have themed items like pencils, erasers, goblin topped pencil sharpeners, toothbrushes covered in ghosts and vampires making the bedtime routine more fun! Halloween coloured toothpaste, glowing toy pumpkins or nightlights can be added as well! The ideas are endless. And yes, adding a little treat to eat is also a good thing provided it is wrapped and healthy.

5) If you absolutely must give candy, be a wise consumer and read the labels. Did you know that mini peanut butter cups contain 23 grams of sugar while a mini Hershey chocolate bar contains only 5 grams?

A little imagination will go far and yield great results. Think outside of the box like making orange and black coloured popcorn by adding natural food colouring to the kernels and watch the colours explode! Hair clips with goblins, socks with pumpkin eating monsters, the dollar store has all you need! This will give the little ghosts knocking on your door something to talk about with their friends at school! And just like that, you’ve become the best house on the block!

Angela, Your Sleep Expert

There’s nothing worse than trying to sleep when you are sweating and stuck to your sheets, rolling around and tossing and turning through a way-too-hot summer night.

You aren’t alone: Summer nights – while a catchy song – can make for some of the worst sleep of the year. And the hotter it gets, the worse it can be to find some comfort and fall asleep.

Don’t toss in that sweat-soaked towel, however. We’re here to help you find that cool, comforting sleep you want, even when it’s ten thousand billion degrees out. Here are four ways to beat that heat and stay cool with your Sealy mattress.

Some Basics

Before you start looking at advanced sleep solutions, there are some basics you should sure to check off your list first. Are you using light, breathable summer sheets? Ditch your heavy winter comforters and throws, you won’t be needing them for a few months. At least.

Have you tried using a fan? Some people find the ambient noise soothing, so that can help promote sleep while also creating some air circulation. Air conditioning, opening a window, or other methods to cool down your whole room can also go a long way, but assuming these solutions haven’t helped, let’s look at a few other things you can try.

Shower Yourself With Cold

There are two types of people in the world: Those who shower in the morning, and those who shower at night.

But, if the heat of summer is dragging you down, you might want to try cooling your body before you get into bed. One study showed that a cold shower helped people fall asleep faster and have better sleep. Just make sure to dry off well, as you don’t want to bring any extra moisture with you into an already humid bedroom.

Cooler Heads Prevail

If you are looking for other ways to stay cool, perhaps you should start thinking less about your bed and focus more on your head. More specifically, what you are resting your head on every night.

What types of pillows are you using? Have you tried a Sealy pillow with cooling technology? These pillows wick away moisture, which helps keep you cooler. And when you are fighting away summer heat, every little bit helps.

Perfectly Cool

Sometimes when you have a problem, you need a solution that was perfectly formulated to attack that problem. Something created with that exact problem in mind, and ready with a spear of solution that was sharpened specifically for whatever the problem is.

In this case, the problem is sleeping too hot. And your perfect spear of solution is Sealy mattresses. Sealy has mattresses that were engineered to help people who sleep too hot or too cold, as well as to address other common sleep problems. You’ll never be uncomfortable when you have a Sealy mattress to rest on.

Sealy offers innerspring, memory foam, and hybrid options, meaning no matter what you prefer to sleep on, Sealy has you covered.

Gerry, Your Sleep Expert

There are a lot of factors that go into getting a good night’s rest. Room temperature, how comfortable your mattress is, lighting, stress, and how many times your partner kicks you in the night, can all have detrimental effects on the quality of a person’s sleep.

What you might not know, however, is that lack of sleep isn’t just making you tired, it is hurting other areas of your health. Of course, getting a Beautyrest mattress is one way to help improve the Zzz’s you are getting every night, and the positive effects of improving your sleep will ripple throughout your life and improve your overall health. But if you aren’t sleeping well, here are some ways that lack of sleep can be ruining your health.

Ghr-emlins

Without getting too medical textbooks and Dr. Oz about things, there are two hormones in the body that help control appetite and satiety. Ghrelin is what makes you hungry, while leptin makes you stop eating when you are full. If you aren’t getting enough sleep, the levels of these hormones can change. Womp womp.

So, while it may seem like not a big deal that you keep staying up until the wee hours of the night, it actually is changing your body chemistry, and not in a good way. Think about that the next time you are debating between staying up for a few more hours of Netflix or finally settling in for some shut-eye.

Sugar Rush

We’ve all been there: Sometimes you just don’t get enough sleep and even though you’ve already had enough coffee to cause a normal person to break out into the shakes, your eyes are still heavy. What are most people probably going to turn to next?

Sugar. Sweet, delicious candy bars. Delectable gumdrops. Enough cotton candy that even Willy Wonka would shake his head in disgust.

And what does the research say? If you aren’t getting enough sleep, you may crave more high-calorie foods. And that’s going to put a nasty dent in your diet plans, that’s for sure.

Pushing Off the Physical

There’s only so much one person can get done in a day, and if you are tired, that amount is going to drastically go down. If you are dragging throughout the day, you probably aren’t going to waste the time – or energy – to stop by the gym on the way home.

Nobody likes working out when they are tired, but again, it all starts to add up: If you are sleeping less and less and keep passing up going to the gym or going out for a hike or walk, it’s going to be harder and harder to keep up those healthy habits.

Cycle O’ Caffeine

It’s no secret – especially for those in the workplace – just how prevalent caffeine is in our culture. But caffeine can start to build a vicious cycle. The more caffeine you drink, the harder it is going to be for you to fall asleep at night … which means you are going to be tired the next day and keep craving that sweet, sweet hit of caffeine.

Moderation is key. Except for sleep: Make sure you are getting enough, and try to get that diet train back on track to destination healthy station. And remember, getting a new Beautyrest mattress is one way to make sure that you get the sleep you need, and you’ll start to see the health benefits in no time!

Gerry, Your Sleep Expert

As a teenager, you could sleep through gale force winds, earthquake tremors and jackhammers. What happened to that “I can sleep anywhere at the drop of a dime”?

“Youth is wasted on the young” is an old saying probably shouted out by a retired person with lots of time on their hands but suffers from aches, pains, and sleepless nights! Although everyone’s sleep needs are different and may change with age, The National Sleep Foundation states that “It is a common misconception that sleep needs decline with age.” For the average 40-year-old, the metabolism begins to slow down, wear and tear on joints becomes an issue, as does a disruptive sleep pattern. Without adequate sleep, at any age, we will experience moodiness, irritability, some degree of memory loss, just to name a few

Studies show that people aged 65 and older have one or more complaints about their quality of sleep. Many will struggle with body pains which prevent a deep sleep, and some toss and turn due to the medications that they are prescribed. Others just get by with a couple of hours of sleep when they were used to so much more.

What are the real disruptors of sleep in older people?

1) Retiring From a Long Career

How exciting to have all this time on your hands to enjoy life to the fullest. It’s not always an easy transition, however, if you have always worked consistently over a long period of time and now find yourself free as a bird!

The first thing you do is throw out the alarm that woke you at the crack of dawn every day. You may sleep late and get to bed late into the night. This might be great for the first few weeks or so but getting back into a routine is essential to reset your internal clock and get enough hours of sleep to enjoy your day.

2) Naps

Although naps can be restorative and will offer a boost of energy when you need it, as an older person, you will be needing a nap because you just don’t get much sleep at night. This begins a cycle that will be tough to break. Keeping naps under 20 minutes would be ideal, and earlier in the day so afternoon and evening activities can tire the body and encourage sleep.

3) Illness and Inactivity

There is nothing more discouraging when you are keen to get things done but illness, injury, and pain prevent you from moving around. Certain conditions like menopause, Alzheimer’s and arthritis already disrupt sleep so when you add inactivity, the body is not burning any energy and sleeplessness sets in.

Movement is important to the body which ultimately affects the well-being of your mind. Grab a friend or a neighbour for daily walks and stretches that will encourage not only proper blood flow and oxygen intake but are great for staying focused and sharp. Joining a gym is a great alternative.

4) Psychological and Emotional Stress

As we age we deal with life issues with less patience and acceptance, and the results include stress and sleeplessness. Life changes like losing a loved one, illness, selling the family home are the most common stressors as we get older.

Constantly worrying about things that are out of our control is the new normal. This creates a cycle of distress that will literally keep us up at night. Finding an outlet to release stressors is essential for everyone. As we age, however, fears, frustrations and worries are more difficult to manage. Getting support from family and friends to help release the stresses that weigh us down and keep us from enjoying the best sleep is a great remedy. Also, joining a group for fun activities and socializing will help with stress and encourage restful sleep.

Gerry, Your Sleep Expert