Child Sleeping Bag - Should You Buy a Used Sleeping Bag?
If you've been thinking about saving some money and want to buy a used sleeping bag for your daughter or son, you might want to reconsider.
Although it sounds like a good idea you may be putting your child at risk for all sorts of germs and organisms among other things they can pick up from a slumber bag.
The only time I can think of that would be an exception would be when one is handed down from an older brother or sister.
The child has probably already been exposed to the same bacteria, viruses and other germs that the brother or sister has so that shouldn't be of as much concern and you know where the bag has been, although a new sleeping bag would be better.
So what could be the concern for a used sleeping bag? There can be past mold or mildew exposure that has been treated that you cannot see.
You don't know where the bag has been and what it has picked up.
You don't know if it's been sitting in a moldy basement, has been left outside or in a car trunk.
Perhaps the bag has been cleaned at a dry cleaners.
There may be residue left in the bag that you cannot see or smell that your child will be breathing in.
With their face so close on the bag liner they would be getting a big whiff of chemical residue.
There are likely germs- like bacteria and possibly viruses, still present on the bag.
These may be new ones your child hasn't been exposed to.
Some bacteria can live for a long time.
The added fact that you can't see them doesn't help.
How about dust mites? Dust mites would love the bag environment.
If the bag has been used in the house a lot during summer or at other times, it will likely have picked up some dust mites somewhere.
The dust mites leave droppings that you cannot see.
And many kids are allergic to dust mite droppings.
They are hard to get rid of because they require very hot water to kill them.
And bags are seldom washed if at all.
No matter how clean or good the bag looks there are likely to be some problems that cannot be seen with the human eye.
Play it safe and buy a new child sleeping bag.
They're relatively cheap and you can find many good sleeping bags for less than $20.
Although it sounds like a good idea you may be putting your child at risk for all sorts of germs and organisms among other things they can pick up from a slumber bag.
The only time I can think of that would be an exception would be when one is handed down from an older brother or sister.
The child has probably already been exposed to the same bacteria, viruses and other germs that the brother or sister has so that shouldn't be of as much concern and you know where the bag has been, although a new sleeping bag would be better.
So what could be the concern for a used sleeping bag? There can be past mold or mildew exposure that has been treated that you cannot see.
You don't know where the bag has been and what it has picked up.
You don't know if it's been sitting in a moldy basement, has been left outside or in a car trunk.
Perhaps the bag has been cleaned at a dry cleaners.
There may be residue left in the bag that you cannot see or smell that your child will be breathing in.
With their face so close on the bag liner they would be getting a big whiff of chemical residue.
There are likely germs- like bacteria and possibly viruses, still present on the bag.
These may be new ones your child hasn't been exposed to.
Some bacteria can live for a long time.
The added fact that you can't see them doesn't help.
How about dust mites? Dust mites would love the bag environment.
If the bag has been used in the house a lot during summer or at other times, it will likely have picked up some dust mites somewhere.
The dust mites leave droppings that you cannot see.
And many kids are allergic to dust mite droppings.
They are hard to get rid of because they require very hot water to kill them.
And bags are seldom washed if at all.
No matter how clean or good the bag looks there are likely to be some problems that cannot be seen with the human eye.
Play it safe and buy a new child sleeping bag.
They're relatively cheap and you can find many good sleeping bags for less than $20.
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