Is this likely? We got the down comforter for Christmas. Lydia has had a stuffy nose on and off a little, but just in the past 2 weeks she's consistently having a stuffy nose, but only at night. She has been waking up *all the time* and I'm getting so tired and frustrated, as I'm sure she is too! So today I washed the sheets and just put on a cotton blanket, leaving off the comforter. She's been sleeping for 4 hours straight so far tonight! The past couple of weeks she had been waking 2-3 times *before* I even came to bed at around 11pm.

Is this just a fluke? I have never heard of a down allergy. Could it be?

It's a definite possibility. I'm allergic to feathers, and thus, down. If I sleep w/ a down comforter, I wake up w/ my eyes swollen shut. Ugh! And I love down comforters! :rolleyes:

I had a down comforter and pillows and they caused my allergies to flare up 24/7 every day :( I had to give them up.. but repaced them with Wool duvet andpillows from Natura. http://www.theshoppingchannel.com/product_results.asp?departmentId=3086&templateCode=PR I could not find their website, this iswhere I bought my set, duvet, two pillows and mattress pad.

I had a down comforter and pillows and they caused my allergies to flare up 24/7 :( I had to give them up.. but repaced them with Wool duvet and pillows from Natura. http://www.theshoppingchannel.com/product_results.asp?departmentId=3086&templateCode=PR I could not find their website, this iswhere I bought my set, duvet, two pillows and mattress pad.

Any allergen can cause a reaction in susceptible individuals, and yes, down is most definitely an allergen. Just like cat/dog dander, trees and plants, molds, enviromental toxins, etc. A lot of people are allergic to down. Most people are allergic to more than one thing. Children can definitely have allergies just like adults.

Jennifer

ABSOLUTELY! Down are feathers, which many people are allergic to, but they also attract dustmites, which is another common allergen.

*I* would remove it and see what happens. GOod luck.

Unfortunately, one can be allergic to just about anything. We all have bad allergies, some to odd things that you'd never think of. And children are just as prone as adults. I'm definately allergic to down (wool, too, among a ton of other things). I just have cotton blankets and sheets.

I know some companies sell fake down blankets, but I'm not sure exactly what the "faux down" is. I know The Company Store sells a product called Primaloft that is sold in place of down.

I'm glad to hear that you were at least able to figure it out, switch blankets, and that she's sleeping better.

I can absolutely not tolerate any kind of feathers or down pillows or comforters at all. Once slept at this lady's house who, when I woke up wheezing and my eyes nearly swollen shut, told me that I might be allergic to feathers, but down is not allergenic :rolleyes: Sort like the same as people who think that siamese cats aren't as allergenic as 'regular' cats (ahem, IL's)

Thanks everyone. She has continued to sleep better, and wakes in the morning a wee bit stuffed up, but I still have the comforter in the room, so tonight I'm going to try taking it out of the room and stuffing it in a garbage bag somewhere.

And I'm a little embarassed to say I had heard down was non-allergenic too, that's why I came here to ask ;)

I am allergic to dust mites. When you go to an allergist they recommend getting rid of the down because of the dust mites that are attracted to it. There are also special mattress covers that completely enclose your mattress and box springs. Preventing the dust mites from living in the bed. Dust mites actually eat your dead skin cells. Kinda gross, but true. You might also want to buy some of these. They sell them at bedding places.

And I'm a little embarassed to say I had heard down was non-allergenic too, that's why I came here to ask

No need to be embarassed :) I've learned that you can be allergic to anything. Nothing is off limits, unfortunately. I have some strange allergies (I'm even allergic to allergy medications like Claritin, Allegra, and Zyrtec LOL) as do the girls.

Hopefully removing the comforter from the bedroom will do the trick.