Children with asthma or other breathing woes should put their teddy bears in the freezer before taking them to bed, British experts said Friday.

This will kill the dust mites that live on toys, carpets, curtains and bedding and can trigger asthma attacks, the experts said."We are warning parents there is absolutely no point in spending a lot of money on special bedding for an asthmatic child if the teddy bear is full of mites," said Dr. Jill Warner of Southampton University's department of child health.

"Putting the bear in the freezer for 24 hours kills the mites," she said. "Give the bear back to the child and after a week, repeat the process."

View Comments

Teddy bears should also be washed after freezing, she advised.

Join the Conversation
Looking for comments?
Find comments in their new home! Click the buttons at the top or within the article to view them — or use the button below for quick access.