Sleep Tight, Don’t Let the Bed Bugs Bite
Most of us have heard the sing-song phrase: “Good night, sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite.” It rolls off the tongue as a playful way to say goodnight, but its roots are far more practical...and a bit itchy!
The “sleep tight” part comes from a time when mattresses weren’t resting on box
springs or sturdy platforms, but on a lattice of ropes stretched across a wooden bed frame. Every so often, those ropes would loosen and sag, making the mattress droop in the middle. Before bed, people would pull the ropes taut, literally tightening their bed, so they could sleep more comfortably.
The second half of the
rhyme, “don’t let the bed bugs bite,” reflected an all-too-common problem. Mattresses were stuffed with straw, feathers, or horsehair, and little pests like bed bugs often made themselves at home. At night, they’d crawl out to feed, leaving behind itchy red bites. Wishing someone freedom from bed bugs was more than just a sweet thought; it was a very real hope for a restful night.
Today, we use the rhyme purely out of tradition, without giving much thought to ropes or pests. Still, it’s fascinating to realize that this cheerful little phrase is a window into the nightly rituals and challenges of the past. The next time you say it, you’ll know: it’s more than a bedtime rhyme. It’s a slice of history tucked under the covers.
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