What Do You Do When Your Baby Playpen Has Bed Bugs Ideas

As a parent, one of your primary duties is to keep your child safe. Parenting through a bed bug infestation can be a stressful experience.

While bed bugs are most commonly found in beds, they can also be found infesting other stationary human environments such as couches, movie theater seats, bus and taxi seats.

Naturally, it can be quite difficult to keep these bed bugs away from yourself, let alone a helpless infant and its possessions.

This article provides helpful advice on how to eliminate bed bugs from a pack n’ play.

While raising children isn’t easy for anyone, bed bug problems can be solved quickly when parents and exterminators work together.

What is a bed bug?

The name “bed bug” most likely originates from the fact that these insects frequently hide in beds and attack sleeping humans. Bed bugs can’t survive or develop without a steady supply of blood. Bed bugs feed on the blood of warm-blooded animals, so they won’t just go after humans. Bed bugs have been around for over 3,300 years and can be found in just about any human-populated area, from homes to hotels to schools to offices to stores to public transportation.

Bed bugs can hitch rides on people and other objects and travel great distances. As they attach themselves to bags, garments, and bedding, they can travel with their owners. Because of this, bed bug infestations can quickly spread. And because bed bug bites look similar to those of other insects, it’s not always easy to tell the difference, making it hard to detect infestations and allowing populations to grow undetected.

Signs of a Bed Bug Infestation

Small, reddish-brown feces spots on mattresses, upholstery, or walls are the telltale sign of a bed bug infestation. The presence of such marks may be indicative of an infestation. Bed bugs can also be identified by bites on the arms and legs. Even if the bites aren’t particularly large to begin with, the itching and swelling will draw attention. These bites may not show up for two or three days, giving the infestation more time to spread. However, bed bug bites are not conclusive proof of an infestation unless accompanied by other signs.

Bed bug molt skins, eggs, empty eggshells, and actual bed bugs can all be used to confirm an infestation. These things are quite tiny, but they are still discernible to the naked eye. When a bed bug molts its skin or hatches from an egg, both the skin and the shell take on a whitish hue.

Do Beg Bugs Bite On Babies?

Bed bug bites are easily recognized because they occur in clusters, a telltale sign of a bed bug infestation. Even infants can receive multiple bites from a single bed bug during a single feeding.

In contrast to bloodsuckers like fleas, which cluster around the feet and ankles, bed bugs will bite anywhere they come into contact with a human.

Therefore, it’s likely that bed bugs infested your baby’s pack and play or other belongings if you find clusters of bites on his skin.

How To Prevent Bed Bug Bites on Baby

First and foremost, you should check your home and baby’s belongings to make sure there are no bedbugs present.

To do this successfully, you must eliminate the vectors that normally transport bed bugs from one residence to another.

Avoiding used furniture and pack and plays is a simple way to help prevent bed bugs.

Even if you don’t bring home any secondhand furniture from the hospital, you should still be on the lookout for bed bugs because it’s likely that you’ll be bringing home more than just your newborn.

How To Inspect For Bed Bugs

1. Identify

Understanding the appearance of these pests at various ages is crucial. Adult bed bugs are a dark reddish brown and about the size of a sesame seed, making them very easy to spot.

The smallest (and therefore youngest) nymphs are about the size of a poppy seed. While most of them are lighter overall, a dark spot on the abdomen shows that they have recently consumed blood.

The eggs are the size of a comma and are tiny, white, and bean-shaped. Because of this, finding the right one can be challenging.

Bed bugs can be identified by their droppings and the skins they leave behind.

Wet the stain with a damp paper towel, as numerous things can leave black specks on a pack and play mattress/box spring/headboard. Bed bug feces often has a rusty brown hue, so keep an eye out for that.

2. Inspect

If you have any reason to suspect bed bug activity, you should begin your search in the bedroom or other area where people sleep. Bed bugs typically hide in one of three places: the mattress, the box spring, or the headboard.

Mattress:

Make sure the pack-and-play mattress is in good condition all the way around. Examine the mattress’s edging, including its seams, piping, and pillow top, with great care.

To check the seam on both sides, lift the top edge of the pillow. Check the underside of the mattress as well as the top for labels or tags.

Lean the mattress against a wall for a better look at its underside if you can safely remove it from the box spring or bed frame. If any bed bugs escape, you can vacuum them up and get rid of them that way.

Spring Box:

If the box spring isn’t easily removable from the bed frame, checking for bed bugs in its intricate system of wood and springs can be a daunting task.

However, if your box spring can be relocated, we recommend propping it up against a wall and removing the dust cover.

Use a strong flashlight to look for bugs and signs of bed bug infestation in the seams and on the outside of the mattress.

Bed bugs can also be found hiding in the crevices created by staples. Wrap the entire box spring in a protective cover to check for bedbugs.

Bedstead and headboard:

Headboards and bed frames, whether made of wood, metal, or plastic, offer ideal hiding places for bed bugs. It only takes the thickness of a credit card for adults and juveniles to disappear.

Use a thin spatula, the tip of a screwdriver, or even the corner of a business or credit card as a “crevice tool” to inspect and flush out these tight spaces, where bed bugs are known to hide.

Then, using the powerful flashlight, check all the screw holes, and finally, using the crevice device, remove the bed bugs from every nook and cranny.

The Sheets:

Check the stitching on your sheets, pillow cases, and blankets. Take a closer look at both your pillows and pillowcases by taking them apart.

Look closely at the creases and the stitching. If you discover that your pillowcases have an insect infestation, you can treat them by throwing them in the dryer.

C. Lint Rollers

Inspecting items and eliminating bed bugs can benefit greatly from the use of lint rollers, especially the extra-sticky variety.

Use a lint roller to check for and remove bugs hiding in seams of your suitcase or baby item when you get back from a trip.

Lint rollers can be used to remove bed bugs from clothing, backpacks, bags, and other items that social workers wear or use while visiting the homes of other people’s children.

For instruction on using lint rollers to clean the seams of a mattress. Simply move the sticky side over the affected areas.

Keep an eye on the bedbug traps. Take off the sticky layer, fold it in on itself to trap the insects, and then throw it away.

How To Clean A Pack And Play With Bed Bugs

No matter how you contracted them, eliminating them from your sleeping bag is now your top priority.

You’ll want to use the safest, least-toxic methods possible, especially now that the bloodsucker has entered your baby’s territory. The good news is that there are many safe and efficient natural methods for getting rid of bed bugs.

What follows are the most immediate and effective measures you can take to keep your pack and play bug-free:

1. Wash and Dry Everything You Can

Bed bugs die at high temperatures, so if you’re not sure, put the item in question through the dryer on a hot cycle.

This method can be used on any hospital-brought bedding, including pack-and-play sheets, blankets, pillowcases, stuffed animals, and clothing.

Playpens can be cleaned by soaking them in hot, soapy water for an hour, then rinsing and scrubbing. Then hang it outside to dry in the sun, which will help kill any remaining bed bugs or eggs.

2. Steam Everything Else

Steaming larger household items like cribs, playpens, suitcases, and overnight bags is an effective and natural method for removing bed bugs.

You can use this technique to exterminate bed bug families from nearly all of your possessions. This method not only kills the bugs, but also sterilizes the area, making it safe for use around a newborn baby.

I can assure you that there are low-priced bed bug steamers that are effective in getting rid of these pesky insects, should you not already have one in your home.

For a handheld steam cleaner, I suggest the McCulloch MC123. With its low price, wide range of uses, and ability to heat water to over 200 degrees Fahrenheit, this is one of the best bed bug steamers on the market. Getting rid of beg bugs is demonstrated in this video.

How to Clean Toys Infested With Bed Bugs

Toys Made From Soft Materials

Stuffed animals and other soft toys can be dried in a hot dryer. If there are any bedbugs on the stuffed animals, they should die after about 30 minutes. Toys should be removed from the dryer, inspected, and then placed in plastic bags until it is determined that the home is safe.

Toys Made From Plastic or Wood

Materials like plastic and wood can be quickly inspected and cleaned. To clean anything, just use a damp cloth to wipe it down. Although they are simple to disinfect, you should double-check every nook and cranny to ensure that no bedbugs have hid themselves. Put the cleaned items in plastic bags and freeze them at 0 degrees Fahrenheit for at least four days to be safe.

Toys Made From Paper

Books, the most educative toys, can be cleaned in the same way that the plastic and wooden toys can be. Books should be bagged up, frozen at 0 degrees Fahrenheit for four days, and then removed. Before putting things back on the shelves, double check for bed bugs.

How To Protect Your Baby From Bed Bug Bites

It is crucial to keep your child safe from further bed bug bites while you work on ridding your home of these pests.

The simplest way to do this is to keep those bloodsucking invaders away from your baby’s playpen or crib.

Obtain a mattress cover for the crib or playpen to prevent bedbugs from entering the area your baby sleeps in. This will also ensure that no new bed bugs will be able to establish themselves in your baby’s crib.

Second, place bed bug traps under each leg of the crib; this will ensure that any bed bugs that try to climb up onto the crib will be caught before they can reach your baby.

Finally, use a sturdy mesh netting to cover your baby’s crib. Bed bugs are notorious for scurrying up walls and then descending onto unsuspecting sleepers below.

Therefore, if you want to keep the bed bugs away from your infant, a good mesh netting cover will do the trick.

Keep in mind that the crib should not be placed next to any walls or nearby furniture. Don’t give bed bugs the opportunity; they will climb up anything to reach their prey.

If you followed these steps carefully, your baby should be safe from bed bug bites without having to resort to harmful pesticides.

How To Treat Bed Bug Bites On Baby?

Now that you know, how to best protect your baby, and how to get rid of the existing bed bug bites on the baby since no one feels the bugs when they bite.

The good news is that many antihistamine treatments developed for adults are also safe and effective for use on infants. However, be wary of what you put on your infant’s skin.

Babies are more susceptible to the side effects of improperly administered treatments than adults are because of their smaller size and habit of putting their hands in their mouths.

For this reason, it’s best to use a natural ointment, such as Aloe Vera. When applying ointment to a baby, be sure to massage it in thoroughly. You should try to limit the amount of things your infant can get on his fingers, as these may then end up in his mouth or eyes.

Aveeno Baby’s Eczema Therapy Soothing Bath Treatment is another excellent option for soothing your infant’s bites from bed bugs.

The natural colloidal oatmeal and moisturizing properties of this soap-free formula make it ideal for soothing baby eczema. Bed bug bites are another common problem that this fixes.

Finally, a corticosteroid cream is an option if you find that the natural remedies aren’t doing the trick.

Conclusion

A pack and play is a fantastic piece of baby gear because it provides new parents with portability, safety, and comfort for their infant.

Your child will likely spend a lot of time in his pack and play, so it is important that you know how to properly clean it to prevent any rashes or infections.

Keeping your pack and play clean and free of bed bugs is essential to ensure the safety of your child, and we hope that the cleaning guide we’ve provided will help you do just that.