Keeping Kids Safe from Pests

Parents might encourage bug catching to aid kids young, developing, inquisitive minds learn about insects. Other insect-related educational materials, such as books, are also helpful. To teach your young ones, you don’t have to reside in a bug-infested home. While the reflex action would likely be to reach out for pesticides upon sighting pests, such as cockroaches, rats, rodents, ants, and others, consider the repercussions of your actions before you engage.

Because their immune systems and bodies are still undergoing development, children are more vulnerable to pesticides than adults. They crawl on floors and put their hands and other items into their mouths, which would expose them to pesticides. That doesn’t mean that you need to choose between a bug-infested home and endangering your kids unnecessarily. The good news is, you can keep your kids safe and still keep pests out. Here are a few ways how to:

Practice Preventative Measures First

Using an integrated pest management strategy will benefit both you and your family and safeguard the environment. Create an unappealing environment for pests, denying them their survival necessities of food, water, and shelter. This will drive them elsewhere in search of the same. General practices will discourage pests manifesting in your home. These include:

• Keep your house clean and avoid piling up dirt, whether it is used utensils or food spills.
• Store food in sealable food containers and ensure they are airtight.
• Avoid leaving out pet food at night.
• Excessive moisture is a conducive environment for pests; thus, mop up all spills.
• Regularly vacuum crevices, carpets, and cracks to keep these hidden areas clean.
• Replace any damaged wood or dripping taps and pipes.
• Don’t forget to clean under large appliances, especially in the kitchen, such as ovens, stoves, and refrigerators.
• Make cleaning up after meals a habit to pick up food debris that the kids leave behind while eating—cleaning up after food preparation is also a good habit, eliminating crumbs at all times.

Eliminate Stagnant Water

Stagnant water provides mosquitoes with an ideal breeding ground. You can significantly lessen the number of mosquitoes in and around your home by covering up unused pools and removing any stagnant water such as puddles. Cover up baby cots with mosquito nets and consider using repellents that have low toxicity levels. Citronella oil is a good example.

Keep Your Pets Clean

Pets are known to be common carriers of fleas, and their bites can transmit disease and cause discomfort. You will need to keep outdoor foliage and grass short to allow direct sunlight. Fleas are found in dark areas. By ensuring your pets are always clean and flea-free, you will guarantee they are not bringing fleas into your home from outside. In case they already have fleas, there are simple, easy, effective treatment options.

Weatherstripping

For ants and cockroach infestations, weatherstrip or seal entry points with caulk. Avoid leaving crumbs and spilt foods for too long without cleaning up or piling up dirty dishes in the sink. Store fruits and other sugary foods in the fridge, away from their reach. Apply caulk around leaky pipes, sinks and tubs. Spray ants with soapy water to kill them and erase their trail, preventing other ants from coming in.

Screen Windows and Doors

Screening doors and windows will seal off potential entry points for mice, rats and other rodents.

Use Pesticides

If all the above methods fail, then you will have no option other than to use pesticides. Select pre-mixed solutions as opposed to those you need to mix yourself to enhance accuracy. Be mindful of these safety tips:

• Always read the label and instructions, and follow them to the letter.
• Use pesticides specific to the pests you intend to eradicate.
• Target specific areas instead of randomly spraying an entire room.
• Never use outdoor solutions indoors.
• Wear protective clothing before use, ensuring to cover your hands, legs and sleeves. Once done, immediately remove your garments and shower.
• Avoid storing leftover pesticides as these are poisonous and may endanger your children.

In Conclusion

While you may do your level best to eliminate pests, despite carrying out all the good practices that will discourage their existence and sustenance in your home, you may still have pest problems. In such a case, let a professional exterminator such as Excel Pest Services carry out the job using non-toxic solutions. The products these professionals use are environmentally friendly and will ensure your kids are safe and the pests are eliminated.