Are most pest control options safe for newborn babies, toddlers, and kids? Here is a guide on safety considerations for every family.

Whenever pest control is to be performed, one thing that stands out in all cases is safety. The safety of the person applying the treatment as well as for others around the vicinity is crucial.

While pets are also excluded from the treatment area, the main concern is about the safety of babies.

Kid Safe Pest Control For Babies

Being the most vulnerable due to their weak immune systems, it becomes necessary to ensure that they don’t get exposed to harmful pesticides or other pest treatment methods.

So we ask; is pest control safe for babies?

This is of pressing concern to people having kids around and wondering how to proceed with pest treatment.

Babies Are Curious

One of the common things babies are known for is their high sense of curiosity.

This increases their risks of getting in contact with pesticides. A professional pest control technician knows the safety precautions to take. This is in addition to knowing the risks of the chemicals or pesticides used.

When a home is to be fumigated for pest issues, such professionals recommend that everyone leave the house until it’s safe enough to get back in. Even when it’s safe to get back in, certain chemicals or pesticides used may have residual effects that may prove harmful to kids when they play around.

As such, you’ll need to ask every safety-related question to ensure that a pest control procedure doesn’t turn fatal.

Pest Control And Babies: Exposure

As a parent, you must know all the ways by which your kids may get exposed to pesticides. This knowledge helps you take preventive measures by keeping all such chemicals out of reach.

Kids may get exposed to pesticides in the air and water.

Bug sprays are also commonly used for pest control. Your baby could get exposed to such when improperly applied. Certain foods contain pesticides used by farmers in controlling insect pests.

Others include lawns treated with pesticides and also pet shampoos designed for pests such as ticks and flea.

Babies may also be exposed to rodent poisons. All these are toxic and harmful to their health and could lead to a wide range of symptoms.

Common Symptoms of Pesticide Exposure

When pest control isn’t properly done, kids get exposed to harmful pesticides. Such symptoms are even worse when pesticides are ingested by kids. Babies will readily put anything they find into their mouths.

Common symptoms include belly pain, seizures, bleeding in the gums or nose, and headache. Other symptoms include coughing or difficulty breathing, dizziness, nausea, and diarrhea.

Pesticides must not only be ingested to have such an effect on babies. Simply breathing in large amounts of it from the air is enough to cause problems.

Also, pesticides can easily get through the skin.

Keeping A Baby Safe from Pesticides

It’s common knowledge that most pest control methods involve the use of harmful pesticides. With such knowledge, you’ll need to be responsible for your safety and that of your baby’s.

Whether you’re performing DIY pest removal or hiring a pest technician, you need to be extra careful.

There are lots of ways to enhance safety.

A few of them include baby-proofing your home, finding and using pesticide alternatives, keeping all utensils, food, and dishes away, and reading product labels for instructions on how to use a product.

Additional safety measures include calling reputable pest control services, closing windows and turning off the air conditioning when treating outdoor areas, and asking your technician what products they use.

Also, you’ll need to have rubber gloves on when gardening.

  • Baby-Proofing your Home

One of the first things you’ll need to do to enhance the safety of your baby is by locking up all pesticide products. These range from rat poison to bug sprays among other pesticides.

By keeping them out of reach, you’re helping to prevent any accidents and emergencies.

  • Finding and Using Pesticide Alternatives

You may want to consider non-toxic alternatives to pesticides for your pest control needs. These range from humane mousetraps to sticky traps among others.

  • Keeping all Utensils, Foods & Dishes Away

Before pest control begins, it’s necessary to keep all utensils, foods, and dishes away. This applies to any type (DIY or professional) of pest control. For food storage, all food (especially grains) should be stored in airtight containers.

This prevents the penetration of harmful pesticides.

  • Reading Product Labels for Use Instructions

One of the most important safety actions to take to keep your baby safe is by carefully reading the product label of any insecticide product before use. Safety warnings should be well understood before application.

For leftover pesticides, it’s best to follow local and state laws for proper disposal.

  • Calling a Reputable Baby-Safe Pest Control Service

If you aren’t so sure about your ability to observe proper safety guidelines in regards to pesticide handling, consider asking for help. A competent and reputable pest control service should be contacted for such a procedure.

Before treatment is administered, experienced technicians will ask that you vacate the area with your baby and pets.

  • Closing Windows and Turning off Air Conditioning

Pest control, whether performed indoors and outdoors will require shutting off the air conditioning unit. This includes closing all windows and doors. Ensure that your baby is beyond reach before application.

  • Asking your Technician about Pesticides Used

As part of safety actions to take, consider asking your pest technician about the safety of products used. Product safety is crucial as most pesticides are toxic and could harm your baby and anyone within proximity.

For instance, you need to know how long after pest control to bring your baby home.

Luckily, there are environmentally friendly alternatives that won’t hurt humans as well as pets. Make your technician understand your preference for such treatments.

  • Putting on Rubber Gloves When Gardening

When gardening, there’s a likelihood of coming in contact with pesticides.

This may end up affecting your baby in more ways than you can imagine. To limit the likelihood of such, it’s best to put on rubber gloves when gardening.

The safety of pest control methods depends on how well it’s performed. Also, safety is paramount.

As such, you should ensure that the procedure is properly done.

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