Fleas are the last thing anyone wants to deal with. Trying to get rid of these wingless, tiny bugs that bother our pets can be so frustrating—and now they can bother our children, too!
We won’t always be able to protect our children from fleas, but we can do our best to prevent and treat the situation. Fleas usually feed on dogs, cats, horses, and humans; most warm-blooded mammals, really. You are more likely to get bitten by a flea if you have pets, so we have compiled a list to help you protect yourself and your children from flea bites.
Check your pet regularly
First order of protection is to check your pet’s coat regularly for fleas. If you want to get a head start, then preserving your pet’s fur and making sure it is flea-free will prevent your children from getting bitten to a great extent. It is important that you are informed on what signs to notice in your pet when it comes to finding fleas, and to address the symptoms correctly in order to treat the situation. You will want to be able to identify whether your pet is scratching due to fleas or just due to general discomfort, boredom, allergies, skin issues, or even the weather.
Keep your home clean
The best way to remove fleas from your home and keep them away for good is to vacuum daily. This may seem like a lot of work, but it is actually vital, because even if you have removed fleas off of your pet, they may still have laid eggs that have fallen to the floor or on the furniture. Make sure that any areas where your pet and child tend to hang out are vacuumed often.
Wash bedding regularly
Wash all fabrics—from bedsheets to pillowcases, from blankets to clothing—in hot water to kill any remaining fleas or eggs that may have latch on. Don’t forget to also wash any materials that your pet and child have had access to, including laundry piles that may not have been put away yet. If your pet has a dedicated bed, cushion, or blanket for its sleeping area, wash those, too.
Use a lemon spray
While there are pills, drops, and other treatments one should ask their veterinarian to protect their pets from fleas, these same methods obviously won’t help your child. To protect your kid from flea bites, make a DIY citrus spray by cutting up to six lemons in half and boiling them in hot water. Let it sit overnight and then place the liquid in a spray bottle. Apply the spray daily to the furniture in your house, as fleas do not like the scent.
Use essential oils and a diffuser
Lavender, lemon, peppermint, and cedarwood oils are the essential oils we recommend, and setting up a couple of diffusers around your house will repel fleas. You can also purchase lotions with essential oils to apply to your kid’s skin to keep them protected.
Wear white socks
For a while, allow your family members and your child to sport white socks when roaming the house. This makes it easier to spot fleas; if you find any black spots on your socks, then you might be faced with a flea infestation in your home. If it’s a full-blown infestation, it may be rather difficult to completely get rid of. You can try using flea bombs or diatomaceous earth, or hire a professional pest control services.
Check your child’s skin
We all want to prevent our children from getting flea bites; however, you still need to thoroughly check your child’s skin regularly. Specifically, keep a close eye on their elbows, knees, and ankles, as flea bites are usually seen at the fold of a joint. Flea bites will appear as red bumps that may cause your child to itch. Check your own skin as well, regularly.
By identifying the symptoms, taking care of your pets, and preventing fleas from accessing their skin, you can protect your child ahead of time. Try to keep your home clean, and remember our suggestions about the wonders of vacuuming. Some thorough cleaning can really go a long way in keeping your house flea-free. You can also opt for natural solutions such as essential oils and DIY sprays—just make sure you check for flea bites every time you apply the spray or lotion to your kid’s skin. Now, you and your family won’t have to suffer a flea infestation and your children will not have to endure those itchy bites.
