View Full Version : Would you let your child come home if they had bed bugs??
If you've read my other thread, you know my DD has bedbugs. They only seem to be in her room in a house that she and 2 other girls rent.
She's doing all she can to get rid of them, although she hasn't involved professionals yet (except for talking with them and getting info).
I'm concerned because she comes home for Christmas next week. One friend of mine said if it were her, she wouldn't let her come home.
DD is going through an incredibly rough time in her life, and I would NEVER tell her not to come. I realize I'm putting our house at risk, but I just couldn't tell her not to come home. We'll do all that we can, from the moment she walks in the door, to protect things, but I just could never tell her not to come home.
What do you think? Am I being irrational?
To me, DD is more important! I guess I'm willing to take the risk.
loosechickens
12-14-11, 4:23pm
Tell her to bring only a small amount of clothing, in a plastic bag that you can dispose of. As she walks in the door, offer her a robe, send her to the bathroom to take a shower and wash her hair, then put all the clothes she had on, and brought with her, through the washer and dryer. The heat of the dryer will kill anything hiding in the seams of clothing, etc., but honestly, this is really overkill.
The bedbugs are probably centered in and around her bed and bedding. But to be sure, I'd do the washing and drying of everything she has on.
Not the BEST way to be welcomed home for Christmas, but I'd NEVER under any circumstances not let one of my kids come home. Heck, I'd not even not welcome a friend under those circumstances. But I would, and I'm sure they would cooperate, try to keep them from bringing any little hitchhikers along with them.
Your daughter will probably feel good about this process, too, as it will give her a bit of a respite from feeling as though something is crawling on her......
Bedbugs are a fact of life in many areas of the country now, and are no respecter of income, status, cleanliness or any other "moral" or "status" issue. They've become resistant to pesticides, so are more difficult to control, but the ICK factor is far more huge than it should be.
Of course, your daughter is more important than the small risk of having her bring a few guests with her, and if you run everything on her through the washer and a dryer set on hot, all will be fine. The only problem you MIGHT have is that once she's home and feeling safe from the little beasties, you might have a hard time getting her to return to her own place, hahahaha
Wow. That's a tough one. I would let her come home but maybe take some precautions. Like maybe have her bring whatever she's bringing in sealed plastic bags and then maybe you could throw everything in the dryer when she unpacks. Heat is know to kill bed bugs. I'm sure she'll understand the precautions.
jennipurrr
12-14-11, 4:25pm
Tell her to bring only a small amount of clothing, in a plastic bag that you can dispose of. As she walks in the door, offer her a robe, send her to the bathroom to take a shower and wash her hair, then put all the clothes she had on, and brought with her, through the washer and dryer. The heat of the dryer will kill anything hiding in the seams of clothing, etc., but honestly, this is really overkill.
I think this sounds like a good idea.
catherine
12-14-11, 4:25pm
There is no way in h*ll I would put the risk of bedbugs before my DD's visit at Christmas. No way in h*ll.
Edited to add: No way in h*ll.
Edited again to add: It's not like I don't know what I'm talking about. My DD also had a situation when she shared a house in DC senior year in college. When she came home, there were bedbugs, but the two of us actually threw out the mattress (it was old anyway) and the throw rugs and we bleached and boiled all the bedding and scrubbed down everything. End of story.
Good suggestions! I was worried about her bag that she carries clothes in and her purse. I will tell her to leave the bag at home and bring everything in a big plastic bag. Hmmm.....I wonder how to handle her french horn and its huge case. Maybe leave the case in her car and just keep the horn in the house?
I have a good dryer, but its one of those sensor ones that shuts off when something is dry, so I'm not sure I can "over heat" the stuff like I'm supposed to, in order to kill them.
Thanks LC........I feel the same way. There's really nothing that would cause me to keep my children away.........not even Leprosy! :)
Catherine......we were writing at the same time. I agree!!
There is no way in h*ll I would put the risk of bedbugs before my DD's visit at Christmas. No way in h*ll.
Edited to add: No way in h*ll.
I'm with catherine on this one. I would take all necessary precautions but I can not imagine asking any of my children to not come to my house just because they have bed bugs.
I was rather surprised that my friend suggested this..........but she doesn't have children. I asked this question, not because I was contemplating telling DD not to come, but rather to see how alot of you felt about it. If I told her not to come, I would feel like a totally selfish, uncaring jerk!! Like I said......even Leprosy.........
catherine
12-14-11, 5:31pm
Cathy, I know you would never tell your DD not to come--makes me feel a little better that your friend doesn't have kids, so she just doesn't know. But your heart is definitely in the right place.
chrisgermany
12-15-11, 5:17am
Freezing for some days is also said to kill the bugs and eggs. So that might be an option for your daughters bags.
Seal air tight and put them in your freezer for some days.
mtnlaurel
12-15-11, 7:35am
There is no way in h*ll I would put the risk of bedbugs before my DD's visit at Christmas. No way in h*ll.
Edited to add: No way in h*ll.
Edited again to add: It's not like I don't know what I'm talking about. My DD also had a situation when she shared a house in DC senior year in college. When she came home, there were bedbugs, but the two of us actually threw out the mattress (it was old anyway) and the throw rugs and we bleached and boiled all the bedding and scrubbed down everything. End of story.
+1
Geeze Louise, it's not like she has ebola. Your friend obviously has some issues.
i agree with what LC said, and don't forget her shoes!
How do you think I should handle the shoes? I don't really want to throw dirty shoes in the dryer. I guess we could immediately put them into a plastic bag and leave them in the entranceway.
I think she'll totally understand why we have to hose her off out in the yard before she comes in. ;)
She's been through so much recently..........She's only able to take 3 days off work, but I want to make them really nice for her.
reader99
12-15-11, 10:34am
Leprosy is actually no more contagious than bed bugs, maybe less, under modern hygiene conditions: http://rarediseases.about.com/cs/infectiousdisease/a/071203.htm
I know reader99.........its just something I referred to my whole life, after seeing some very old shows when I was young, about the Leper colonies. There are alot worse things these days!
If freezing will in fact kill the little buggers, how about putting her shoes in a plastic bag and popping them in the freezer for 24/48 hours.
I was rather surprised that my friend suggested this..........but she doesn't have children. I asked this question, not because I was contemplating telling DD not to come, but rather to see how alot of you felt about it. If I told her not to come, I would feel like a totally selfish, uncaring jerk!! Like I said......even Leprosy.........
I think your friend made a wise choice not having children.
I think precautions are wise, but I could not imagine telling them not to come.
You could wrap her shoes in a towel or a big cloth laundry bag and toss it in the dryer that way.
i agree with what LC said, and don't forget her shoes!
And don't forget her luggage. Do you have a standalone garage that her suitcase can go in for the duration of the visit?
I agree that I'd certainly let her come home. I mean, really, bedbugs aren't the total end of the world, but they are a major major hassle, and you should do everything you can to prevent getting infested.
We don't have a garage at all. :(
She's only going to be here for 3 days. I'm having her bring all her stuff, newly washed and dried, in plastic bags. I think I'll have her leave her coat in the car and we'll put her shoes in a plastic bag. I'm a bit worried about her French Horn case and the French Horn. She's had them in her bedroom.
Sort of interesting.........I think she hasn't seen any since she vacuumed her room and put the special covers on her bed and pillows. I just wonder if they moved out to another bedroom for the several days that she wasn't sleeping in there.
It would be nice if they could figure out a safe chemical that would make the bugs sterile.
After she leaves, I'll take all the linens off the bed she slept in and leave it unmade for awhile.
I'll be checking all the beds and upholstered furniture for quite awhile after she leaves.
I know she's really looking forward to coming home, so I want it to be nice for her. I've decided to forget the idea of us meeting her at the door in
hazmat suits. :)
mtnlaurel
12-20-11, 9:58am
I know spending $$$ isn't always the answer... but would she appreciate a new house lounging outfit from you if budget allowed ????
She actually has some clothes still at home, so I'll have her wear those while her's are being washed/dried.
I also thought of something else.........I think I'll buy a big Rubbermaid tub with a tight-fighting lid and she can keep her stuff in there.
That's what the pest guy told her to do in her room, to keep them out of her clothes.
I'm even thinking of a big tub with a lid, or just a big plastic leaf bag for her French Horn.
CathyA -- in case no one has told you...you're a great mom! :)
mtnlaurel
12-20-11, 4:51pm
CathyA -- in case no one has told you...you're a great mom! :)
+1
Awwh schucks.........thankyou ma'ams. :|(
Freezing takes a long time to kill bedbugs, while heating only takes something like 30 min...look up bedbug on google to be certain. The French horn is probably OK; the case if left in the car won't increase chances for infestation. FWIW, my sister had bedbugs and had to stay with her ILs while their apartment was treated and I don't believe the ILs got infested. Keeping all luggage in sealed plastic bags and heating as much clothing as possible in a dryer immediately would be a good precaution. Some of the websites also indicate to put stuff in the tub temporarily (like when entering a hotel room) so maybe the F. horn case could be put there?
Thanks Rosie,
Its funny you mentioned putting the horn in a tub. DH and I were joking last night that maybe DD could sleep in the tub. (Just a little humor to relieve the stress of christmas/work/bedbugs.) :)
Actually, DD was here over Thanksgiving. I think she probably had bedbugs then and didn't know it yet. We didn't get the bugs then, so I think with some reasonable precautions, we should be okay.
I was thinking, if we do get them, we might let our chickens loose in the house. They would probably find them to be a great treat! lol!
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