Flea Spray For The House, Is My Baby Safe? – 7 Crucial Tips to Ensure a Healthy Home

Fleas are annoying little pests that can spread infectious diseases and cause a lot of discomfort for both animals and humans. As a parent, it’s important to protect your family from these pesky insects with flea spray for the house, especially when there’s a baby in the house.

However, you need to be extra careful when it comes to using flea spray around your baby. Your baby’s delicate body and underdeveloped immune system make them more vulnerable to the harmful effects of flea sprays. So, before you rush to buy a flea spray, it’s important to consider if it’s safe for your baby.

Thankfully, there are other safer alternatives you can use to get rid of fleas in your home without putting your baby’s health at risk. In this guide, I’ll walk you through some of the best options to help you make an informed decision.

Is Flea Spray Safe For My Baby – Understand The Components Of A Flea Spray And Their Effects

As potent as a flea spray may seem, it may not be the best thing to use when you have a baby in your house. Yes. Fleas are very annoying and deadly as they come.

Did you know that fleas were the main agents of transmission of the infamous bubonic plague (the black death) that wiped out about a quarter of Europe’s population in the 1300s?

That’s how deadly they can be and you don’t want your catch any infections from those dreadful insects.

As much as you want to safeguard your baby, should a flea spray be the next thing on your mind for this purpose?

So, let’s try to understand what a flea spray contains before concluding whether or not it’s safe for your baby. Your flea spray may contain any of these ingredients:

1. Fipronil

Sounds funny? Try pronouncing it with an accent and stretch the “r”. I promise you’ll have a swell time doing that. Anyway, this guy here, fipronil, is one of the main ingredients present in a flea spray.

Fipronil is an insecticide that has been proven to cause significant damage by negatively affecting the nervous system of insects. 

It is used all around the world as an insecticide to terminate the lifespan of insects such as moths, cockroaches, and termites but when it comes to fleas, it is just an active ingredient in the flea repellent, which is a pesticide.

2. Etofenprox

Like fipronil, it is also an insecticide that is used as an active ingredient in pesticides for fleas.

I know this may sound ridiculous but putting Lord or Lady before Etofenprox makes you sound like a Bridgerton character. It also disturbs the nervous system of an insect.

It is used for protection against mosquitoes either by direct usage or application on the net to ward off adult mosquitoes.

3. Pyrethrin

Pyrethrin is an active ingredient in pesticides that are used in the control of fleas, amongst others such as moths and ants. They may be found in some chrysanthemum flowers. They work by inducing hyperexcitation in the insects’ nervous system which can cause paralysis of the insects.

4. Methoprene

This acts against the growth of the insect. It is a chemical that prevents insects such as fleas from reaching the stage of maturity, thereby effectively destroying the lifecycle of the flea. It inhibits reproduction in this process. 

All these ingredients are made of chemicals, some of which tend to have a counter effect on the human system.

I’ll be telling you how each of these flea ingredients may have adverse consequences on you, your baby, and your household in general.

• First of all, Fipronil doesn’t seem to affect humans through dermal contact, however, prolonged exposure may cause harm to the body through the means of inhalation and dermal contact. Inhaling this pesticide and others for a long period can cause harm to bodily functions and restrict the ability to breathe properly.

• As for etofenprox, the United States Environmental Protection Agency reports in a memorandum concerning the pesticide that it has low acute toxicity when inhaled, ingested, or through dermal contact. The memorandum also reported that repeated exposure to etofenprox could account for skin irritation.

• Pyrethrins have side effects whether through inhalation or ingestion but are not permeable through skin contact. When you or your baby inhales it, it may lead to respiratory problems. Your baby may have difficulty breathing and may experience bouts of coughing. When your baby’s eyes are exposed to pyrethrin, it may lead to irritation and affect vision.

• Methoprene has been shown to cause slight irritation when the eyes are exposed to it. However, it is expected to be excreted as waste within a few days. However, note that residues of this substance can be stored in some parts of the body. 

Ways In Which Your Baby Can Be Exposed To Flea Spray In The House

There are different ways through which your baby can be exposed to flea spray in the house. They are:

1. Ingestion

It simply refers to oral contact. It’s possible by accidental means that some of the flea spray may find its way into your baby’s mouth and the body of your baby.

It will affect their digestive system, which is why some chemicals are excreted after a few days. 

2. Inhalation

This method has to do with the respiratory organs. Inhalation is done through the nose. This is one of the fastest ways for your baby to be exposed to flea spray. This is because substances are quickly diffused through air. 

Your baby may catch a whiff of the spray through the nose, which may lead to irritation internally, amongst other effects. 

3. Dermal contact

It refers to contact through the skin. You may be wondering how your baby can touch something that is in the form of a spray. When you use flea sprays, residues may be left behind on some surfaces. 

Now, imagine that you’re a curious baby who keeps crawling around the house, touches one of such surfaces, or even puts a hand in his mouth.

So, this is one of how your baby can be exposed to a flea spray in the house.

Homemade Remedies Instead Of Flea Spray For House To Keep Your Baby Safe

Instead of using a chemically and factory-manufactured flea spray, there are other options available for you. The best thing is that these remedies can be made at home, and are cheaper alternatives.

Here are a few home remedies to keep the fleas away:

1. Plants which repel fleas

This is what I would like to call a biological method of controlling fleas. The biological method here refers to a method of using resources of nature to control pests like fleas.

There are some plants with by-products that are irritating to fleas. These plants may produce toxins that are harmful to fleas. 

It may be that the plant emits an aroma that is irritating to fleas, or that its petals and leaves are unattractive to the fleas. 

Examples of such plants are:

• Chrysanthemums

• Basil

• Lemongrass

• Catnip

• Chamomile

• Rosemary

• Lemon thyme

• Chives

• Tansy

• Eucalyptus

• Spearmint

• Lavender

All you have to do is plant any of these in pots in strategic areas of your house. Some of these plants have beautiful flowers, which will not only repel fleas but also add an aesthetically pleasing look to your house.

Many of them are also herbal, so you can use them as medicine in relevant circumstances. 

2. Use dish soap and water

This is cheap and easy. All you have to do is warm up some water. Don’t make it too hot till boiling point; it should just be warm to a good extent. Then, mix some dish soap with the warm water in a bowl and place it in a good spot in the house. 

You have to do this in the night because fleas come out in their numbers at night. Make sure that you change the soapy mixture every day to get effective results. 

3. Diatomaceous earth

This is a type of rock, which is made of the fossil remains of diatoms. It has properties that enable it to be effective in the natural control of insects and pests such as fleas.

The outer layer i.e. The exoskeleton of fleas is supposed to be the layer that prevents the pest from dehydrating. 

However, diatomaceous earth weakens the outer layer of the flea such that moisture drains from the pest easily and faster than normal. Therefore, this leads to quicker dehydration of the insect and death. 

All you have to do is sprinkle the powder on different nooks and crannies of your house where flea activity is most predominant and leave for some days, before vacuuming the house.

Although it sounds easy, you have to protect your face with a covering because diatomaceous earth can be an irritant. 

Should I Use A Flea Bomb Instead Of A Flea Spray In The House To Keep My Baby Safe?

Flea bombs are a more concentrated version of flea spray, which is effective in killing fleas by releasing a fog of pesticide that reaches hidden areas. However, it’s essential to note that flea bombs can be hazardous for your baby, and extra caution is required when using them.

Only consider using flea bombs when the flea infestation has reached a critical level, and other methods have been ineffective. Cover all furniture, including your baby’s cot or bed, and follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer.

It’s crucial to keep your baby away from treated surfaces for 1-2 days to avoid any pesticide residues. Make sure to wash your baby’s toys and other items that might have come into contact with the pesticide.

Overall, while using a flea bomb can be a tedious process, it can be a last resort to control a severe flea infestation. However, the safety of your baby must be your top priority, and it’s best to consult with a pest control expert to determine the best and safest course of action.

Other Methods You Can Use To Keep Your Baby Safe In The House Apart From A Flea Spray

Aside from using a flea spray, you can employ other strategies to reduce the occurrence of fleas in your house to keep you and your household safe.

Some of these strategies are routine methods which are supposed to be carried out as prevention methods:

1. Take good care of your pets

If you have a cat or dog, know that they are very prone to flea infestation and may bring the fleas with them into the house. Ensure that you brush your pets before they enter the house. Bathe your pets regularly as well to limit flea infestation. 

You may also decide to take your pets to the veterinary doctor for medical treatment for fleas. 

2. Employ good sanitation practices

Good sanitation cannot be overemphasized. Keep your house clean always. Vacuum the rooms in your house regularly to get rid of fleas or any other insects. 

What Can I Put On My Baby To Keep Fleas From Biting In The House?

First of all, you can put long wear on your baby to prevent fleas from biting your baby. If you want to prevent fleas, you can dress your baby in long-sleeved clothing to make sure they’re well covered.

Also, you may decide to apply insect-repellent lotion that is skin-friendly for your baby on their skin. This will serve as extra protection to keep the fleas away.

What Have We Been Saying?

In conclusion, I understand that you want to get rid of the fleas as quickly and easily as possible. However, your baby’s safety should always come first. Therefore, it’s important to take measures to minimize the risk of your baby being affected by flea sprays or other chemical treatments like flea bombs.

You can do this by removing all risk factors, covering furniture, and washing your baby’s toys to get rid of any traces of pesticide contamination.

If you’re uncomfortable with using chemical treatments, you may also want to consider trying homemade remedies that are safe for your baby.

Remember, dear mom, your baby’s safety is paramount, and I am here to support you every step of the way.