This is a sponsored post on behalf of Mom It Forward & Orkin. All opinions expressed here are my own.
I was recently invited to the The Rollins Learning Center in Atlanta to learn about spring time pests through Orkin, with Entomologist Dr. Ryan Harrison. We learned about various bugs, such as termites, fire-ants, stinkbugs, hissing cockroaches, and more.
As a mom, my biggest fear is bedbugs, and luckily Dr. Ryan Harrison went in depth on that topic! Bed bugs are attracted to heat, body odor, & CO2, and can live up to 6 months without a blood meal (you!). Bed bugs are active at night (when you're sleeping) and generally hide during the day. After mating, females lay white, oval eggs (1/16-inch long) into cracks and crevices. The eggs hatch in about 6-10 days. Are you grossed out yet? I can attest, almost all the bloggers in attendance were itchy from all this bug talk!
As a mom, my biggest fear is bedbugs, and luckily Dr. Ryan Harrison went in depth on that topic! Bed bugs are attracted to heat, body odor, & CO2, and can live up to 6 months without a blood meal (you!). Bed bugs are active at night (when you're sleeping) and generally hide during the day. After mating, females lay white, oval eggs (1/16-inch long) into cracks and crevices. The eggs hatch in about 6-10 days. Are you grossed out yet? I can attest, almost all the bloggers in attendance were itchy from all this bug talk!
Side Note: A fellow Blogger volunteered to be a blood meal for an adult and baby bed bug. They were both so tiny. If I hadn't seen Dr. Ryan Harrison put them on her arm, I would have thought they were a mole or speck of dirt. They looked like a pen-marked period. She claimed she didn't feel anything. But afterwards you will get itchy rashes. The time frame varies, so many people suspect other pests as the cause, such as mosquitoes. If you get welts or rashes.. think twice, and check for bed bugs!
Bedbug prevalence is on the rise, and hotels and motels are some of their favorite hangouts. It's costly to get rid of them if they follow you home. Research suggests they can cause financial distress, anxiety, and social isolation. A fellow Macaroni Mom experienced bed bugs, and she can attest, she had all the above. It was a very daunting situation, but there are some steps you can take to protect yourself.
When travelling, as I will be this week for Spring Break, remember the acronym SLEEP.
When travelling, as I will be this week for Spring Break, remember the acronym SLEEP.
S - Survey cracks and crevices for infestation. Look for blackish buildup.
L - Lift and Look for bed bugs, especially on the beds, couches, and in closets.
E - Elevate your luggage & clothes on a rack, a desk, or in the tub - keep it off the floor
E - Examine your luggage when repacking at the hotel, and unpacking at home
P - Place your luggage contents into the dryer - heat kills bed bugs!
I added the E.Z:
E - Educate your whole family, especially the kids, on bed bug protocol. You don't want them leaving clothes on the floor defeating the purpose!
Z- If possible, keep your clothes in ziplock or plastic bags, and wrap your luggage in plastic too. Keeping clothes in ziplock bags is actually very helpful, especially for kids. I always put a whole outfit, with underwear, socks, and accessories in one bag for MacGirl so it makes getting dress a breeze when on vacation, saves time, and keeps my luggage neat and organized. Now it also helps ensure we don't get bedbugs! When she removes the dirty outfit, it goes right back in that ziplock bag for transport home - then straight to the washer & dryer!
So with these tips, I hope you can Sleep EZ, when travelling. We'll be in Chattanooga Tennessee this week. We definitely want to "sleep tight, and not have the bed bugs bite" .
Do you have any travel tips to keep pests at bay?
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