How to Rid My Home of Fleas Safely With a Newborn Child

Get rid of fleas by vacuuming regularly.

Getting rid of fleas is important, especially when you have a newborn baby in the home. Fleas are typically brought into homes on pets, and can even be brought in by humans if they have spent time in flea-infested areas. Fleas feed on both humans and pets. When they bite a baby, irritated, itchy bite marks appear on the skin. Get rid of the fleas safely without harming your home or family.

Things You'll Need

• Dish soap
• Water
• Bowls
• Salt
• Vacuum cleaner

Instructions

1. Fill a few shallow bowls with water and a squirt of dish soap. Stir the mixture to combine the soap and water.

2. Place the bowls throughout your home at night. Turn on small lamps and set them beside the bowls, or hang lights above the bowls if possible. The heat from the lamps attracts the fleas and causes them to jump toward the lamp and end up in the bowl of soapy water, which smothers the fleas and kills them right away.

3. Sprinkle salt over your flooring. The salt dehydrates the fleas and kills them off, and some of the fleas will seek refuge from the salt and end up jumping into the bowls of soapy water.

4. Vacuum the next day to collect the salt and any dead fleas, and discard the bowls of soapy water. Use a vacuum cleaner with a bag, as bagless vacuums have small openings that allow fleas to escape. Vacuum daily to collect fleas, eggs and larvae.

References

• Paw Rescue; Prevention and Treatment of Fleas, Ticks and Mosquitoes; Robin Tierney