We are worried that she will crawl around in the residue, then stick her hands in her mouth and ingest it....there has to be a safe way to protect our home without endangering our infant!
See: http://pubs.acs.org/subscribe/journals/esthag-w/2006/may/science/kb_pesticide.html
2007-06-21 03:55:14 · 7 answers · asked by Jason 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
It seriously depends on the pest. A really good website for speciic pests is http://ipm.ucdavis.edu/. It has non- and low-toxic alternatives to nasty sprays. It also is much more informative than just spraying the pests, it has ideas to get rid of the infestation all together....
Anwho! The class of pesticides that that article is about is organophosphorus pesticides (OPs). Those are fairly toxic to children (and us!) and I saw a talk from a doctor about some children getting poisoned through chorpyrifos (which is an OP not sold in California any more to urban users). Anywho that class is indeed, bad news! I think the most common one that non-farmers can buy right now is malathion. Diazinon is another bad one, but as far as I know in CA, it can't be used except by farmers who tend to use pesticides more correctly (I work in pesticide regulation, and while I HATE pesticides, farmers tend to follow the directions more than home users).
The most common class of pesticides used in the home now to kill bugs are called pyrethroids. They are not as toxic to kids, but as they haven't been used in the amounts that they are being used in now before, part of me wonders how toxic they really are and whether we'll find out soon and have those banned too. The pyrethroids generally have names that end in -thrin such as allethrin (RAID is often that), cypermethrin, permethrin, etc. Anywho, those are used indoors and outdoors, and I'd be aware of your use of pesticides outdoors. Sometimes its better to have a few ants than to spray poisons.
My last note is that pesticides are just one management tool to control pests. Oftentimes you can get rids of pests like ants and roaches using little or no pesticides. You can vacuum ants up and then block where they are coming in, or bait them so they take the poison back to the nest. These options have been shown to be VERY effective (more than sprays), yet aren't known about as much as who wants to advertise that using a vacuum cleaner can help prevent ants? Pesticide companies make a lot more making you think you need pesticides. Anywho, enough of that! Good luck, glad you are looking into it, and check out that webpage I recommended for specific pests (it is geared towards californians).
2007-06-21 05:08:09 · answer #1 · answered by Miss Vida 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have used pesticides for ants and fleas inside the home, but I took my newborn away to my mom's for a visist while my husband used the pesticides. After that he opened all the windows to let air. We came back in the evening and it was fine, the house didn't have a strong smell or anything. Plus your newborn will be very occupied eating and sleeping for now, he won't be crawling until some months later. Be careful if you are using the stuff in the newborn's room. Away from the crib, stuffed animals, clothes, etc.
2007-06-21 04:27:45 · answer #2 · answered by Baby Ruth habla español 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
We've used the orange-oil ones - the herbal pesticides too. But, after we spray - we mop the floor and/or wipe off the area within minutes. If you have an ant or roach problem try using those little bait cartridges - just make sure your baby cant grab one and eat it. Oh yeah - and try to stay away from aerosol sprays.... you never know where those fumes end up. Use the pump-sprays instead.
2007-06-21 05:05:43 · answer #3 · answered by Valerie H 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would stay away from all pesticides,just to be safe!
Try treating the outside of your home.
2007-06-21 04:08:22 · answer #4 · answered by hotmom_e 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
None! All pesticides KILL.....do you want something that KILLS around a newborn? Not is you are civilized....sorry just don't use them, or bleach or baby powder (causes respitory problems) or paint, or fertilizer, weed killer or any other chemical that is not extremely mild.
2007-06-21 04:03:38 · answer #5 · answered by alanawear 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Diatomaceous earth is a non-toxic pesticide is highly effective, as are certain essential oils:
http://eap.mcgill.ca/Publications/eap4.htm
2007-06-21 04:42:09 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends what you are protecting your home from? Fleas, Ants???? You can use bug bombs and do something fun for the afternoon.... Open all the windows and let the house air out... It just depends on what critter you are trying to kill.
2007-06-21 04:03:28 · answer #7 · answered by pebblespro 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋