My 8 year old wanted a "big kid bed" and so stupidly I purchased a used frame, but not mattress and never really gave it a thought. Purchased bed on Aug 3rd. Last week Tuesday the 13th he woke up with probably 40 bites. We didn't connect it to the bed because he hadn't slept in that bed the night before, but in a different room with my husband. We sprayed Talstar and dusted with DE in addition to putting a mattress enclosure on that bed. My husband and my other son who sleeps downstairs show no indication of bites and the beds show no indication of activity but since we had been on a trip I thought action was best.
My 8 year olds bed is in an upstairs area about 10 feet from my own bed and I had him sleep with me the 14th. The 15th I drew a powder DE line all around his bed just out of panic. I took him to the doctor the 16th and they told me probably poison ivy. Phew... but no.
The 18th I realize I have to let him sleep downstairs again. No bites. No bites since the night of the 12th (which could have just been a delayed reaction, who knows).
The 19th he slept in his own bed and again woke the next morning covered in about 30 new bites.
I immediately bought a mattress cover. I had DE and Talstar on hand. I ordered EcoRaider, Crossfire, and Cimexa.
I had my husband spray upstairs with Talstar. My mom and I washed and dried the bedding, took apart the bed and looked over every inch. We found a bunch of eggs in one location on the headboard and a few in another area of the headboard but nowhere else. We steamed the bed, including all drawers, the wall, the carpet. I found one bug not super fast but walking and killed it. I found about 8-10 more that were just chilling and not moving (on the carpet) after steaming. I picked them all up and flushed them. I put a thick outline of DE around all wall/carpet areas and sprinkled the carpet and used a broom to sweep it in. I outlined my own bed with it. I put it in all the drawers but didn't put them back to make retreating easier.
I told my poor poor child who is already seeing a doctor for anxiety and depression that he can only sleep in his bed until this is over.
The EcoRaider arrived the 20th. I sprayed his bed, desk, chair, my bed, my couch and loveseat, my other sons room. I swept DE on my hard floors downstairs.
Every night I spray around my bed with lavender and carpet tape around the legs. I make my son change clothes first thing before he comes downstairs and won't let him play upstairs.
Tomorrow I will vacuum all the DE upstairs (except around the boarder to hopefully prevent them moving), reach bedding, resteam , apply Crossfire to the crawl space behind his wall, all the beds, couches, furniture, and treat with Cimexa.
My 8 year old is being a trooper. I am slowly losing my mind. He hasn't gotten bitten anymore. I hope he doesn't, but from what I've seen it would be foolish to think he won't or that nobody else will. I am so sick to my stomach. I can't afford to hire a pro. I just graduated college and have no job. I have to try before I ask for financial help from family. But I feel so stupid and so bad for my son.
School starts soon and I am horrified at the thought of him going to school with so many bites. Please wish me luck.