Q&A:
When is it safe for us to have our home treated by exterminators?

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Answered by Loraine Stern M.D.

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"I adore children and being a pediatrician because of all the hugging and laughing that we do," say Loraine Stern, M.D.

Loraine Stern, M.D., clinical professor of pediatrics at U.C.L.A., has been in private pediatric practice for 35 years. Dr. Stern wrote for Woman's Day magazine from 1986 to 2005. She is a former editor of and contributor to Healthy Kids magazine. She has published two books on child care and has edited a book about pediatric nutrition for the American Academy of Pediatrics. A spokesperson for children and families, Dr. Stern has appeared on national networks and programs such as CNN, The Today Show, and Good Morning America.

Dr. Stern has two stepchildren but no animals or even green plants.

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Question

My baby is due any day now, and we are having a problem with spiders in our home. At what age is it safe for us to have our home treated by a professional?

Answer

I hate sharing my home with creatures that have more legs than I have. I'm glad you're going to use professional exterminators. Most of the problems with toxic effects of insecticides come from lay people using them incorrectly. You're also right to worry about the baby. Children are more sensitive to chemicals and inhale more of them relative to their body size than adults do. Whenever you need to get rid of critters is the time to do that. Spider bites are not necessarily deadly, depending on where you live, but can be annoying and, in a newborn, may lead to infections. I'm sure the exterminator will tell you to leave the house after the treatment for several hours. (I just had my house treated and it was four hours.) Ask about washing the crib thoroughly to remove any traces of chemicals and put freshly washed sheets on the baby's bed. Usually, after the chemical dries, there are little if any fumes in the air and it should not be a problem for the baby.