Bed bug prevention is quite easy. Many people wait until they have an infestation before taking action. It's likely harmful to your health if you must turn to one of the highly toxic insecticides in your living/sleeping quarters. A more holistic approach would be to take action now. One of my favorite sayings regarding any kind of infestation or infection is this: "You don't catch bugs; they catch you when your resistance is low." This is a wonderful principle to live by whether it's your body's immunity or your bedroom. Prevention always pays off.
The following three tips will provide strong resistance and prevent any bed bug infestation.
Bed Full Mattress
1) They don't jump or fly, they crawl into your bed from the floor. So place a I inch wide strip of Vaseline around each support leg of the bed frame and headboard/footboard. They will get stuck in the Vaseline if they try to crawl into your bed.
2) Wrap your mattress and box spring in plastic, carefully sealing it with duct tape. Or buy one of the commercially made mattress encasements available at most department stores.
3) Do not place suit cases directly on your bed if you've recently returned from travel. The bed bugs can easily hitch a ride.
4) Bed bug prevention can be done in a holistic way. Use insecticides or other harsh measures strictly as a last resort. Always consider holistic/natural methods as the first action for optimum wellness. The toxic chemicals in insecticides are particularly unhealthy for children.
If you get an infection, or feel ill in any way after a suspected bed bug bite, seek professional help immediately. Most bites will fade in a few hours or a few days and only show signs of mild to moderate redness or itching. Aloe vera lotion is the best ointment to place on the irritated skin.
If you suspect that your mattress is contaminated, you can destroy the bugs and their eggs by placing the mattress outside on a day when the temperature is below freezing. Same thing with pillows and sheets/blankets. Standing cleaning procedures in the sleeping quarters and around the bed are also known to significantly decrease the likelihood of bed bugs. They are not known to be carried by pets. Some experts believe they do have the potential of carrying harmful pathogens but this has never been proven.