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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Have I got bed bugs?

14 replies

SuperMumTum · 04/10/2019 07:11

Or am I paranoid and losing my mind?

Went on a cheap caravan holiday over the last weekend in August and got about 6 massive and very itchy bites in the night. Kids didn't get bitten. Annoying but thought no more of it.

Now, a month later, I have convinced myself that I have brought bed bugs home in my suitcase. I used my own linen which I brought home and washed but not everything in the suitcase got washed straight away and being a bit of a slattern I tend to leave my suitcase on the floor on holiday and when I get home before I unpack fully.

So assuming I got bitten by bed bugs on holiday the chances of me bringing them home is pretty high, right?

I have seen no visible signs of bed bugs in my house at all but I'm obsessed with checking myself and the kids for bites now. I am an "itchy" person in general, always react to any small bite and change in temperature by scratching myself and although I have general lumps and bumps I have no new obvious bites like the ones I got in the caravan. DD reckons she's been bitten but I haven't seen anything like the pictures of bites from my obsessive googling.

To top it off one of my work colleagues got a bed bug infestation this summer and it was very hard work (and expensive) for him to sort it out, they just keep coming back, so I am now very fearful of having them.

Am I unreasonable for worrying about this and constantly checking beds or is it likely that I don't actually have bed bugs at all? If my colleague hadn't spoken about them I dont think I would be even considering them but the more I think about it the more I think that I probably brought them back from that frigging caravan. Aaaagh.

OP posts:

Sizeofalentil · 04/10/2019 07:15

If you had them you'd have signs by now

Original poster

SuperMumTum · 04/10/2019 07:20

This is exactly what I need to hear @Sizeofalentil. It's really stressing me out.

OP posts:

Inforthelonghaul · 04/10/2019 07:22

Very big itchy bites sound more like mozzies than bed bugs and I think you would have a lot more by now if you’d brought them home.

Original poster

SuperMumTum · 04/10/2019 07:28

I do react badly to all sorts of insect bites, they are still itchy now from time to time. The bites are on my legs though, which were under my duvet (hence my bed bug assumption) but the window was open and we were next to a field so I guess almost anything could have bitten me.

OP posts:

ateallthecake · 04/10/2019 09:42

You'd know immediately as the bites are usually in a short line and burn and itch like hell and wake you up.

allyouneedis · 04/10/2019 11:27

You would definitely know by now if you had brought them home. To put your mind at rest check all around the seam of your mattress, they will be hiding there if you have them and there will be little blood spots on your mattress to. I’m pretty certain you would have been bitten again if you had them.

Whistle73 · 04/10/2019 11:30

Actually bed bugs are more likely to bite exposed skin than that hidden under the covers. Bed bug bites are usually seen on arms and faces. So the fact your were bitten on the body under a duvet is actually good!

zoomies1 · 04/10/2019 12:36

With bedbugs you will often fine a line of two or three bits in a row. They are really noticeable and itchy. You would be being bitten every night if you had them. You could put double sided sticky tape on the bed at night all around the edges and see if you catch something to identify. Also, check the seams on mattresses and in joints on bed frames as that is the likely place to find them. Hoover and clean a lot.

They can be expensive to get rid of but shop around as you some companies are much more reasonable.

It is VERY stressful so I feel for you!

FelixFelicis6 · 04/10/2019 12:43

After this amount of time you would be having an increasing number of bites as they would have multiplied in numbers. Also not everyone reacts to them.

Check the bed frame, especially near the head and top part and the cracks - bb can get anywhere a credit card can fit. Look on the bed frame for tiny black dots which is their faeces.

They mainly bite the upper body as they sense the co2 as you breathe out. Bites on ankles and legs are less likely to be bed bugs.

You can buy bed bug monitors online which you can stick on your bed. Or get a reputable company to come and take a look. Do not let them spray any insecticides until they can positively ID bb.

Tensixtysix · 04/10/2019 12:46

Now I want to know what bites on ankles and legs are?

FelixFelicis6 · 04/10/2019 12:49

Bugs like mosquitoes are more likely to bite there as it’s most easily accessible when you’re walking or sitting down. But I’m not an expert, just what I’ve read before

FelixFelicis6 · 04/10/2019 12:50

And bites often coming up during the day or the morning, doesn’t mean they actually happened at night - could have been during the evening and took 12 hours to come up

PablosHoney · 04/10/2019 12:53

Trust me you'd know, we unwittingly brought them back from a travel lodge and they have been a hugely expensive nightmare, you'd have blood spots on sheets etc.

Original poster

SuperMumTum · 04/10/2019 13:18

You have all been very reassuring, thank you. I think I'll have a good search and Hoover around my bed this weekend and try to put it out of my mind. If I can.

OP posts:

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