Does this look like signs of bedbugs?

[BumpyLegs12]

Just checked into Airbnb and have massive bedbug anxiety. Would love to know if I'm overreacting as I'm here with 2 babies so can't easily sleep somewhere else.

Hopeful bump

No, look like crumbs or bits of dirt on the mattress to me. Wouldn't worry.

Hard to see in your picture tbh but I don’t think so. Bedbug corpses tend to accumulate round th seams so have a look there and see if there’s a line of black dots up and down the seams

are you itchy/ getting bitten?

No I've just arrived and been inspecting all beds with a torch. I think I need help for my anxiety. I have checked the seams and they are all clear. I also checked behind headboards and although dusty, there doesn't seem to be anything untoward. Do you think i might be safe then?

I think you’re safe then OP.

Yes, you’re fine

I feel your pain. I had imaginary bed bugs for a few weeks and nothing short of buying traps could shift my absolute conviction I could feel them on me.

if they were there there would be evidence of droppings and corses in the seams

enjoy your holiday.

Thank you so much for taking the time to reassure me. Dh thinks I'm neurotic (he's probably right) so doesn't even engage in this sort of thing.

@SomePosters I've actually been thinking of getting some of those traps for home to avoid worrying that we brought bedbugs back!

I blame the Internet. I was so happy when I didn't know bedbugs (and many other horrible things) didn't exist.

I always check everywhere we stay. It's not neurotic it's sensible.
They look like crumbs to me.

No,they're just crumbs , shake them off.

Thank you both.

@Justwingingit2005 that makes me feel better. I've been tearful wondering what's wrong with me! I wish I had no care in the world like DH. But I am not putting my children in a dirty bed!
Out of interest, have you ever found any? I guess my worry is that sometimes if it's not a bad infestation there may not be any signs? But could you still bring them home?

At this point I just don't want to go on holiday again. Not worth the stress I'm putting myself through!

Then you definitely don’t want to know about the varied habitat that is your 👄

the traps were cheap and have made me feel so much better. I bought them during the pandemic but they will be coming on all future holidays with me

and don’t let your dh make you feel bad. Someone has to know what could go wrong and make contingency plans for worst case scenarios, just don’t let it take over your life!

They tend to come out at night, just check again before bed

OK I'm in bed! Let's just hope there is no mosquito in here as if I wake with a bite I will FREAK.

No never found any but a work mate had them in a hotel in Spain. She was quite relaxed about it.... just packed her stuff and moved rooms..... I'd have thrown everything away!

Thank you for responding! I am still freaking out. I'm mostly worried about one of the bedrooms which had a really old wooden bed frame and wardrobe. I'd checked the mattress and it was clear but I since read that the frame is just as important to check and I hadn't.

When I hoovered this morning I saw 4 or 5 black tiny dots at the back of it and have now convinced myself that they were bedbug faeces. I wish I could take a closer look and investigate now but we left to our next accommodation this morning so I will never know.

I've not slept in 3 days and feel like I can't breathe. Now I have a carload of stuff to treat when I get home as I am way too scared and I am exhausted.

Nothing went into that room apart from DS' travel cot, which I will probably just chuck away just in case.

You would know if there were bed bugs as you would have been bitten. Tiny black dots are most likely to be spider poo.

Please don't throw away your baby's travel cot. This would be massively wasteful. If you have convinced yourself you can't bear to keep it, please donate it to charity.

Please see your GP for anxiety treatment when you get home, as this is not healthy or normal x

It's just unfortunate as if the place had been spotless my anxious mind wouldn't have had so much to question. But it was dusty, sheets, pillows and mattresses weren't spotless. I think if they care this little, I wouldn't put it past them to keep renting it out despite suspicions of bed bugs.

In my room I shone a torch on the bed regularly throughout the night and saw nothing though.

The place was in the middle of fields and near a pond, and there were quite a few spiders, so yes I guess it could just be from other bugs. But I never checked inside the frame and so wish I did. DS also cried out twice in the night, only very briefly but maybe he was getting bitten? He had a little blood spot/scab on his toe this morning?

I don't know how my brain hasn't yet imploded after hours of thinking and worrying about this, and deciding on my action plan for when we get home.