Pests are an inconvenience to any home, especially for large families. In addition, rats and insects are known to carry diseases. If you have a baby, you don’t want it to get in contact with contaminated surfaces, let alone pests. But, being that your baby’s immune system is not as strong as yours, you might wonder what’s the most effective way to get rid of these disgusting creatures. Technology has brought us a new generation of pest repellers, ultrasonic, that seem safe for humans. But are they safe for babies as well?
The short answer is yes; ultrasonic pest repellers are safe for babies. They seem like a great option if you compare them to sprays, chemical traps, and poison. However, experts claim commercial ultrasonic devices don’t repel pests.
While it is relatively safe for you to bring in an ultrasonic repeller to your home, this is not a great option. Some people claim they work. But, some naysayers criticize their effectiveness. Anyways, up to this point, your primary concern is how to eliminate pests. But, why do they live in your house in the first place?
Understanding Pests
It is a downer to find out pests have been living in your home. But, regardless if you are a clean freak, you might find some uninvited visitors in your home.
There’s a reason why pests choose your home, survival. Unfortunately, it is not you and your taste in architecture and design that attracts these animals rather than their survival instincts. Instead, pests move into your house to find three things, shelter, food, and water.
Let’s understand a bit more about some of the pests you can deter with ultrasonic repellers.
Roaches
For instance, roaches prefer clean places. They dwell in dark spots to protect themselves from predators. You often find cockroaches in the kitchen; this is where they get food. Sometimes you may notice them in your bathroom or basement if they tend to be humid; roaches get hydrated in these areas.
Rodents
They are similar to roaches. They move into your house to find shelter, especially during wintertime, because they can’t stand low temperatures. Moreover, mice and rats are scavengers that eat anything. The food in your cabinets or the trash in your can, both are a feast to mice.
Mosquitoes
On the other hand, we have mosquitoes. They are common in tropical climates, and although they don’t live as long as your roommates, these insects will be attracted to your blood. In addition, studies have shown mosquitoes like to bite pregnant women.
Ants
These insects will look for water and food in your house. Once they discover a free supply in your house, it won’t be long until you have the entire colony in your home.
How Pests Affect Your Baby’s Health
We have seen some of the typical pests that could live in your house. And you might be wondering, are all of them a threat to my baby? Yes, they are. There are many diseases these animals can transmit to any member of your household.
- Mice, roaches, and ants can carry: salmonella, listeria, asthma, e. Coli.
- Mosquitoes can transmit the zika virus and West Nile virus.
Here’s a list of other animals that transmit diseases to your baby:
- Kissing bugs can transmit American trypanosomiasis.
- Fleas carry typhus fever, tularemia, and dermatitis.
- Ticks can transmit Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF), and many others.
Ultrasonic Pest Repellers And Control
Ultrasonic pest repellers claim to be the solution for the animals we mentioned earlier. It seems easy to use; you plug it into one of your electric outlets, and it will start making a sound, inaudible to humans but hefty to pests.
History
You might think this is a novel invention, but it is not. In reality, humans have been fighting to deter pests throughout history. Unfortunately, most of these insects and animals became common because of the poor hygiene practices we used to have.
Way before the 15th century, civilizations used different techniques to keep pests out of crops. Ancient Greek, Chinese and Sumerian societies used sounds and fire to keep small animals away from the fields. They understood these animals affected the quality of the products.
Fast forward to the 1940s; we find modern insecticides such as DDT and other synthetic insect repellents. But later on, experts found out exposure to these chemical compounds was related to cancer.
There is not much information about the exact origin of ultrasonic pest repellers. However, we know commercial repellers originated somewhere between 1960 and 1965. In addition, sound experts have been exploring sonic and ultrasonic reactions in small animals as early as 1900.
The first generation of ultrasonic pest repellers was advertised as a solution to keep rats and mice out of your house. But, some specialists analyzed the pros and cons of these devices. Some investigations concluded ultrasonic devices were ineffective.
How They Work
Any sound over 18,000 Hz is considered ultrasonic. The human ear is not fitted for hearing these frequencies. However, it has been proven that some animals can.
These ultrasonic sounds can cause distress in animals. Some tests included rats, dogs, rabbits. They concluded animals could even die out of exposure to ultrasonic sounds.
Most commercial ultrasonic repellers work with a power source. You either connect them to an electric outlet or add batteries to it. Once you turn it on, it will start emitting ultrasonic waves that deter rats, mosquitoes, and many other bugs.
The Drawbacks About Ultrasonic Pest Repellers
The main drawback here is that ultrasonic repellers don’t always work. Many people who have one at home seem to be satisfied with it. Some users and experts claim it is a hoax.
Some of the arguments experts have against ultrasonic repellers include:
- Ultrasonic waves don’t efficiently travel through objects. This means that your furniture, clothes, and any other solid object in your home will decrease its effectiveness on pests.
- Some pests can grow resistant to ultrasonic sounds. The initial tests were done in a controlled environment. However, further investigation revealed that rodents got used to these waves.
Even if these claims are not correct, ultrasonic repellers have disadvantages for some members of your household. Think about your pets; most domestic animals can hear these sounds. While some pets might not be bothered by it, ultrasonic sounds can harm small animals such as guinea pigs and rabbits.
Alternative Pest Control Options
Up to this point, Since ultrasonic repellers are not a reliable option, you might be thinking about alternative pest controls. Worry no more; we have arranged a list of recommended practices to keep your home pest-free and safe for your baby.
If you want to keep your home free of: | We Recommend: |
Roaches | – Keep your kitchen, bathroom, and any other areas dry – Avoid leaving dirty dishes on your sink – Burn essential oils to keep them away – Use coffee grounds |
Rodents | – Keep you trash out of your house and surroundings – Burn essential oils |
Mosquitoes | – Use vanilla extract as a repellent – Burn essential oils – Remove any water sources where mosquitoes could lay eggs – Install window screens |
Ants | – Spray vinegar on them – Clean up and food crumbs or spilled beverages – Seal up any obvious openings into the house. |
Additionally, you could hire a pest control service. These specialists will analyze why you have pests in your home and will eliminate them.
Final Thoughts About Ultrasonic Pest Repellers And Babies
As you can see, ultrasonic pest repellers are safe for babies because they don’t work at repelling rodents or insects. It is incredible to learn this product has been in the market for more than 50 years.
Suppose you want to eliminate bugs, ants, roaches, rodents, or other pests. In that case, we suggest you try our alternative pest control options. They are more effective in controlling these animals. Also, these options keep your household a safe place for you and your family.