Baby bed bugs are young bed bugs (nymphs) that are tiny and pale, and when bed bugs bite a baby they leave itchy red bumps that are usually harmless, so the goal is gentle skin care, a call to your pediatrician before any cream or medicine, and safe, chemical-free steps around the crib.
Spotting tiny bugs in the nursery or a line of red bumps on your baby’s arm can stop your heart. Baby bed bugs are a problem you can solve, and they are not a sign of a dirty home. The key is knowing what you are looking at and treating the house without putting chemicals near your little one.
This guide explains what young bed bugs and their eggs look like, what bites look like on babies and toddlers, how bites compare with mosquito bites, flea bites and hives, how to care for bitten skin, how to check a crib and nursery, and how to get rid of bed bugs safely.
Key Takeaways
Young bed bugs are about 1.5 to 4.5 mm long and pale, and can be nearly invisible before they feed (EPA).
Bites are itchy red bumps, often 2 or 3 in a row on the face, neck, arms and hands (AAP, CDC).
The CDC says bed bugs are not known to spread disease, but scratching can lead to skin infection.
Call your pediatrician before using any cream or medicine on a baby.
Use heat, vacuuming and a licensed professional; never use foggers, alcohol or sprays near the crib.
Table of Contents
Baby Bed Bugs: The Short Answer
Quick Answer
Baby bed bugs can mean two things. Young bed bugs (called nymphs) are tiny, translucent or whitish-yellow and, according to the EPA, can be nearly invisible before they feed. Bed bugs on babies means bites: itchy red bumps, often in a row, usually on skin that was uncovered during sleep. The CDC says bed bugs are not known to spread disease, but bites can itch, disturb sleep and become infected if scratched. Call your pediatrician before using any cream or medicine, and treat the home with heat, vacuuming and a licensed professional, never sprays or foggers near your baby.
Finding a bug in the nursery is upsetting, but it says nothing about your housekeeping. The CDC says how clean a place is does not determine whether bed bugs are present. They hitchhike in the seams and folds of luggage, bags, clothing, bedding and furniture.
What Do Baby Bed Bugs Look Like?
Bed bugs hatch from eggs and pass through five nymph stages before they become adults. The EPA describes the young bugs as smaller than adults and translucent or whitish-yellow in color. Before a nymph has fed, it can be nearly invisible to the naked eye. After a blood meal, the EPA says adults become reddish-brown, more elongated and balloon-like.
Stage
Size (EPA)
What the EPA describes
Egg
About 1 mm
Pearl-white, the size of a pinhead; an eye spot after about 5 days
Nymph stages 1 to 5
About 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3 and 4.5 mm
Translucent or whitish-yellow; nearly invisible unfed
Adult
5 to 7 mm (3/16 to 1/4 inch)
Brown, flat and oval, about the size of an apple seed
Bed bug life stages. Source: U.S. EPA, Bed Bugs’ Appearance and Life Cycle.
The CDC describes bed bugs as small, flat, wingless, reddish-brown insects, 1 mm to 7 mm long, that feed on blood at night. The EPA adds that they have a musty-sweetish odor.
Young bed bugs are easy to miss or mistake for something else. The EPA warns that carpet beetles are easily mistaken for bed bugs, and that a wrong identification lets a real infestation keep spreading. If you catch a bug, seal it in a clear plastic bag so a pest management professional can confirm what it is.
Bed Bug Bites on Babies and Toddlers: What They Look Like
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) describes bed bug bites in children as itchy bumps with a red dot in the middle of a raised red bump where the bite occurred. Its symptom checker adds that bites can look like a hive or mosquito bite.
Pattern: the CDC says bites may be random or in a straight line; the AAP says usually 2 or 3 in a row.
Location: the AAP and CDC say the face, neck, arms and hands, though the AAP notes bites can also appear on covered skin.
Timing: the AAP says bed bugs are most active between 2:00 and 5:00 am.
Delay: the CDC says most bite marks appear one to several days after the bite, and in some people they can take up to 14 days to show.
No reaction at all: some people show no visible signs of being bitten (CDC). Clear skin does not rule out bugs in the home.
The AAP’s symptom checker says the pink or red color usually lasts about 3 days, swelling about 7 days, and itching up to 2 weeks.
A key point from the EPA: bites are a poor indicator of an infestation. To know for sure, you need to find a bug, eggs, shed skins or the dark spots described in the nursery checklist below.
Bed Bug Bites vs Mosquito Bites, Flea Bites and Hives
Itchy red bumps on a baby can come from many things. The EPA notes that bed bug bites can resemble mosquito or chigger bites, rashes such as eczema or fungal infections, and hives. Use this table to decide what to look for next, not to diagnose; your pediatrician can tell rashes apart.
Cause
What sources describe
Where and when
Clue to look for
Bed bugs
Itchy red bumps, sometimes with a red center dot or small blister (AAP)
Face, neck, arms, hands; often 2 or 3 in a row (AAP, CDC)
Bugs, skins, eggs or dark spots in bed seams (EPA)
Mosquitoes
Small, red, itchy mound with a tiny puncture in the center (AAP)
Often near standing water (AAP)
Recent time outdoors
Fleas
Several small bumps clustered together (AAP)
Arms, legs and face; more likely with pets (AAP)
A pet that scratches
Hives
Bites can be mistaken for hives (EPA)
Hives all over the body after a bite signal a body-wide reaction (AAP)
Facial swelling or trouble breathing needs urgent care
Other rashes
Bites can resemble eczema or fungal infections (EPA)
Varies
No bugs found; rash that spreads or lingers
How bed bug bites compare with other common bites and rashes. Sources: AAP HealthyChildren.org, Insect Bites and Stings and Bedbug Bites; CDC, About Bed Bugs; U.S. EPA, How to Find Bed Bugs.
Not every red spot on a baby is a bite. Our guides to teething rash, diaper rash vs yeast infection and stork bites cover other common marks on baby skin. Photos of new bumps each morning help your pediatrician see the pattern.
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The CDC states plainly that bed bugs are not known to spread diseases to people. The problems they cause are different:
Itching and lost sleep: the CDC lists itching and loss of sleep as effects of bites. If your little one is suddenly waking more, our guide to why a baby won’t sleep in the crib covers other common causes too.
Skin infection: the CDC says intense scratching can lead to a secondary skin infection.
Allergic reactions: the CDC says bites rarely cause allergic reactions, including swelling, and very rarely a severe reaction called anaphylaxis.
The bigger risk to a baby can come from the wrong treatment. The University of Minnesota Extension warns that outdoor and garden insecticides used indoors can make your family very sick, and that rubbing alcohol, kerosene and gasoline may cause fires.
How to Treat Bed Bug Bites on a Baby
The CDC says bed bug bites usually do not need medical treatment, and the AAP notes most insect bites fade without a doctor visit. For a baby, start with gentle care:
Wash the bites: clean the skin gently with mild soap and water and pat it dry.
Cool the itch: the AAP lists a cool compress among the ways to ease itching from bed bug bites.
Prevent scratching: the AAP advises keeping fingernails short and clean to lower the risk of infection, and its symptom checker says to discourage scratching.
Watch for infection: look each day for increasing redness, swelling, red streaks, yellowish fluid or fever (AAP).
Ask before any cream or medicine: the sources list anti-itch creams and antihistamines for children, and the AAP symptom checker says some of these products are only for children 1 year and older. Call your pediatrician before you put any cream, ointment, home remedy or medicine on your baby or give one by mouth, and ask exactly what to use and how much.
The AAP symptom checker also points out that insect repellents do not prevent bed bug bites. Getting rid of the bugs is the only real fix.
How to Check a Crib, Bassinet and Nursery for Bed Bugs
The EPA says to check the bed first, then nearby furniture. In a nursery, start with the crib or bassinet. Use a flashlight and look slowly:
Mattress seams: check the piping, seams and tags of the mattress (EPA).
The frame: cracks, joints and screw holes in the crib or bassinet frame. The EPA says bed bugs can hide inside the head of a screw.
Nearby furniture: chair seams, between cushions, drawer joints, curtain folds and electrical outlets (EPA).
The credit card test: the EPA puts it simply: if a crack will hold a credit card, it could hide a bed bug.
Besides live bugs, look for the signs the EPA and CDC list:
Rusty or reddish stains on sheets or the mattress, from crushed bugs (EPA) or blood spots (CDC).
Dark spots about the size of a dot. These are bed bug droppings, and the EPA says they can smear on fabric the way a marker would.
Eggs about 1 mm long, and pale yellow shed skins left as nymphs grow (EPA).
A sweet, musty odor in heavier infestations (CDC).
Check your own bed too, especially if your baby sleeps in your room. The EPA suggests looking whenever you change bedding or clean, because a small infestation is easier and cheaper to treat.
Keep the crib itself as it should be for safe sleep: a firm, flat mattress with a fitted sheet and nothing else. Do not add covers, pads, nets, toppers or bumpers to protect against bugs. If a crib mattress is infested and a professional cannot clear it, replace it with a firm, flat mattress that fits that crib snugly. See our crib mattress size guide and safe sleep environment guide.
How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs Safely When You Have a Baby
The EPA recommends integrated pest management (IPM): a mix of non-chemical steps, careful monitoring and, when needed, pesticides applied correctly. The AAP agrees and says a trained pest control operator should do the inspection and any pesticide application.
Step
What the sources say
Baby tips
Hot dryer
Dry bedding and clothing on high heat for 30 minutes; washing alone generally will not kill bed bugs (EPA)
Run fitted crib sheets, sleep sacks and baby clothes through the dryer
Freezing
Below 0 F (-19 C) for at least 4 days; home freezers may not be cold enough, so use a thermometer (EPA)
Useful for small items that cannot go in a dryer
Vacuuming
Use a crevice tool, then seal the bag in a second plastic bag and throw it out (UMN Extension)
Vacuum while your baby is in another room
Encasements
Bed bug encasements on adult mattresses and box springs trap bugs; keep them on for at least a year (UMN Extension, EPA)
Use these on adult beds only; keep the crib bare
Professional help
A pest management professional is the most effective way to deal with an infestation (UMN Extension)
Ask how the nursery will be treated and when your baby can return
Safe, non-chemical bed bug steps. Sources: U.S. EPA, Controlling Bed Bugs Using IPM; University of Minnesota Extension; AAP HealthyChildren.org.
The University of Minnesota Extension adds a few baby-relevant tips: bag clothes before carrying them to the laundry, and dry soft toys on medium to high for 30 minutes. It warns that steam can reach 212 to 230 F and that children should never use the steamer. A professional treatment often takes 2 to 3 visits, and success is likely after three weeks with no bites, live bugs, droppings or shed skins.
The CDC notes that pest control companies typically use insecticide sprays. Ask which products they will use and when your baby can safely return.
What Not to Use Around Your Baby
It is tempting to grab whatever is under the sink. Please do not. The sources are clear:
Foggers and bug bombs: the University of Minnesota Extension says foggers are not effective for bed bugs and strongly recommends against them.
Outdoor or garden insecticides indoors: toxic and can harm people and pets (UMN Extension).
Rubbing alcohol, kerosene and gasoline: these may cause fires (UMN Extension).
Anything on skin: never apply pesticides to your body (UMN Extension), and never on your baby.
Anything on the sleep space: do not spray, dust or wipe any pesticide or chemical on the crib, bassinet, crib mattress, sheets or baby’s clothing yourself.
The extension also says over-the-counter insecticides are not effective against bed bugs. The AAP recommends the least toxic products and synthetic insecticides only when necessary, applied by a trained professional.
Bed Bugs, Travel and Daycare
Travel is a common way bed bugs come home. The AAP’s symptom checker says over half of home infestations start after recent travel. If you are flying with a baby or planning one of the best places to travel with a baby or toddler, a few habits help:
Inspect first: before you unpack, check the mattress corners, headboard and luggage rack (UMN Extension). Check a hotel crib or play yard the same way.
Keep luggage off the bed: keep suitcases off and away from the bed, for example in the bathroom (UMN Extension).
Ask to move: if you find bugs, ask the front desk for a room that is not next to the infested one (UMN Extension).
Unpack into the dryer: at home, launder or dry travel clothes and baby items right away, or keep them sealed until you can (UMN Extension).
Daycare and preschool. The AAP advises against overreacting: one bed bug is not an infestation. It recommends reducing clutter and limiting the items that move between home and school or child care. Send only what your child needs, keep spare clothes in a sealed bag, and tell the center if you are treating your home.
Preventing Bed Bugs From Coming Back
A few steady habits make a return less likely:
Be careful with secondhand baby furniture: the University of Minnesota Extension says never to bring furniture, mattresses, box springs or bed frames found on the street into your home. Inspect any used crib or bassinet before it comes inside.
Cut the clutter: the AAP recommends reducing clutter, which leaves bed bugs fewer places to hide.
Seal cracks: the AAP recommends sealing cracks and cleaning up debris with detergent and water.
Keep checking: look along the crib mattress seams and frame each time you change the sheet, and keep encasements on adult beds for at least a year (UMN Extension).
A bare crib with only a fitted sheet is also the easiest sleep space to inspect. If your baby shares your room, our guide on when to move your baby to their own room walks through the safe sleep timing.
Babies cannot tell you how they feel, so call early when you are unsure. Based on the AAP and CDC:
Call 911 or get emergency care right away if your child has:
Sudden trouble breathing or swallowing (AAP).
Throat swelling, weakness or unconsciousness (AAP).
Hives or itching all over the body, or extreme swelling near the eyes, lips or genitals (AAP).
Call your pediatrician now or seek care if:
A red area or streak is spreading and your child has a fever (AAP).
A very large red area or streak is spreading (AAP).
Your child looks or acts very sick (AAP).
Bites show signs of infection: increasing redness, size or swelling, red streaks, yellowish fluid or fever (AAP).
Call during office hours if:
Painful redness spreads and starts more than 24 hours after the bite, or redness gets larger after 48 hours (AAP).
Itching or other symptoms persist or are hard to control (AAP).
Bites are not better after 7 days or not gone after 14 days (AAP).
You want advice before using any cream, ointment or medicine, which is always the right call for a baby.
This article is general education, not medical advice. Your pediatrician’s instructions come first.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do baby bed bugs look like?
Baby bed bugs, called nymphs, are smaller than adults and translucent or whitish-yellow, according to the EPA. They grow through five stages from about 1.5 mm to 4.5 mm long, and an unfed nymph can be nearly invisible. Eggs are pearl-white and about 1 mm, the size of a pinhead.
What do bed bug bites look like on a baby?
The AAP describes itchy bumps with a red dot in the middle of a raised red bump, sometimes with a small blister. Bites often come 2 or 3 in a row and usually appear on the face, neck, arms and hands. The CDC says marks can take one to several days, and sometimes up to 14 days, to show.
Are bed bugs dangerous to babies?
The CDC says bed bugs are not known to spread diseases to people. Bites can cause itching and lost sleep, and intense scratching can lead to a skin infection. Rarely, bites cause allergic reactions. Call 911 for trouble breathing or swallowing, and call your pediatrician for spreading redness, fever or signs of infection.
Can bed bugs live in a crib?
Yes, they can hide anywhere near where people sleep. The EPA lists mattress seams, piping and tags and cracks in bed frames as top hiding spots, and says any crack that holds a credit card could hide one. Check crib mattress seams, frame joints and screw holes with a flashlight when you change the sheet.
How do I treat bed bug bites on my baby?
Wash the bites gently with soap and water, use a cool damp cloth for itching, keep your baby’s nails short and discourage scratching. Watch for spreading redness, red streaks, fluid or fever. Call your pediatrician before using any cream, ointment, home remedy or medicine, because some products are only for children 1 year and older.
How do you get rid of bed bugs when you have a baby?
Use integrated pest management, as the EPA recommends. Dry bedding and baby clothes on high heat for 30 minutes, vacuum seams and cracks, reduce clutter, put encasements on adult mattresses and hire a licensed professional. Never use foggers, rubbing alcohol or any spray on the crib, mattress or baby’s things yourself.
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