Bedbugs can hide in fabrics, carpeting, and upholstery, which makes your child's room full of plush toys and blankets an ideal hiding spot. If you suspect you have bedbugs in your home, here are some steps you can take to tackle the problem in your child's room.

Clean & Dry Stuffed Animals

Check the care instructions found on each stuffed animal's tag, and wash them according to those instructions. Place them in the dryer on a high heat setting to kill off any remaining bedbugs, and seal the toys in large zippered plastic bags. If there are any stuffed animals that can't be washed, place them in the dryer on the high heat setting to get rid of any bedbugs that might be hiding. Be sure to clean out the lint trap and throw the contents into a garbage bag. This bag should be taken to your outside trash bin immediately to prevent any stray living bedbugs from coming back into your home.

Clean & Sanitize Every Surface

Bedbugs can also hide in cracks near the baseboards, in the floors, and even in small toys. Vacuum the room thoroughly, taking care to reach every crack and crevice. For small toys, such as small building bricks, place them in a washable laundry bag. This bag should be the type you would use to wash delicates. Tie the bag with a zip tie and place it in the dishwasher using a high heat setting. If your dishwasher has a sanitizing setting, use that to clean the toys. Scrub headboards, desks, tables, and bookshelves in the room to ensure they are thoroughly cleaned as well.

Encase the Mattress

You can take steps to remove bedbugs from mattresses by thoroughly vacuuming them with an attachment on your vacuum cleaner. Once the mattress is cleaned, place it in a special bedbug-proof encasement. Your pest control expert may be able to supply you with mattress encasement items for all the beds in your home. If your child is in a crib or toddler bed, consider replacing the mattress completely. Crib mattresses can be replaced for as little as $30, so it may be easier to simply purchase a new one.

Contact a Pest Control Expert

Bedbugs are notoriously hard to get rid of, and you may find that all of your efforts may only reduce the problem instead of getting rid of it completely. Use the above steps to help control the issue, and have an expert treat the home to get rid of any remaining bedbugs. If you plan on having your home treated, consider moving all items that have been cleaned and encased into one area of the home. If you have an outdoor storage shed, you can move the items there so they stay clean and free from bedbugs until the house is treated with pesticides.

You may decide to part with some items, such as stuffed animals that can't be washed or dried. Talk to your children about why you can't keep the toys, and make a special plan to purchase a few new stuffed animals once your home is finally free from bedbugs.