How to Keep Spiders Out of a Crib

Spiders may play a useful role in the environment, but the last thing you want is to find a spider bite on your infant. While most spider bites don't cause serious harm, if you have spiders in your baby's room, take steps to deter them and remove them from the household to keep your baby safe.

Start by knowing how to keep spiders out of an apartment or home. Keep your garage and the area around your home clean. Discard trash and keep trash cans sealed until they are picked up. Spiders may frequent wood piles and weedy areas. Avoid storing firewood right next to your home if possible.

Next, check to ensure that your home is sealed to prevent spiders from getting in. Seal windows and make sure your doors form a secure seal when closed. If you enjoy keeping your windows open when the weather is nice, make sure you have window screens in place and that they don't have any holes in them.

When it comes to figuring out how to keep spiders out of your baby's crib, make sure you are keeping your baby's room and your home as clean as possible. This can be a challenging feat when caring for young babies and children, but spiders may frequent areas with plenty of dark hiding spots, dust and cobwebs.

Dust regularly and knock down any cobwebs in corners and on the ceiling. Vacuum the floor regularly to clean up any crumbs that may attract spiders and other bugs. Consider cleaning with white vinegar. Not only is it a safe and natural cleaning agent but spiders don't like the acetic acid in the vinegar.

Focus on the area under and around your baby's crib. Avoid any clutter underneath the crib and wash your baby's blankets regularly. Seal diapers in a bag and take them out to the trash daily. While spiders aren't necessarily attracted to crumbs and smelly diapers, other insects will be, and these are insects that may attract spiders when they are looking for their next meal.

Not even a perfectly clean house and yard will be completely free of spiders and insects. There are some deterrents to consider to keep them out of your baby's room and crib. Some essential oils are believed to repel spiders. Some examples include tea tree oil, lemon and eucalyptus.

Dilute a few drops of essential oils in a spray bottle and spray it under your baby's crib and in the corners of the room. Some may recommend spraying the sheets and blankets, but babies have sensitive skin, so be sure to check with your pediatrician to make sure it is safe for your baby.

Cedar wood is also known to repel spiders. If you haven't yet purchased a crib, consider one made of cedar. Alternatively, place a cedar block under your baby's crib or in a corner of the room. You can also consider sprinkling boric acid or diatomaceous earth around the legs of the crib. These powders can kill spiders and keep them out of the crib. However, they can be harmful if your child eats the powder, so this may not be the best option if your baby has started crawling or if you have other children or pets in the home.

If these steps don't get your spider problem under control, you may need to use an insecticide or seek professional assistance. In general, a chemical indoor spider spray is not safe for babies. Make sure to read the product label and follow all of the package instructions, keeping children out of the area for the amount of time recommended.

You may also need to have a professional exterminator come out to resolve the problem, especially if you have found deadly spiders in your home, such as black widow and brown recluse spiders.