Are Wasps Dangerous? Understanding Stings and Nest Disturbance in Queenborough
Very young children cannot move away or tell you what is wrong, so parents and carers need to watch for wasps and know the signs of trouble.
Small children cannot protect themselves
A baby in a pram, a toddler in a sandpit or a crawling infant on a rug cannot see a wasp coming or walk away from one. They may grab at a wasp, put a sticky hand in their mouth or squash an insect with a fist. A toddler who is stung will cry, but may not be able to show where it hurts.
This does not mean that wasps are more aggressive towards the young. It means that very young children have fewer ways of avoiding the situation, which makes the adults around them responsible for what happens. In late summer, when wasps are numerous and persistent around sweet foods, a baby in a garden deserves a little extra attention.
A parent's instinct to wave a wasp away from a baby is understandable but counterproductive. Move the child away and let the wasp go where it wants to.
It is worth remembering that infants cannot tell you if they feel unwell. A baby who has been stung and is unusually quiet, hot, pale or hard to settle needs a closer look, and you should seek advice sooner rather than later if you are worried.
Choosing where children sit and play
When wasps are about, think about where you put a baby or toddler.
- Keep prams, play mats and highchairs away from bins, hedges and flowering bushes.
- Avoid putting a pram under a tree with ripe or fallen fruit.
- Use a pram net or fine mesh to stop insects landing on a baby, with a gap for air.
- Put paddling pools and sandpits in the middle of the lawn, not beside a wall or hedge.
- Keep sticky snacks and drinks for indoors.
If you can see wasps going in and out of a spot, keep little ones well away from it and use another part of the garden.
When you are out and about, avoid parking the pram next to a bin, a cafe table or a hedge where wasps are active. A few steps further along is usually enough.
Feeding time outdoors
Milk, juice, fruit purée and sticky snacks all smell sweet. A bottle with a teat left on a table, a beaker with a loose lid or a pot of yoghurt left uncovered can be investigated by wasps. A toddler who holds a biscuit in a fist is an easy target.
Feed small children indoors or in a sheltered spot where you can watch them closely. Wipe faces and hands after each feed, and bin nappies and food waste with a closing lid. Always check a bottle or beaker before offering it to the child.
For older toddlers who feed themselves, sitting at a table with a lidded cup and a plate that you can cover makes the meal easier to manage. Let them have a go at drinking from a straw cup where you can see inside.
Avoid giving a young child a piece of fruit to carry about the garden. A wasp can land on it, and a toddler who puts it in the mouth without looking has no way of knowing. Fruit is better eaten at the table, cut into pieces, with an adult beside them.
If a baby or toddler is stung
Take the child away from the area, calm them and look at the skin. Remove a visible sting. Wash with cool water, then apply a cold cloth or a cold pack wrapped in a cloth. Cuddles and distraction help.
Because they are so small, babies and toddlers should be watched closely. Dial 999 without delay if the face, lips or throat swell, there is a wheeze or difficulty breathing, the person feels dizzy or faint, or a rash spreads widely. A sting in or near the mouth is urgent, and so is a baby who becomes unusually sleepy, pale or floppy. If you are worried about a young child who has been stung, phone your GP, the NHS non-emergency line or a pharmacist, as this guide cannot replace medical advice.
Note the time of the sting and what the child was doing, as this will help if you need to speak to a doctor. If the child has been stung before and reacted strongly, tell your GP before the next summer.
Keep a cold pack in the freezer through the summer. A cold flannel works well too. Having these ready means you can start treatment within moments, which comforts a distressed child more than any amount of explaining.
Making the garden safe for the summer
Check for nests regularly, from a distance, and share what you find with anyone who looks after the child, including grandparents and childminders. Tell them where not to go, and what to do. If a nest is near an area where a young child plays, deal with it quickly rather than moving the paddling pool every day.
Do not leave a baby alone outdoors, even for a minute. A sleeping baby in a pram is easy prey for a curious wasp.
If a grandparent or neighbour looks after the child, make sure they have your number and know how to reach the emergency services.
Parents of children who go to nursery or a childminder should ask whether the outdoor space has been checked for nests, and how staff would respond to a sting. Most are happy to explain.
Booking
Wasp Exterminator Kent treats nests for a fixed £120 with one visit guaranteed, and £60 for each additional nest on the same property. There is no call-out charge, and we offer evening and weekend appointments and same-day service, seven days a week, including to families in Queenborough on the Isle of Sheppey. The technicians are fully insured and qualified. Give us a call on 01622 410 019 or fill in the form on the contact page at /contact-us/. If a child is allergic, or you have concerns, tell us at the time of booking so it can be prioritised.
Tell us about the age of any children in the household and where they play, as we can then plan the visit to suit.
Wasps on your property in Queenborough?
Fixed price £120 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.