College move-in day is one of those parenting milestones you know is coming, but it still sneaks up on you.
You spend weeks buying sheets, towels, storage bins, desk lamps, shower shoes, snacks and about 300 other things your son or daughter apparently can’t survive without.
Then somehow it all gets packed into the car.
You carry boxes upstairs. You make the Twin XL bed. You meet the roommate and their parents. You try not to reorganize the room too much. You take a few pictures your kid probably doesn’t want you taking.
And eventually, you give them a hug and leave.
On that long ride home, you want to bring back the good stuff – pride, excitement, maybe a few tears and the feeling that your kid’s starting a whole new chapter.
You definitely don’t want to bring home bed bugs.
And you don’t want your student starting the semester with them either.
We’re not saying parents should be scared of dorm rooms or hotels. Bed bugs aren’t a cleanliness issue. They’re hitchhikers. They move with people, luggage, backpacks, clothing and furniture.
College move-in just happens to involve a lot of all of those things.
Add One More Thing to the College Shopping List
Before you make that Twin XL bed, consider buying a good bed bug-proof mattress encasement.
Look for one that completely surrounds the mattress, zips closed and is specifically designed for bed bug protection.
It won’t magically prevent a bed bug from ever entering the room. If one arrives in a backpack or on someone’s belongings, the encasement can’t stop that.
But it can make the mattress easier to inspect, reduce hiding places and help protect the mattress itself.
And here’s our suggestion:
Splurge and buy one for your kid’s roommate too.
Yes, you’re already spending enough money on college.
But if two kids are sleeping a few feet apart, protecting only one mattress doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.
It may not be the most exciting roommate gift, but it’s a pretty practical one.
Three roommates?
You already know what we’re going to say…. of course!
Take a Quick Look Before You Make the Bed
Move-in day’s chaotic, but before you cover the mattress with sheets, blankets, pillows and everything else, take a quick look around.
Check the mattress seams, bed frame, headboard area and nearby furniture.
You’re not trying to perform a professional bed bug inspection. You’re just looking for anything that seems unusual before the room gets filled with stuff.
If something doesn’t look right, let the school’s housing or facilities team know.
And maybe remind your student about one other college tradition worth avoiding:
That free upholstered chair someone left in the hallway?
Maybe leave it there.
Parents, Don’t Forget About the Hotel
For a lot of families, college drop-off means staying overnight somewhere near campus.
You drive several hours, move your kid in, stay at a hotel and head home the next morning.
When you get to the hotel, don’t immediately throw your suitcase on the bed.
Put it on the luggage rack or another hard surface while you take a quick look around the sleeping area.
Check the mattress seams and the area around the headboard. Keep bags and clothing off upholstered furniture when you can.
You don’t need to turn your hotel stay into an episode of CSI.
You’re just making it a little harder for a bed bug to hitch a ride home with you.
Then Comes the Drive Home
This is usually the quiet part.
Your kid’s moved in.
The room’s set.
They’ve probably already met a few people and started figuring out their new life.
And suddenly you’re driving home without them.
Maybe you talk the whole way.
Maybe you don’t.
Maybe you’re already wondering when they’re going to call.
Whatever feelings you’re bringing home, make sure your luggage isn’t bringing home anything else.
When you get back, don’t toss the suitcase onto your bed and unpack there.
Take a minute to check the seams, zippers, pockets and folds. Deal with the laundry instead of letting it sit around for a week. If clothing can safely go into a hot dryer, follow the garment instructions and handle it promptly.
A few minutes now can save you a much bigger headache later.
And Don’t Automatically Blame the Mosquitoes
It’s still August. Mosquitoes are everywhere.
So if you come home from college drop-off and wake up with a bite, you may assume that’s what caused it.
And maybe it did.
But if the bites keep happening, somebody else in the house starts getting them, or something just doesn’t seem right, don’t keep brushing it off.
Bites alone can’t tell you whether you have bed bugs. People react differently, and plenty of other things can cause skin irritation.
But if you’re concerned, it’s better to find out what’s going on than to ignore it and hope it disappears.
Give Your Student the Short Version
Your kid doesn’t need a 30-second bed bug lecture (that will feel like 30-minutes) before you leave campus.
They probably won’t listen anyway.
Just give them a few simple rules.
Don’t throw backpacks and clothes on other people’s beds.
Be careful about bringing used upholstered furniture into the room.
If they start getting unexplained bites or notice something around the bed, tell housing.
And don’t be embarrassed.
Bed bugs can happen anywhere. They’ve got nothing to do with whether someone’s clean or dirty.
The important thing is catching a possible problem early.
Bring Home the Good Stuff
College drop-off comes with enough emotions already.
The packed car.
The dorm room.
The new roommate.
The pictures.
The awkward last-minute advice.
That final hug.
Those are the things you want to remember.
So buy the mattress encasement.
Maybe buy one for the roommate too.
Use a little common sense at the hotel.
Check your luggage when you get home.
And if you’re suddenly itchy, concerned or wondering whether something may have followed you back?
Don’t guess.
Call in our beagle detective.
🐶 Roscoe the Bed Bug Dog can check it out.
Where’s Roscoe? He’s Workin’.
