Is pest control safe with kids and pets? What to ask and what to do

Updated November 10, 2026 · KeystoneProGuide editorial team

Are pest control products safe around children and pets?

They are judged safe for use as their labels direct, and no further. The EPA says it evaluates pesticides to make sure that, used according to label directions, they will not harm people, other species or the environment, including vulnerable groups such as children and pregnant women. It also says pesticides are periodically reviewed and can have their conditions of use changed or be cancelled. Elsewhere the EPA states plainly that no pesticide should be regarded as 100% risk free.

So the practical question is not whether a product is safe in general but whether it is being used exactly as its label says, in your home, with your household.

Why does the label matter so much?

Because it is the law, for professionals as well as homeowners. The National Pesticide Information Center says a professional applicator, whatever their training, must read and follow the label. Pennsylvania's pesticide regulation forbids using any pesticide in a way inconsistent with its labeling, and the EPA says doing so is illegal. The label sets where a product may be used, how much, what protective steps are needed, and how long people and animals must stay away.

Penn State Extension says a pest control company must provide pesticide labels on request. Ask for them before the treatment.

What should you ask before a treatment?

• Which products, and where? NPIC suggests recording each product's name, its EPA registration number, its formulation (gel, spray, dust or bait) and where it will be used.
• How long must children and pets stay out? The EPA's pet safety advice is to keep pets and children away from treated areas as directed on the label, and its termite guidance says re-entry times vary by product.
• What do we need to move? NPIC lists preparations such as clearing clutter, emptying kitchen cabinets, and keeping pets and children away.
• Are there lower-toxicity options? NPIC suggests asking whether the company will discuss low-toxicity options and reducing environmental risks.
• Will baits be in tamper-resistant stations? See below.

Tell the company who lives in the house, pets included. The EPA's own review of products considers vulnerable groups such as children and pregnant women, and the EPA notes that some common insecticides are very highly toxic to fish.

What about rodent baits?

The EPA singles them out. It says stores may no longer sell household mouse and rat poisons in pellet form because they can accidentally poison children and pets. Consumer products now come only as ready-to-use bait stations. Professional baits, the EPA says, are not packaged in stations, but their labels require tamper-resistant bait stations wherever children under six, pets or wildlife could reach them, and for all outdoor placements above ground. The EPA's general rule is to place all traps and baits where children and pets cannot reach them.

Ask a company how many bait stations it is placing, where, and whether they are locked.

What precautions should you take at home?

The EPA's advice for families using or storing pesticides:

• lock pesticides in a cabinet out of children's reach, and fit safety latches;
• keep products in their original containers, and never put them in anything that could be mistaken for food or drink;
• close containers tightly after each use, even if interrupted;
• do not spray or store products near pet food or water bowls;
• teach children that pesticides are poisons and not to be touched;
• remember that flea and tick products used on pets can transfer to children.

Pennsylvania's regulation makes one of those a rule: no one may keep a pesticide in a container labeled for food or drink.

Are foggers and outdoor products a special risk?

The EPA singles out two. Total release foggers use flammable propellants; misused, they can cause a fire or explosion, and people and pets must leave and stay out for the time on the label. And it says never to use a pesticide indoors that is intended for outdoor use.

Is anyone told before a treatment?

Not usually, unless they ask or are registered. Pennsylvania keeps a Pesticide Hypersensitivity Registry for people whose sensitivity to pesticides is verified by a physician. A business must notify a listed person 12 to 72 hours before applying pesticides within 500 feet of their home, workplace or school. Listings must be renewed each October. Neighbors of a lawn or tree treatment within 100 feet can also ask the company in writing to be told before each application.

What do you do if something goes wrong?

Call for help, with the label in hand. The EPA lists the Poison Control hotline as 1-800-222-1222, and says to have the product label with you when you call, because it gives responders the information they need. NPIC answers questions on pesticide risks at 1-800-858-7378. For a pet, call your veterinarian.

Pennsylvania's regulation requires anyone who applies a pesticide to give medical personnel the brand name, EPA registration number and active ingredients immediately in an emergency, and requires significant incidents, such as one needing medical or veterinary treatment, to be reported to the Department of Agriculture.

What a visit involves is in what to expect, and which jobs to leave to a professional is in DIY or hire.

Sources

1. Pesticides Must be Registered with EPA, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
2. Reduce Your Child's Chances of Pesticide Poisoning, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
3. Read the Label First: Protect Your Pets, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
4. Restrictions on Rodenticide Products, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
5. Options for Dealing With Rodent Infestations, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
6. Safety Precautions for Total Release Foggers, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
7. Termites: How to Identify and Control Them, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
8. Safety Issues in Controlling Bed Bugs, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
9. Selecting a Pest Control Company, National Pesticide Information Center
10. Professional Pest Management, National Pesticide Information Center
11. 7 Pa. Code Chapter 128. Pesticides, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania Code)
12. Pesticide Hypersensitivity Registry, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
13. Mosquito Misting Systems, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
14. Choosing a Qualified Pest Management or Lawn Care Company, Penn State Extension