RileyC and jvn, thanks for trying to make me feel better. I'm so stressed at the moment with breastfeeding, sleeplessness and dealing with a jealous older sibling that I'm pretty acopic withe the current situation (no more reserve......)....moreover the pictures of the bites you get when you google bed bugs is frightening to say the least. I'm now onto the task of sorting this problem out once and for all. I've caught a few of the pests, hunted through the house for bed bug dropping, blood stain marks and thought I'd found some dropping but after looking at the black things I'd found with a loupe they turned out to be bits of black fluff!
RileyC, we haven't noticed any more bites but I'll take a look at any new bites to see if they are more itchy than normal and if the bite lasts for longer (I think so at any rate...so it may be ticks....hoooooray.....sad I know.....I'm just holding onto anything that it won't be bed bugs). Btw, we don't have any pets, but my children do go to the park....so still a possibility.
Yonge, thanks so much for the contact, will get onto them tomorrow to see if they work public holidays, and have a number from another friend to call too.
Will keep you posted on the outcome, in hopes it may help others out there and thanks for your help.