Babies and Bugs!
Though time outside in the fresh air with our kids is amazing, it can also come with worries about itchy bug bites or ticks. Knowing how to keep your kids safe + healthy can make outdoor time much more fun!
Bug Sprays: The Basics
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends insect repellents for babies older than 2 months old. Bug sprays work for biting insects like mosquitos, ticks and biting flies (not stinging insects like bees or wasps).
DEET is the most common ingredient in US-sold insect repellents – it repels insects through the neurons on their antennae and mouths. Different concentrations protect for different periods of time – kids should not use sprays with more than 30% DEET.
Picardin, a synthetic version of repellents in pepper plants, is as effective as DEET. It is odorless, non-greasy and has fewer toxicity concerns than DEET but has not been as thoroughly studied in humans. Picardin-based bug repellents are most popular forms for kids in Australia and Europe.
Natural bug sprays with essential oils like eucalyptus and soybean may work as well as DEET; sprays with citronella, cedar, clove, lemongrass, work well against mosquitos but may not be as effective against ticks or other biting insects. There have also been rare reports of allergic reactions. *The CDC recommends Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus ONLY for kids 3 and older.
Tips + Tricks
Here are some quick tips for safe + proper bug spray application.
Only apply to the outside of your kids’s clothes + exposed skin.
Use an insect repellent wipe along baby’s clothes, hats + shoes to create a “buffer zone” of protection around your little one. Then just apply to their exposed areas (think ankles, wrists, neck).
If using sunscreen and DEET, apply sunscreen FIRST. (*Don’t use combination sunscreen/DEET products.)
Spray it onto your hands + then rub onto your child’s skin. Be careful to avoid the eyes, mouth + hands.
Try to keep your little one’s skin covered in lightweight clothing (try tucking pants into socks if possible) + hats as much as possible.
You can use a mosquito net over your stroller or baby carrier as needed.
Avoid bright colors or flowery printed clothes that attract insects.
Baby-Safe Bug Sprays
Here are some of my (and my families’) favorite products linked. I’d love to know what’s worked in your family!
DEET PRODUCTS
PICARDIN PRODUCTS
