Insect Repellent and Young Children

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

01 Oct 2008 04:57 PM

Protecting my children is the number one priority, but one thing that I tend to avoid is insect repellent. I figure that putting additional chemicals on my kids is not the best idea, that is until now. These days, a mosquito bite is not just an annoyance, but it can also be the harbinger of serious illness, such as West Nile Virus.

Add to that the fact that I have a strange and not too common condition that could be inherited and is affected by bug bites. I tend to have big reactions to bug bites, with the bite swelling painfully to many times its original size, causing aches and sometimes fever. In addition to that, my skin sometimes forms hard scar tissue at the site of the bit that might continue to grow. So, while I tend to do everything non chemical to avoid having my kids bitten, I admit that there are some times when insect repellent is the safest way to go.

Medical research assures us that using insect repellents with DEET properly are perfectly safe for kids. Still, it is important to note some ways that you can use as little chemical as possible on young children:

Check with your pediatrician before using an insect repellent on your child.

Use a solution that contains less than 10 percent DEET. Larger concentrations aren't more effective, they just last longer.

Never use a combination sunscreen and insect repellent. This allows the chemical to be absorbed into the skin when it should just lay on top.

Wash any areas of skin exposed to insect repellents when you come in from outdoors, or as soon as possible.

Check the insect repellent on a small area of skin to test before applying it to many areas.

Do not use repellent under clothing.

Do not use repellent on cuts or wounds.

Keep the repellent away from eyes, nose and mouth.

Use repellent very carefully around ears.

Apply the repellent outside in a well-ventilated area.

Don't allow children to apply or handle insect repellent.

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Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

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MammyKat (143) 07 Oct 2008 03:05 PM

Thanks for this info, good tips, there.

Samual (11722) 07 Oct 2008 03:33 PM

You can use snogable garlic and tea tree

Mary Ann Romans (26886) 08 Oct 2008 02:48 PM

You are welcome MammyKat. Thanks for reading.

Mary Ann Romans (26886) 08 Oct 2008 02:48 PM

I never heard of that Samual. LOL

Samual (11722) 08 Oct 2008 03:07 PM

It is a strange combination, lots of insects hate trea tree though, especially headlice

Aimee Amodio (11995) 27 May 2009 12:44 PM

If you want to go the natural route, another great insect repellant combo is eucalyptus and lemon. That is... if you don't find the scent of the eucalyptus unappealing! :) I've found it works REALLY well to send the bugs crawling in the opposite direction.