Mosquitoes, flies, and tick bites can make children very ill. A good way to reduce insect bites is to use a good quality repellant. Here are a few details on insect repellents for children.
Types of repellents – Insect repellents come in many forms and include aerosols, sprays, liquids, creams, and sticks. Repellents can fall into chemical and natural repellants. Repellants will prevent bites from insects like mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, chiggers, and biting flies, but will not protect your child from bites from stinging insects like bees, hornets, and wasps.
DEET – DEET is an ingredient in most chemical insect repellants. The amount of DEET will vary from product to product. You should look at a product that contains at least 30% DEET and no more. For high-risk areas, look at products with a higher concentration of DEET as more DEET would protect your child for longer. DEET repellents are not recommended for children under two
Tips for using repellents safely – Ensure you read the directions and precautions before application. Apply repellants on your child’s clothing and exposed skin. However, products with Permethrin should not be applied on the skin. Avoid using repellant on children under two months and never apply repellent directly on your child’s face. Instead, apply it on your hands and then rub it on your child. Always avoid applying repellent to cuts, wounds, or irritated skin.
Natural repellants – Repellants with lemon grass, citronella oil and grapeseed oil are also effective to repel insects for short periods of time.