Infant Insect Repellant?

Products:
• Teeny Towels Insect Repellent Wipes
(http://www.buzzillions.com/dz_478813_parents_invention_te...)

From About.com: Pediatrics

Insect Repellents with DEET for Kids

Another question parents often ask is 'when can I begin using insect repellents on my kids?

The AAP states that you can begin using insect repellents, even those with DEET, once your infant is 2 months old.

The concentration of DEET that you should use is not as clear. In most areas of their web site, the AAP states that you should use insect repellents with DEET concentrations of 10% or less. One article that appeared in Pediatric News does state that 'the Academy says a 30% concentration is safe for adults and children, but that 10% can be used for children if parents are concerned about the potential risks or if the threat of disease-carrying mosquitoes is small,' but I couldn't find anywhere else that they actually made that recommendation. There is an article, Prevention of Lyme Disease, which states that 'concentrations of DEET greater than 30% usually are not necessary', but it doesn't actually recommend using concentrations up to 30%.

Using Insect Repellents Safely

Here are some more tips on the safe use of insect repellents on your kids:
• Apply repellents only to exposed skin and/or clothing (as directed on the product label). • Do not use under clothing.
• Never use repellents over cuts, wounds, or irritated skin.
• Do not apply to eyes and mouth, and apply sparingly around ears. When using sprays do not spray directly onto face; spray on hands first and then apply to face.
• Do not allow children to handle the products, and do not apply to children's hands. When using on children, apply to your own hands and then put it on the child.
• Do not spray in enclosed areas. Avoid breathing a repellent spray, and do not use it near food.
• Use just enough repellent to cover exposed skin and/or clothing.
• Heavy application and saturation is generally unnecessary for effectiveness; if biting insects do not respond to a thin film of repellent, then apply a bit more.
• After returning indoors, wash treated skin with soap and water or bathe. This is particularly important when repellents are used repeatedly in a day or on consecutive days. • Also, wash treated clothing before wearing it again. If you suspect that you or your child are reacting to an insect repellent, discontinue use, wash treated skin, and then call your local poison control center. If/when you go to a doctor, take the repellent with you.

Avon has good bug guard/sunscreen spf 30 that is also water proof, and safe for children. Thats what I always used on my baby and still do now that hes 4. Theres even one that goes on blue then disappers. All items are deet free! www.youravon.com/chixon

Hi A.,

I am a new mommy too. My little boy is 8 1/2 months old and he loves to be outside. Noah has very fair & sensitive skin; I will have to be very careful what I put on him also. Fortunately, we haven't needed to use bug spreay yet, but I know with summer approaching we will need it soon.

I have heard that "DEET" can be harmful to babies. I googled "deet free bug repellent for babies" and came up with this:

http://www.gentlenaturals.com/products/bug_repellent.cfm

There are 2 links- you can either buy the repllent online or in stores. Granted I haven't used it yet. I did see that its main ingredients are soybean oil, cinnamon oil, lemongrass oil and geranium oil. As a bonus...there is a $2.00 rebate you can use with the repellent.

Good luck! If you decide to try it I would love to hear how it worked for y'all. :)

A.

Try putting Listerene in a Spray bottle and spray away. you can spray the grass and other areas as well around you and it keeps the pests away.

AJ

Forget the expensive repellants. Every day before going outside take a dryer sheet and rub him down with it. I heard about that several years ago and it really works. I have to use it because of my allergies so I just take one and rub it all over. They will stay away.

There are some all natural insect repellants at Whole Foods and also a few choices at Babies R Us.

I think as long as it doesn't have deet in it after 6 months it is ok to use. And don't spray it on put it on your hand first and rub it on the baby that way. Also I was told to always bathe them after using bug spray but I am sure you know that. I used this kind that said family bug spray it was a clear bottle with an orange lid but I can't think of what it was called...sorry

I have done some research on mosquitos because I have a son who has a reaction to mosquito bites. I searched fro trues and falses so I wouldnt be wasting my time .... here is what I found.... http://www.snopes.com/oldwives/skeeters.asp to my surprise the tricks I was trying were not effective and my son continued to get bit. I only use Deet now and I spray his clothes trying very hard NOT to get it on his skin. He is so much better!

I think the best insect repellent for very young children is any of the Skin So Soft products from Avon. They are chemical free and work better than anything with chemicals in it anyway. A baby doesnt really need to be exposed to all those chemicals anyway.

We went camping last weekend and I ran into the same problem. Only my son is not yet 3 months old. I ended up in the natuarl/ herbal stuff, and got the Burts bees insect repllant. I wanted sure it would work, but it did, and he smelt like a lemon drop. :) It was like $8 a bottel, but it was worth it. I'm a VERY big fan of the burt bees products..diaper cream and replellent.

I use bug buttons on my three sons. It is just a plastic button that I pin on the back of their shirt. It works great and you don't have to worry about harmful chemicals being absorbed into their skin. I found them at Walmart and Walgreens last year in a 2 pack for about a dollar or two. You can also find them in bulk at bugbotton.com. They stay good for a long time. Just seal them up in a ziploc bag when done and there good for almost a month.

skin so soft from avon is supposed to work well and it should be gentle on your little ones skin..

A., This sounded weird to me but they say it works and is a simple way to ward off insects. Listerene, It won't hurt the skin and somehow repels. You can also use it as a spray around your area that is troublesome. B.

I use Melaleuca, I have a formula I make myself and it's very safe for babies and toddlers. I would be glad to tell you how to get these products and how to mix it up for your family.
Have a great day!
A.

Avon has a line called Skin So Soft. It is really good for the kids and even smells good.

My daughter is 2 and I have used the avon insect and sunscreen repellent on her for the majority of her life! It is gentle enough to use on her face as well. Baby faces is good as well but seems to be a little greasy! As for bug repellent....Off makes a clean feel that has no deet! They use picaridan! That is all I use on Ally because she is very sensitive to anything else!
You might also want to try a vitamin shoppe. They have lots of natural goodies!
Good luck!

Avon makes a really good Skin so soft bug repellant for kids. Very reasonably priced as well.

I just asked my 9 month old's doctor last week. She says Off Skintastic. It works and didn't bother her at all. Put it on the face with a cotton ball rather than spraying.

Avon Skin so Soft didn't work for me.

I agree with mellisa skin so soft for one works the best and it is none toxic.. Have fun

Hi A.,

When my son was that little and we took a trip to San Antonio my dad had given me Badger Bug Repellant. It is an all natural product that if he has it on his hands and then sticks his hand in his mouth it won't hurt him. It comes in a tin can and is like an ointment butter. It worked really well for us. For the suncreen we used the Baby Coppertone along with the bug repellant. I am not sure of all of the places that you can find Badger products, but I do know you can find them at Central Market.

S. B

consider trying avon's skin-so-soft. mosquitos don't like it. It's what I used on my boys when they were little and we went fishing all the time. plus it's safe for babies.

Burts Bees Bug Repellent is the one my pedi recommends.

My pediatrician said that when you use bug repellent & sunscreen together it counteracts the sunscreen. He also said due to the mosquitos the CDC is saying 30 deet for kids 6 and up.

I really like the off family wipes because you don't spray anything in the kids faces or anywhere else. it goes where you put it.

Try the skin so soft from avon, not the lotion, the oil.

I would not get the combined products. Burt's Bee's offers some natural options you could try.

I just got an email yesterday saying that Listerine is a great mosquito repellant. I have not tried it, but supposedly if ya put it in a spray bottle and spray it around the bugs are gone. There was 2 or 3 people that suggested it, and it is way cheaper and I would think safer then the normal bug sprays. Good luck, and again I have not tried that, am just passing along info I read.

Skin So Soft by Avon. It is Deet free and has SPF 30. Get the lotion kind. We have one that is blue in color and disappears when you rub it in. Great stuff! You can but it on my website: www.youravon.com/suzannewebb

Avon's Skin so soft original scent...worked for my sister in law's cousin when she visited the philippines....they have mosquitos galore there and it repelled them!!