28 answers

Mosquito Repellents That Are Safe for Kids

Hi there,
My Husband and I are taking our three kids (9,6&3)camping in a couple of weeks and I could use some advise on insect repellents. My youngest gets severe reactions to mosquito bites, and I don't want to use DEET if I can avoid it. Usually we just stay inside at night but that isn't possible while camping. Has anyone found a good, natural alternative to Deet? I'm open to just about anything provided it is reasonably priced.
Thanks

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Well we took the kids camping and decided to have both deet and deet free options. When we got there we realized that we left the bag with the bug spray in it at home, so we ended up using what we could find at the local walgreens. We ended up using Off Skintastic family botanicals scent. It worked fairly well. We all still ended up with bites, but not nearly as many as we expected.
Thanks

Featured Answers

This is what I use on my kids. They are 2, 4 and 6. I really like it. I can use one cloth on all of them. There's no harsh smell and it's never bothered them like the others do. Good luck. :)

http://www.marketamerica.com/nicoleryan/product-1116182/m...

LL Bean makes a hat that has bug repellant in it. The cost online is about $30. We went to the LL Bean store in Freeport ME and they had a sale on the kid's sizes and they were only $12. got them for the whole family - we spend a lot of time at a camp ground and they work pretty good. You can also have him wear light weight long sleeve shirts and pants and spray the clothing so the deet is not on his skin. If we use spray repellant we use Off - I forget what the exact name is but it is the one that is not sticky feeling and it only has a small amount of deet in it.

There's this thing called CACTUS JUICE you can probably get it at a health food store and it is great...about $8.00

More Answers

Actually most pediatricians recommend DEET because it is the best repellent and the possible reactions and diseases transmitted by mosquitoes (West Nile & EEE) FAR OUT-WEIGH any negatives with using DEET - Especially if you are going into an area heavy with mosquitoes and your child has severe reactions!

Hi there - a friend of mine SWEARS by Listerine mouth wash! she puts it into a spray bottle and sprays it in the area and person where the bugs may be?? I have never tried it! good luck!

Cutters is the best we just came from Florida and my son got bit and his foot swelled up so bad and they suggested Cutters and that is all we use now.

when we are just outside at the house we use an organic deet free bug spray we found at walmart it was cheap too like 4 bucks! When we are in a heavily wooded area when I know there will also be ticks I don't chance it and use off on the boys plus I put them in insect repellent clothes that we purchased at ll bean

Hi S.,

As crazy as it sounds, someone once told me to put a bounce dryer sheet in your kids back pocket while out playing. It really seems to work! You could rub the sheet on their clothing and then leave it in a pocket. Try it in your own back yard to see what happens. Would not have believed it myself if I had not tried it. Keep them away and smell good!

Quit Bugging Me by Jason is a great one. It's deet, paba and paraben free.

I use "soysweet relief" its an all natural insect spray, you can get it at whole foods, it works great and its scent is pleasant to be around. Its a little pricey but 10x more powerful than deet. Happy camping :)

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