Recommendations for Sunscreen and Bug Repellent - Deet or All-Natural?

Hi T.
I find my product recommendations on the Environmental Working Groups Cosmetics Safety Database. You can look up anything-insect repellent, sun screens, soaps, lotions, etc. They will give you a list of ingredients and the safety rating for the ingredients and the products. I looked up insect repellent and I noticed Buzz Away got a very low score. I bought this in a health food store and used it when I was pregnant on a trip to Puerto Rico. It was very effective. Here's the link to their website. If it doesn't work just google Skin Deep and you can get to it. Good Luck!

www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/index.php

S.

I was in the same boat last year. We tried a bunch of different natrual repellents, but none of them worked. We use the Cutter "Skinsitive" (I think that's what it's called). It has the lowest concentration of DEET and seems to work well. The way I think about it is: I'd rather use DEET than have them get bitten by a dangerous mosquito or worse yet a tick. Good luck.

I personally use the natural repellents - I honestly can't believe that lemon or other natural things would be as harmful as DEET! The only reason the CDC says that is to cover their butts in case of lawsuits. No one is going to study all natural products for safety because there is no money in it for the big companies - and just because the CDC says so, doesn't make it true, trust me. =)

Hi T.. I have tried the majority of bugsprays out there that do not contain DEET. Honestly, none of them worked well at all. My MD suggested finding the one on the shelf with the lowest percentage of DEET. They all have how much DEET they have in them, right on the front of the can. You have to weight the options. I chose a small amount of DEET versus all the things you can get from mosquitos!

Hi T.,

I recently received an email saying that Listerine (the original medicinal kind) works well as an insect repellent. I guess you just spray it around the area to keep them away. I have not tried it yet, but I do plan on it. Although, I'm not really sure if you can spray it on your skin or what exactly is in it.

L.

HI T.,

We live up in NH and get more bugs than I care to count, we purchased 2 mosquito magnets (1 for front and 1 for the back) after trial and error about where to place them based on our activities in the yard, we have seen a huge reduction. If you can find a similar item that is solar powered you can place it anywhere in the yard.

But it doesn't cover ticks etc, so we still use additional precautions (lowest Deet available) when we are we are away from our yard or out near dawn/dusk. Followed by vigorous washing of clothes and bodies when everyone comes in.

Check with your pedi, if infants are going to be out in the sun before 6mo, a safe sunscreen is better than no sunscreen.

As an esthetician and volunteer for the American Cancer Society, I've heard heart breaking stories of bad sunburns on infants ...

Find something that is safe, be cautious about chemical burns, and if you're unable to find something effective yet gentle like the Arbonne Baby Care sunscreen, then look into the newer spf clothing lines...like Lands End etc.

Good luck!
Deb

I too only spray bug spray on my childrens clothing, never on their skin. I use to spray it on the lower part of the stroller, wheels, etc to keep the bugs away!!!

We use Avon's Skin So Soft - it's amazing. In the 4 years we've used it - not a single mosquito bite on the kids. I've started using now as I use to get eaten alive.

Good Luck,
S. (still in Switzerland until July)

I understand your concern. I think you'll be able to find more organic/natural sunscreens without too much issue. Check with the Pedi about sunscreen on the baby but my understanding is that its better to cover your baby and then after 6 months of age use sunscreen (but still try to cover him/her as your first line of defense).

As for bug repellant, specifically tick protection....my daughter got Lyme disease when she was two (she's now 4) so we've been down this road. I've tried Deet products, Picardin products and natural products. My opinion is that they all work to some capacity. I live in a very wooded area near a brook with deer around so mosquitoes and ticks are everyday things that happen this time of year. The Picardin products worked fairly well for us but because of where we live I keep the Deet products on hand, too (low percentage though). I've become a fan of the Skin So Soft by Avon. I'm also going to try to wash my family's cloting in eucalyptus oil (something my mom recommended but not sure if it works) to help repell them. One of the best ways to protect my kids is to thoroughly check for ticks on them after they've been outdoors. The deer ticks (the ones that are really small - about the size of a pin head) are the ones that carry the Lyme. BTW, I've alreay pulled a few ticks off my family...and we're not even into heavy "tick season" yet.

My 2 cents. Good luck!

Deet is extremely toxic and can eat clothing. It could be extremely hazardous to your 3 month old even if you are just spraying it near him. I would stay away from that. All natural things dont always work. There is another alternative called Picaridin which is safe, doesnt eat clothing, and is just as effective as Deet (you can find an article on Picaridin on CDC website). I sell AVON and we have products with Picaridin and I also believe that Cutter might make a product with Picaridin in it as well.

This is all I use with my kids who are both autistic and have severe allergies and all of my customers prefer it as well, to the other ones we offer.

That is the bug guard. As far as sunscreen there are sunscreens out there that are made for babies that should be safe to use. Just avoid the hands where they put them in the mouth. I dont think avon has any baby sunscreens but I know i used to use water babies (I think that is what it is called). Its been a long time.

Hi T.,

I am an independent consultant for Arbonne International and would be more than happy to send a sample of our baby line that has a sample of the baby sunscreen. Our products are all made without the use of chemicals, animal products and by products, and artificial fragrances. We are a botanical based product company, but we do not use nuts in our baby line. Let me know if you would like to try and sample and I will get it in the mail on Monday!
Pam

Hi T.-

I've tried different natural bug repellents, and the only one I have found that seems to work pretty well is "Herbal Armor" by All Terrain. It does have citronella in it- but I don't see any safety concerns about it- unless a child were to drink it. I wouldn't spray anything you use on a child, because then you risk them inhaling the spray, but either spraying it on your hand fist and rubbing it on, or going with a cream, would limit exposure to anything you use. I just don't feel right about using DEET- it has been "ok'd" in children only if used on clothes and not touching their skin in any way- but usual usage often involves more unintentional contact with it.

Honestly? We use Cutter in the family version. It's DEET-free and it works well. I get the spray, and use it ONLY on the girl's clothing, I don't spray their skin. I do the same for myself.

You might also try a gardener's and golfer's trick. Take a fabric softener sheet, the kind you stick in the laundry dryer, and tuck it into a pocket here and there. It keeps away pesky biting insects, because they don't like the scent.

hi T.,
have you heard of arbonne product all their products that are botanically based pure safe and benefical. they have a full line of sunscreens baby and adult.they have an awaken aromatherapy spray that works also repels bugs..... check out my website www.myurbeautiful.myarbonne.com if you have any questions email me at ____@____.com good luck K.

I wouldn't suggest spraying bug spray on their clothes as the spray is toxic, the residue is on the clothes, which can absorb into the skin. The Wellness company offers natural products we as team members have come up with combinations of or Body Satin Lotion and Tea Tree oil (a natural insect and bug repellent). Or we mix Sol-U-Mel and Tea Tree Oil to spray on clothing. That's just 2 of many. If you are looking for economical but very effective products contact me. Our store has been involved with Earth Day for 23-years. The integrity of the company is verifiable with the Better Business Bureau. Take a 90-day challenge and if you are not satisfied with the products, there is an empty bottle guarantee and you can get your money back on the products.

M.
http://livetotalwellness.com/mykid

I think the California Baby sunscreen and bug repellent is a good option. It's pricey--but gets great ratings from EWG (another person gave that link--I think it's aweseome for figuring out how to take care of my family w/out lots of chemicals). And, if you're not in a malaria area (though you may be in deer tick country?) then I'm guessing a better risk is getting an unpleasant bite or two rather than daily slatherings with known chemicals. This stuff is alwasys such a quagmire to figure out! Good luck!

Hi T.,

I always try natural products whenever possible - especially skin products. Everything we rub all over ourselves seeps into our bodies so the less chemicals the better I think. I found a great all natural sunscreen last summer. It's called UV Natural Sunscreen. I bought it from www.katescaringgifts.com. It's not cheap but it worked really well for my family - and we have pretty fair skin. It's SPF 30+. Even though it says that it's a non greasy formula, I did find it a little greasy but still worth using. I've also used Herbal Armor insect repellent which I got at Whole Foods I think. It is Deet free but I think it works pretty good. I hope this helps.

Jen