Stop Insects from Biting Your Children

Insects spread disease, so protecting your children from insect bites is important. The outdoors experience from a young age can stimulate young minds and let them release built up energy. Depending on your child's age, selecting a good insect bite repellent can save them from the pain, annoyance and illnesses caused by insect bites.

General Do's and Don'ts of Insect Bite Prevention

Young children can stumble into wasps and bees because they have no knowledge that they can sting. Make sure shoes are worn. If camping in areas with biting insects, make sure to wear long sleeves and pants. Avoid using shampoos and soaps with a floral or fruity scent to avoid bee and wasp stings, instead use citrus scents.
Keep children from playing in areas with flowers or fruits that may attract biting insects. Check dirt areas and sand boxes for biting ants. Wear insect repellent in areas where mosquitoes, chiggers, ticks and other biting insects are common. Use mosquito netting at night to avoid insect bites.

General Do's and Don'ts of Insect Repellents

Warning: avoid using DEET products on children under 2 months old.

Warning: avoid using oil of Eucalyptus on children under 2 months old.

Children ages 2-12 should only use 10% or less DEET based products.

Note: DEET-based products should be applied according to their rating

Combined sunscreen and insect repellent products are not recommended because they have different application rates.

Only used DEET based products on exposed skin and reapply according to instructions because they wear off.

Use a permethrin spray product like Repel Permanone on clothing in areas of heavy biting insects.

Insect Repellent for Infants

Use mosquito netting tented over a baby carrier or around a play pen to keep insects from biting.

Insect Repellents for Toddlers and Young Children Up to Twelve Years of Age

Diapers.com is a really cool web site that sells a number of natural and DEET based insect repellents for children including Badger Balm, Burt's Bees, Gentle Naturals, Earth's Best, and California Baby. Check the ingredient lists for age and use instructions.

Warning: Instruct your children to not share hats, combs etc. to prevent the spread of lice.

Remove clothing worn in the field outside of sleeping areas and do a body check for ticks.

Avoid sleeping with pets exposed to fleas and ticks.

Insect Repellents for Teenagers

Teenagers may use insect repellents with 30% or more DEET. Minimize the use of insect repellents by spraying an outfit used in areas of heavy insects with a permethrin product, including hats.

General Night Time Insect Repellent Tips

Keep a bug zapper, and/or citronella based candles and lanterns lit if you're spending time outdoors at night to help repel biting insects.

Alternatively, a screened tent can make night time while camping much more enjoyable.

General Warning about Disease Bearing Biting Insects

Consult a doctor before visiting areas with malaria, yellow fever and other diseases carried by biting insects for proper preventative medicine.

[1] http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/qa/insect_repellent.htm
[2] http://www.idph.state.ia.us/hcci/common/pdf/insect_repellent.pdf
[3] http://www.keepkidshealthy.com/medicine_cabinet/insect_repellents.html
[4] http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/ch2/insects-arthropods.aspx