What is a safe bug spray to use on toddlers? I have a 2 year old and am worried about the mosquitos.
Thanks!
I like the Avon sunscreen bug repellent combo. It rubs in so I don't have to worry about her inhaling it or getting it in her eyes.
I second the Avon skin-so-soft. I was a camp counselor for 7 years at a place with tons of gnats and mosquitoes, and we all used it. (The guys had the softest skin! grin!) So - I field tested this one, and it worked!
There is no way I would put DEET anywhere near a 2 year old. Find something natural - there are sprays at Whole Foods that are organic.
I highly recommend bug repellent from California Baby brand. They make 100% natural organic and safe products. I use their bug spray and sunscreen particularly. You can buy their products at Target. Target sells their products in the baby section. (Like by the diaper rash creme). I love their products. No pesticides, poisons or chemicals.
As far as my research has shown, DEET works the best to repel these pests, and is the best to fight against ticks. In fact, it doesn't repel them so much as hide you. Skin-So-Soft may work if it is reapplied every 10 minutes or so. Neem seems to be effective and the EPA has not restricted it in any way. The Lemon Eucalyptus oil has been shown effective as well.
If you are worried about avoiding mosquito-born diseases such as West Nile virus, or Lyme disease carried by ticks, DEET is the best way to go. Just avoid using it for long periods of time and the effects will be less dangerous than the possibility of a deadly illness.
To protect against and get rid of mosquitoes, the Center for Disease Control has these recommendations http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/
The CT Agricultural Station recommends DEET as the most effective repellant, and says the Skin-So-Soft Bug Guard provided 22.9 minutes of protection versus the 88.4 minutes of protection offered by a 4.75 percent concentration of DEET. Here is the link to that information:
http://www.ct.gov/caes/lib/caes/documents/publications/fa...
So it if you use the natural repellants, it seems you have to reapply them frequently. I am interested in trying the Neem oil, too. Maybe I'll do my own version of sticking my forearm out with various repellants to see if they work!
Vanilla extract and water. (3-4 drops per ounce of water) No chemicals and works perfectlly!
California Baby and Liquid Net both make safe, natural bug sprays using mostly citronella oil and then several other natural oils (I don't have the bottle in front of me, but I've checked the ingredients). You can find CB at Babies R Us, Target, Amazon.com, and Whole Foods. You can find Liquid Net at Whole Foods and possibly your local gardening store or nursery. Good luck.
Off sells a clip on thing that you attach to something near him and it works wonderful. Keep it out of your toddler's reach as you wouldn't want to let him get anything into his mouth. My girlfriend put on on the back of her sons stroller and didn't have any problems.
The best option is to use one with no deet , you would need to read the label to make sure , but these are not always effective , and for my 2 yr old who get's eaten alive and seems to be allergic to the bites , I have to use spray that has deet but make sure it only goes on her clothing.
Hi M.-
I use Avon's Skin So Soft on my 11 month old (and me!). It works really well. We hike a bit and the bugs stay away. I also use it on our dogs-it seems to work for them too!
Definately will want to read the labels. Even those without DEET have nasty chemicals in them...when placed on the skin it gets absorbed. We use one of several combinations of Melaleuca products. They are not pesticides but they do repell insencts AND they are nontoxic...safe for all ages.
M.,
I use Shaklee's Basic H. It is a household product, but is ph balanced, nontoxic and does not harm the skin. That is what I bathed my boys in when they were little. I still bath in it. Let me know if you are interested.
Victoria
I asked the same question a while ago and got the same helpful responses. I wound of going with herbal armour which seems to work very well but it smells awful. I just purchased the Avon bug spray with sunscreen.
When this summer started I was holding my then 8 month old wondering what was I going to do about the mosquitoes since I did NOT want to spray chemicals on my baby! I tried this little blue fan thing by OFF which you clip onto your pocket or place right next to you & the only time he has gotten bitten this summer was the 1 night I forgot it @ home! I was quite skeptical when I saw the commercial but it worked so good I got one for my 3 year old, 12 year old & myself & hubby! Best price is BJ because it was $10 for the little blue fan & 4 refills. In Target it's like $6 for the fan & $3 for 1 refill! I won't ever use those "safe" sprays again!!
Skin so soft from Avon, lotion that smells so bad even misquitos hate it! LOL j/k It smells great but thank god the bugs hate it!
I would be quite interested to know what the heck is in that Avon oproduct to make skeeters hate it!
I do know they hate garlic and tea tree oil! Garlic is the safter option as it has been said that tea tree is estrogenic. But if I had a choice between estrogen and deet, i'd do the estrogen.
Eveery time I used the OFF bug sray on my feet and ankles, a few hours later my toes were cramping up. I looked up deet ingerdients online and sure enough, the product is a muscle contrator on the bugs.
I mix my own from a few non toxic products. It's actually good for the skin.The recipe has been tested in Brazil in the rainforest (not by me) and the beach in florida with the black biting flies (by me). It works great and is completely safe. PM me and I can give you details if you are interested.
M.
Hi M.,
Here is a ntural, safe, green and affordable cocktail for your little Angel:
A safe mosquito spray can be made with 1/4 cup Sol-U-Mel, 5 drops of T36-C5 Melaleuca Oil, 1 tsp. Tough & Tender and 14 oz. water. It's safe for even the smallest kids and is a fraction of the cost of commercial sprays. Mix together in a 16oz spray bottle.
Talk to me.
Good luck!
if you don't want to use a spray get an off clip on and if you are going to be in a heavy tick area dress your toddler in long sleeves and pants and use a bug spray w/ deet.
edit: we have tried just about every natural product available in our area and have not found one that actually keeps the bugs away I also haven't had any luck with skin so soft. If you are going to be in the woods often they make stuff to add to your laundry and actually kills ticks and mosquitoes instead of just repelling them. As a mom who has a child that had lyme (he was very sick) I would rather spray something w/ DEET on my kids clothing then go through that ever again.
Avon has a great one.
Quantum Health Buzz Away Extreme is Deet free. They also have a great Sting Soothe to help with itch when they do get bitten.
I highly recommend Avon's skin so soft with bug guard plus. I use it on my 2.5 year old and us. It's a lotion not a spray. I worry about sprays getting in her eyes and mouth.
