Mosquito Bites - Los Angeles,CA

Avon Skin So Soft Bath Oil. Use it like lotion. The scent will totally keep away all the mosquitos without having to use bug spray.

Hang a mosquito net over her bed if you think most of the bites are happening at night.

Also, give a topical gel called "Sting Stop" a try for those itchy, stinging bites. It's safe (homeopathic), and most people find it very effective.

I have always hated mosquito sprays... it stinks, makes you feel sticky, and tastes nasty. Over the years, I have found a few tricks...

Garlic. No joke. I NEVER get bit by mosquitos, because I keep a lot of garlic in my diet. It acts as a repellant for them. (and I spend a LOT of time in the mountains, near water sources, etc.) I can go out with the group, and everyone will be ate up, and I won't have a single bite. If you don't want to add a lot of garlic to your diet, they do sell garlic capsules. (I tested this out... I specifically cut garlic from my diet, and got ate up. I added it back in, no bites. Maybe this is where the vampire/garlic superstition started... fending off bloodsuckers...)

Also, tie a dryer sheet to her belt loop. I'm not sure why, but it works. (I don't know if brand matters, but we use bounce...) We always tucked them into the horse's bridle strap, and under the rear saddle strap, and they were left alone too. (we would tuck on into our hatband and belt loop as well, for extra protection.)

REAL vanilla -not imitation- extract mixed with water makes a decent repellant also, but it has to be reapplied a lot.

Avoid bananas, or other high-potassium foods. They attract mosquitos.

Give her a bath in baking soda and water. Keep a small jar of baking soda in the car or in your purse, make a paste with baking soda and water and use on bites as soon as possible. Takes the itch and swelling out.
If she scratches the bite it will spread the venum increasing the itch.

My husband seems to get bit alot and they do swell.... we use Tea Tree oil....it really helps with the swelling and itching..( we got ours a long tme ago at Mothers, but Im sure you can find it at Trader Joe..)Good Luck!

For itchiness sting eze (campohinique, sp?) helps a lot. There are herbal repellents out there that aren't as bad. Good luck!

I just read recently that vanilla is a good bug deterrant. Can't remember where I read it, but, it said to mix with h2o and put in spray bottle. Sounded good to me--you can probably look it up online. I also try to stay away from the bug sprays.
Good Luck

My 5 yr old gets the same reaction to mosquito bites. I have to give her allergy medicine and hydrocortizone. If I know shes going to be outside when they are bad I try to use those cutter mosquito wipes.

For treating bug bites - what finally worked for my daughter was laying a piece of tissue soaked in witch hazel (for like 5 mins) then once that was off, to dab on clear calamine lotion.

For repelling without bug spray - I'd like to know that secret too and will be reading the responses.

My oldest daughter and I smell especially yummy to mosquitos. They'll be ignoring the rest of the family, and swarm all over us. YUCK!

Taking a vitamin B-1 every day actually does help - there's something about it that makes us smell/taste less appealing. Multivitamins or B-Complex vitamins don't have the same effect - it has to be straight B-1.

Good luck! I know how miserable this is!

Are you sure they are mosquito bites? One time I thought I was getting them and they itched so bad but turned out to be fleas.

Where are the mosquitoes coming from? When I moved into a cottage, there were mosquitoes breeding in the bathroom. I poured bleach down every drain and toilet every evening and it kept them at bay, and we all slept under mosquito nets. We moved outta there shortly after that. You gotta get rid of the mosquitoes, if that is what is biting her. Do you actually see the bugs? Maybe it is something else.

Hello, Avon Skin So Soft is a repellant. People even use it on their animals to prevent this. You can call Avon and find a local representative and they can talk to you about this.
Good luck with your precious little girl.
K. K.

My hubby says to eat garlic. If she doesn't like raw garlic, he says to roast it and put it on toast with butter- the garlic becomes sweet when roasted. Also, if you see a bite on her, make a paste out of baking soda and water. Put the paste on the bite and allow it to dry completely. My mom would always use her nail to make an "X" on the bite and then apply the paste. Seemed to always take the swelling down and ease a LOT on the itching.

Best of luck! Also, if you can, try not to have the windows/doors open during mosquito season. Do any of the Citranella (sp) candles help? Try putting those around her window(s) and door at night.

~L.

From the age of 12 to 21 I worked with the city in their outdoor rec program, every summer growing up in Alberta Canada, the mosquito capital of the world. Here is what I know:
Mosquitoes LOVE bananas and they HATE oranges.
Every morning I would grate orange rinds (the peel) into whatever I was eating. I liked leaving the window open at night and I used a real orange spray around the room. And I used to say all the time I never get bit and I believed it so I never got bit.

H., I have used the Awaken Mist from Arbonne. It works great on my children who have the same reaction as your daughter. It has helped ward off both mosquito & spider bites. It does contain orange extract and that is what repels these insects/bugs. It is a very natural product. It is reasonably priced. Please send me a note if you are interested. B.

Avon's Skin so Soft

Works like a charm to keep bugs away, smells good, and helps your skin.

Try making a paste of baking soda and water to put on the bites. That should help with the redness and itching.