Suggestions on Bug Repellent for Preschoolers and Toddlers.

Hi L.!

I know what an issue this is... my 12 week old got a bug bite on her eye while in her stroller in the park the other day! I'm using California Baby and it's working great! Their products are very safe.

Good Luck!
A.

Avon's Skin so soft is a great product! If you don't have that simply try a Bounce dryer sheet. Works great! I carry a few dryer sheets in my diaper bag just in case. Just take the dryer sheet and rub it all over. Really does work!

HI,
I use Avon Skin So Soft body oil. It keeps the bugs off and I don't have to worry about harmful chemicals.

I would also go with the Badger anti-bug balm. Its safe, effective and 100% natural. Here is the link to the website:

http://www.badgerbalm.com/pc-21-2-anti-bug-balm.aspx

Good luck!

I just bought some repellent at my local farmers market. It is called No-Bite me! The company that makes Sallye Ander all natural soap makes this tick, mosquito, bug repellent. I too am on a quest to find a safe reppellent. I found a tick that burrowed in my two year olds neck about two months ago. I went to the pharmacist to see what they recommend and they say there is no reppellent that is safe for a child his age. I used the No-Bite me! but obviously need many more tries outside to see if it really works. It's an idea and safe to try.

L.,

I agree with Rebecca. We tent camp in the woods and have found Badger's Bug Balm to be highly effective and perfectly safe. I even used it while preggers.

S.

Avon brand SKIN SO SOFT works great.nothing harmful but it is oily

Skin So Soft Bath Oil by Avon. It's great. I recently tried Cutter Lemon Eucalyptus. Thought it was safer because it didn't have DEET, but it didn't work as well. The Skin So Soft works great. It's just a little oily, but I feel it's a small price to pay. Their skin will just be very soft. Lol. It's about $7 a bottle or so.

I have been having great success with tea tree oil. I bought a bottle of organic tea tree oil from the health food store. A couple of drops on exposed skin then rubbed around. It has been amazing.

check AVON for the Skin-so-Soft bug repelent. It works good, smells good and makes your skin soft! A.

Avon makes a fantastic product called Skin-so-soft with suncreen for children it is excellent i do not go by a summer without picking up a couple of bottles for the baby you can mix it with his regular lotion and spread it all around. Good Luck.

I use California Baby for backyard, and it seems to work. I just don't like the smell of it. I also started using the Kiss My Face, and it seems to work as well. I like it, it has no odor. I bought them from Whole Foods store, but have also seen them in other health food places. Neither are oily. If there are a lot of bugs and stuff, I leave.

the OFF brand has a whole line of family products. I have read here some won't use them, but I have lived in the Adirondacks since I was 15 and have never had a problem from bug spray. Our main animal is the black fly (ha!) which is quite nasty. I have used them on my girls since they were babies with no problem either.

I use Avon Bug Guard for everyone, including our dogs. I am an Avon rep and I'm not just plugging for business. I honestly use this for everyone. I have an almost 16 year old, 2 year old and 5 month old, as well as 2 dogs & 5 cats. I put it on all. They have numerous types as well to chose from. I mostly use the sun & bug ones for the little ones b/c we go to the pool. They make a baby one that I use for my littlest bean. :-) You can check it out at my site www.youravon.com/sdecarlo - just to get more info on them. Good Luck. I know it's hard knowing what to use when it comes to the loves of our lives.

L.,

I am a Shaklee distributor and our Basic H works great as a repellant and it is corn and cocunut based. It is actually a concentrated cleaner for your house, but it is pH balanced and is safe for your skin for cuts, burns etc, cleaning fruits & vegetables, etc. We are at the Ocean County Fair this week. I'm not sure where you are located, but I have a bottle diluted down for bug repellant at our table and you are more then welcome to come and try it. The fair ends on Sunday.

Good luck!

T.
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www.myhealthylifestore.com

well this is a moneysaver and it works i have tried it.... take a regular dryer sheet and put it in your and your kids pockets something about them the lil pests dont like...also if you have listerine in your house just the plain one put some in a spray bottle and spray outside where you will be... they have worked for me this year another school mom told me this stuf..hope it works

D.

Someone else posted a similar question a few days ago... but keep in mind using Dryer sheets are still loaded with chemicals or Avon which is also not free of chemicals... how about going organic... watch out at the health food store as many items listed as natural is not truly natural.

this is not an ad - but I rep for a company called Miessence which is certified organic - all our products are totally safe - edible and work. We have a bug spray called Buzz Free Zone and a Sunscreen - reflective outdoor balm - that we use all the time when we are out. I have not had a bite yet and they eat me alive, I must taste good to them..lol

Here is my website www.trulypure.mionegroup.com there is a FAQ page which covers any questions you may have or feel free to contact me.

Good Luck in your search.

I found that Avon SunScreen with Bug Repellent has worked really well for my son. Also, Off as well.

Hi L.,

Try OFF family care. I use it now and it works great for me, my husband and 2 yr old. It also smells great. I think I have the breeze scent. Aside from that, ive always used OFF. I think they are great.

Ive used "cutter all family"insect repellent contains aloe vera and is water based so u dont get all greasy,it has a spray nozzle so its easy to apply.good luck hope u find one that works for u

I have found that Avon has a great bug repellant and sunblock combo. They have a kind that is blue lotion that that turns clear once you put it on. The kids love it.

http://www.youravon.com/nancybagley

Nanc

Hi L.
I child with good doses of Vit B is not as hampered by bugs as those that are low in Vit B. You increase Vit B by giving Vit C which makes by in the body as needed. That being said I still needed to use insect repellant and like No Buzz the best. It is sold on QVC in various forms. I think they are natural wrist bands if I remember right.
God bless and enjoy your summer
K.

L.,
I've heard that Deet is not usable. I've heard California baby has something. I have also heard that using citronella candles is harmful, so have also stayed away from citronella - anyone have any info on this?

My husband swears by Skin-so-soft by Avon. I don't like the smell.

We use more permanent repellent: mosquito netting. Not convenient, but it is more effective when baby isn't trying to escape it. :)

Good luck,
M.

I have a four year old daughter and a 15 month old son and I use skin so soft bug guard on both of them. I have been using it on my daughter since she was about a year old. Its an avon product and its a combination sunscreen/bug repellant. The product comes in clear and blue , which can be fun for kids, however my daughter is VERY fair and the blue left a blue tint on her skin so I just use the clear.

Hope this helps!

Burt's Bees also makes a family-friendly natural bug repellent. Not sure how effective it is, but it's definitely safe.

I agree, it's incredibly confusing! My family does a lot of hiking and backwoods camping. Bug spray is vitally important, and I've learned to evaluate our needs before spraying. Here's what I do:

Backyard picnics, short hikes with few bugs out: Burts Bees or Swy Flotter or Skin-So-Soft. They are all oily, but effective for short periods.

Evening outdoor activities, or lots of biting bugs around: I start with Burts Bees or Swy Flotter, but if the bugs start landing within 5 to 10 minutes, I get out the OFF Family (5% DEET). Bath before bed.

Black flies: Avoid being outside, but if we must, I start with OFF Family. If I am constantly reapplying, I move up to the 15% DEET stuff. If I am constantly reapplying, I go up to the 30% DEET. If that still isn't working, I LEAVE. Bath goes without saying!

The latest I have read is "No more than 30% DEET for children 2 and up." Apply to clothes, not skin, and cover up with long sleeves and pants. To be honest, I don't have the heart to force my daughter into long clothes on a hot humid day, so I DO apply the 5% stuff on her skin (not the hands or face), and only if it's really necessary. And I clean it off as soon as possible.

I'll also point out that some folks are "attractors". I am, but my daughter is not. I use strong stuff on me and light stuff on her, and that seems to work. Usually.

For your son, I would be super cautious about putting ANYTHING on his skin. Better to miss the family picnic (or most of it) than to spend a night in the emergency room due to reaction. Just my 2c.

I recommend Natrapel. It's made with citronella and doesn't have any deet. Only thing is that you have to remember to re-apply it cause it wears off. Also, you can spray something that has some deet in it on the children's clothes. This way it doesn't get on their skin but it repels the mosquitos. Good luck.

I swear by the Avon bug guard products. I use the spf 30 lotion that also has bug guard and then use the heavier sprays for non-sun activities. I have been using it since my kids were your kids ages. I also love it for camping.
I used to sell it and I keep a document with actual details of what it does - email me back if you want and I will send you the doc to read.

I just recieved an e-mail from my sister in Florida and she said to put Listerene, yes the mouthwash in a spray bottle and spray around there feet. I guess if you can gargle with it it should be safe for your skin

Dryer sheets. It sounds kinda funny, but it really works. Put a couple of dryer sheets in you pockets and the bugs seem to stay away. And you smell pretty good too.

Badger is awesome. The ingredients are basically edible (although they don't taste good in combination). No Deet, and its effective for a long time. It comes in a tin and is a salve that you rub on. Get it in a natural food store, some pharmacies, and most grocery stores in the natural section.

Active Ingredients: Citronella Oil (5.0%), Cedar Oil (2.0%), Lemongrass Oil (2.0%), Rosemary Oil (1.0%), & Geranium Oil (1.0%).
Other Ingredients: Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Natural Beeswax, and Castor Bean Oil.

I personally would not use any OFF product, unless it was all natural, and contained zero DEET. I like some of the other suggestions, ie Badgers Balm, dryer sheets, etc., although I have not personally used them. Another tip is that, somewhere back a few years, some Avon customers discovered that the Skin So Soft just happens to repel bugs. I think Avon responded by extending the SSS line, to include sunscreen and other products. While I doubt the SSS products are all natural, they shouldn't be as bad as chemical DEET.

We love the Gentle Naturals Bug Repellent, I use it too! My son is 2 1/2 and this is our second season with it.