Bites from mosquitoes are itchy, unpleasant, and confusing for babies. And beyond the irritation they cause to sensitive baby skin, there are very real concerns about mosquito-borne illnesses. La Crosse virus, Eastern equine encephalitis, West Nile virus, dengue, chikungunya, malaria, Zika, and many other diseases are all spread by mosquitoes.
In order to protect your little one, you need to know what type of mosquito repellent is safe for them and how to apply it correctly.
Types of Mosquito Repellent for Infants
There are a lot of different chemical and natural infant mosquito repellent options on the market, but that doesn’t mean all of them work. If you want a product you can trust, choose an option that’s registered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). EPA-registered products have been deemed safe and effective, so you can feel confident that they’ll work as advertised and be safe for your baby.
From there, it’s a good idea to use recommendations from both the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). You’ll cover all your bases in terms of what’s healthiest for your baby, as well as what offers the best protection against mosquitoes.
Insect Repellent for Newborns and Young Infants
While there are products marketed for young babies, the AAP does not recommend using any insect repellent for newborns or babies under two months old. Once your baby has reached two months old, there are infant-safe mosquito repellent options mentioned below that can be safely used as directed.
Recommended Natural and Chemical Infant-Safe Mosquito Repellent Options
Among the EPA-registered options, only three repellents are also recommended as safe and effective for babies and young children by the AAP and CDC. Always read instructions closely and use products as directed since some options should not be used on infants.
Pay attention to all ingredients and the concentration of the active ingredients below to minimize the amount of infant mosquito repellent your baby’s skin absorbs.
- DEET (diethyltoluamide): DEET has been available for public use since 1957 and is considered by many experts to be the most effective mosquito repellent. A product's concentration of DEET indicates how long it will be effective. A 10% DEET formula works for about two hours, while a 30% formula offers roughly five hours of protection. Stick with lower concentrations for infants, as higher concentrations can cause skin irritation. Never use products that have more than 30% DEET on babies.
- Picaridin: Picaridin is a synthetic compound derived from Piperine, the plant-based chemical that gives black pepper its strong flavor. It was developed in the 1980s but has only been used in the U.S. since 2005. It is non-toxic and non-greasy, and it doesn’t damage plastics or fabrics like DEET might. It may also be preferable for families with pets since DEET is toxic to animals. The concentration of picaridin also indicates how long it’s effective. 5% picaridin offers protection for three to four hours, while 20% picaridin offers eight to twelve hours protection.
- Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE): This is the one natural mosquito repellent recommended by the AAP and CDC as safe and effective for children with one vital caveat: it should not be used on children under age three due to lack of testing. OLE’s active ingredient (p-Mentane-3.8-diol, or PMD) is derived from eucalyptus, but should not be confused with lemon eucalyptus essential oil. For children 3 and older, products with an 8% to 10% concentration of OLE offer up to two hours of protection, while products with 30% to 40% OLE provide about six hours of protection. Do not use pure oil of lemon eucalyptus as it has not been tested for safety.
When it comes to infant mosquito repellents, parents may be tempted to try other natural options with ingredients like citronella, peppermint, and geranium, thinking they are safer. While some essential oil products on the market have been deemed safe when used as directed, they are not EPA-registered and therefore have not been approved for effectiveness. They are also not recommended by the AAP or CDC.
Parents who choose to use essential oil products anyway should be aware that they will only work for a short time, if at all, and they may irritate sensitive baby skin. If you want to be certain that the product you use on your baby is safe for them and effective at repelling mosquitoes, stick with the products recommended above.
Best Practices for Mosquito Repellent for Infants
Besides wondering, “Can I put mosquito repellent on my baby?” parents also worry about using the wrong product, especially if they’re unfamiliar with the ingredients. To help you make the best choices for your baby, use these guidelines to determine best practices and what products to avoid when it comes to mosquito repellent for infants.
- Review product directions and warnings, and follow package directions exactly.
- Avoid “extra” or “maximum-strength” formulas. On babies, it’s best to use the lowest concentration available.
- If using products with DEET, limit application to once per day and stick to lower percentage concentrations.
- Do not use items that contain oil of lemon eucalyptus on children under three years old.
- Skip wristband repellents due to risks of accidental choking and ingestion of residue.
- Avoid using candle-style bug repellents around babies. The fumes may hurt sensitive lungs.
- Avoid anything claiming to be insect repellent for newborns. Remember, there is no safe insect repellent for babies under two months.
- Do not use combination sunscreen/insect repellent products. Although convenient, sunscreen requires multiple liberal applications throughout the day, which leads to excess exposure to insect-repelling ingredients.
Guidelines for Safely Applying Mosquito Repellent on Infants
Babies have sensitive skin, so the risk of toxicity from absorbing insect repellent chemicals is higher for them. Take care to apply insect repellent correctly to keep bugs away while avoiding irritation and excess absorption of active ingredients.
- Skip sprays when possible since you can’t ask babies to hold their breath while you spray. Opt for other formulations, including lotions, sticks, and balms.
- If spray is your only option, unpressurized sprays are better, and should still be applied away from your baby. Spray repellent on your hands first, then apply it to your baby.
- Avoid applying any repellent products near your baby’s eyes or mouth.
- Skip applying to your baby’s hands and feet, too, since these tiny appendages often end up in their mouths. Instead, keep this skin covered so it’s not exposed.
- Only apply repellent to exposed skin and over clothing. Do not apply repellent underneath clothing or to large areas of your child’s body.
- Use just enough repellent to cover your baby’s clothing and exposed skin. Using more doesn’t make it more effective.
- Avoid applying products on wounds, cuts, or irritated skin.
- If you choose to use patches or clip-on devices, be sure they are attached out of your baby’s reach.
- Always wash insect repellent off with soap and water as soon as you’re back indoors. Wash any clothing with repellent on it before wearing it again.
- Watch for reactions to any insect repellent. If a reaction occurs, discontinue use, wash your child’s skin with soap and water, and call Poison Control or consult your pediatrician as soon as possible. If the reaction is severe, call 911.
No matter how devoted you are to keeping bugs at bay, you can’t prevent every mosquito bite! When the inevitable bite happens, wash your baby’s skin with soap and water and soothe it with a cold compress or a paste of baking soda and water. Check out these treatment tips from our Mosquito Joe® experts to learn more.
Other At-Home Solutions to Prevent Mosquito Bites
Since you can’t use insect repellent for newborns, and you might not want to use repellent on your baby every time you go outside, you may be looking for other solutions. The first step is to eliminate any standing water where mosquitoes breed and live. Then, dress your baby in light-colored clothing that covers as much of their skin as possible. Set up fans to blow toward you while you’re outside with your baby. You can also try mosquito netting over your sitting area or over your baby’s carrier or stroller.
Of course, living inside a mosquito net isn’t always practical, and eliminating standing water all over your neighborhood might not be possible either. So, perhaps the easiest solution of them all is calling your local Mosquito Joe professionals to treat your outdoor spaces. Our Mosquito Joe services can help keep your yard bite-free.
All our professional mosquito control services are backed by the Neighborly Done Right Promise™. Our trained and certified service professionals apply specialized formulas that begin working immediately and keep working for 14 to 21 days. We offer both traditional barrier spray and natural pest control treatment options so being outside is fun and bug-free again. Call Mosquito Joe today to get your free estimate today.
This article is intended for general guidance only and may not be applicable to every situation. You are responsible for determining the proper course of action for your property and your situation. Mosquito Joe is not responsible for any damages that occur as a result of any advice or guidance derived from blog content. For the most accurate guidance, contact an independently owned and operated Mosquito Joe for more information and a professional on-site assessment.
