Hi, I am really looking forward to spend a lot of time outdoors with my beautiful 6-month old daughter. But I am so worried about bugs - mosquitoes, especially. I know well enough not to mix sunscreen with repellent and I use California baby sunscreen on her. It is the repellent I cannot decide - with deet or without; spray or cream/lotion? Could you please help me here. Thanks.
Hello, Thanks a ton to each of you who replied. After much research, I have decided to try out badger balm. The site was very informative and it is entirely herbal. I hope the product is as good as they claim it to be. It is not pricey at all. $2 for the .75z (good trial size). Good luck to you, as well.
My family loves the California Baby products at Whole Foods. Their sunscreen is rated to be one of the top three as well.
You should ask your doctor - I believe that at 6 months old, no bug spray with deet can be used. I think they'll tell you to rearrange your lifestyle so that you are absolutely indoors when the mosquitos are out. Next year, you can use the deet, I believe. You might try Avon's Skin So Soft, it did work on my kids when they were babies, but mostly I kept them under netting or indoors if the mosquitos were out.
My son was 6 months last summer, and we found ways to avoid putting our DEET-based repellant on his skin. I kept him in long sleeves and pants as much as possible or under a mosquito net while he was in his stroller. We also sprayed the things around him - the stroller, clothes etc. and just stayed indoors during peak times.
I agree with the PP - my experience is that DEET-free just doesn't do the job as well. With EEE and West Nile out there, I just didn't want to take a chance. Now that he's a year older, we'll use the DEET, and just be sure to wipe it off as soon as we can.
Best of luck to you - enjoy your summer!
If you can avoid using bug repellent, I would recommend that first and foremost. My daughter was a few months old last summer and I just kept her covered up as much as possible and oddly enough, the bugs didn't bother her nearly as much as the adults. See if you can just try this or use one of the all natural repellents that is APPROVED FOR INFANTS. The cosmetics industry is an unregulated entity and companies still find it necessary to add ingredients to their products that are known carcinogens! A few mosquito bites are better than exposing your baby to DEET which contains cancer causing compounds, as well as a host of other harmful chemicals. Please check out the website www.cosmeticsdatabase.com for a listing of effective, safe bug repellents for your daughter and information on DEET. Also, remember to do a tick check nightly during her bath.
Take care and enjoy the warm weather safely!
FOR ALL MOTHERS THIS SUMMER...
Be aware that when you slather your little one in sunscreen you are blocking the uv rays that are necessary for them to absorb vitamin D.
A vitamin D deficiency can be a serious thing.
Now, I use avon skin so soft, they even have little packets, foil wrapped , for bug repellent.
Another great natural is Tea Tree Oil...few drops here and there is a great deterrent.
I rub artemisia on my little grandson's arms and legs.
And there should be other natural insect repellents to be found in health food stores.
Do ask your pediatricians about the vitamin D situation, yes?
Best wishes and GOd bless
Grandmother Lowell
Go to Babie R Us. They have bug repellent for babies there...it's in a little green and white box. I forgot the name of the brand...sorry.
Go to skindeep.com they list toxicity levels of all available products!
E.:-)
Zannadu.com has insect repellent stickers called Mosquito Patches - you can put them on whatever - clothes or stroller or hat or whatever, and they're good for several hours. Pack of 12 is 2.75
Full description here:
https://cedar.site5.com/~zannaduc/shop/customer/product.p...
Hi A.,
You should definitely check with your Pedi to see if you can even use bug spray on your little one. I am pretty sure we were not able to use it on either of our girls at 6 months of age, however at whatever age they were able to use it at, our Pedi said it had to be anything with less than 10% deet in it. I would also say that if you are not going to use deet, then it's pretty useless using anything at all. Although there may be something out there that works like magic, and if you find it, please pass along the info. to me :) Best of luck but like I said, def check with your Pedi before making any decisions just to make sure it's safe for you little one.
Dr. Mercola on Mercola.com had some natural bug repellents that contain no harmful chemicals. I am going to order some for us this summer. They also have sunscreen with no harmful chemicals.
There is a company based right here in New Hampshire that makes all natural products. www.badgerbalm.com, they have an anti bug balm and I love their products. The Bug Balm comes in a stick type of thing which I think is awesome, you don't have to spray down your kids and possibly get them in the eyes with things. I always hated that.
A.,
I've been using Avon Skin-So-Soft's BUG GUARD Plus (SPF 30 AND Bug Repellent) since my son was teeny-tiny, with our pediatrician's blessing. It's a sunscreen and an insect repellent, and it's great! I am not an Avon rep, just a happy customer! It's DEET free, and if you get the "Gentle Breeze" scent, it smells good too. Hope that helps! M.
Hi A., looks like Gentle Naturals is the only bug repellant i've seen on-line you can purchase locally. Hope this helps. Good luck, stay blessed and take good care of baby!.
Brief description:
Gentle Naturals Deet Free Bug Repellent
(purchase at walmart,walgreens,cvs,target)
If you don't want to use harsh chemical bug repellents on your child, Gentle Naturals Deet-Free Bug Repellent contains natural bug repellents: soybean oil, cinnamon oil, lemongrass oil and geranium oil.
Gentle Naturals does not contain deet and has been proven to repel mosquitoes for an average of 2 hours
California Baby Bug Repellent Spray
(purchase at: N O LOCATIONS LISTED, POSSIBLY AT DRUGSTORES OR BUY ON LINE AT www.drugstore.com)
A safe and natural alternative to toxic bug repellent chemicals such as DEET. We use only traditionally recommended bug repellent oils that are safe, gentle and effective. This non-toxic formula contains pure essential oils like citronella and lemongrass, which are well known for their effective bug repellent properties; they do not cause harm to humans, pets or the environment.
Whats in it: 6% Active Ingredients: Pure essential oils of *Cymbopogon Nardus (Citronella) 5%, *Cymbopogon Schoenanthus (Lemongrass) 0.5%, *Cedrus Atlantica (Cedar) 0.5%.
94% Other Ingredients: Purified Water (Aqua), *Carrageenan (Irish Moss), *Carnauba Wax (Cera Carnauba), Glycerin (Vegetable).
*Organic or sustainable.
WARNINGS-ONLY THIS:
Use on children under six months only with the advice of a physician. If any adverse reactions, discontinue use and contact physician immediately.
Repels fleas, mosquitos, ticks and biting flies.
