Natural Bug Spray - California Baby???

I just had a nice suprise as I went to spend a week in the White Mountains. I used tea tree oil (straight) and it was very effective. I put a drop or two on exposed skin and spread it around.

Good luck!

Hi T.,
An old Girl Scout trick. Pin a Bounce dryer sheet on the childs clothes. As a leader I am not allowed to put any kind of chemical on any girl scout. So I bring bounce with me when I go to girl scout camp. (Must be bounce).

Good Luck.

I found citronella pins that you can put anywhere on there clothes. They work great and were very affordable. We have been using them for 2 years and pretty much bite free!

California Baby products have a good reputation but they tend to be really expensive. We use an essential oil based product I got at the health food store- I forget the name, though. I think all those natural products have the same or similar ingredients in them. Just remember that if you use one with essential oils you will need to reapply every 1/2 hour or so as the active ingredients tend to evaporate. You can also try burning citronella candles or a citronella torch to keep them away. Some people say carry a Bounce dryer sheet on yourself but my husband has chemical sensitivities to them.

Hi T.,
I shop from a company that has safer products without those harsh, harmful chemicals. We have a mixture of solutions that work great for mosquitoes. The company is called Melaleuca. Their products are also environmentally responsible. They have a great kids line as they don't have formaldehyde and phthalates (which causes fertility problems in children when they become adults) in them like store brand kids shampoos, body washes, and lotions. If your interested, I'd love to help!

Try spraying the area with listerine-yes, the mouth wash. Perhaps rubbing a bit on her. For bees, use a dryer wipe-like bounce. Spray her hat with the listerine, even her little shirts. If we can put it in our moutnh, we can put it on our skin...

Hi there... I know you got a lot of responses but I figure Id throw this one in...

I rep for a company called Miessence One Group which carries certified organic products.. we have one called Buzz Free Zone - I use this almost everyday, at least days I know we are heading out.. its non toxic, totally safe, its organic meaning its edible.. I spray my daughters clothing and its safe... he is the link http://trulypure.mionegroup.com/en/product/16101

I think I use it more on myself, bugs eat me alive... lol

Good Luck in your search.
W.

Hi,

I had the same problem. I did find a bug spray by Kiss My Face called SwyFlotter. It is DEET free and paraben free. I actually found it in shop Rite in Chester NJ. We used while watching the 4th of July fireworks and none of us got a bug bite! I haven't used the california Baby bug spray but I am a fan of their products so it should work OK. I'm not sure where abouts you live, but Whole Foods has some "good for you" bug spray. Good Luck.

I k now it sounds weird, but it works! Try a dryer sheet (has to be scented) in the pocket! I didn't believe it, but was at a picnic at a friends one day. He was the only one not being 'eaten alive'. When someone asked what his secret was he pulled out a dryer sheet. Said he rubbed it over his arms and legs, then into his pocket. Works like a charm!

Avon skin so soft original scent. It's a after shower oil. Military uses it for their troops. Give a try, it's not expensive. J Hart

Avon Skin so soft has been used for years for just that purpose. It's kind of like baby oil with a kick. I've even bought it with SPF 15 in a spray can.

Check with AVON. They have a bug repelent with Skin-so-Soft in it and I use that on my whole family. I don't know if it is all natural but it does NOT have deet in it and works great. A.

Honestly? I'm not sure why it works, but Listerine mouthwash works really well at keeping mosquitos away. Try putting some in a spray bottle and spraying the ground in the area where you will be, if that's possible. If not, spray your daughter's legs with it - that should do the trick. I've done if a few times with my godsons with very good success. Then again, I live in NY... hopefully all mosquitos hate Listerine equally :)

Hi T.,
We have several different natural insect repellent recipes since some work for some people and not for others. Our used fabric dryer sheets work! I stuff one in my pocket before going out at dusk. Before using anything, be sure NOT to have on any attractive-to-bugs smell. If you want to hear about our dryer sheets or our recipes, please contact me at ###-###-#### or www.LiveTotalWellness.com/L.
I wish you and your family wellness.
L.

I haven't used this, but this seems all natural. with Lemon Eucalyptus Oil......

http://www.soapourri.com/shop/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=...

I may order it for our vaca also.

Have fun!
J.

Avon has a great bug spray selection that is safe for kids.

www.your.avon.com/nancybagley

There's another lady on here that can confirm and sells Avon too..forgive me that her name escapes me now.

Nanc

Hello, I heard that listerine works. I havent tryed it yet. I guess you put it in a spray bottle, i was told you spray around the door and it keeps them from coming in. so i dont know about on clothes or skin...smells better anyway lol
tg theyre not bad yet here in CT,let me know i'm going camping in a couple of weeks

"Badger" makes a rub on salve that was ranked #1 by the Environmental Working Group for both safety and effectiveness. This was out of 900 bug repellants tested. You can find Badger at natural food stores and sometimes pharmacies & the natural section of the grocery store. Our family loves it (and we won't use anything with ingredients that aren't essentially edible, so we're very picky).

On another note, "Nelsons" makes a sting gel that contains homeopathic ingredients and whether its a yellowjacket or a mosquito, the results are amazing. I would actually consider allowing them to advertise the effectiveness of their product by being put in a room of angry yellowjackets and then jumping into a tub of their sting gel. Well, maybe not actually. =)

don't know about cal baby, but burt's bees makes a good all natural one. just spray it in your hands first then dab it on your kids' pulse points. seems to work for my family, though we get the occasional bite. enjoy your vacay!

Hi T.-

I use the california baby SPF 30 citronella blend. It has sunscreen and bug protection in one. It seems to work really well for our little boy. We have a camp in the Adirondacks and without bug repellent he gets eaten up pretty bad. The california baby seems to work.

use a Bounce dryer sheet and rub it on her. Works great!!!

I am responding a little late..we were on vacation, I'm sure you got a lot of great advice...here's my 2cents...we use Shoo bug...it's bioorganic and doesn't smell bad, I also use Bullfrog...they have a sunscreen with insect repellent(NO DEET)...so only one application and both are done...I've heard of using a dryer sheet but my skin is sensitive and I break out when I rub it on me...also skin so soft works well!
Have fun!

T.,

I use a product which works great, it is corn and coconut based. In addtion to bugs, you can use it to clean your fruits and vegetables and you can dilute it down to clean your hosue. It is a concentrate with no smell. I have info on many of its uses.

If you want more information on it, please call me or e-mail ###-###-####. ____@____.com www.myhealthylifestore.com

It is called Basic H2 from Shaklee (my husband and I are distributors). We use it on us and our three kids ages 6,5 and 2.

T.

I use the Badger Bug Balm - it works great and we do in the woods tent camping! It smells good and is good for your skin. I even used it while preggers....

S.

I've never tried it because I personally don't like the smell, but I know several people who swear by Avon Skin So Soft.

I use California Baby and it seems to work just fine. (We just spent a long weekend at our country house and it was bugs galore!)

YOu can also make your own tonic from lavender, rosemary, and grapefruit essential oils. Just use 20 drops each, mix with a little water and spray onto skin.

The Avon products probably have parabens in them. Just an FYI.

Perhaps, expand your research beyond wikipedia:

http://www.organicanews.com/news/article.cfm?story_id=5

http://www.townsendletter.com/Nov2007/parabens1107.htm

http://www.thegoodhuman.com/2007/06/21/what-are-parabens-...

I don't know of any natural products but Avon Skin So Soft works well for mosquitos. It is better than the Off products in my opinion. Hope this helps.

This is going to sound crazy but it works - take some Lysterine and water it down a little. Spray around the area where you are sitting and the mosqitos will stay away. You can also keep a small dish on the table where you are sitting ... they don't like the smell and they stay away :)

Avon's "skin so soft" is amazing and smells amazing. More importantly, it works (no one knows why)... and it doesn't have all those toxic chemicals in it. They sell it in a spray too!!

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edit: In response to Jenn's concern over parabens.. here is what I found about them:
parabens are used primarily for their bacteriocidal and fungicidal properties. They have not been scientifically linked to any health concerns, which is why they are so commonplace.

you can read the full article on wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parabens

I love California Baby products and I use them on my son who is 5 months old. His skin is so sensitive that I could not use some of the regular products, plus I didn't like the idea of putting chemicals and parabens on him. I have not used the bug repellant since he is so young that he has not really been anywhere with bugs yet, but citronella is a plant so it is chemical free.