Non-toxic Mosquito Repellants

I just read and tried vanilla. Sounds weird, but it totally works! I put some vanilla in a travel-size spray bottle and fill it up with water. The mosquitos stay away. My son is also allergic to the bites, and it looked like we were abusing the child because he swelled up so much. After spraying him with vanilla, he is swelling-free.

As far as stopping the itch, there is a product called Itch-Be-Gone. It worked really well for me when I had over 70 gnat bites on my back alone. Within 15 minutes of applying, I was itch free. (That was when I was a teenager, before I discovered the glories of vanilla!)

Mix 3-4 drops of vanilla extract per ounce of water and spray it on. It works perfectly and no chemicals!
We have been using it all spring and summer and it is awesome!!! No bugs!!

There are a couple of natural remedies,including the pot marigold(calendula), and if you've ever heard of an herb called pennyroyal, which was traditionally used in flea collers back when DEET wasn't around. I take marigold flowers and pennyroyal(which shouldn't be ingested, so it's good for ages 3 and up), and let them soak together in the sun for a few days, or make a tea of these two, and apply with a spray bottle, it repels most biting insects. I'm going to try the vanilla too, I love natural remedies. For itching, I use a little rosewater mixed with clay soil from the yard with pretty good results.

My three year old is also a mosquito magnet--which is funny because they hardly bother me at all. I use something called Skeeter Screen as a repellent and am pretty happy with the results. It does sweat off and has to be re-applied. But I am okay with the ingredients.

As far as the itch, not natural but very effective, is roll-on antiperspirant deodorant. It is the aluminum salt that attacks the itch...and there are debated health risks about the aluminum, as well...but it stops the itch in ONE application. Previously, I was slathering my kid in hydrocortisone and having to give her benadryl for days to keep her from scratching. Now I just dab a little on and the bite is practically gone the next day. After a few infected bites, I've decided that the risk of the aluminum is minimal.

P.S. I have tried a stick of deodorant, as well, it worked but didn't seem to stop the itch quite as quickly as the liquid.

To repel mosquitos mix 3-4 drops of vanilla extract per ounce of water and spray it on. It works perfectly and no chemicals.

We had been using Burt's bee's for our little girl, but this summer have discovered the clip on OFF repellant. I love it because there is nothing going on her skin. We simply clip it to the chair she is sitting in or lay it near the swing when she is playing. Good luck! And just remember no matter what some mother's say is good or bad, you know what is best for your child, do what is comfortable for you.

i like burt's bees and badger balm, but both have a strong citronella smell that you have have trouble with. dryer sheets are surprisingly effective, but of course they're chemical. i like to tuck one in my gardening hat, so your boy might be able to do something similar with a baseball cap if he doesn't mind funny looks<G>. you got a great recipe for a 'tea'. i make something similar for the horses. i steep lavender, mint, calendula, tansy and sage, then add apple cider vinegar and citronella oil (i'd leave out the vinegar for kids.) i didn't know about vanilla, so thanks to the posters who made that suggestion!
i've got roll-on stuff called after-bite for itchies. smells like ammonia. works great.
:) khairete
S.

We use this and love it. The huge Texas mosquitos leave us alone. I can do yard work at dusk and not get one bite. AND, we love the smell of it.
http://www.californiababy.com/natural-bug-blend-bug-repel...

Hope it helps,
R.

Hi C.---I recommend going to the website www.ewg.org to learn about different bug sprays/lotions and their levels of toxins. They have a great database which includes info on sunscreens, household cleaners and the dirty dozen (a ranking of foods according to pesticide levels so you know which foods must be organice vs which ones that don't have a lot of pesticides).

For the itch, I LOVE Burt's Bees Dr. Burt's Res-Q Ointment. All natural ingredients, smells great, and is good for scrapes, bruises...all sorts of things. My dad has these dry scaly patches on his hands and face and this works as well as a prescription.

On a side note, do you know Susan Zimmerman? Anyway, good luck. D.

My son is also allergic to bug bites and his doctor has put him on Zyertec for the summer months. It was a night and day differance. A bite that would have normally turned into an enormous welt is now just be a "normal" bite. We are not out in the bugs very often so this year I have just used OFF with the deet in it, because we were up north and they were BAD. But I know that last year I used a natural product that I had bought at Target. I can't remember the name, but I know that they carried it again this year. It just didn't work well when there was LOTS of bugs. Hope you find something that works!

Please be cautious with natural products. Many have never been assessed for effectiveness or safety in clinical trials and may actually prove to be more harmful in the long run. Not that vanilla in water is in any way harmful - I honestly hope it works, but many products are on the market without any scientific data to prove they work and are not harmful.

Here's a nice chart regarding common ingredients on the market from the American Academy of Pediatrics:
http://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/...

EWG.or is a political organization. Take the information on their site, and then verify it with other credible sources of information. They have a political agenda they're trying to push, so their information may be more one-sided in favor of their opinion vs. being completely steeped in fact.

Good luck. Our 2 year-old has been attacked horribly this summer, too. We have chosen to use citronella candles and Off without DEET.

. In todays environment we must be very care in what we choose to expose our children to. I have some great literature if you are ever interested about toxins and chemical. In the public we do not hear the terms "endocrine disruptor" nor do they willing tell us how harmful certain products can be. Consider this with your sunscreen, your make-up, what you clean your home with. I can refer you to a safer product.

I am sorry, I do not know for sure the effectiveness, but I heard that Bounce sheets rubbed on is a bug repellant. It works on dogs for fleas, so it works I just am not sure with mosquitos.

Can you use the clip on OFF things? Just a thought because that wouldn't actually go onto his skin. My husband uses those while mowing our 2 acre lawn where the mosquitos can be absolutely horrible. Marigolds, catnip and garlic are all supposed to be effective against mosquitos too. I'm not sure if you would steep them all in hot water or what, but I know with the natural ones you will have to apply them more often. Its worth it if it does the trick though!

To stop itchies we use one of three things.. On my son (16 months) I just use hydrocortizon cream when he happens to get a bite. For myself or my husband we use either the afterbite stick that you just rub on or Benedryl topical spray. They all stop the itch pretty well, but are all temporary. If you can, pick up some clear nail polish and once you get the itchies to stop, put a dab of that on it.

I know what you mean about the DEET thing....We use a great natural and effecitve spray made up from a couple of our fantastic Melaleuca products. My kids take it to camp and spray their tents..and they are the only ones with no bugs! If you want more info, just get in touch with me! Good Luck!

Arbonne has a couple of products (all of Arbonne's products are made with natural herbs and botanicals) that will keep them away. The ABC Diaper Rash OIntment is great for bug bites and minor burns and cuts too. If you would like more information please contact me in a private message.

Kay