My 5 year old daughter LOVES to play outside, but this time of year is so hard because the mosquitoes LOVE her! And we think she might be allergic to the bites because they swell up pretty big... she already has 4 :o( Does anyone know of A) a good repellent B) a good anti-itch (besides the traditional Calomine (sp?)???
Thanks in advance!
I think they have OFF for kids, you can always go to the nearest Pharmacy and ask them.
I found this link for you hope it helps.
My mom told me spraying Listerene around where people will be outside will keep mosquitoes away, but I haven't tried it yet. I do know that making a paste out of meat tenderizer does work for taking the itch away from bites. My son has bad reactions to bites, even worse than I do, and the tenderizer keeps him from scratching and making things worse.
A safer repellent than "bug spray" is Avon's Skin So Soft products. As far as anti-itch, my 4 year old son responds best to the good ole Equate brand from Wal-Mart anti-itch cream. Also, if it's available to you, the chlorine in pool water heals bug bites very quickly!!
Something we've tried was the Bite B Gone...it's a stick and you rub the end on the bite...well, it stings like crazy, so don't try it! Feels like you're putting alcohol on a wound. I've heard great things of Avon's skin so soft stuff.
bullfrog has that new sunscreen/bug repellent out, and it's deet free. haven't used it yet but have had good luck w bullfrog in the past. benadryl for those bites..cream'll do, or give it to her orally. ask your ped for the dose.
Hi Crystal,
I am not a drug rep or a salesperson, I'm a Mom - horribly allergic to the nasty little buggers myself! Years ago an old gentleman neighbor told me about Vit B-6. He said his family had used it for years to ward off mosquitos. I checked it with my pediatrician (my kids are teens now)and online (Wikipedia is great!) A half an hour before we go outside we each take one 50mg tablet. It is emitted in your sweat and it lasts 3 to 4 hours. If I slip up and I do get a bite I use "Prid Salve" (from Walgreens,it looks like brown wax - and I use the stick from a Qtip to apply) - just a tiny dab on the hole caused by the bite and lightly cover with a bandaid. I leave it on for about 12 hours. The salve pulls out what the mosquito injects in. And the itch stops almost immediately! Sometimes I have to apply it a second day but never more than that. I've always lived in the city but I tell you the old timers knew what they were doing! So read up on it and check with your pediatrician & good luck! Sue
Hi Crystal, my daughter is allergic to insect repellants and the mosquitos seem to love her too. I have been using Bounce (only Bounce, not sure why) dryer sheets. Sounds crazy, but I read it on a web-site so I tried it and really like it, not to mention the smell is much nicer! I rub a Bounce dryer sheet on her legs, arms, face and neck and then stick the dryer sheet kind of hanging out of a pocket of her shorts, or tucked into the back of her shorts. This is working really well for us - give it a try!
Crystal,
Two of my daughters have an allergic reaction to mosquito bites. After they get one it ends up several inches around and just looks awful. We use the Calydryl clear to help with the itch some, but we also give them some Bendryl allergy medicine to help with the swelling and some of the itch. It really seams to help. We haven't found a great repellent and they had some of the Off! on this weekend and one has 4 bites and the other 5. Let me know if you find a good one.
Good Luck,
Jennifer
oh my goodness. I have suffered with this my whole life and I'm in my 40's. I won't go outside without OFF or some other brand on. Besides they carry serious diseases now. Spray her ahead of time. Nothing really helps the itch. There is some stuff in a tube. I use Hydrocortisone. (sp?) It's called anti itch cream.
My personal opinion just try not to let them bite her.
Looking at your responses I'm trying the bounce idea!
Lisa B
If she likes playing outside and you're there I would put bug spray on her (they have some meant for children) as well as burning those candles that repel mosquitoes. As for anti-itching cream you can talk to your local pharmacist to be sure, but there is hydro cortisone which is a steroid and will ease the swelling and itching.
I have not got to try this one yet, by a lady at my daycare was telling me that her daughter swells with bites and that her dermatologist told her to put a little bit of roll-on deodorant on the bite area. I figured it was worth a try the next time one of my babies gets a bite and she swears by it.
I have a solution that is 100% natural and safe for infants on up!!
Last year my husband wanted to by a tent for camping. The boys and I set it up in the afternoon while daddy was working. Well, the boys (and I too) forgot to shut the flaps and mosquito (and other bugs) infested the tent. The boys really wanted to camp and daddy had promised so they slept outside. Before I told them good night I mixed 2 droppers of Bulgarian Lavender Essential oil 10 8 oz. Simply Lavender After Bath Oil, both from Daisy Blue Naturals. Applied to all exposed skin. Rubbed in.
NOT ONE BUG BITE!!! Plus everyone slept peacefully from the calming lavender oil. Lavender essential oil wards off bugs, calms, and heals. Helped to heal sunburns too.
Also, to calm the itch we use Australian Tea Tree Essential Oil. In a pinch I've used the Tea Tree Lip Balm. Works too!
This is all we use now in the summer time. Well worth a try!
Best Wishes,
Jacque Hobbs
[email protected]
www.3743.daisybluenaturals.com
I don't have any recommendations for repellants, they all seem to work for me, but you can try Aveeno's oatmeal bath soak to help sooth them.
If you find repellants don't work, you can also try to help her by changing her diet, I've always heard that eating garlic and onions makes you less attractive to them. I also think they are more attracted to people wearing certain colors, I forgot which ones, but you can always look it up online.
I actually heard that a regular scent dryer sheet, Bounce actually repells misqsuitos. So I tried it (only once) and to my amazement it worked. What I did, was rub it all over exposed skin, then I tied the sheet to my belt loop.
I've also heard that tea-tree oil repels mosquitos, but I haven't tried that.
As for Itch.....Dermaplast works instantly~ It's in an aerosol spray can by the Neosporin.
I have four girls that are allergic to mosquito bites. They swell up huge and then if they scratch, get infected. The one thing I use whenever they come inside with a bite is Preparation H. It helps with the itch and shrinks the swollen bite. I'm sure the Walmart people think we have some issues with the amount of Preparation H we buy during the summer. It works for us!
Bug Be Gone is fabulous and natural/non toxic. I put it all over my children. It works and I don't feel at all nervous about chemicals on them. I have been using it for several years and highly recomend it.
angela
I actually just read an article yesterday about keeping mosquitoes away. They say Listerine works! Put Listerine in a spray bottle and spray it in the yard where she is playing around the dinner table, anywhere! They said it works longer than any repellant! It's an inexpensive repellant to try! Good Luck.
Some say to run their arms and legs with a dryer sheet. Safer than repellents. Or pin on to her clothing!
The old standard, Avon's Skin So Soft, is a wonderful repellant. And I just discovered After Bite...it is absolutely fantastic to stop the itching of a bite. It is like a magic marker...and they make one for children, too!