• How safety are diverse forms of mosquito repellents for babies?
  • Tips for safety usage of insect repellent for babies
  • Insect repellents deemed ineffective

Waking upward to little red-colored mosquito bites on your little one'south face up is unnerving for sure. This post on mosquito repellants for babies volition assistance y'all preclude these. No matter how many mosquito nets or covered dress you utilize, the mosquitoes always seem to find a way around them. It is mosquitoes and other insects and bugs that never get out a chance to pitter-patter up those open areas and leave a mark of their presence.

In such cases, mosquito repellants might come in handy. Simply before using any ointment or repellant cream on your baby's skin, it is advisable to cheque for allergic reactions. So which repellant do you choose for your infant?

Read on to know about the diverse types of mosquito repellants available and the ones that are safe to exist used for your baby.

How Safe Are Diverse Forms Of Mosquito Repellents For Babies?

Musquito repellents come in unlike forms and packages. Some repellents seem ostensibly harmful to the infant's wellness (such as the fume-making mosquito coils), while some seem to exist safe (musquito bands). Nosotros expect at these diverse forms of musquito repellents and tell you lot which ones are safe to use for your babe.

1. Mosquito coils

Let us brainstorm with something that you must never utilise every bit a mosquito repellent for your babies. Coils are flattened incense that are burnt to release mosquito repellent fume. This tin effectively drive away insects from a localized surface area but the smoke tin cause respiratory irritation in the baby. If your infant already suffers from respiratory problems, then the smoke from a musquito coil volition surely aggravate the condition.

Verdict: Not rubber for babies of any historic period. Likewise being a fire take a chance, burnt coils release smoke that contains carbon monoxide and other various fumes. These fumes tin be harmful to your baby's health as his lungs are tiny and underdeveloped. Moreover, a study has establish that inhaling fume from one burnt mosquito coil is equivalent to inhaling fume from as many as 137 cigarettes (1) ! That is surely quite unsettling.

[ Read: Treatments To Issues Bites In Babies ]

ii. Mosquito repellent lotions

The lotions are user-friendly and portable, and hence are a favorite with many mothers. Mosquito and bug repellent lotions, creams, and gels are topical ointments applied direct to the exposed skin. They as well work well in repelling other insects such as flies and crawling bugs because the agile ingredient in these ointments usually is DEET, picaridin or IR3535.

While these chemicals are effective confronting insects, it calls for caution. DEET, picaridin, and IR3535 are all non recommended for babies less than two months of historic period (2).

Also, y'all should avoid products that have more than thirty% DEET. In fact, 10% DEET is as effective as 30%; so go for a product that has the ingredient within this range.

A study by the independent system Consumer Reports showed that picaridin is condom for babies (three). IR3535 was also found constructive but offered protection for only three hours.

Verdict: Safe for babies older than 2 months when used as per manufacturer's instructions. Mosquito repellent lotions should never be practical around the baby's optics and rima oris. As well, practice not put it on his hands where there is a risk of ingestion. Always test a small spot on the infant's skin earlier applying on the residue of the body. This will let y'all know if the baby has an allergy to the ingredients used in the product. Practise not apply a musquito repellent foam to a baby younger than two months.

[ Read : Chicco Anti Mosquito Gel Review ]

3. Mosquito repellent liquid vaporizer and mats

Liquid vaporizer and mats are known for their convenience of 'plug and play'. They use oestrus to vaporize the insect repellent, which then dissipates into an area. They are more often than not made of household insecticides allethrin, prallethrin and permethrin that repel insects when sprayed in the vapor grade.

Allethrin is known to be toxic when information technology comes in contact with peel, merely has footling toxic effect when inhaled (four). Prallethrin has depression toxicity to mammals (5). Permethrin is said to have similar low toxicity and there is no evidence that information technology could be extremely toxic for babies (6).

Therefore, it tin be said that there is no conclusive indication of negative health effects due to long-term inhalation of these compounds. Even so, the chemicals can affect babies differently than adults.

Verdict: Mostly safe when used with caution and after reading manufacturer'southward instructions. Avoid using liquid vaporizers and mats when the infant is in the room. Instead, employ them earlier he is brought into the room. Always place the vaporizer away from the baby'south bed, and close to the entry point of mosquitoes such as windows. Do not utilise it anywhere around babies younger than ii months since they tin be sensitive even to the slightest amount of insecticide fumes.

[ Read: Baby Skin Allergies ]

4. Musquito repellent sprays

Mosquito repellent and bug repellent sprays are aerosol-based sprays that contain compounds like to those present in vaporizers like allethrin and prallethrin. In add-on to these compounds, sprays likewise use the chemical compound deltamethrin, which is chemically similar to allethrin. It has the same level of toxicity as allethrin thus making mosquito repellent sprays quite similar to vaporizers. Deltamethrin is non known to crusade any serious long-term effects on usage although babies can be sensitive to it (7).

Sprays tin work faster than vapors and this is achieved by dissolving the active ingredient (the insecticide) in a volatile solvent like dichloromethane (DCM), or methylene chloride. Long term inhalation of this compound has been linked to carbon monoxide poisoning (8). And that is not encouraging.

Verdict: Non safe for babies. Insect repellent sprays may work faster but the chemic can damage your baby's health. Moreover, most sprays take a pungent smell due to the presence of kerosene, some other insecticide. Kerosene is proven to be toxic to the body when inhaled in the form of vapors (9).

[ Read : Tiger Balm Mosquito Repellent Spray Review ]

five. Natural insect repellents like essential oils

You find a plethora of essential oils in the market to naturally repel mosquitoes and other insects. They are usually sold dissolved in a topical ointment base and bear witness to be DEET-costless insect repellent for babies. Several homemade and Ayurvedic insect repellents also utilize essential oils. Although they are natural, they may not be safety for babies. For example, one of the most common essential oil used in musquito repellents is 50emon eucalyptus oil and its synthetic variant is PMD. The US Centers for Disease Command and Prevention (CDC) states that information technology must not exist used on the skin of children below three years of historic period (ten). It is mainly considering their skin is underdeveloped to handle the natural chemical compositions of the oil.

There are also other essential oils like cedar, lemongrass (known equally citronella oil) and rosemary. But consumer report of over-the-counter essential oil-based insect repellent lotions institute that these essential oils were ineffective in protecting against insects with the exception of lemon eucalyptus oil. Even if they offer protection, it is for a little time. Essential oils, in general, provide protection confronting insects for no greater than two hours (11).

Verdict: Safe or not safe depends on various factors including the blazon of essential oil, mode of application (on skin or through spray) and whether the baby is sensitive to essential oils or not. Lemon eucalyptus oil should not be used for children below three years of historic period, as mentioned earlier. The synthetic version of lemon eucalyptus oil called PMD (p-Menthane-three,8-diol) is commonly found in anti-mosquito wipes for babies. Information technology has the aforementioned properties as the natural version; therefore, information technology tin be a potential allergen.

When it comes to essential oils like cedar, lemongrass (known as citronella oil) and rosemary, then the usage tin be subjective depending on whether the baby is sensitive to it or non. Oil of lemon grass/ citronella is known to exist a dermal and respiratory irritant (12). Some babies can be sensitive to the topical version of the essential oil merely may not bear witness whatever agin effects to the vapor form.

Thus always cheque if the baby is comfortable with the essential oil-based repellent and consult a doctor if y'all have any queries. Either fashion, essential oils are never rubber for babies younger than two months old.

[ Read : Tiger Balm Mosquito Repellent Patch Review ]

vi. Mosquito patches and fabric gyre-on

Musquito repellent patch is like a bandage that is laden with an insecticide. The effectiveness of the patch decreases every bit the chemical slowly evaporates in the air. Mosquito repellent bands and bracelets piece of work on a similar principle and tin be refilled with a minor tablet.

Cloth curl-ons await like deodorant roll-ons that can be rubbed in small portions on clothes leaving small-scale amounts of insect-repellent. These are all portable musquito repellent solutions similar to musquito repellent lotions.

In that location are a multifariousness of mosquito patches and whorl-ons available for babies and more often than not have the aforementioned ingredients every bit in lotions. A patch should never be stuck to the skin or the wearing apparel of the infant. It may should be stuck to an object close to the infant nevertheless away from his reach. Manufacturers of insect repellent roll-ons recommend using it on cots and strollers instead of clothes for babies younger than two years.

Patches containing DEET or picaridin should exist avoided for babies younger than two months one-time. Many patches incorporate essential oil as an insecticide and as mentioned earlier, you must be careful nigh their usage since they can exist potential allergens.

Verdict: Condom depending on the ingredients. Always look at the characterization for the active insecticides used in the patch or coil-on. As e'er, never use these for babies younger than two months of historic period.

[ Read: How To Care for Bedbug Bites On Babies ]

vii. Mosquito nets and musquito bats

Concrete barriers are the safest and virtually cost-constructive ways of protecting your babe against mosquitoes and other insects. Mosquito nets are one such example that come up in numerous sizes and can be customized to meet the requirements of your baby's crib. They can be used 24 x 7 without worrying well-nigh your baby being exposed to any harmful chemicals.

Electronic mosquito killers such as electrical bats and mosquito trapping dark lamps are equally condom equally long equally they are kept away from the baby'south attain.

Verdict: Safest means of repelling insects for your little one. Electrical mosquito repellents should be placed away from the baby's reach and preferably used when a parent is present in the room. Mosquito nets work keen. They are an effective means of protection against mosquitoes and are even vouched by the World Health System (xiii).

Nets must exist periodically checked for any tears or openings. Sure mosquito nets are sprayed with insecticides and are skillful merely can be avoided since the infant may take hold of the net once in a while thus causing the risk of ingestion through easily.

Mosquito nets are the best insect repellents if your baby is younger than 2 months of age.

In short:

Hither is the list of the insect repellents that are safe, non-condom or perhaps-safe for babies:

Insect Repellent Rubber
Musquito nets and musquito bats Safest
Mosquito patches and fabric roll-on Safe depending on the ingredients
Liquid vaporizer and mats Mostly safe when used with caution
Essential oils based repellents Rubber or not rubber depending on the oil
Musquito repellent lotions Condom simply for babies older than two months
Mosquito repellent sprays Not safe
Musquito coils Non condom

Tips For Safe Usage Of Insect Repellent For Babies

Here are some points you must keep in mind while using insect repellent for babies:

  • Read the instructions and safety information characterization on the outer packaging of the repellent. This will give you an idea of what went into the making of the repellent and whether information technology is mostly safe for a baby.
  • Never apply an insect repellent around cuts and wounds since information technology may enter the body.
  • Do not use an insect repellent on the baby'south face and palm since it can lead to adventitious ingestion.
  • Do not utilize products that combine DEET with sunscreen. DEET more often than not reduces the effectiveness of dominicus protection factor (SPF). This means 1 may have to apply more sunscreen to protect from sun. This is okay for adults simply for babies it may overexpose them to DEET, which is not expert for their peel.
  • Always proceed an insect repellent, including the outer packaging, away from a baby's reach.
  • Stop the usage of an insect repellent immediately if you dubiety that the baby is showing an allergy (such as rash) towards information technology.
  • Read the manufacturer'due south advice on the packaging for an allergic reaction and likewise consult your md.

[ Read : Babyhug Premium Gadda Set Reviews ]

Insect Repellents Deemed Ineffective

Some mosquito and bug repellents bachelor in the market are basically ineffective. Here is a list of insect repellents, which the American Establish of Pediatrics has constitute to exist ineffective:

  1. Wristbands: Wristbands are often soaked in chemical-based insect repellents and sold as constructive insect repellents.
  1. Ultrasonic devices: These devices merits to emit sound waves of ultrasonic frequencies that tin can keep insects at bay.
  1. Lawn problems zappers: It looks like an electronic lantern with a bright luminescent seedling at the center. When the insect approaches the seedling, it is zapped by the external metal mesh that is electrically charged. Reverse to their claim of existence an insect repellent, they really end-upwards alluring more insects to your house.
  1. Bird or bat houses: Many species of birds and bats are insectivores, which means that they consume only insects. While this may sound an eco-friendly solution, there is very trivial credibility attached to using birds and bats around human habitats to prevent insect infestation.
  1. Garlic or vitamin B1 consumed orally: Another colloquial musquito repellent hack that has little scientific backing.

[ Read: Natural Remedies For Mosquito Bites In Babies ]

Recollect, insect repellants are meant to go along your baby safe from insect bites just cannot be harmful themselves. If you lot want to try some home remedies, and then you may dab lavender essential oil, diluted with aqueous cream or vaseline, behind the infant'southward ears and wrists. If the babe is younger than three months, then you may try citronella essential oil diluted with another oil or water, lavander oil or vanilla essence. However, their effectiveness may vary from one baby to another.

Continue the windows and doors closed, especially during that time of the twenty-four hour period when the mosquito motion is the maximum.

Is there an insect repellent you tried and worked bang-up? Exercise share information technology with us by leaving a comment below.

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  • Reviewer
  • Author

Dr. Vineet Kwatra took his medical degree from Mahatma Gandhi Mission (MGM) Medical Higher and Inquiry Institute, Aurangabad in 2001. He is a life member of the Indian University Of Pediatrics (IAP) and the Neonatal Nurse Practitioners (NNP). With two decades of experience in the field, Dr. Kwatra currently practices at Healthy Steps Kid Dispensary, IMT Manesar, Gurgaon.

Rohit Garoo is a zoologist-botanist turned writer with over 8 years of experience in content writing, content marketing, and copywriting. He has besides done an MBA in marketing and human being resource and worked in the domains of market research and e-commerce. Rohit writes topics related to health, wellness and development of babies. His articles featured on several notable websites, including... more than