How to Protect Your Kids from Bug Bites This Spring and Summer
The weather is warming up, and if your kids haven’t already started asking to play outside more often, they will soon. The problem is that there is someone else around your home who thrives in warm weather: insects. From mosquitos to ticks, Georgia is home to plenty of critters that bite and sting. Whether you’re a new parent or a long-time parent, now is the time to learn how to protect your kids for bug bites in a safe way.
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Know the DEETails
In most bug repellants, the active ingredient is a chemical called DEET. For adults, the DEET that seeps into our skin is minimal enough that it doesn’t impact us. For a child’s tiny body, though, too much DEET can be dangerous. As a result, you need to do your research. Look for insect repellants that have DEET concentrations of 30% or lower.
- Less is More
Sticking to low-DEET bug repellants is only a start. Even the insect repellants can be risky if you apply too much or if you apply it too often. Only apply enough to get a thin layer on your child’s skin. Using more than this won’t make the repellant more effective, but it will raise the amount of DEET in your child’s system.
- Say No to Combos
Parents are busy, and health product manufacturers know this. That is why they developed products that combine children’s sunscreen and bug repellant. After all, if your child needs both of them, you might as well save time by applying them at the same time, right?
There is a problem with this theory. You need to apply your child’s sunscreen about 15 minutes before you go outside, then reapply every 90 minutes or so. Sometimes you need to reapply it more often if your child is swimming or sweating heavily. With bug repellant, on the other hand, you want to keep your child’s exposure time to a minimum. You should only reapply it every several hours if at all.
- Don’t Let It Linger
As we mentioned above, you want to keep your child’s DEET exposure low. After your child comes inside, they no longer need the bug repellant. Wash it off their skin (this is a perfect time for their bath). Have them change their clothes as well and run those clothes through the laundry.
- Nothing But Net
Because a baby’s skin is so delicate, you should not use DEET bug repellant on infants who are less than two months old. A great alternative is to use a bug net that attaches to their carrier when you’re in a buggy area. In truth, these nets work well for a baby of any age who is in their carrier while you’re spending time outside. When your baby does hit that two-month mark and you’re able to use bug repellant, use it sparingly. We do not recommend applying the bug repellant to any openings such as mouth, eyes, ears, or near any of your child’s open cuts.
- Be Less Bug-Friendly
As helpful as insect repellant can be to protect your kids from bug bites, it will be even more effective if you can minimize the number of bugs around your home in the first place. One way to do that this summer is to look for areas in your yard where you tend to have standing water. Mosquitos breed in standing water, so getting rid of it will help to keep your mosquito population at bay. It’s a good idea to keep up with preventative pest control treatments as well.
As the summer dawns, parents’ minds are on safety in swimming pools and on camping trips. As important as that is, you can’t forget about bug bite prevention as well. The tips above can help your kids and your entire family stay safe and happy while you enjoy the great outdoors this year. If you’d like to get your summer off to a healthy start, call Briarcliff Pediatrics to schedule a well-child exam. For more tips for your family, follow us on Facebook and Twitter as well.
