Ultimate Guide to Bug Repellent for Kids (2023)

FAQs

What is the AAP recommendation for bug spray? ›

The AAP recommends that repellents should contain no more than 30% DEET when used on children. Insect repellents also are not recommended for children younger than 2 months. Read the label and follow all directions and precautions.

DEET-containing repellents should not be harmful if parents follow directions on the label to use the product safely. DEET products can cause skin rashes especially when high concentrations are used, but these reactions are rare.

Icaridin is odourless and does not feel sticky or greasy. It is less likely to cause skin irritation than DEET. And it does not damage synthetic fabrics or plastics. The (PHAC) recommends icaridin as the preferred insect repellent for children 6 months to 12 years of age.

Yes, DEET is a reasonable choice when used as directed, even for children. Still, after reviewing the evidence, EWG researchers concluded that it is best to use the lowest effective concentration of DEET, even though it's effective and generally safer than is commonly assumed. Picaridin is a great alternative to DEET.

CDC recommends using products with ≥20% DEET on exposed skin to reduce biting by insects that may spread disease. Recommendations regarding use of repellents are based on peer-reviewed scientific studies and data submitted to regulatory agencies.

Before they can be marketed, most skin-applied repellents must be registered by EPA. EPA registration of skin-applied repellent products indicates that they have been evaluated and approved for human safety and effectiveness when applied according to instructions on the label.

Is DEET safe for young children? The answer is yes. Insect repellents containing DEET have been tested and approved for kids when used as directed.

Is DEET safe to use? According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and Dr. Balk, bug repellent with 10 to 30 percent DEET is safe to use on children who are 2 months of age or older.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that repellents should contain no more than 30% DEET when used on children. Insect repellents also are not recommended for children younger than 2 months.

Insect repellents containing DEET have been tested and approved as safe for kids older than 2 months. But take care when you use them: Choose a repellent with no more than 10% to 30% concentration of DEET (look for N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide on the label).

Which is more toxic picaridin or DEET? ›

Picaridin is not known to produce the same nervous system toxicity as DEET but has not been subjected to as much long-term testing. Human and animal studies of picaridin have not demonstrated skin, internal organ, or reproductive toxicity. Picaridin is not recommended for use in children under 2 years of age.

Icaridin (Picaridin)

Safe in children between 6 months and 12 years of age.

Technical grade Picaridin has low acute oral, dermal and inhalation toxicity. It is classified as Toxicity Category IV for acute inhalation toxicity and primary dermal irritation and Toxicity Category III for acute oral, acute dermal and primary eye irritation.

IS PICARIDIN SAFER THAN DEET? Comparing DEET vs Picaridin, Picaridin 20% has been proven to provide equal protection against mosquitoes and superior protection against ticks in similar concentrations without the same health concerns.

That's why we say everyone should avoid repellents with more than 30 percent deet. At 30 percent and below, deet is safe for pregnant women and children who are at least 2 months old. But it's important not to go too low, either; in our tests, products with just 10 or 7 percent deet don't work well.

"DEET is very safe when used properly," Rodriguez says. For everyday needs, you can use 10% or 20% DEET to avoid mosquito bites. "Higher concentrations of DEET such as DEET 100% are only necessary in places with high mosquito density and risk for mosquito-borne illness," Rodriguez says.

In rare cases, using DEET products may cause skin rashes. Some persons who used products containing a high concentration of DEET or who were exposed to excessive amounts of DEET have experienced skin rashes, blisters, and skin and mucous membrane irritation. 50% provide no added protection.

Using DEET on Children

DEET is approved for use on children with no age restriction. There is no restriction on the percentage of DEET in the product for use on children, since data do not show any difference in effects between young animals and adult animals in tests done for product registration.

Last year, California prohibited farmers from using chlorpyrifos products and manufacturers from selling them due to health concerns. Corteva Inc (CTVA. N), the world's largest manufacturer of the chemical, in 2020 said it would stop producing chlorpyrifos because of declining sales.

What bug repellent is safe for toddlers? ›

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, insect repellents containing DEET and picaridin are safe to use for children two months of age and older. 1 Lemon eucalyptus oil, commonly found in natural repellents, is safe for children age three and up.

% ACTIVE (DEET) LEVELS

The higher the active concentration (DEET%), the longer the protection time. Theoretically all concentration levels should be equally effective at repelling, just for different lengths of time. Bushman products contain either 20%, 40% or 80% DEET.

Purchase EPA-registered insect repellent that has DEET, picaridin, IR3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus as the active ingredient. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends products with up to 30% DEET for children over 2 months old. Do not use products containing DEET on children younger than 2 months old.

“Some people are sensitive and may have a skin reaction”—which could include an itchy or swollen rash—”but it's not harmful otherwise.” Still, DEET has a scary reputation. Day says this stems from several cases from the 1980s of people dying after drinking DEET.

In addition to being gentler on the skin, the ingredients found in Deet-Free bug sprays are also less likely to pollute waterways and damage delicate ecosystems.

Occasionally, there have been reports of people having negative reactions after excessive use of repellents containing DEET. These effects included seizures, uncoordinated movements, agitation, aggressive behavior, low blood pressure, and skin irritation.

The CDC states that DEET offers the best protection against mosquito bites. That being said, all of the active ingredients listed above are tested and proven to be a safe and effective way to repel mosquitos.

Unlike sunscreen, very little DEET would be washed off with water and will last for several hours. Repeated application of a DEET-containing sunscreen product may increase the potential for toxic effects of DEET. Apply repellents only to exposed skin and/or clothing (as directed on the product label).

PICARIDIN: This relatively new CDC-recommended active ingredient offers the same level of protection that people have come to expect from DEET in formulas that feel a little lighter and cleaner. It's a synthetic repellent compound that mimics the effects of piperine, which is found in plants that produce black pepper.

It's not advisable to wear DEET-based sprays while you sleep, but essential oils like lavender, geranium, and citronella have deterring properties.

Is DEET banned in Europe? ›

No, as part of the regulatory process 100% DEET products are now being withdrawn throughout the European market and will no longer be available. DEET repellents over 50% in strength will not be legal for sale in the EU after 2016. Our Trek 100 repellent should be withdrawn from sale from the the 1st of January 2017.

Permethrin should be used on clothing and gear only, and should not be sprayed directly on the skin. However, DEET, picaridin, and some natural oils (e.g., oil of lemon eucalyptus) are safe for use on the skin.

lavender and lemon. Both are fresh scents, safe for kids and good for keeping away mosquitoes and ticks!

The U.S. EPA considered picaridin to be practically non-toxic for inhalation exposure.

Absolutely. Picaridin is a CDC-recommended active ingredient and registered with the EPA. DEET is a neurotoxin that gets absorbed into the body when applied to the skin.

Picaridin is considered to be less-toxic than Permethrin, and probably a better choice if you need to apply more broadly than just a spot here and there, or your personal clothing.

Rather than killing them, DEET works by making it hard for these biting bugs to smell us. After it was developed by the U.S. Army in 1946, DEET was registered for use by the general public in 1957. Approximately 120 products containing DEET are currently registered with EPA by about 30 different companies.

Generally, repellent with DEET should not be applied more than once a day. DEET can put on exposed skin, as well as clothing, socks, and shoes. But don't use it on your child's face, under clothing, on cuts or irritated skin, or on the hands of young children.

To protect yourself against diseases spread by mosquitoes, CDC and EPA recommend using an EPA-registered insect repellent. Choosing an EPA-registered repellent ensures the EPA has evaluated the product for effectiveness.

Products with concentrations around 10 percent are effective for periods of approximately two hours. As the concentration of DEET increases, the duration of protection increases. For example, a DEET concentration of about 24 percent has been shown to provide an average of five hours of protection.

Is DEET safe for kids? ›

The answer is yes. Insect repellents containing DEET have been tested and approved for kids when used as directed. You can use DEET-containing bug repellents on children ages 2 months and older, but there are some guidelines to follow: Products containing DEET should be used only once per day on children.

Specifically, spray products with at least 20 percent picaridin have worked as well as or better than some deet-based ones. Not as much research has been done on picaridin as on deet. But the data that does exist indicate that the chemical is safe, and the World Health Organization and the CDC recommend picaridin.

In most situations, an insect repellent with up to 10 per cent DEET will prevent mosquito bites. In higher-risk areas (where malaria, Ross River virus, Barmah Forest virus and dengue fever occur), products with 15–30 per cent DEET should be used.

Still, DEET has a scary reputation. Day says this stems from several cases from the 1980s of people dying after drinking DEET. Also, thanks to their similar handles and applications, DEET is sometimes confused with DDT, a now-banned chemical insecticide that can promote cancer and birth defects.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that repellents should contain no more than 30% DEET when used on children. Insect repellents also are not recommended for children younger than 2 months.

After evaluating personal mosquito repellents for effectiveness, longevity of protection, safety around children and pets, and kindness to the environment, our top pick is Sawyer's Picaridin Insect Repellent. For the best natural-ingredient repellent, we liked Repel's Lemon Eucalyptus 4-ounce Pump Spray.

Kim said a 1991 review found many cases where high DEET concentrations were linked to severe skin reactions and neurological problems including seizures. Doctors also onsidered DEET to be the probable cause of the deaths of three children, although the link was not proven, she said.

N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide (DEET) remains the standard by which all other repellents are judged. DEET was developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and was registered for use by the general public in 1957. It is effective against mosquitoes, biting flies, chiggers, fleas, and ticks.

Because it is likely to be more expensive, and depending upon how long you need protection, 4 percent DEET may be all you need. Research has shown that a higher concentration of DEET does not improve its repellent properties, but does provide longer-lasting protection.

The more DEET a product contains, the longer the repellant can protect against mosquito bites. However, concentrations higher than 50 percent do not increase the length of protection. For most situations, 10 percent to 25 percent DEET is adequate.