can i use insect repellent on my babies?

[titania]

the mosquitoes are TERRIBLE this year! i don't like the idea of putting deet or anything like that on them, but what can i do?

oh, they are 9 months old.

[aimeemarie]

Same ??? here dd got bit last night. We have some "family" stuff, I should check if it has deet, I'm thinking since it's for the entire family it may be OK. I also think Avon has something but my Mom says it never worked for us.

Also, heard something about vanilla warding away mosquitos but I havent had time to check it out yet.

[toryandrew]

Even family stuff has DEET in it -- just less. Skin So Soft doesn't and then there is herbal ones. I make ones for us (and others) that have essential oils in it. Of course DEET works better but EOs aren't toxic. I don't put DEET on my kids in the first year at least.

[scatterbrainedmom]

i never use DEET. my cousin was in the hospital in a coma from the use of DEET, so it really hits home for me

[looking8186]

I use some stuff called Bug Off (I think that's what it's called) that I get at the Organic grocery store around here (Whole Foods). It actually works pretty well and its safe for babies because it is just essential oils.

[TwinKristi]

Yikes! I put the family kind on Jacob when we went camping earlier this month, I thought I read that babies over 6 mos can use sunscreen and insect repellant, you just want to apply it with your hand instead of the spray and avoid their hands. The best way is to keep them as covered as you can and in a netted area, either a pack-n-play or carseat even. I have nets for both. I hate the idea of putting it on my baby but I had already gotten bit twice and didn't want him to! I think the threat of West Nile in my area is more risky than the Deet in Off!?

[mikkismama]

I have read about a few natural things that can ward off bugs. Eating Garlic (raw, minced in a tsp of honey), of course that wont work for a baby. Theres also Lavendar Essential Oil, you can mix it with another natural vegatable oil and its safe for you and baby. Also Mint EO. And around the house, you can put a couple of basil leaves in mesh bags and hang them, flies hate them.
HTH.

[Ben'sMom]

I was just thinking about this! My son is only 3 months though, but he just got a bite on his little leg this morning. Any other natural ideas?

[teachermama]

Try the Avon brand sunscreen/insect repellant. It's DEET free and great because it has the added sunscreen bonus. We stocked up earlier this summer and the kids LOVE it. (I have a teacher freind who swears by this stuff. She had menegitis and almost died and every time the West Nile virus gets mentioned she gets the willies because so many people are just not protecting themselves. She passes it around like candy.) I'm not sure what it's called, but if you don't have an Avon lady maybe you could get in on Ebay. I think I paid around 5.99 per bottle (they make a special kids brand so I got one for them and one for me.) I'll go see if I can find the name of it.

[teachermama]

Ok, it's called Bug Guard Plus and it has an SPF of 30. It does say to ask the Dr. before using on a baby under 6 mos, but mine is 16 mos so I'm not worried. It is a "Skin-So-Soft" product and smells good too. I've never had a problem with insect bites for my kiddos so it must work too!