Can You Use Natural Mosquito Repellent on Babies?

As any parent will tell you, there’s nothing so upsetting as seeing your child in distress and being unable to help.  This is never more obvious than in mosquito season, when hordes of biting insects descend mercilessly on our babies.  It’s natural, then, that a parent would want to use mosquito repellent to protect their child.  But is it safe?  Is any artificial or natural mosquito repellent suitable for use on young children?

 

Well, maybe…

 

First, it’s worth pointing out that both chemical and natural  mosquito or fly repellent sprays  will carry an age guidance note on the bottle.  Don’t trust me – always look for the guidance note.  Now, in looking at the suitability of mosquito repellents for babies we first have to differentiate between chemical and natural repellents.

 

Chemical fly or mosquito repellents most often use as their active ingredient a pesticide known as Diethyl -meta-toluamide (or DEET, for short).  DEET was developed by the US Army during World War II, and it saw its first wide use in combat in the Vietnam War.

 

Today, DEET is used in low to medium concentrations in over the counter gnats repellents by millions around the world and, while it has a proven track record in its ability to keep away mosquitoes and other flying insects, there are some medical risks attached to the use of DEET based repellents.

 

While the health risks of DEET are relatively minor (and very rare) there have been DEET related deaths in the past.  DEET can very occasionally cause adverse reactions that trigger seizures and death.  In more minor cases DEET can cause skin irritation, and anecdotal evidence suggests that use can cause insomnia, mood disorders and impaired cognitive function.

 

The active ingredients of natural mosquito repellent are much more varied, ranging from citronella to cedar oil to peppermint.  Most natural mosquito repellents act as deterrents rather than insecticides (i.e. they don’t kill mosquitoes, but they prevent them from attacking).  Natural mosquito repellent uses ingredients that emit odours that are offensive to mosquitoes, or so strong that they mask the chemical signatures mosquitoes use to track their prey.

 

It should be obvious by now that DEET based chemical mosquito repellents are unsuitable for young children.  The CDC recommends that DEET never be used on babies under two months, and for older children it should be used no more than once daily.  DEET must  not be applied to damaged skin, and it shouldn’t be sprayed beneath clothing.

 

Natural mosquito repellent is a little more tricky.  Due to the wide range of ingredients used it varies from brand to brand whether a repellent is suitable for babies.  In general, natural mosquito repellents are designed to be kind to skin, so most are suitable for limited use on babies and young children.

 

If in doubt, as always, you should refer to the label and consult your medical practitioner before using chemical or natural mosquito repellent on your child.