

The only downfall is that it hasn’t received as much long-term testing as DEET.
#Does thinkbaby sunscreen attract bugs skin#
It also doesn’t have a strong smell like DEET, isn’t as irritating on skin and is effective for longer periods of time (so you don’t have to reapply as often). Picaridin is great at keeping both mosquitos and ticks at bay just like DEET, but it doesn’t have any neurotoxicity issues. The AAP recommends you choose the lowest concentration that will provide the length of coverage your child needs or re-apply more regularly. Repellents with 10% DEET provide protection for about two hours, and 30% protects for about five hours. The higher the percentage though, the longer the anti-bug protections lasts. Note that the percentage of DEET in a product does not change the level of effectiveness. Babies two months or younger should not be exposed to DEET at all. Currently, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends using bug sprays that contain 10% to 30% DEET (not to exceed 30%) on children over two months old. Also, in very rare cases (think one in 100 million), it has caused adverse reactions in the nervous system. Although DEET is an awesome defense against disease-carrying insects, it can irritate the eyes. This chemical has long been the favorite insect repellent of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and the only one it recommends for combating ticks, but it is not without some controversy. Insect repellents come in lotions, sprays, wipes, balms and even patches, but there are three primary anti-bug ingredients that can safely be used on children: DEET, picaridin and essential oils.
#Does thinkbaby sunscreen attract bugs free#
Unless you live in an area largely free of biting bugs, we strongly recommend you get some type of baby-safe bug repellent. Let’s put it this way: Would you want to wear long sleeves and long pants tucked into socks whenever you go outdoors in hot weather? Yeah, your baby won’t either. Before your next jaunt outdoors, arm yourself with the anti-bug supplies you need to keep yourself and your family safe from annoying bites and potential disease. We’ve broken down all the main repellent types as well as safe-use recommendations for pregnancy, babies and children. And with the different diseases that insects can transmit (including Zika and West Nile virus from mosquitoes and Lyme disease from ticks), insect repellent should be top-of-mind before any outdoor outing (second only to sunscreen, of course)–especially in the summer.īut what sorts of insect repellents are available? Hint: it’s not just in spray form. Even worse? Seeing your little one suffer from itchy mosquito bites (or a latched-on tick, yuck!).
