Is Mosquito Repellent Lotion Safe for Babies?

Mosquito repellent lotion for babies is often used by parents to prevent babies from being bitten by mosquitoes. However, not a few parents are still unsure about whether or not it is safe to use mosquito repellent lotion on babies. Come on, find out the answer in the following article.

Mother, of course, has found red red spots or bumps on her little one's skin due to insect bites, such as mosquitoes. Mosquito repellent lotions are often used as a way to protect babies' skin and prevent them from being bitten by mosquitoes.

However, keep in mind that not all ingredients in mosquito repellent lotions are safe for babies. This is because the baby's skin, especially newborns, is still thin and very sensitive.

Therefore, Mothers need to be more careful in choosing the products that will be used for the Little One. Come on, find out what kind of mosquito repellent lotion is suitable for babies.

Contains Mosquito Repellent Lotion for Safe Babies

Mosquito bites not only make babies fussy because of itching, but they are also at risk for certain diseases, such as dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), malaria, and chikungunya.

Therefore, mothers need to always keep their little ones away from mosquitoes. One way that can be done is to use lotion or mosquito repellent.

The following are mosquito repellent lotion ingredients that are safe to use for babies:

DEET and picaridin

In general, mosquito repellent lotions for babies contain DEET and picaridin. The difference is that DEET is safe for use by babies under 2 months of age, while picaridin can only be used after the baby is more than 2 months old.

Mosquito repellent lotion for babies containing DEET can be reapplied every 2–5 hours, while lotion containing picaridin can be reapplied every 3–8 hours, depending on the number of active ingredients and the instructions for use on the product packaging.

essential oil

Lotions containing natural essential oils from plants, such as citronella, soybean oil, peppermint, or lemongrass, are also considered effective and safe for use on babies. However, the effect is shorter, so you need to apply essential oils on your little one's skin every 2-3 hours to prevent them from being bitten by mosquitoes.

Mosquito repellent lotion also contains other natural ingredients, such as eucalyptus. However, products containing eucalyptus are safer to use in children over the age of 3 years.

In addition to the mosquito repellent lotion that has been mentioned, you can also use telon oil to repel mosquitoes.

How to Use Mosquito Repellent Lotion for Babies

The following is a guide to using mosquito repellent lotion to keep it safe for babies:

1. Pay attention to the content of mosquito repellent lotion on babies

When you want to apply mosquito repellent lotion to your little one, you need to pay attention to the active ingredient content. Mosquito repellent lotions that are safe for babies are those containing DEET below 30% or picaridin below 10%.

2. Apply a thin layer on the baby's skin

You don't need to apply mosquito repellent lotion all over your little one's body. Just apply a thin layer on the part of your little one's body that is not covered by clothes. Avoid applying mosquito repellent lotion to baby's palms, mouth and eyes, or to baby's skin that is injured or irritated.

Do not forget to pay attention to the instructions for use listed on the product packaging and pay attention to the age limit for the product.

3. Pay attention to the reactions that appear on the baby's skin

When using mosquito repellent lotion for babies, pay attention to the reactions that occur. Mothers should immediately stop using mosquito repellent lotion on their little ones, if rashes or bumps appear.

This indicates that your child may be experiencing an allergic reaction or irritation. So that the rash does not get worse, immediately clean the little one's skin with baby soap and water. If necessary, take your child to the doctor for treatment.

4. Avoid using together with sunscreen

So that the mosquito repellent lotion can work optimally, you should not give the lotion along with sunscreen, for example when you want to take your little one out of the house or sunbathe in the yard.

If you want to apply sunscreen, apply sunscreen first, then leave it on for at least 30 minutes. After that, you can only apply mosquito repellent lotion on your little one's skin.

Not only with mosquito repellent lotion, you can also keep your little one away from mosquito bites by using mosquito nets or mosquito nets, curtains, mosquito nets, or mosquito repellent rackets.

Apart from the tips above, you also need to pay attention to some other tips, for example, always keep mosquito repellent lotion out of reach of children and wash your hands after applying lotion.

Don't forget to dress the baby in closed clothes, especially when outdoors. Choose brightly colored clothes because dark colors can attract mosquitoes more.

To make sure the mosquito repellent lotion that you use is safe for your little one or if you have doubts about how to use the right lotion, don't hesitate to consult a doctor