Mosquito repellent is often an option to prevent mosquito bites that can cause various diseases, including in babies. However, you have to be more careful, because not all types of mosquito repellent are safe for babies.
Babies generally have sensitive skin. Therefore, parents need to be more careful in choosing and using products that are in direct contact with the baby's skin, including mosquito repellent.
This is because there are active ingredients and certain doses of mosquito repellent that are not safe to be applied to baby's skin.
Choosing a Safe and Appropriate Mosquito Repellent
The active ingredients commonly used in mosquito repellents are: diethyltoluamide or DEET. This substance is considered effective to ward off mosquito bites. However, infants aged 2 months and under should not use mosquito repellent containing DEET.
Other active substances that should not be used in infants of this age include picaridin (has the same effect as DEET), IR3535, and lemon eucalyptus oil. Especially for mosquito repellent containing lemon eucalyptus oil, you are only allowed to apply it to your little one's skin when he is three years old and over.
The dose of mosquito repellent also needs to be considered. Do not choose a mosquito repellent that contains 30 percent or more DEET. This dose is not recommended for your little one. Moreover, the high and low concentrations of DEET were not related to the effectiveness of repelling mosquitoes.
For example, a mosquito repellent containing 10 percent DEET is effective at preventing mosquito bites for 2 hours. While the content of 24 percent is able to ward off mosquitoes for up to 5 hours.
Both doses are equally effective at preventing mosquito bites. The difference lies only in the duration of protection.
Tips for Applying Mosquito Repellent to Babies
Follow the instructions for use below so that your little one is safe from mosquito stings and the substances contained in mosquito repellent drugs or lotions:
- Avoid applying mosquito repellent around the eyes and mouth.
- Use an adequate amount of mosquito repellent in the ear area.
- Apply mosquito repellent to clothing and skin that is not covered by clothing.
- Avoid using mosquito repellent if there is an infection or wound on your little one's skin.
- Avoid using mosquito repellent along with sunscreen.
- Do not apply mosquito repellent to your little one's palms, because he likes to put his hands in his mouth.
- Make sure your little one doesn't play with or bite the mosquito repellent bottle.
- It is better not to choose mosquito repellent in the form of a spray, because it is susceptible to inhalation by the little one. To be safe, first spray it into your hands, then rub it on your little one's skin.
In addition to using mosquito repellent, you can also prevent your little one from being bitten by mosquitoes by wearing clothes that cover their entire skin. You can also do a mosquito net around the bed to prevent your little one from being bitten by mosquitoes.
Stop using the mosquito repellent if irritation occurs to your little one's skin. If irritation does not improve, consult a doctor for proper treatment.
