Mosquitoes are maddening enough for adults: think how much worse they torment babies. With their delicate skin and lack of mobility, babies are perfect prey for bloodsuckers.

Moreover, babies and children are typically bitten more by mosquitoes than by any other type of insect.

Here are proven tips on how to protect your baby from mosquitoes.

1. Keep your baby away from mosquitoes

Timing and location are essential. Your primary aim should always be to keep mosquitoes away from your baby as well as your baby away from mosquitoes.

That means keeping babies inside at peak biting times (usually dawn and dusk), and staying away from pools of still water where mosquitoes breed. Also flower gardens and unconvered foods attract skeeters.

Check your house and yard for stagnant water – a puddle in a blocked gutter can harbor thousands of mosquito larvae.

While you’re at it, take other measures to mosquito-proof your yard too.

2. Use screens and nets

Window screens stop the little blighters from flying into the house, and a net around your baby’s crib or play pen will stop any that get past the screen.

For travelling around, you can buy elasticated mosquito nets which fit snugly to a pram, stroller or car seat.

3.  Keep the air moving

Insects find it hard to navigate when there’s a breeze, so try using a desk fan rather than turning on the air conditioning or opening the windows.

Research shows that fan-generated wind is a practical means of protecting from mosquitoes.

4. Use traps and repelling devices

Ultrasonic pest repellers, such as the popular Rid-Tech Ultrasonic Pest Repeller, work wonders according to many people. Critics claim these devices are useless but the abundant positive reviews indicate otherwise.

Added benefit of these ultrasonic devices is that they repel other bugs you don’t want near your baby such as spiders and scorpions too.

Another popular option are electronic insect zappers. Obviously you don’t want to hang a big bug-zapping lightin your baby’s room but placing one outside near the nursery can help reduce the amount of mosquitoes swarming nearby.

Here’s an overview of the best bug zappers available.

5. Use insect-repellent flowers

Chrysanthemum flowers provide an unexpected alternative: they give off a natural variant of the chemical repellent picaridin. And happily, a vase of chrysanthemums looks much nicer in your baby’s room than a buzzing blue trap.

6. Cover up

When your baby is outside, try to cover as much of their skin as possible, including their head and feet.

Socks under sandals, hats with flaps, long-sleeved t-shirts and trousers – the more clothing, the better.

Mosquitoes can bite through knitted clothing but have trouble with woven fabric, so a stiff cotton shirt will provide more protection than a stretchy swimsuit.

7. Dress your baby in neutral-colored clothing

Dark or bright-colored clothes and/ or flowery prints can make your baby more vulnerable to sight hunters so add an extra layer of protection.

Beige, khaki, olive and other neutral colors do not attract (or in lesser degree) insects including mosquitoes.

 

8  Avoid using scented lotions or soaps

There are hundreds of different species of mosquito – some find their prey by sight, others sense the carbon dioxide on your breath, others are attracted to the smell of a human body.

Strong-smelling skincare products can attract the mosquitoes which hunt by scent.

 

9. Use synthetic repellents

Once you’ve cleared mosquitoes away from the area and wrapped your baby in layers, chemical repellents are the final step to deter any remaining mozzies.

The insecticides DEET and picaridin can both be used on babies from two months old.

Mosquito repellents are rated by the percentage of active ingredient they contain – usually 5% to 30% for DEET, 7 to 20% for picaridin.

Popular choices are;

• Premium Insect Repellent with 20% Picaridin by Sawyer Products
• Repellent products with that contain up to 30 percent DEET

A higher percentage doesn’t mean that the repellent is more effective, only that it lasts longer.

Insect repellents are safe if used as directed, so always remember to follow the instructions closely.

Apply repellent sparingly to your baby’s exposed skin, do not apply to the skin underneath his or her clothes.

Spray the lotion onto your own hands before rubbing onto your baby’s exposed skin, so there’s no risk of them inhaling the vapor.

Avoid rubbing repellent too close to your baby’s eyes, mouth, or ears, and keep it off his hands in case he sucks on them.

10. Think about sunscreen

Some products contain both bug repellent and sunscreen, which is a convenient way to protect your baby quickly before short trips outside.

They aren’t recommended for longer periods of time, because sunscreen needs reapplying far more frequently than insect repellent.

The American Academy of Pediatrics advises against using products that combine sunscreen and DEET because:

DEET should not be applied more than once a day in children.

WebMD refers to as study that showed that combining sunscreen with DEET caused the skin to absorb the insect repellent more than three times faster than when used alone.

If you’re planning to apply sunscreen and insect repellent separately, make sure to apply the sunscreen first – otherwise it can mask the effectiveness of the insect repellent.

An often recommended bug spray with SPF for babies is Avon Skin-So-Soft Bug Guard plus Picaridin.

11. Try a natural alternative

Many parents are wary of using strong chemicals on their baby’s delicate skin, and everything from olive oil to woodsmoke has been recommended as a natural mosquito repellent.

Oil of lemon eucalyptus, or PMD, is the only alternative remedy recommended by the American Centre for Disease Control. It has been proven to be as effective as DEET, but needs reapplying more frequently.

• Officially, it isn’t recommended by the CDC for children under 3: this is because it hasn’t been tested on babies, not because it is believed to be dangerous.

Repellents containing oil of lemon eucalyptus are sold under the Off! Familycare Botanicals as well as Cutter and Repel Natural brands.

Other science-backed plant-based mosquito repellents include neem, catnip, hairy basil, and verbena; carriers such as coconut oil, soybean oil, and vanillin can help to boost their efficiency.

These pungent plants can reduce bites by 70-100%. The problem is that many natural remedies are effective against only certain species of mosquito, unlike synthetic repellents which repel all types.

12. Treat your kid’s clothing

To reduce the risk of bites still further, you can apply repellent to your baby’s clothing as well as their skin. This can be as simple as spraying your baby’s clothes with the same repellent you’re applying to their skin.

For a longer-lasting solution, you can treat their clothes with permethrin; the chemical is odorless to humans and will repel insects for 5-6 washes.

The bottom line

Physical blocks like nets and fans will keep away most of the mosquitoes, and insect repellent are likely to do the rest. Be smart about where and when you take your baby as well as clothing and skin care products you use.

Enjoy summer with your baby this year, instead of worrying about bug bites and diseases.

Not Recommended

Citronella candles

In studies, citronella candles and torches have been shown to ward off the little blood-suckers to some extent. These candles produce smoke that confuses mosquitoes, thus interfering with their ability to smell us and find us.

There are some considerable downsides though.

Research also shows that their range of effectiveness is very limited, less than 2 metres and then only if there’s no breeze.

What’s more is that research has found that there are large particles in the smoke these candles produce.

These aerosol emissions may raise concerns about how safe it is to regularly breathe in this smoke. Not something you will want to burn in your baby’s bedroom.

Image: sabianmaggy. 

Mosquitoes are the world’s most hated insect. In many areas they carry deadly diseases; even in places where mosquitoes are technically harmless, the itching from their bites can drive you crazy. Nothing ruins a summer’s evening faster than a swarm of bloodsuckers.

An effective mosquito repellent is a must if you’re spending time outside in warm weather. There are dozens of different formulations available, from scary high-DEET insecticides to fragrant herbal concoctions.

The trouble with chemical repellents is that you have to keep re-applying every few hours, which can be a real inconvenience if you’re spending long periods of time outdoors.

And there’s always the chance of missing a spot, which means mosquitoes will make a feast of your single bare patch of skin.

Covering up can help to reduce bites – long sleeves, trousers, closed-toe shoes. But just covering up isn’t enough: thin or stretchy fabrics won’t protect you.

To prevent mosquito bites, dress wisely. You can either block the mosquitoes physically, or use a chemical barrier which repels them.

it takes more than a cork hat to protect yourself from mosquitoes

1) Fabric

Knitted fabrics contain millions of tiny holes which can be easily pierced by a mosquito’s sharp proboscis. Most athletic clothes (like t-shirts and base layers) are made from knit fabrics, which means standard outdoors gear may not protect you from bites.

Tough woven textures provide better protection; the firmer the fabric the better. A tightly-woven nylon or polyester shirt will physically block the mosquitoes from getting to you.

The drawback is that this sort of fabric can feel quite stiff and uncomfortable, so look for fabrics which contain 5-10% spandex or elastane for stretch.

2) Style

The ultimate mosquito barrier is woven polyester. But this can be quite sweaty, so make sure your clothing has extra ventilation to improve breathability: look for underarm mesh, half-zips, and roll-up sleeves, as well as wicking technology which pulls sweat away from your skin.

3) What you should know about color

There’s a common myth that mosquitoes will be attracted to bright colors, but this is only half true. Male mosquitoes feed on flowers; it’s the female mosquitoes which suck blood, and they generally hunt by scent rather than sight.

Splashy clothing might make males think you are a colorful plant, but they will buzz around you harmlessly.

Bloodsucking females follow the smell of your sweat or the carbon dioxide on your breath; they wouldn’t notice your clothing if you wore a Carmen Miranda headdress.

Dull-colored clothing can help to stop insects swarming around you, but it won’t make you any less likely to be bitten.

4) Headnets and hats

In areas where the bugs are really dense, a headnet is a lifesaver. It not only prevents bites, but also stops bugs flying into your eyes and mouth.

Nets such as the best-selling Qibox headnet, are commonly held in place by a firm-brimmed hat at the top and a ring of metal at the bottom, to keep the netting away from your face.

An elasticated bottom stops creepy-crawlies getting under the net from below. Nets come in various thicknesses: mosquito netting is loosely woven, whereas midge (no-see-um) netting is finer to prevent smaller bugs from squeezing through.

Unless midges are a real problem in your area, mosquito netting is usually a better bet.

The plastic in the stiff hat brim can make you sweaty, and the looser weave of mosquito netting makes it cooler as well as easier to see through.

5) Inbuilt mosquito repellent

If you’re sick of just blocking mozzies and want to actively repel them, try mosquito-repellent clothing. It’s used by the US Army in tropical areas, as they don’t want their soldiers laid low by malaria or swatting bugs when they’re trying to creep unseen through the undergrowth.

The active ingredient in mosquito-repellent clothing is a powerful insecticide called permethrin. Odorless to humans, it repels not only mosquitoes but a variety of other biting insects, from midges to ticks.

Clothes are imbued with permethrin in the factory: the beneficial effects are said to last for up to 70 washes, which is the lifespan of an average garment.

“when permethrin is infused to fabric the bug repellent is more effective and longer-lasting when compared with spraying on the skin”

Mosquito-repellent clothes offer 99% protection against mosquitoes for the areas of skin they cover. Permethrin not only repels mosquitoes, but kills them dramatically if they do land.

Your clothes will protect the skin for a short distance around – so a short-sleeved shirt, for example, will also stop your neck and forearms from getting bitten.

You will still need repellent on exposed areas of skin, but you don’t have to worry getting nibbled underneath your collar or cuffs.

“permethrin is the only pesticide approved by the EPA for pre-treated fabrics”

6) How to care for mosquito repellent clothing

The great thing is that these clothes are easy to care for; you don’t need to take any steps to preserve the protection, just chuck them in the washing machine with a standard laundry detergent.

Dry-cleaning should be avoided as will remove the protective coating – but not many people dry-clean their mosquito nets anyway.

7) Do you want a physical or chemical barrier?

It really depends on your personal preferences, and how bad the bugs are in your area.
The big benefit of mosquito-repellent clothing is that you can use less insect repellent on your skin – you’ll need to apply it only to the exposed areas.

It’s a great choice if you have sensitive skin, because the chemicals stick to your clothes rather than your skin. The permethrin soak is applied to clothes after they have been finished, and it doesn’t affect the feeling of the fabric or reduce its moisture-wicking properties.

On the other hand, these clothes are expensive – about $10 more than standard travel gear, which isn’t cheap to start with – and the repellent effect decreases slowly with washing.

Permethrin is also extremely deadly to aquatic life. Though the amount in a single item of clothing is small, some consumers worry about the cumulative effect of permethrin soaking into rivers from hikers’ gear.

8) Should you wear treated clothing from head to toe?

The effect of permethrin is much more noticeable on thin fabrics, such as t-shirts. Clothes like jackets and hiking trousers are usually thick enough to discourage mosquitoes, whether or not they have been treated.

If you like the idea of mosquito-repellent gear but don’t want to replace your whole travel wardrobe, consider getting chemically-treated hats or wristbands. Sweat and friction mean that the face and hands are the hardest areas to protect, so a fug of insecticide from your clothes will help to prevent bites.

You can buy permethrin-treated socks, such as these BugsAway Purdom Hiker Socks which are an excellent choice even if you choose not to use the repellent on the rest of your clothes. They repel ticks and other nasty bugs too.

By their nature, socks have to be made of stretchy knitted material, and there’s no way you can wrap a physical barrier like woven polyester around your feet.

This means that you ankles are like an all-you-can-eat buffet for insects. Insecticide-treated socks will not only stop bites, they will also discourage ticks from making their way up your legs.

9) Are there other options?

Commercially-made mosquito repellent clothing tends to be designed for travellers and hikers. Everything is sturdy and practical, but there’s a fairly limited range of styles and colors.

If you don’t like what’s available, it’s possible to mosquito-proof any item of clothing by soaking it in diluted permethrin at home. The effect will last for 5-6 washes, and works for any type of fabric.

You can also buy the chemical in a spray bottle to spritz onto your clothes: this will only last for a couple of washes, but it’s a quick and easy treatment.

10) What else do you need to consider?

It sounds obvious, but many people forget that mosquito-blocking clothing also needs to be comfortable. Whether you choose chemical treatments or a physical barrier, make sure that the clothes are breathable and easy to wash.

Present-day mosquito repellent clothing  has come a long way in terms of sporting breathable, odor-free fabric that feels soft to the skin and does not get sticky from sweating .

Look for features like fast-drying, moisture-wicking fabrics, mesh and zips for ventilation, and SPF protection for sunny days.

The Dalai Lama famously said,

“Anyone who thinks they are too small to make a difference, has never slept in a room with a mosquito.”

The little pests get everywhere. This summer, you can rest easy, knowing that your clothes will protect you from bugs and bites.

Recommended products

Popular mosquito-proof clothing choices on Amazon are Coghlan’s Bug Jacket and Coghlan’s Bug Pants.

2 Tips for extra safety

If you’re not fully protected by wearing quality mosquito protection clothes, make sure to;

•  use DEET (it’s safe when used appropriately) and

• sleep under a good mosquito net when camping. You will be glad you did:

Images, Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons.