How safe are mosquito repellents for my child?

 

As pediatricians, we understand the concern of protecting children from mosquito bites, especially in a country like India where mosquito-borne diseases are prevalent. Here’s a guide on using natural mosquito repellents, aerosols, vaporizers, and other methods available , focusing on safety for newborns and older children.

1. Safety for Newborns: Several ‘user-friendly’ repellents like wipes, mosquito repelling sticker, roll-ons, gels, sprays, etc are not recommended in infants 👶 less than 2 months of age.

● 🚫 Repellent Usage: For newborns (under 2 months), it is generally advised to avoid direct application of repellents on their skin.

● 🛏Mosquito Nets: Use mosquito nets over cribs, baby carriers, and strollers.

● 👕 Clothing: Dress newborns in long-sleeved shirts and long pants to cover .

2. When to Apply and Age Recommendations: ● Infants (2-6 months) 👶: ○ Avoid direct application of any repellent including roll-ons ○ Use mosquito nets and protective clothing. ○ If using roll-ins, apply dots in strollers or cribs, avoiding direct contact with the baby’s skin

● Babies (6-24 months) 👧: ○ Use natural repellent creams or lotions sparingly on exposed skin, avoiding hands and face. ○ Apply roll-ons on clothing, not directly on the skin .

● Children (2 years and older)🧒: ○ Natural repellents like gels or creams can be used on exposed skin. ○ Apply roll-on products on clothes at various points ( shoulders, legs, etc.) for effective protection. ○ Ensure the product is specifically labeled as safe for children.

3. Safety Tips:

● 👗 Apply on Clothes and Exposed Skin: Only apply insect repellents on the outside of your child's clothing and on exposed skin—not under clothing.

● 👐 Use Just Enough: Use just enough repellent to cover your child's clothing and exposed skin. Using more doesn't make the repellent more effective.

● 🩹 Patch Test: Always do a patch test on a small area of skin to check for allergic reactions.

● 🚫 Avoid Sensitive Areas: Do not apply repellent on hands, eyes, mouth, or irritated or cut skin.

● 🧼 Washing Off: Wash off the repellent with soap and water once your child is indoors and no longer at risk of mosquito bites.

● 🧴 Keep Out of Reach: Keep repellents out of young children's reach to reduce the risk of unintentional swallowing.

● 🧔 Adult Supervision: It is the duty of an adult to apply repellent to children and should never be kept at their disposal.

● Short-Term Protection: These natural repellents are deemed safe but keep mosquitoes away for a short time. Reapply as needed.

● Use Roll-On Products Correctly: Roll-on products like Good Knight Fabric Roll-On should be applied on clothes and not directly on the skin.

● 🧴Sunscreen first: if you are using sunscreen, apply sunscreen first and repellent second.

Don’ts:

● 🚫Avoid DEET/Picaridin for Infants: Do not use DEET/Picaridin-containing product before the age of 3 months. Mosquito nets are the best.

● 🚫Avoid Face and Broken Skin: Do not apply over the face, near the mouth, eyes, or broken skin.

● 🚫Avoid Hands: Do not use over the hands of children as there is a risk of ingestion due to the habit of putting hands in the mouth.

● 🚫Do Not Mix Products: Do not mix different products used for various purposes as this may diminish the efficacy of the repellents.

● 🚫Stop If Allergic Reaction Occurs: Do not continue to use in case of any allergic reaction or irritation.

● 🚫Avoid Near Food: Do not spray repellents near food or in poorly ventilated rooms

● 🌀Aerosols: Mosquito repellent sprays (aerosols) can be used to treat a room before the child enters. Ensure proper ventilation and wait until the spray has settled before allowing children in the room.

● 🌫Vaporizers: Electric mosquito repellent vaporizers like all out release chemicals into the air. They are effective but should be used with caution in rooms where children sleep. Ensure good ventilation and avoid direct inhalation.

● 🌀Coils: Mosquito coils release smoke that can repel mosquitoes but contain chemicals that may not be safe for young children and newborns. Avoid using coils around infants and young children due to the potential respiratory risks.

5. Ineffective Products:

● ❌Wristbands and Ultrasonic Devices: Wristbands soaked in chemical repellents and ultrasonic devices that give off sound waves designed to keep insects away are not proven to be effective against mosquitoes. Market-Available Natural Mosquito Repellents safe for kids:

● Mamaearth Natural Mosquito Repellent Gel

● Good Knight Fabric Roll-On

● Himalaya Herbal Mosquito Guard

● Dabur Odomos Naturals

● Mother Sparsh Natural Insect Repellent