Keep Your Child Protected From Mosquitoes Without Harmful Chemicals With These Eco-Friendly And Non-Toxic Bug Sprays For Kids
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As a parent, protecting your child from mosquito bites is a top priority, but you also want to avoid exposing them to harmful chemicals.
That’s where deet-free bug sprays come in. These products offer a safe and effective alternative to traditional bug sprays, without the potential risks associated with DEET.
In this blog post, we’ll explore the benefits of using a DEET-free bug spray for kids and provide some recommendations for the best natural repellents on the market.
What Is DEET And Why Is It Harmful?
DEET (chemical name N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) is a chemical that is commonly found in insect repellents. And although it is effective in repelling bugs, it can also be harmful to humans—especially children.
Below are several examples of how DEET affects human beings as well as our environment. Despite these concerns, DEET remains a widely used insect repellent due to its effectiveness in preventing insect bites, but you have to ask yourself if it’s worth your health.
- DEET bug sprays can cause skin irritation and allergic reactions in people.
- Overuse of DEET bug sprays can lead to toxic buildup in the body.
- DEET bug sprays are harmful to aquatic life and can contaminate water sources.
- DEET bug sprays can also harm non-targeted insects, such as bees and butterflies.
- The production and disposal of DEET bug sprays contribute to environmental pollution.
Are Plant Based Insect Repellents Better For Kids?
Plant-based insect repellents are a much safer option for kids compared to chemical-based sprays formulated with DEET, and many can be placed on babies as young as 6 months old!
Plant-based bug sprays are made with natural ingredients such as citronella, lemongrass, and peppermint, to name a few; and these ingredients are just as effective in repelling bugs as DEET, but without the harmful side effects.
Additionally, plant-based repellents are environmentally friendly as they do not contribute to the pollution of air and water. They also do not target friendly insects such as bees, making them a safer and healthier choice for kids.
Why Should You Trust Me?
I’m a mom with two kids and we happen to live in NW Florida where mosquitos are a nuisance pretty much year round! And with that said, I’ve gotten to experiment with a few repellents and hacks, and can honestly say that not all are created equal.
Above is an image of my 9 year old with a mosquito bite in early March. We were out on a walk in the late afternoon without any bug protection and got bombarded by a few really bad bugs.
Both of my children have skeeter syndrome when it comes to bug bites, which causes an allergic reaction resulting in swelling, redness, and intense itching—so we have to be xtra cautious when outside during mosquito season.
With that said, below are my recommendations for some of the best plant-based bug sprays that will effectively keep your children protected from mosquitos without exposing them to harmful chemicals.
These brands are also vegan and cruelty free, making them a great choice for those who are conscious about the products they use. So say goodbye to harsh chemicals and hello to a natural solution for keeping bugs at bay.
Best DEET-Free Bug Sprays For Kids In 2023
Kinfield “Golden Hour” DEET-Free Repellent
Active Ingredients:
Citronella, Lemongrass, Clove
My number one recommendation for your entire family is Golden Hour plant-based bug spray by Kinfield. If this brand sounds familiar, it’s because they were featured on the show “Shark Tank”.
This spring, My kids and I started using Kinfield’s Golden Hour mosquito spray and I must say, it’s the best repellent we’ve used in a while. It has a really strong scent, but this chemical-free bug spray works like a charm! The formula lasts for several hours, and is strong enough for for hiking or wooded areas.
Golden Hour contains a unique strain of Citronella found in Bali, and coupled with other essential oils like lemongrass and Clove, this powerful and unique plant-based blend has repelled not only mosquitos, but ticks and other nasty bugs as well.
Remember the photo of my son earlier in the article? Well, the next day we went out for a walk around the same time of day with this bug spray, and mosquitos completely avoided us like the plague. It was AMAZING! We did smell really strong, but believe me, it is 100% worth it!
BabyGanics Natural Insect Repellent
Active Ingredients:
Rosemary, Lemongrass, Peppermint, Citronella
In our experience, Babyganics is a very effective plant-based repellent that provides excellent protection against mosquitos, and it was the very first DEET free repellent that I ever purchased when my kids were younger.
Though it contains citronella, the scent is more tolerable compared to other bug sprays—it leans more toward lemon and rosemary. It’s also more oily than most bug sprays, but comes off just fine in the bath.
A majority of the natural ingredients are also organic, and it’s great for sensitive skin. With Babyganics, your child can enjoy the outdoors without worrying about insect bites or exposure to harmful chemicals.
All-Terrain Kids Herbal Armor Natural Insect Repellent
Active Ingredients:
Citronella, Peppermint, Cedarwood, Lemongrass, Geranium
This highly effective plant-based bug repellent was created by a hiker who had a mishap with a DEET-based insect repellent while out hiking. Needless to say, the chemicals leaked all over his travel essentials, and the chemicals destroyed several items.
The DEET apparently melted the ink off of his currency calculator which he needed on his trip since he was in a foreign country. If DEET can do that to ink, can you imagine the damage it can do to our body? Yikes!
With that said, the All Terrain Kids Herbal Armor Natural Insect Repellent was born, and it consists of 6 very effective yet safe oils that mosquitos and ticks hate. It is ideal for hiking, camping, and overall being in wooded areas where your little ones are big targets.
Badger Certified Organic Bug Spray
Active Ingredients:
Citronella, Rosemary, Lemongrass
Badger certified Organic bug repellent is a highly effective insect repellent that is made from all organic ingredients and manufactured in solar powered facilities.
It is designed to repel mosquitos, ticks, and other biting insects, and is safe for use on both adults and children. The repellent is made with a blend of essential oils, including citronella, rosemary, and lemongrass, which work together to create a powerful barrier against insects.
I love that this bug spray comes in an aluminum bottle which is rugged, lightweight, easy to carry, and easy to recycle. The formula lasts about 3 hours, and is strong enough for for hiking or wooded areas.
California Baby Natural Bug Repellent
Active Ingredients:
Cedar, Lemongrass, Citronella
This all-natural bug spray is safe even for the tiniest member of your family. If your baby is 6 months old and up, then you’ll feel confident protecting them from bugs with this gentle yet effective chemical free repellent.
You’ll also be pleasantly surprised that this repellent doubles as itch relief. With a blend of calendula and Aloe Vera, this formula will calm baby’s itchy skin.
With its pleasant scent and non-greasy texture, California Baby Natural Bug Repellent is a must-have for babies and kids who wants to enjoy the great outdoors without the annoyance of bug bites.
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