How to protect children from insect bites and stings
The best way to protect infants and small children is by using netting over beds and strollers and dressing them in long-sleeved, tightly woven clothing.
DEET is the most effective insect repellent but it should not be used on children under 6 months. A repellent that has less than 10% DEET can be used once a day on children older than 6 months and up to 2 years. Older children can use a repellent containing less than 10% DEET up to 3 times in 1 day.
Icaridin effectively protects against mosquitoes, ticks and black flies for up to 8 hours depending on the strength of the product used. It is safe to use in children over 6 months of age.
Use products that contain soybean oil on small children. Studies have shown these products are very safe with duration of action of 3.5 hours. These products do not protect against ticks.
Do not use repellents containing citronella or lavender oil on children less than 2 years of age. There is not enough information to know whether they can harm small children. Duration of action is 30 minutes to 2 hours.
To use insect repellent safely on children:
Apply the product lightly and only to exposed skin. Do not apply to open wounds or irritated skin. Do not apply to a child's hands or face. Wash insect repellent off when protection is no longer needed.
If you have any questions regarding this article, please don't hesitate to call us at 403-487-2236. We would be happy to help! See you next month!
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