Wondering How to Keep Mosquitoes Away from Babies?

When they are buzzing about you outside, mosquitoes can be a pain. However, if you're a new parent, you probably worry the most about mosquito bites when you're outside. Knowing how to prevent mosquito bites on babies will give you peace of mind and enable your child to enjoy the great outdoors without getting bitten.

While babies, especially newborns, shouldn’t be exposed to the same repellents often used by adults to fend off pests, there are steps you can take to protect your baby.

Don’t let a fear of mosquitoes prevent you and your baby from enjoying warm summer days—use these six tips for how to keep mosquitoes away from babies:

1. Clothe the Baby from Head-to-Toe

2. Stay Inside at Dawn, Dusk, and Post-Rainfall

Mosquitoes are most active at dawn, dusk, and following rainy weather. If possible, keep your baby inside during these times of the day.

3. Only Use Baby-Safe Mosquito Repellents

Paediatricians do not recommend mosquito repellent be applied to newborns, but there are products available for children older than two months. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC), using a repellent that contains 10% to 30% DEET—a liquid that prevents insects from landing on skin or clothing—is effective. Ten per cent DEET repellent gives your baby about two hours of protection, while 30% offers approximately five hours. Paediatricians recommend choosing the lowest concentration of DEET that will provide the necessary length of protection. When applying repellants containing DEET on infants, avoid cuts, scratches, and the area around the eyes and mouth.

4. Protect Carriers and Strollers with a Net

A great way to keep mosquitoes from coming near your baby is to drape a fitted mesh net over the baby carrier, stroller, or car seat. Purchase netting that has small enough holes to block the mosquitoes from entering. Mesh netting is available at most home improvement and outdoor stores.

5. Avoid Using Scented Lotions, Soaps, and Perfumes

Fragranced products such as lotions, soaps, perfumes, hair sprays, and even scented laundry detergent can attract mosquitoes. Use fragrance-free products when you plan to spend time outside. Read labels to make sure products do not have fragrance added before applying them on the baby.

6. Stay Away from Popular Mosquito Hangouts

Where do mosquitoes congregate? That’s where you want to avoid! Stay away from these mosquito hot spots to prevent your little one from getting bit:

While the thought of a mosquito bite on your sweet baby is enough to cause concern, in most cases, a mosquito bite is annoying but does not pose a serious health risk. According to the CDC , most kinds of mosquitoes are just a nuisance, but certain species can spread viruses that may cause disease, so it’s a good idea to take all steps necessary to keep mosquitoes away from babies. If your baby happens to get a bite, we have the tips to help you stop the itch fast .

One of the most important steps to keep these pesky pests away from your baby is to add an extra layer of defence against mosquitoes to your yard. 24/7 Local Pest Control provides professional barrier treatments custom-designed for optimal mosquito control on your property. Our team is dedicated to making your yard itch-free so you and your family can make memories, not swat away mosquitoes.  Call us at (833) 220-1001 or contact us online to schedule our highly effective mosquito control solutions.