Protecting Your Baby from Mosquito and Insect Bites

Summer time means your family has more time to spend enjoying the great outdoors. However, being outdoors exposes your family, especially your baby; to a number of Mosquito and other insect bites usually leave nothing more than an itchy bump on your baby’s skin. However, mosquitoes and other bugs are known to be carriers of serious diseases such as dengue, West Nile Virus, arboviral encephalitis and malaria among others. Here is how to protect your baby from mosquito and insect bites.

First and foremost, do not bring your baby to places where there are plenty of bugs and mosquitoes. Places with stagnant water are usually the breeding ground of mosquitoes and other insects. Other places where bugs and mosquitoes thrive include lakes, woods, flower gardens, and food parks.

Look for a mosquito or insect repellent that is safe for your baby. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises parents to use mosquito or infant repellents that contain only 10 percent DEET, the most effective chemical repellent, on babies, particularly on infants. However, there are mosquito and insect repellents out in the market today that do not contain DEET as well as other chemicals like parabens, sulfates, phthalates, and other toxins, yet are still effective in repelling insects and protecting your kids from insect bites. These baby-safe insect repellents contain non-toxic, all natural ingredients to keep your baby safe from pests.

Before stepping out of the house, make sure to spray just the right amount of insect or mosquito repellent on your baby’s clothes, and then some on your hands and apply it on your baby’s skin.

Choose tightly woven clothing for your baby to wear. Choose ones that cover most of your baby’s exposed skin. Also, it has been found that light-colored clothes repel mosquitoes better than dark-colored clothes. Do not forget to protect your baby’s feet with a pair of socks and/or shoes.

Avoid staying outdoors during dusk and dawn as these are the times of the day when mosquitoes are most rampant.

You might also consider getting mosquito netting for your baby’s strollers, cots, play mats, prams and other outdoor baby products.

Do not forget to reapply insect repellent after swimming or after activities that make your baby sweat.

There are several other things you can do to protect your baby and the rest of your family from mosquitoes and other bugs. For instance, you can try:

·         Covering up left over food and cleaning up immediately after eating so as not to attract insects into your home. Clean up spills and other messes immediately as swell.

·         Installing fly screens on your windows

·         Avoiding wearing perfumes, lotions, soaps, and scented oils that attract insects, especially when you are carrying your baby outdoors.

·         Spraying rooms with insecticides to eliminate pests. Your can also try using an electric gadget that releases repellent into your rooms in the evening. These devices are generally plugged into an electric socket. The repellent, which is often permethrin, is contained in a bottle or small pad.