Rebecca Wilson, FNP-BC
Summer is here and that means a lot of outdoor fun for everyone. Fight the bite this summer by following these simple steps for to help prevent mosquito bites on your little ones:
- Avoid using scented soaps, perfumes or hairsprays
- Avoid areas were insects are (standing water, gardens with blooming flowers)
- Avoid combination sunscreen/insect repellant because the frequency of application varies. Sunscreen should be reapplied at least every 2 hours, where bug spray should not be reapplied
- The American Academy of Pediatrics and the CDC recommend using insect repellant for children older than 2 months of age that contains 10 to 30 percent DEET
- DEET should not be used on children less than 2 months of age
- Never apply insect repellant directly to your child’s face
- Avoid breathing it and contact with the eyes
- Read and always use insect repellants as instructed on the manufacturer’s label
- Always wash insect repellant off as soon as possible, once the child is indoors
- When outdoors in the evenings, make sure your child wears long sleeves, pants, and socks to prevent mosquito bites
- Calamine lotion is good to have in the house to provide comfort and relief of itching from insect bites (safe to use on infants and children)
- If concerned about any bites that your child may have, contact your healthcare provider for guidance
Find more summer safety tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics here .
Have fun this summer and stay safe!