I know I am not the only person who has this problem and now I was wondering what the rest of you do. I have a 14month and a 3 year old and they both love the outdoors. But we live in the south and so do the pests. Yesterday we came in and my 14 month was covered in bites and I found a tick on my three year old. So my question is how do you other moms keep the biting pests away?
I've found that Avon's Bug Guard products work pretty well. I've used the kind with an SPF in it and now I'm trying the kind with Picaridin in it which is a DEET alternative. So far so good with that too as we went camping last weekend and had no problems with bugs!
Good luck
S.
Avon's Skin So Soft works wonders. I prefer the gel, it is a lot less messy. After one spill from the oil, I learned my lesson!
When I was in the USMC we took Avon Skin So Soft Bath Oil and poured it on our skin straight. Kept everything off and we all smelled so **pretty**.
If it's not too hot out, try wearing light weight long sleeve tops and long pants. I know deet is not good for kids or adults, but it does work.. do not spray it on your skin only on your clothing. If it needs to be applied to the skin I use Off Skintastic.
Wear a hat thats covered in bug spray. Also spray your socks and shoes.
I feel for you. My son is also 14 months old, we also live in the South, and yes, the bugs are atrocious! I have tried every natural thing under the sun and nothing seems to be quite as effective as I need it to be (the best so far, however, is Badger Bug Balm). I refuse to use traditional "chemical" products. Fun outside is best enjoyed in water-- as in, physically immersed in the ocean, or running through some sprinklers which spray pretty decent (bugs can't hack it). If you discover some magic trick (I have tried all the other suggestions listed here at one point or another, and have simply come to the conclusion that the mosquitoes in the south are of a different, hardier breed and there is basically nothing short of a nuclear bomb that can stop them).
Avon SkinSoSoft worked great even when hiking in Ocala, FL during August.
I use OFF Skintastic. I use it on all my children and they do fine with it. I just make sure not to put it on their hands.
Go to your local Walmart and in the hunting/outdoor section get a Thermocell. It is a small contraption with a butane heater that heats a pad with bug repellant on it. Just lay it around where you're sitting, under a chair or on a table and within 20 minutes or so you'll notice there are NO bugs around you. It even keeps flys away after a bit. That works great for us and we live in lower GA. Its supposed to work for like 20 feet or something.
I absolutely love the way you described your question! I live in Minnesota and we have horrible mosquitos and ticks. My brother was just in the ER to have antibiotics after being bitten by a deer tick.
I use Jason's "Quit Buggin' Me" spray and have never had any problems.
Good luck!
There are some natural plants that you can keep if you are outside playing in a confined or smaller specific area. We get mosquitos pretty bad around my house. So I planted a ton of geraniums around our house and throughout our back yard. I even have potted ones on the back patio and by the front door. If I notice the mosquitos have come out to feast I brush the plants around to release the oils and they usually vacate the area. I know you can buy online (or through garden supply catalog) a "shoo" geranium that is specifically for this problem. You may want to check into what varieties are the best pest repellant before buying and planting. I don't think I did or if I did it was so long ago I just don't remember anymore.
When we are on the go I carry those wipes (I think many repellant brands carry them) and usually just rub them all over clothing and stuffing some in pockets, wastebands, even into hats and pony tail holders. This works well without the product directly on the skin. But Avon brand repellant work well!
Hope this helps :)
In addition to the other suggestions, there is a completely natural, nontoxic extract called Neem Oil that has been reported to work as a repellent. It's so safe that for centuries it's been used in India in skin conconctions and for tooth-brushing. I haven't tried it as a repellent, but I do spray it in my garden to very effectively limit insect damage.
Skin So Soft on the back of their necks and around their ankles should help keep the bugs away, and keep the stuff out of their eyes. I've also seen coils of bug repellent (wear on wrist) in drugstores that are mostly citranella, and that may help. We also spray our yard with a bug killer a couple of times troughout the sumer when the bugs are REALLY bad...I know, I hate using chemicals, but if we didn't, the gnats would carry us away! We do it in the morning when we know we'll be out, and don't let anyone outside until we know it's dry. When the bugs are bad, we just know well be putting them in the bath right away.
Hi M.,
W usually spend our summers in Florida camping so I understand the bug thing....I use a natural homemade bugspray as well that is not only safe but good for the skin. I shower in the morning and rub it on like lotion and I'm good til my next shower. It's not sticky, smelly or greasy. If I forget it I get eaten! Let me know if you're interested and I can fill you in.
Dodge the DEET, there's too much brain damage associated with it and check out the Avon products on www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/ This website has a zillion products on it with their toxicity level. I know there are dangers associated with mosquito bites and other bugs, but know what you are putting on their skin. Whatever it is, the skin absorbs it into the blood stream and will wreak havoc on multiple organs if it's not safe.
Hope I helped!
M.
I use an all natural safe homemade bug spray. I live up North so not sure what bugs u have but it works for us!
Good Luck!
M.
My pediatrician said to use up to 30% DEET on kids over 6 months. Wash it off when you are done outside. 30% lasts 8 hours, 7% lasts 2 hours.
I also use a Thermocell when we're just hanging out on the patio or driveway. It's great to keep bugs away, but won't work if the kids are running around more than 10 feet away.
Also, I saw signs on peoples' yards last summer where they had the yard professionally sprayed and they said it worked wonders.
We moved to Arkansas 2 yrs ago and we are SHOCKED at how many bugs there are here and mosquitoes galore! I know this isn't what you are wanting to hear but we stay inside mostly during these months not only cuz its soooo hot out but to stop from being chewed alive too. There is these things you can get from Lowes and Home Depot that are yard foggers and they really help with the biting bugs. Our neighbor across the street used them and swears by them. She just told me about them a few days ago so I am going to be giving them a try too. Good luck! The heat is enough to keep us inside though :-)
Nothing works on me except for something with DEET in it. I use Family OFF for most of us -although sometimes for me I need Deep Woods. You can try the Burt's Bees natural stuff. I tried it when pregnant, and it helped, but wasn't a true deterrent. It may work better on your kids though. It all depends on your pheremones!
