Seeking NATURAL Mosquito Bite Prevention

Updated on May 17, 2010
T.R. asks from Northridge, CA
23 answers

We just moved to an area near a lot of water and it is only May and the mosquitos are already biting. We all have what my grandmother called "sweet skin" and those annoying buzzing bugs seem to find us always. I have young kids and I have a sensitive immune system so things with DEET are not okay. We love being outside and don't want to spend the summer inside, nor covered in itchy red bumps or calamine lotion, (yuck). We are seeking NATURAL Mosiquito Bite Prevention suggestions that work and don't make us smell like vampires and the kids will let me put on them.

Thanks so much for your help.

1 mom found this helpful

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

Avon has a skin care product called "Soft Skin" that smells good and keeps the bugs away. It doesn't have DEET or any insecticide. My Mom used it on us when I was a kid and I use it still today. A little dab will do and a bottle lasts the summer.

2 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.A.

answers from Los Angeles on

Skin So Soft from Avon works great my son had this same issue and i would also tell him he had sweet blood lol
good luck!

1 mom found this helpful

More Answers

J.D.

answers from Columbus on

Start cooking with more garlic...apparently garlicky blood is not so tasty to bloodsucking bugs. (I can always tell, in the summer, when I need more garlic because I start getting bitten! Also, we use garlic in our pets' food to keep the fleas away--I once had a dog with so many fleas I wouldn't even go near her, someone suggested the garlic powder in her food and within TWO days she had no more fleas!)
I have also heard that if you run a dryer sheet over your skin it works as mosquito repellent.
Don't know if any of this will help or not, but at least they are more natural options than what people typically use.

3 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.N.

answers from Reno on

We live between a lake and a river and the mosquitos are terrible! The only thing that has helped us is a trick we learned from an old fisherman. Pure vanilla extract (NOT imitation) on your pulse points. Smells pretty good too!

3 moms found this helpful

L.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hello, when our family went to Costa Rica I did a lot of research on DEET-free mosquito repellants. After reading tons of reviews, we chose "Bite Blocker Xtreme" and "Buzz Away Extreme". Both worked very well! I believe I found them at Drugstore.com. Good luck!!

2 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.P.

answers from Allentown on

There's a really good, natural bug balm on www.EverythingBirth.com It's home-made & is really good! We used it last summer w/ our kids & had very good luck w/ it. If I recall, it's on sale right now. I think it's called Don't Bug Me or something.
You might want to consider getting a bat house too.---Bats will eat 1/4 to 1/2 of their body weight in bugs every day. They are the ultimate answer to getting rid of bugs naturally while bennefiting (instead of harming!) the environment.
You can build your own bat house in just a couple of hours (if that!) with about $20-30 in materials or go to a bat house workshop put on by the local bat conservatory in PA.

Hope that helps!

2 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

there's a lotion called skin so soft by avon! It works like a charm.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.H.

answers from Las Vegas on

growing up in rural New Jersey, my mom was our local Avon Lady. She used Skin So Soft on us as a repellent. Worked great, not to bad on the nose either.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.F.

answers from Los Angeles on

Citronella is a natural product to keep away the mosquitos. It comes in many forms - candles, oil, etc. We used it in Sequoia and it worked great.

Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

I'm from Costa Rica, have tried almost everything and the only thing I know works is garlic pills, two a day. They don't smell you can buy them at costco. They are a bit large but totally worth it. It takes about two weeks to start working. Good luck.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

P.K.

answers from Las Vegas on

they don't like oily surfaces. If you are using sunscreen choose a greasy one. It's gross but it does work. It's got more to do with potassium than anything. If you have critically low levels they won't bite you at all and if it's high they won't leave you alone. If possible the brightest hottest part of the day is the mosquito's least favorite. Stay out of the shade and when dusk comes head inside.
Oh yeah another mom's suggestion of the bat house...that really does work.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.L.

answers from Los Angeles on

Check out Avon's SSS Bug Guard line. It does NOT contain deet and is pediatrician reccommended.. My website is www.youravon.com/autumnlugo. Take a look and let me know if I can answer any questions for you. Thanks!

1 mom found this helpful

R.G.

answers from Dallas on

I've heard putting a dryer sheet in a pocket works well.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

E.F.

answers from Los Angeles on

California Baby products all natural has a bug repellent. They sell it at target or go to their website.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.D.

answers from Los Angeles on

We recently went camping and I got the California Baby spray bug repellent. It worked great and smelled nice. Easy to apply and all natural.

Good luck.

1 mom found this helpful

P.M.

answers from San Antonio on

T. - I feel your pain. My son and I have "sweet skin" also. I use a product called SKEDATTLE. I found this last year while looking for something for my son that didn't contain DEET due to a skin condition he has. The Skedattle works GREAT! I spray it on he and I before we go outside and the mosquitos don't touch us. It has a pleasant smell and is ALL NATURAL and environmentally friendly. I just ordered another bottle last week. You can order it from www.mexitan.com. The cost is about $12 plus shipping. Mine was $18 total. Some might think that a little pricey BUT one bottle lasted me all last year and I'm not spraying chemicals all over myself and my son.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.W.

answers from Las Vegas on

I grew up in MN and know all about mosquitos. One of the best repellents of mosquitos is Skin So Soft lotion, an Avon product. It smells really good, doesn't have the chemicals found in DEET products, and works as good as any OFF. We used it everywhere from backyard bonfires to camping. Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.K.

answers from Los Angeles on

Vitamin B complex works, but it takes about a week.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

B.R.

answers from Springfield on

We've mde our own with Neem oil, geranium oil, lemongrass oil and eucalyptus oil. Add a few drops of these to some water or glycerin in a glass spray bottle and shake well before spraying. The bottle needs to be glass because the oils can break down plastic. I got all of the oils at Whole Foods. We even use this on our dog since I don't like the idea of using those chemicals repellents like Frontline.

Another tip I picked up was to add a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to everyone juice per day. (and to the dogs water.) This will apparently change your PH level and the mosquitoes don't like the "scent" you give off.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.M.

answers from Austin on

I only know 2 things:
Dryer sheet in the pocket.
Stop eating bananas. (something in them attracts the bugs)

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.S.

answers from Minneapolis on

Tea tree oil will keep the bugs away and will help ‘treat’ any existing bug bites. My favorite bug spray is called, Herbal Armor. It works so good at keeping the bugs away and there is no DEET or chemicals…it’s all natural oils that actually smell good too! This stuff works camping, by the lake, at the cabin…EVERYWHERE! You can find it at Whole Foods or other natural foods co-ops.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.F.

answers from Los Angeles on

AVON Skin-So-Soft oil spray- You can buy it in the small spray bottle and watch for the X-large bottle to go on sale and then just use that to refill the spray bottle. It's really great on the skin and works like a charm!

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.G.

answers from Los Angeles on

Skin So Soft from Avon..... It really works! The dryer sheet works well for camping too... we put one in the pillow case, in the sleeping bag, in your pocket.... good luck

1 mom found this helpful
For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions