Is insect repellent necessary?

kerby1013 · May 2013

I hope I don't sound like a bad mom, but is insect repellent really necessary? What's wrong with a couple mosquito bites?

memali26 · May 2013

West Nile virus can be carried by mosquitoes and has been an issue in our area before, as well as ticks that could carry Lyme Disease, so when we are in a heavily wooded area I'll take the extra precaution of insect repellent. When we're just playing in our own backyard or the playgrounds in town I don't worry too much about it.

kc192 · May 2013

There are tons of mosquitoes in our area and several cases of West Nile deaths last year. Since the young and elderly are most susceptible I give LO a few squirts before we're going to be out a while. (Burt's bees makes a nice natural kind) Plus, the bites drive him nuts! If being out just meant a bite or two every once in a while I probably wouldn't bother but that's just not usually the case!

TiffanyBerry · May 2013

Depends on your kid. If my daughter is anything like me, she'll be a mosquito magnet and also be allergic to them. And it sucks (I got to be on a 10-day course of oral steroids for a 1-night backpacking trip.) :

IMG_1778.JPG by tarnalberry, on Flickr

(I got to be on a 10-day course of oral steroids for a 1-night backpacking trip.)

Of course, you won't know if that's the case until you've been in the situation, but I would keep it handy and keep an eye on how much the bugs swarm LO, and apply to clothing if necessary.

tbmadeamistake · May 2013

I'm also allergic to mosquito bites and will be watching LO closely come summer. Same as PPs, a bite here or there won't bother me but if she seems to be getting a lot I'll step in. I went to a conference on Lyme Disease and learned that DEET is fine as long as it's washed off within 24 hours. I'll find a lower concentrate and use that if needed.

dairygirl19 · May 2013

I only use it if we happen to be in a wooded area/camping or out at a bugg-y time of night.

Where I live mosquitos are everywhere but they're only out at certain times of the day.

I hate everything about bug spray no matter how natural so I don't use it in my day to day normal outside playing life.

jgallegos0316 · May 2013

i too am allergic and fear my son is too... he swells enormously when he gets bit! I use babyganics insect repellent. It is paraben free, sulfate free and synthetic ingredient free, no artificial colrs, no petroleum.. i love it

Karen1998 · May 2013

Where we live, yes. West Nile is bad here and honestly, there's no time of day I can go outside and not get bitten. Little kids tend to be "sweeter" to the mosquitoes than adults, so LO is even more of a mosquito magnet than me.

I use high level DEET for me, or Avon's Skin So Soft, as literally nothing else will work on me. The mosquitoes laugh at the natural stuff on me. For LO, I use a lower level of DEET. I've also ordered the Honest brand version of the natural stuff to see if it has any effectiveness for him. DEET makes me hot, so I'm willing to try just about anything else.

ETA: I also have a minor allergy to them. The picture that the other poster posted is how I'd look on a normal morning or evening if I went out without repellent, though she has way better legs than I do. Fogging the yard does help, but only for a few hours.

harmonicbabe26 · May 2013

For some rason I get bit more than anybody I know. i once had about 20 bites on each leg after having a dinner outside with friends one evening,

while there is nothing wrong with the bites themselves, you can't really explain to a toddler not to scratch which of course makes it worse etc.

that's besides the fact that there are some serious diseases carried by mosquitos.

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Is insect repellent necessary?

Re: Is insect repellent necessary?

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