Should Children Be Exposed To Mosquito Repellant Products?

Mosquitoes have caused various life threatening diseases in tropical countries like India especially during the monsoons. These small creatures carry disease causing germs such as malaria, filaria and dengue fever from one person to the other, from one animal to the other and from animal to human and vice versa.

It is good to note that mosquito repellents help to ward off mosquitoes for a short time depending on the body type, climatic conditions and state of body, but can never destroy them fully.

You could have a wide range of mosquito repellents, but not all of them may prove suitable and ideal for your baby. The choice varies between synthetic chemicals and plant derivatives that are found in the form of creams, lotions, sprays, wipes, roll-on sticks, foams, liquid vaporizers, sprays, coils, and mats. In addition you could have electronic devices that depend on electromagnetic fields and ultrasound waves to repel mosquitoes.

Your choice of the best repellent depends purely on your baby’s needs and the precautions that need to be taken. It is best to consult your child’s pediatrician and a dermatologist that could suggest the best mosquito repellent.

Pediatricians advise avoiding the use of mosquito repellent creams and lotions on infants below the age of 6 months as these chemicals could cause allergic and toxic reactions when applied directly to the baby’s skin.

However it is advised that if you must use a cream or lotion it is best to consult your child specialist and then apply the repellent on the child’s clothes making sure you avoid areas where the child could put it in the mouth.

The use of liquid vaporizers, coils, sprays, and foams are highly unadvisable as they could cause breathing allergies and problems in your baby. In case you must, take your baby in when the fumes are let off.

The use of baby mosquito nets and natural or herbal remedies are safer until the baby is older. Try lighting Citronella candles to ward off mosquitoes in your baby's room.

It is worth noting that essential oils like margosa, citronella, peppermint, and eucalyptus can help ward off mosquitoes, however it is unadvisable to apply these oils directly on the skin as they are strong, however putting a few drops on the bedding would help. Mopping the floors with a few drops of essential oils added to the water would help and prove safe also.

Prevention would help rather than repelling mosquitoes especially for children. Maintaining a clean home and avoiding stagnant water standing in coolers, flowerpots, open drains, small ponds, bird baths, pets' utensils and other water bodies and adding a few drops of kerosene oil in the water would prevent breeding of mosquitoes.

In addition make sure your child does not perspire when you leave it unattended, for mosquitoes breed in humidity. Preferring to dress your baby in light colored, clothes fully covering the body would help prevent mosquito bites.

In addition, avoiding strong fragrance in the form of lotions, soap, oils or floral scented perfumes or room fresheners would help avoid the attraction of mosquitoes. In addition keeping food covered always would help prevent breeding of mosquitoes.

Last but most important, fix wire mesh and screens on doors and windows and keep them closed always especially during dawn and dusk and help your baby get fresh air but with freedom from mosquitoes.

Owen Jones writes articles on various subjects, but is currently involved with the hand held bug zapper. If you are interested too, come over to our site at the Electronic Insect Killer.