Insect Repellents
Insect bites used to be considered a simple nuisance. The biggest problem they caused was an itchy, or sometimes painful, red spot. The rise in West Nile disease and other insect-borne illnesses makes it even more important to keep your children safe from insects.
Alternatives to DEET include natural insect repellents, including those that contain citronella or soybean oil. They may not work as well as insect repellents with DEET, but they are a good alternative if you aren't convinced that DEET is safe to use on younger children.
The most commonly used insect repellents are those that are made with DEET, which can be safely used on infants as young as two months of age. Although you shouldn't put the insect repellent on your infant's hands or around her mouth or eyes, you can put it on other exposed areas of skin or clothing. Always be sure to wash it off once you get back inside.
