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Best Bug Spray for Kids

Searching for the best bug spray to keep your family safe outdoors? We purchased and tested 8 top bug sprays suitable for use with kids to determine which were the most effective, safest, and the best smelling and feeling products in the group. We tested each spray side-by-side in a variety of locations to help you find the right option for your needs. Read on to find out all the buggy details.

Best Overall Bug Spray for Kids

Sawyer Insect Repellent

Effective Ingredient: 20% Picaridin
Application Method: Spray

  • Wide efficacy
  • Easy application
  • Evaporating odor
  • Narrow spray stream
  • Dual lids hard to keep track of


Sawyer Insect Repellent is a versatile picaridin spray recommended by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) as safe and effective for most users. Our testers liked the evaporating smell and the way the spray feels after it dries. We found it effective against a variety of bugs, and testers thought it worked well on skin and gear. It comes with two lids to prevent leaking, and the bottle is small enough to fit almost anywhere.

While the dual lid is nice, it can be challenging to keep track of both when out on adventures. Also, the smaller bottle means you'll potentially need more than one for each trip, but it does come in a pack of 2, so at least you get your money's worth. Sawyers is an effective and easy to use product with no offensive smell and wide coverage for every member of the family.

Continue reading the entire list and plenty of other helpful information when making decisions on which bug repellent is best for kids written by Wendy Schmitz here.

LAST UPDATED

May 5, 2022

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Baby Gear Lab

Media Mentions from Baby Gear Lab

BabyGearLab.com provides the world's best reviews and ratings of products for babies age birth to 1 year. Founded by a pediatrician and Mom.

Founded in 2012 by Juliet Spurrier, MD, a board certified pediatrician, BabyGearLab’s mission is to become the world's most credible and detailed source of side-by-side baby product comparison reviews. Dr. Spurrier, along with the expert staff at BabyGearLab, test leading baby products and review them using a meticulous and objective rating system. The website also publishes informative buying advice guides based on their testing experience, as well as health and safety articles for new parents.

MEDIA MENTIONS

Depending on where you travel, you may want to pack bug spray, too. In places like Florida and North Carolina, summers get buggy, and you’ll be happy to have packed a spray on nights when you want to sit on the porch or dine outdoors.

Madison Flager and Meaghan Kenny

MEDIA MENTIONS

As a veteran of the Iraq War, I found myself struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder from which greatly impacted my mental health. In 2016, I came across the film “Wild,” an adaptation of Cheryl Strayed’s memoir about healing by hiking the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT).

LeAura Luciano

MEDIA MENTIONS

Sawyer Permethrin Premium Insect Repellent is used on clothing, not skin, and it provides long-lasting protection against ticks.

Wirecutter
Media Mentions from Wirecutter