International Header

Fatherly: The Best Bug Sprays for Kids & Adults

The best bug sprays for kids, adults and even toddlers

Fatherly: The Best Bug Sprays for Kids & Adults

Last updated:
October 11, 2021
|  5 min read

Fatherly: The Best Bug Sprays for Kids & Adults

Fatherly: The Best Bug Sprays for Kids & Adults

YouTube video highlight

The best bug sprays for kids, adults and even toddlers

Read more about the project

Fatherly: The Best Bug Sprays for Kids & Adults

Thumbnail Slider Image
No items found.

The Best Bug Sprays for Kids & Adults

These are even considered safe for toddlers.

Itchy, red bug bites are more than just a common warm-weather annoyance. Mosquitos spread diseases including Zika virus, West Nile virus, Chikungunya virus, dengue, and malaria. So it’s pretty crucial for parents to find the best bug sprays for kids that actually work, and use insect repellants that balance efficacy with safety.

DEET is the active ingredient in many popular bug repellants; it works not by killing mosquitos but but deterring them and keeping them away. Per the American Academy of Pediatrics, bug sprays with 30 percent DEET are considered safe for children; bug sprays of any variety are not safe for babies 2 months old or younger. A spray with 10 percent DEET provides about two hours’ of protection. And a product with 30 percent DEET gives you about five hours of protection. Choose the lowest concentration possible. And per the CDC, concentrations of 50 percent or higher provide no added protection.

A few other common-sense and handy tips: Wear long-sleeved pants and shirts when you’re outdoors. Apply the bug spray to clothing or exposed skin only. Make sure you apply any bug sprays outside so you don’t inhale them. More is not better, so use just enough to cover exposed skin. And once you’re done playing outdoors, wash your kid with soap and water to remove any repellent residue. And give yourself a rinse as well.

These are some of the top bug spray and lotion options for you and your kid based on Consumer Reports data and ratings; all the products on this list have a rating of 80 or higher. The organization ranks products based on their effectiveness against aggressive Aedes mosquitos, which can spread Zika, and Culex mosquitoes that can spread West Nile, coupled with whether they damage clothes and other materials when sprayed (or not).

If your interested in learning more, please find the complete article written by Donna Freydkin here

Fatherly: The Best Bug Sprays for Kids & Adults

The Best Bug Sprays for Kids & Adults

These are even considered safe for toddlers.

Itchy, red bug bites are more than just a common warm-weather annoyance. Mosquitos spread diseases including Zika virus, West Nile virus, Chikungunya virus, dengue, and malaria. So it’s pretty crucial for parents to find the best bug sprays for kids that actually work, and use insect repellants that balance efficacy with safety.

DEET is the active ingredient in many popular bug repellants; it works not by killing mosquitos but but deterring them and keeping them away. Per the American Academy of Pediatrics, bug sprays with 30 percent DEET are considered safe for children; bug sprays of any variety are not safe for babies 2 months old or younger. A spray with 10 percent DEET provides about two hours’ of protection. And a product with 30 percent DEET gives you about five hours of protection. Choose the lowest concentration possible. And per the CDC, concentrations of 50 percent or higher provide no added protection.

A few other common-sense and handy tips: Wear long-sleeved pants and shirts when you’re outdoors. Apply the bug spray to clothing or exposed skin only. Make sure you apply any bug sprays outside so you don’t inhale them. More is not better, so use just enough to cover exposed skin. And once you’re done playing outdoors, wash your kid with soap and water to remove any repellent residue. And give yourself a rinse as well.

These are some of the top bug spray and lotion options for you and your kid based on Consumer Reports data and ratings; all the products on this list have a rating of 80 or higher. The organization ranks products based on their effectiveness against aggressive Aedes mosquitos, which can spread Zika, and Culex mosquitoes that can spread West Nile, coupled with whether they damage clothes and other materials when sprayed (or not).

If your interested in learning more, please find the complete article written by Donna Freydkin here

Photo thumbnail Blog Author
Media Mentions from Fatherly
Fatherly
Fatherly is a for-profit media company and part of the Some Spider Studios family.
Reviews

Fatherly: The Best Bug Sprays for Kids & Adults

The Best Bug Sprays for Kids & Adults

These are even considered safe for toddlers.

Itchy, red bug bites are more than just a common warm-weather annoyance. Mosquitos spread diseases including Zika virus, West Nile virus, Chikungunya virus, dengue, and malaria. So it’s pretty crucial for parents to find the best bug sprays for kids that actually work, and use insect repellants that balance efficacy with safety.

DEET is the active ingredient in many popular bug repellants; it works not by killing mosquitos but but deterring them and keeping them away. Per the American Academy of Pediatrics, bug sprays with 30 percent DEET are considered safe for children; bug sprays of any variety are not safe for babies 2 months old or younger. A spray with 10 percent DEET provides about two hours’ of protection. And a product with 30 percent DEET gives you about five hours of protection. Choose the lowest concentration possible. And per the CDC, concentrations of 50 percent or higher provide no added protection.

A few other common-sense and handy tips: Wear long-sleeved pants and shirts when you’re outdoors. Apply the bug spray to clothing or exposed skin only. Make sure you apply any bug sprays outside so you don’t inhale them. More is not better, so use just enough to cover exposed skin. And once you’re done playing outdoors, wash your kid with soap and water to remove any repellent residue. And give yourself a rinse as well.

These are some of the top bug spray and lotion options for you and your kid based on Consumer Reports data and ratings; all the products on this list have a rating of 80 or higher. The organization ranks products based on their effectiveness against aggressive Aedes mosquitos, which can spread Zika, and Culex mosquitoes that can spread West Nile, coupled with whether they damage clothes and other materials when sprayed (or not).

If your interested in learning more, please find the complete article written by Donna Freydkin here

Photo thumbnail Blog Author
Media Mentions from Fatherly
Fatherly
Fatherly is a for-profit media company and part of the Some Spider Studios family.
Reviews
browse all articles
Here at Sawyer
November 18, 2025
6 Min
Backpacker: The 11 Best Gifts for Hikers of 2025
Read More

Media Mentions

The Sawyer Squeeze just screws on the top of the Smartwater bottle, allowing me to fill it with untreated water and simply squeeze filtered water into my mouth.

Hiking Guy
Media Mentions from Hiking Guy

Media Mentions

Insect repellents come in lotions, sprays, wipes, balms and even patches, but there are three primary anti-bug ingredients that can safely be used on children: DEET, picaridin and essential oils.

Baby List
Media Mentions from Baby List

Media Mentions

Finding the best bug spray and mosquito repellents on the market isn't just in your family's best interest—it's practically a can't-do-without necessity.

Anna Mahan
Associate Commerce Editor
<<  Previous Post
No previous post!
Check out our Directory
Next Post  >>
No next post!
Check out our Directory