Picaridin Insect Repellent bottle on white background
Picaridin Insect Repellent bottle on white background

Best Insect Repellents for Kids

Bug bites can wreak havoc on summer fun, especially in places where mosquitoes and other biters are plentiful (like… the entire east coast, midwest and great lakes).

At best, itchy bug bites can make kids miserable. At worst, mosquito and tick bites can transmit terrible infectious diseases like West Nile Virus, St. Louis encephalitis, Lyme disease, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Our friend’s daughter just got dengue fever over Spring Break this year (2024) in Puerto Rico, so it’s something to think about when you’re traveling as well.

We’ve broken down all of the different ways to keep bugs at bay, featuring our favorite bug repellent options for these common culprits:

Mosquitos

The Zika virus was a concern for a while, but didn’t materialize in the United States the way it was originally feared (phew!). That said, it continues to be a concern in the tropics, so take note if you’re planning travels for a Babymoon.

You’re probably more concerned about the misery of mosquito bites rather than contracting a mosquito-borne illness, which is fairly rare in the US.

Sawyer Insect Repellent Products — 20% Picaridin

Everything from Sawyer is super highly rated and effective. They’re fragrance-free and dry/set nicely, too. You pick your delivery system here, which is nice — there’s a pump spray, continuous spray, and even a lotion option.

Keep reading the article from Lucie's List here.

Media Mentions

It all starts with Sawyer Squeeze + Cnoc VectoX 2L, the best and most reliable filter-bladder combo and the core of my backpacking water storage and filtration system.

Jaeger Shaw
Owner & Managing Editor

Media Mentions

Our top water filter for thru hiking, the Sawyer Squeeze, is 15% off.

Naomi Hudetz
Chief Operating Officer & Online Editor

Media Mentions

People with alpha-gal syndrome show allergic symptoms such as rash, nausea and vomiting after eating such meat.

Stephanie Soucheray
Reporter