Best Insect Repellents for Kids

Summer Series Part 4

Insect bites can wreak havoc on summer fun, especially in places where mosquitoes and other biters are plentiful (like, ohhh… everywhere?). Here, we’ve broken down all of the different ways to keep bugs at bay, including the best bug repellent options for kids.

At best, itchy bug bites can make kids miserable. At worst, mosquito and tick bites can transmit nasty diseases like West Nile Virus, St. Louis encephalitis, Lyme disease, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

Mosquitos

Mosquito-borne illnesses don’t take a break, even during a pandemic. 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 are planning to travel south 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.

Ticks!

Ticks are nasty little suckers that can cause fun diseases like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, Lyme is transmitted through the bite of infected deer ticks (aka blacklegged ticks).

A couple of years ago, Zika was at the top of our worry list when it came to insects — but now, it’s Lyme disease.

The condition, which has been around for thousands of years, was recognized in the United States in the 60s and 70s, and it’s been on the rise.

Continue reading more about the best insect repellents for kids written by Meg Collins here.