Using Insect Repellent

The following are guidelines on how to use insect repellents safely.

Dos

• Read the label and follow all directions and precautions.
  Only apply insect repellents on the outside of your child’s clothing and on exposed skin.
• Spray repellents in open areas to avoid breathing them in.
  Use just enough repellent to cover your child’s clothing and exposed skin. Using more doesn’t make the repellent more effective. Avoid reapplying unless necessary.
• Assist young children when applying insect repellents on their own. Older children also should be supervised when using these products.
• Wash your children’s skin with soap and water to remove any repellent when they return indoors, and wash their clothing before they wear it again.

Don’ts

• Never apply insect repellent to children younger than 2 months.
  Repellents should not be sprayed directly onto your child’s face. Instead, spray a little on your hands first and then rub it on your child’s face. Avoid the eyes and mouth.
• Insect repellents should not be applied on cuts, wounds, or irritated skin.
• Don’t buy products that combine DEET with sunscreen lotion. The DEET may make the sun protection factor (SPF) less effective. These products can overexpose your child to DEET because the sunscreen lotion needs to be reapplied often.

The following are types of repellents that are not effective:

Wristbands soaked in chemical repellents
Garlic or vitamin B1 taken by mouth
Ultrasonic devices that give off sound waves designed to keep insects away
Bird or bat houses
Backyard bug zappers (Insects may actually be attracted to your yard.)