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Best Bets to Beat
Bugs on By Mary Margaret Keaton Whether traveling to Timbuktu or the neighborhood pool, GoBabies® need mosquito protection. Aside from the simple annoyance of their itchy bites, mosquitoes carry disease, such as West Nile virus and malaria. But be careful about using insect repellents on infants. The American Academy of Pediatrics says DEET is not recommended for children under two months of age, when their skin is too permeable for the safe usage of this chemical. Canadian pediatricians recommend avoiding products with DEET until babies are at least six months of age. If you choose a DEET repellent for your baby, pay close attention to the DEET concentration as products vary from seven to 100% DEET. Pediatricians agree that 30% DEET concentration is the maximum for use on children and that parents and caregivers should apply the minimum amount of repellent to do the job. Try dressing the child in clothes that cover arms and legs, then spray the clothing and a hat with repellent. Be especially careful to avoid applying repellent to baby's hands, where it could be ingested or rubbed into eyes.
The new American brand containing Picardin is called Cutter. Consumer Reports magazine found Cutter's 7% concentration of Picardin to be as effective as products containing a 10% concentration of DEET.
Another practical tip on battling
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An
alternative to DEET is a new chemical called
Picardin, said to be as effective as DEET at
repelling mosquitoes and less irritating to skin.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has not yet
reviewed Picardin, but the World Health Organization
states that the product is perfectly safe for
infants and kids.
