Natural Bug Spray
- Primal Motherhood
- May 1, 2019
- 5 min read
It’s that time of year again, it’s time for those pesky mosquitoes to make their appearance. One year ago we made the move to Florida and we got a crash course on how big of pests mosquitoes were. At this time, Daxton was only around 2 months old and I had such a hard time finding bug spray that you can use on a baby. Every bug spray that I would find had DEET in it, and while most of my research said it was safe to use DEET on babies, I wasn’t comfortable with it. (I don’t even feel comfortable using DEET on myself).
After experimenting with natural bug sprays that we bought over the counter and making our own, I want to share with you some of the things that we found. If you’re doing things like taking a hike, hanging out in the backyard, or taking a camping trip, natural repellents are a better option. This can be especially true for children, who are more sensitive. Dax was born with very sensitive skin and developed severe eczema due to allergies. I didn't feel comfortable putting any scented lotions on him, because anything would make his eczema flare up. To this day, Dax continues to have sensitive skin, so we are very cautious on what products we use. It's always safer to make your own, but that's not always possible for families. So, I want to give you some ideas on over the counter Bug Repellents.
What is DEET:
According to the CDC DEET is defined as
DEET (chemical name N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) is used as the active ingredient in many insect repellents. Insect repellents that contain DEET offer the best protection against mosquito bites. DEET is designed for direct application to skin to repel insects, rather than kill them.
On the CDC’s website they have these warnings, when applying DEET
Be safe with DEET :
• Do not allow children under 10 years of age to apply repellent themselves.
• Do not apply to young children’s hands or around eyes and mouth.
• Do not breathe in, swallow, or get into the eyes (DEET is toxic if swallowed.)
• Do not put repellent on wounds or broken skin
And, we should feel comfortable putting this on our children? If you would like to read more about the CDC guidelines please follow the link below: https://www.cdc.gov/malaria/toolkit/DEET.pdf
What are some alternatives to Deet?
Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus
This oil has been used since 1940’s. A recent study showed that a mixture of 32 percent oil of lemon eucalyptus provided more that 95 percent protection against mosquitoes for up to three hours. (PubMed)
Citronella Oil
This is the most common natural effective essential oil that works against mosquitoes. Citronella is made from a mix of herbs, it’s a common ingredient in mosquito repellents. This can provide up to 50 percent extra protection, when outdoors.
According to a study in the Malaria Journal the formulation of citronella is very important on how effective it is. When the product is formulated correctly it’s as effective as DEET. (Malaria Journal)
Picaridin
Picaridin is a synthetic compound that can be found in the group of plants that produce black pepper. Some studies show that individuals who develop allergic reactions to DEET containing bug repellents may not have the same reaction to Picaridin solutions. This is making it an acceptable alternative. (PubMed)
Soybean Oil
A study done by the University of Florida Medical Entomology Lab, showed that soybean-based products with 2 percent soybean oil could provide long-lasting protection from mosquitoes. (Florida Medical)
IR3535
Short of Insect Repellent 3535, is a synthetic insect repellent developed in the 80’s. Despite the chemical name, it’s just an synthetic amino acid which messes with the insects sense of smell.
Geraniol
Geraniol is a type of alcohol from plant oils like citronella, lemongrass, and rose. As an added ingredient in mosquito repellent, it’s known to be effective for up to two-four hours, depending on the species.
**This is an ingredient I wouldn’t recommend using on children with sensitive skin, because it has shown that it may cause skin irritation.
Natural Ways to avoid bug bites
According to healthline.com people are usually prone to mosquito bites due to a combination of scent, light, heat, and humidity.
Lavender
Lavender flowers produce a fragrance and oil that can repel mosquitoes. Lavender has analgesic, antiseptic, and anti fungal qualities. This means that in addition to preventing mosquito bites, it can calm and soothe skin. Also growing lavender plants outdoors around your home is another natural way to repel mosquitoes in your backyard or outdoor area.
Other plants that you can grow in your yard that repel mosquitoes are; marigolds, sage, rosemary, and lemon Thai grass. Take a fresh sprig of rosemary in water for a few minutes and place it on a grill or campfire to create mosquito repellent smoke.
If you're looking for more natural ways of reducing mosquitoes in your backyard Natural Living Ideas has a great article of 21 Best Ways To Keep Mosquitoes You, Your Home, and Your Garden. (Natural Living)
Natural Bug Sprays
Here are some of my favorite Natural Bug Sprays that we have used and found were safe for Daxton.
If you are in the Tampa Area and want to support local we found one that we absolutely love.
Florida Paleo Guy - $5.00 (This one is highly recommended by us as a family).
How to make your own Natural Bug Spray
Lavender
Drop lavender oil on a clean cloth and rub it into the skin. Apply on your ankles and arms. If you have a plant, you can crush the flowers and also apply it to your skin.
Some of my favorite oils to use are from DoTerra and Young Living. Both can be found on amazon or directly from their website.
**DISCLAIMER: Always buy your oils from a reputable source. Essential oils are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Essential oils should never be put directly on the skin and should always be diluted in a carrier oil such as coconut oil, almond oil, which hazel, etc. Usually when mixing oils the rule of thumb is 3-5 drops to 1 ounce carrier oil.
I’d love to hear from you if you have any questions on making your own Natural Bug Repellent, if you are looking on which ones to buy, or if you’ve had any other experiences with Natural Bug Repellent, please comment below. Please note that these are all recommendations that I have tried for our family. If you have further concerns you should always consult your Pediatrician.
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