How much DEET is safe?

[Kindra178]

Question. Is anyone concerned about a kid bathing in DEET? I hate the idea of a kid, or in my case, three kids in one tub, literally soaking in a (diluted) DEET filled bathtub every night.

[HIU8]

I was thinking about that, but my kids love to take showers. I think we will switch to showers so we don't have to deal with soaking in a tub with the DEET.

[Penny's Pappa]

Originally Posted by Kindra178

Question. Is anyone concerned about a kid bathing in DEET? I hate the idea of a kid, or in my case, three kids in one tub, literally soaking in a (diluted) DEET filled bathtub every night.

If the DEET, in a "concentrated" form, was directly on their skin for hours, I don't see how sitting in a very dilute, bathtub sized solution of it for a few minutes would be any worse. Even if they drank some of the "DEET filled" water, it would be so incredibly dilute that I wouldn't even bother considering it toxic. If I did, I sure wouldn't be spraying the stuff on their skin to begin with.

Personally, I can't stand the 100% stuff. Too oily, too smelly, and I thought it kind of burned a little. I stick with the 20-30% formulations. They work very well.

[kaharris83]

Do you put DEET/bug spray on your kids everytime they go outside, or only if you'll be outside a certain number of hours or in certain settings? DS is only outside at the playground really and I'm just wondering if I should be putting bug spray on for that?

[khalloc]

I only put it on at night when mosquitos are out. My DS's daycare will put it on during the day sometimes.

[wellyes]

I don't put it in in the playground. More anywhere where they are near wild plants and/or standing water - woody parks, my own backyard, certainly camping.

[Penny's Pappa]

Originally Posted by kaharris83

Do you put DEET/bug spray on your kids everytime they go outside, or only if you'll be outside a certain number of hours or in certain settings? DS is only outside at the playground really and I'm just wondering if I should be putting bug spray on for that?

I think this is going to depend on your particular environment. Around here, mosquitoes are TERRIBLE so we try to put it on anytime we're going to play outside during the evening hours. If we were out in the woods or around anywhere with tall grass, I'd apply it then too to protect against ticks. YMMV.

[HIU8]

Originally Posted by Penny's Pappa

I think this is going to depend on your particular environment. Around here, mosquitoes are TERRIBLE so we try to put it on anytime we're going to play outside during the evening hours. If we were out in the woods or around anywhere with tall grass, I'd apply it then too to protect against ticks. YMMV.

Yes, we would apply it anytime the kids were playing in a grassy area. I remember, as a kid, coming in from playing outside in the backyard (mid-day) and finding a tick on me. It's part of our morning routine spring/summer/fall. But, now I'm upping the DEET b/c we were using something that is only 5% DEET.

[maestramommy]

Once the season starts we put it on any time the kids will be out during high mosquito times, and every time we go hiking, regardless of season or time of day. Our yard isn't particularly ticky, I've never found one on them yet. But our town is, so we don't take chances at the park, or during hiking.

[lfp2n]

I was thinking about this looking at the sunscreens and worrying about how I had a 2 not a 1, which seems totally crazy as I'm sure DEET is far worse for you. Around here what with the mosquitoes and Lymes carrying ticks, I'm going to use DEET all summer as the risk is too much.