Safe bug spray?

[Lucia]

Any suggestions for bug spray that is safe to use with kids and also effective? I know DEET products are recommended but I am not crazy about the idea of using that with kids. Any experience/suggestions for safer products would be great. Or is the DEET stuff really ok?
Thanks

[deannanb]

Check out a place like Whole Foods - I found a bug spray that was all natural and seemed to work. I don't remember the name. If I make it to the store tomorrow I'll look.

[sdbc]

We have California Babies sunscreen with Citronella, and the bug repellant part really doesn't work. I also got some stuff at Whole Foods (I think Burt's Bees with citronella and Lemongrass oil). It also didn't do much good. If anyone has other ideas, i'd love to hear them. Also interested if the products I mentioned worked for others?

Sue

Sue, mommy to Aurora (Rory) born 5/13/04

[calv]

check out this site for great info on all sorts of products

http://www.cosmeticdatabase.com/wordsearch.php?query=bug%20spray

[chlobo]

I recently saw a product in mainstream stores called Natrapel. It's by the same people who make "After Bite". They also make a kid version of "After Bite" that doesn't contain amonia but rather Eucalyptus Oil. I haven't had time to scrutinize it but thought it looked promising:

http://www.tendercorp.com/product.asp?page=natrapel

I also have something called Buzz Away that I got from WF but haven't tried it yet.

[calv]

where did you buy the sprays? Is it only only? TIA. :)

[Lucia]

thanks for the suggestions. We also tried the Burt's Bee spray last summer but didn't think it was too effective. I'll try to track down some of that natrupel. Any other suggestions are welcome!

[thomma]

We've found that Natrapel works well for mosquitoes and black flies...not so great for ticks. If we're worried about ticks we use something with 7% or less deet. I'm not wild about using deet but ticks freak me out.

Kim
ds&dd 5/03

[denna]

We just got the Citronella Bug Repellant Spray from California Baby and it has worked really for us. I havent used the combined sunscreen version.

HTH,

[signsing]

We used All Terrain Herbal Armour last year and loved it! No ticks! We have lots of those around and my kids never had one on them all summer. It also works against the musquitos and black flies.
I bought it last year at my Hannaford but I havent noticed it this year. I have looked it up online and might order it myself. I haven't had a chance to ask the grocer to stock it.

I did pick up some natrapel this past weekend. So far it seems to work okay but not as good at the herbal armor. I noticed some bugs flying very close today but I don't think anyone got a bite.

FYI if a product has geranium oil in it it will repel ticks. You can make your own spray in a spray bottle with geranium oil drops in distilled water and it should do the trick, great for pets too!
Betsey

[aubreyrh]

Our pediatrician recommended Bite Blocker, we haven't tried it yet but it sounds promising.

[jadamom]

I just ordered these from Avon:
SKIN SO SOFT BUG GUARD Plus PICARIDIN Pump Spray
http://shop.avon.com/shop/product.asp?couponCode=&level1_id=300&level2_id=306&pdept_id=365&pf_id=31314&level=3
SKIN SO SOFT BUG GUARD PLUS IR3535® SPF 30 Sunscreen Lotion - Disappearing Color
http://shop.avon.com/shop/product.asp?src_page=product_list.asp&level1_id=300&level2_id=306&pdept_id=369&dept_id=&pf_id=7895

[s7714]

Here's a link to what the AAP says about DEET:
http://aapnews.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/e200399v1

Consumer Reports has done several tests on DEET and non-DEET bug repellents, but I let my online subscrip. run out, so I can't pull up the results. If I remember right they found some non-DEET versions that were helpful in keeping bugs away, but not nearly as effective as those with DEET. Maybe if someone has access to the results they can post the recommendations CR gave.

Jennifer
Mommy to
Miss Pure Energy 3/03
Miss Limit Tester 6/05

Our bones may be brittle, but our spirit is unbreakable.
Osteogenesis Imperfecta www.oif.org

[calv]

where do you get the All Terrain Herbal Armour and how much does it cost? TIA!

[carolines mommy]

We just bought Herbal Armor and it works great. We are in NC so there are plenty of ticks and mosquitos around. I ordered it online.

Erika
Mommy to Caroline Nov 03 and Chelsea April 05

[s7714]

Does anyone know what the difference is between the regular Herbal Armour and the Kid's version?

TIA,
Jennifer
Mommy to
Miss Pure Energy 3/03
Miss Limit Tester 6/05

Our bones may be brittle, but our spirit is unbreakable.
Osteogenesis Imperfecta www.oif.org