Best safe tick repellent for 6yo?

[mackmama]

What do you all recommend as a tick deterrent ?

[chlobo]

When we know we will be more than likely be exposed to ticks I put my kids in clothes treated with permethrin. They also get tick checks EVERY DAY. Sometimes more than once a day if they have been playing in tall grass. Even with tick repellent nothing will replace vigilence.

ETA: Even if you don't do the clothing, I have seen reports that spraying shoes & socks with permethrin can help prevent ticks since they crawl up from the ground. You can buy it at Walmart or send clothing in and have it treated.

[Soccermomm]

My husband just went to a big hunting/fishing expo and learned about Permethrin Clothing Insect Repellent. I just ordered some from amazon. totally plan on using it this summer, especially when he goes to summer camp.

Effective against the Yellow Fever Mosquito, which can transmit the Zika Virus
Insect-killing repellent for your clothing is effective against ticks, chiggers, mites and mosquitoes; as effective as 100 percent DEET
Lasts up to 6 weeks (or 6 washings); will not stain or damage clothing, fabrics, plastics, finished surfaces, or outdoor gear
Odorless after drying;https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001ANQVYU/ref=od_aui_detailpages01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[maestramommy]

We've used DEET on our kids from a pretty young age. There is a minimum rec on the packaging. The ticks AND mosquitoes out here are vicious, and since Lyme is also endemic in the NE we don't take chances. They know not to put their hands in their mouths.

Even with the DEET, we do tick checks whenever we've been out hiking or playing where there might be ticks.

[mackmama]

I totally forgot about The insect repellant clothing I bought last year. I'll have to get it out again to see if it still fits DC. I'm thinking more about the times though when we are unexpectedly in tick areas and tall grass etc. like the other day we spontaneously went on a hike after school pickup. What do people use then? Hoping for a natural alternative if any work.

[AnnieW625]

Another family that uses Deet and does tick checks. I grew up in mosquito country and always used Off! or Cutter brands.


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[gatorsmom]

We live in tick he11. It's bad here because we are 20acres of woods and fields of long grass with deer, mice, coyotes and all manner of flora and fauna. I LOVE permethrin-coated handkerchiefs for the kids. We have about 20 of them (bought them a couple years ago. Packaging said they last up to 70washes). Anytime the kids have friends over playing outside I make them all wear the bandanas. Usually I suggest they tie them around their hair for extra protection, sometimes they tie them Rambo-style around their heads or make an arm or legband. Whatever. As long as they have those on, I have yet to find a tick. I'm a HUGE fan. We do tick checks all summer. I get ticks all the time on me working outside (because i forget a bandana). I insist the kids wear socks and tennis shoes at a minimum but also encourage long pants when they are out there.

After doing some research, I read that permethrin is not carcinogenic if it touches your skin. BUT it is if it's airborn. You don't want it in your lungs. So I don't recommend spraying your clothes yourself unless you have protective equipment. I will say, though, that last spring Dh donned his protetive gear and sprayed our outdoor patio umbrellas as well as under the stairs where we get wasps and the wasps didn't come back all summer. It worked well.

eta- I rarely use sprays to fight off ticks. Wearing a permethrin coated bandana is enough for us.

[o_mom]

We use permetherin here. I use the soak method to coat clothing. I have some of the military product, some from Walmart and some from Tractor Supply that is just horse spray. All work well, just soak in large ziplocs for a few hours then hang dry. The military version says it lasts forever - no idea if that is true. Mainly we use it on long socks, like old soccer socks and have them tuck their pants. You can see the ticks start to crawl up and then fall off.

[chlobo]

We use permetherin here. I use the soak method to coat clothing. I have some of the military product, some from Walmart and some from Tractor Supply that is just horse spray. All work well, just soak in large ziplocs for a few hours then hang dry. The military version says it lasts forever - no idea if that is true. Mainly we use it on long socks, like old soccer socks and have them tuck their pants. You can see the ticks start to crawl up and then fall off.

Where did you get the military stuff?

[o_mom]

Where did you get the military stuff?

It came as a 'bonus gift' with a pop up mosquito netting I bought for the boys to use at camp, but you can find it on military surplus sites like this: http://burnsarmysurplus.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1106

This one says 50 washes, but the package I had says does not need re-treated. I think they consider 50 washes to be the life of the uniform.

[jgenie]

We live in tick he11. It's bad here because we are 20acres of woods and fields of long grass with deer, mice, coyotes and all manner of flora and fauna. I LOVE permethrin-coated handkerchiefs for the kids. We have about 20 of them (bought them a couple years ago. Packaging said they last up to 70washes). Anytime the kids have friends over playing outside I make them all wear the bandanas. Usually I suggest they tie them around their hair for extra protection, sometimes they tie them Rambo-style around their heads or make an arm or legband. Whatever. As long as they have those on, I have yet to find a tick. I'm a HUGE fan. We do tick checks all summer. I get ticks all the time on me working outside (because i forget a bandana). I insist the kids wear socks and tennis shoes at a minimum but also encourage long pants when they are out there.

After doing some research, I read that permethrin is not carcinogenic if it touches your skin. BUT it is if it's airborn. You don't want it in your lungs. So I don't recommend spraying your clothes yourself unless you have protective equipment. I will say, though, that last spring Dh donned his protetive gear and sprayed our outdoor patio umbrellas as well as under the stairs where we get wasps and the wasps didn't come back all summer. It worked well.

eta- I rarely use sprays to fight off ticks. Wearing a permethrin coated bandana is enough for us.

Would you mind linking the bandanas if you remember where you purchased?

[NCGrandma]

Would you mind linking the bandanas if you remember where you purchased?

Not the PP, but I've heard good things about InsectShield (https://www.insectshield.com/shop.aspx) from public health colleagues who are very involved in education about ticks. It was originally a local company, I think, but is now widely available via Amazon, REI, etc. They definitely have bandanas (https://www.insectshield.com/Insect-Shield-Bandana-P397.aspx) and have partnered with other companies like BabyLegs!



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[jgenie]

Not the PP, but I've heard good things about InsectShield (https://www.insectshield.com/shop.aspx) from public health colleagues who are very involved in education about ticks. It was originally a local company, I think, but is now widely available via Amazon, REI, etc. They definitely have bandanas (https://www.insectshield.com/Insect-Shield-Bandana-P397.aspx) and have partnered with other companies like BabyLegs!



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Thanks!! If the bandannas are worn on the neck do they deter ticks from climbing up your legs? TIA

[gatorsmom]

Thanks!! If the bandannas are worn on the neck do they deter ticks from climbing up your legs? TIA

The ones NcGrandma linked to are the ones we have. I got them through Amazon. And to answer your above question, yeah, it doesn't seem to matter where you tie them on your body, ticks will stay off completely. I've been shocked by how well they work. At least, they work on the ticks around here. BUT, we also wear long pants when it's not too hot and socks and tennis shoes.

[NCGrandma]

Thanks!! If the bandannas are worn on the neck do they deter ticks from climbing up your legs? TIA

Not sure, but I wouldn't depend on the tick-deterrent effect extending that far. The InsectShield website might have some info.

I've bought the treated BabyLegs (https://www.babylegs.com/media/wysiwyg/pdf/BabyNoBugsPressRelease.pdf) for the littles.

I also got treated socks and gaiters for a family member traveling to the Brazilian rainforest ( https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00O1GVB0C/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1 AND https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MNYBPZ0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1). I got the gaiters because she felt dorky wearing socks with sandals [emoji6] but gaiters are pretty dorky, too!

ETA: good to know from gatorsmom that the bandannas are so effective. But for the littles, I did like the treated BabyLegs.

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