Insect repellents
Insect repellents containing DEET are considered to be the best defense against biting insects. Repellents made from plants such as citronella, cedar, eucalyptus and soy bean are generally much less effective and typically last less than two hours. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that repellents should contain no more than 30 percent DEET and should be avoided on babies younger than 2 months old. The majority of pediatric insect repellents contain 7 to 11 percent DEET and are very safe for infants 2 months of age and up. Do not use combination sunscreen-insect repellent products. Always remember to give your child a bath with soap and water to remove any repellent when he or she returns indoors.
Back to Southwest Pediatrics home page.
|