9 Best Mosquito Repellents For Babies And Kids To Protect Their Skin

Spending time outdoors with your children is a lovely way to bond, but it can come with a particularly pesky drawback: bugs.

For most of us, mosquitos are merely a minor irritation, one that we can eradicate with a simple mosquito repellent. But it can feel unnatural (and downright unsafe) to spray your children's delicate skin with chemicals, especially if they're very young.

Unfortunately, the alternative is arguably worse; not only are mosquito bites capable of causing your child great discomfort, but they can also spread disease. If you're taking a trip abroad, it's important to protect your kids against insect-transmitted diseases such as Dengue Fever, Zika and West Nile viruses.

That's where a good insect repellent comes in. This is a substance (usually a cream, oil or spray) that we can apply to the child's skin in order to discourage mosquitos and other insects from landing there and biting them. Naturally, when searching for the top mosquito repellent for kids, we're looking for something that will actually work: a solution that actively repels mosquitos but that also doesn't include any nasty ingredients which will irritate our children's skin. Some people prefer to use natural insect repellent, just to be safe.

DEET, one of the key ingredients traditionally used in mosquito repellents, is an effective means of warding off bugs, but there's been a lot of talk over the past few years about how safe it is for babies. In fact, it is perfectly safe for children 2 months or older, as long as you use a concentration of 30% or less, and apply it as directed on the bottle (so be sure to read the label!). It will still be just as effective at a lower concentration, but it won't last as long; the key to safely using a DEET-based product is to go for the solution with the lowest concentration that'll still protect your child for the amount of time you need. You may also have heard of Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus products (not to be confused with natural lemon eucalyptus); it's important to note that these products are often not recommended for children under three.  

When using a spray or lotion that you have to apply directly onto your child's skin, make sure to decant the product into your own hands first, then rub them over your child's exposed skin, avoiding the eye and mouth areas. Do not use any on your child's hands, as they are likely to put them in their mouths.

For more information and our recommendations on the best mosquito repellent for babies and kids, read on.

Our Top Choice

Best Natural Mosquito Repellent

Best Expert-Recommended Insect Repellent

Best Natural Mosquito Repellent For Babies

Best Lotion

Best 2-In-1 Product

Best Plug-In Mosquito Repellent

Best Home Remedy

Best Mosquito Repellent Bracelet