Don’t Bug Me

Stop bugging me!

Buzz off!

The sounds of your family’s first long weekend of the summer perhaps? ‘Tis bug season after all—and whether you’re up to your ears in black flies or swatting around your ankles for mozzies, no one likes to be bugged by bugs.

Add babies or kids into the mix, and your bug factor goes through the roof, whether it’s the whine of the mosquito (or the whine of the kid with the itchy, scratchy bites) or the worry about the trade-off between nasty things like West Nile Virus and the chemicals in insect repellents.

Never fear. We’ve got the skinny on saving that precious skin against bug bites—some great expert advice from our friends at About Kids Health (and their trusted answers from the Hospital for Sick Children) and some great product solutions too.

The Do’s

• Encourage everyone in the family to wear long sleeve shirts and pants when outdoors in buggy areas
• Apply any repellent to clothing and shoes, rather than directly on the skin
• Stay inside during the most active periods for mosquitoes—dawn and dusk
• Wash off any repellent on the skin once everyone comes indoors (Why? So it’s not continuing to be absorbed into the blood stream, that’s why.)
• Apply calamine lotion or a paste of baking soda to the bite or apply firm, steady, sharp pressure (using a finger nail or a pen cap) to the bite for 10 seconds to reduce itchiness from bites

The Don’ts

• Use insect repellents with DEET concentrations greater than 10% on children (as DEET is absorbed across the skin into the bloodstream and in high concentrations can cause seizures or coma)
• Use DEET or citronella-based repellents on infants
• Put any repellent on the hands (to prevent contact with mouth or eyes) or on irritated or sunburned skin (DEET is more easily absorbed in these areas)
• Apply DEET-based repellents more than every 4 to 8 hours

For more on insect bites, read About Kids Health’s guide to insect bites.

The ‘To Try’s’
This summer, we’re loving the OrnaScent Citronella Wristband (available at Shoppers Drug Mart locations across the country, $3.99) for a fun bug-free accessory. The one-size-fits-all waterproof bracelet is infused with pure citronella and can be worn on the wrist, ankle (great place for active kids), beltloop or anywhere really.

Another bug-off classic is the Sunveil Prampopper which in addition to its amazing UV protective qualities keeps the insects out of the stroller. Savvy-tested in the Alberta backcountry, we’ve wrapped it around the baby carrier (front and back styles) to keep baby bug-free too.

Got bit after all this? Try the Afterbite Kids Treatment, made with eucalyptus and tea tree oil which provide antiseptic power and baking soda, aloe vera and vitamin E for soothing and healing properties. Easy to apply and sting-free, relief for bites is in hand. (Available at Mountain Equipment Coop, Walmart, Zellers and Shopper’s Drug Mart)

Now, about how to tell those long weekend houseguests to buzz-off? Sorry, we don’t have a spray for them….

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