When you’re travelling with children, there is plenty that you will need to think about in order to keep them safe and keep you relaxed while you are abroad. One of those details is protecting them from nasty bites from insects. These insects can be the source of a great deal of irritation, and in some cases may even carry diseases which could pose a real danger to you and your family if you are not protected by the relevant jabs and immunisations.
However, there are ways in which you can keep pesky bugs and insects away from you and your children. Insect repellents are a great way of avoiding bugs, but you may be wondering which type of repellent to use on your children and what things you need to consider when choosing it.
Consider the Ingredients
When you’re choosing an insect repellent, it’s important to consider the ingredients used in the product and whether they are appropriate for the delicate skin of your children.
DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide) is an incredibly popular ingredient in many insect repellent products, but its use has been somewhat controversial in recent years with much debate over the safety of the chemical. While many studies say that the chemical is safe to use, others claim that it can have some pretty nasty side effects.
When it comes to children, however, most are in agreement that DEET shouldn’t be used on babies under two months, and products containing more than 30% DEET shouldn’t be used on children.
With this in mind, you may be considering an alternative to DEET that will protect your children from insects while avoiding strong chemicals.
Choosing a Natural Alternative
Natural alternatives to traditional insect repellents are often popular, especially for use on children. This is largely due to the fact that they are considered to be gentler on their delicate skin and there are fewer worries about side effects. These products can also usually be used on babies and young children so you can keep them protected without worrying about what you’re putting on their skin.
Products like the natural insect repellents from Alfresco are suitable for babies, children and those with sensitive skin so you can keep your whole family protected from nasty insect bites.
Avoiding Insects
While using an insect repellent is important, there are plenty of other ways to reduce your risk of bug bites when travelling. These include:
- Be aware of the times when insects are most active, such as at dawn and dusk.
- Cover up exposed skin, particularly if you are outside during times when these insects are most active.
- Use mosquito nets to cover open windows and doors.
- Be aware of the areas where insects are more likely to be such as near ponds and in woodland areas.
- Avoid using products that are strongly scented, such as shower gel, shampoo and perfume.
There are plenty of ways to protect your children from insect bites while you are travelling, including finding the right insect repellent, so take time to do your research and read other customer reviews to make sure you pick the right one.