There is no shade to great outdoors, but there is a jungle – literally. Whether night camping, in a picnic park or simply go for a walk around the environment, tick protection and mosquito cannot be negotiated for children.

But what about babies? Long and short that even a newborn needs a bug spray when their skin exposed to insect areas.

“From a health perspective, the goal is to avoid catching the disease like the virus of Western Nile, maple diseases, malaria and zika,” says Dr. Liz Donner, pediatric hospitalist and a member of the Medical Advisory Board for Babies. “That is why I recommend the use of the most efficient, EPA approved products on the market, such as Deet and Picaridin.”

But what kind and when is it safe? Here’s what to know.

When can you put a bug spray on a baby?

Deet (also known as diethyltoluamide) is an active ingredient in many popular bug spray for children and adults.

Technical, the Environmental Protection AgencyOpens a new window (EPA) approved DEET for use on children of any age. Who said, experts on NemoursOpens a new window and Mayo ClinicOpens a new window Do not recommend using it on newborns under 2 months.

If you are careful than Deet, Picaridin is another effective bumper against mosquitoes, ticks and fleas. It is approved by food and drug administration (FDA) and may not be so sharp on young skin as Deet, although it is still best to wait while your baby is old for use for at least 2 months.

“We use! With Picaridin, not on Deeti. That is what our pediatrician recommended. It’s effective if you do a good job of covering exposed skin well” says Babel community Member lilmissunshine409. “The spray version sometimes makes my son, so I’ll buy a lotion next time. My boyfriend is a magnet against mosquitoes … Water game is my biggest challenge. Heavy combination when the weather is hot!”

What about natural bug spray?

You may want to try the natural insect bumper, such as EPA-Evider Citronella products, but first read the label to make sure it is safe to use on babies. (Board Products must indicate any age limitations.)

Citronella oil is an active ingredient in the resumption mosquito labels, an increasingly popular natural alternative for error removal sprays. These patches are non-toxic, chemical free and do not have recommended age limitations.

They are also excluded from the approval of the FDA because the Agency considers the users of Citronella oil “Pose (i) minimum risk”. This means that until it would be harmful to your baby, the FDA does not recommend them as efficient insect protection, so try them on your own risk.

For children 3 years and older you can also use products containing lemon eucalyptus oil (ole, called para-menthane-diole or pmd).

Natural repellents generally do not last until chemical repellents, so you may need to repeat often.

What about newborns?

If experts do not recommend using a bug spray to age of up to 2 months, how can you protect the newborn against bite bite? The best thing you can do is set up a physical barrier between your baby’s skin and the environment in which insects are circulating.

It could mean covering more of their skin clothes, but if you are in a warm climate, it is probably not ideal. Consider putting the lid on their cart, one made of airy fabric such as cotton or muslin.

There are also straps against mosquitoes you can put on clothes or carts. These pistons rely on citronel and luminous grass to distract insects, so how well they work can vary but can’t hurt.

If none of the above is an option for your newborn, you may only need to restrict their time outside and stick to a fair-high interior.

How to Choose Bug Spray for your baby

The best bug spray for your baby will depend on several factors: how much will it need to protect them? What types of insects will be exposed? How old are they?

Read the product labels carefully, because protection varies quite from one product to another. “Graphic” graphic repellential restriction “will show which bumper errors protects from and how long. Companies can voluntarily put this graphic on their label after proving to the US Environmental Protection Agency that their product is effective.

Note that the lower concentration of the active ingredient does not mean that it is less efficient. It simply means that the product will not hold the mistakes for so long. For example, a product containing a 10% work will be in effect for about two hours, while one that contains 24% refuses to err on five hours.

Deet Republents reach the maximum duration of efficiency at 30%, so there is no reason to overdraft that level. It is a good idea to use a minimum concentration that you can for the amount of time you anticipate the necessary protection.

“I didn’t see serious reactions on the boom spray, but I know that a rash and irritation of the skin can sometimes appear,” says Dr. Donner. “If you are worried, parents can always call free phone control poison for free, friendly advice.” (That number is 800-222-1222.)

EPAs Repel search toolOpens a new window is a convenient way to find a repugnance for mosquito protection. Be sure to enter the amount of time that you will need protection.

How to put a bug spray on your baby

• Apply a bumper spumpling on your child’s exposed skin, not skin under clothes. Use only enough bumper to cover the skin. The difficult app does not give you better or longer permanent protection.
• Do not choose a product that is both sunny cream and disrepair of errors, as sunburn may need to be more often. Apply the first sunscreen, followed by a bumper.
• Do not repossict close to the eyes or the mouth of the child and avoid cuts and irritation of the skin. Use it sparingly around your ears.
• Do not put a repugnance on your child’s hands, because your hands will inevitably find in your mouth.
• Do not allow your child to deal with the tank while applying a bumper.
• If you use spray, do not spray it directly on your child’s face. Spray the bumper on your hands and then sign in to your face.
• Do not spray repels in closed areas or near food. Avoid breathing in spray.
• Act the bumper according to the instructions on the labels. Deet should not be applied more than once a day.
• Wash a repulsion with a child’s skin with soap and water when you enter inside and wash your child’s clothes if they refuse.
• Store repels from the reach of your child.
• If your child develops any rash while wearing a repulsive, wash it and call your child’s health care or local poison control center for further guidance. Keep the container tank so that you can provide label information.