Insect Repellent Safety for Babies
The short answer
The AAP and EPA recommend against using any insect repellent on babies under 2 months of age. For babies 2 months and older, products containing up to 30% DEET or 20% picaridin are considered safe and effective. Oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under 3 years. For young babies, physical barriers (mosquito nets, long sleeves, screens) are the safest option. Apply repellent to clothing rather than skin when possible, and never apply to hands, eyes, or mouth.
By Age
What to expect by age
Do not use chemical insect repellents on babies under 2 months. Protect young babies with physical barriers: mosquito netting over carriers and strollers, long lightweight clothing, and staying indoors during peak mosquito hours (dawn and dusk). If you are in an area with mosquito-borne diseases, discuss additional precautions with your pediatrician.
DEET (up to 30%) or picaridin (up to 20%) can be used on exposed skin. Apply sparingly and avoid hands and face. Spray on your own hands first and then apply to the baby's skin. Do not use combination sunscreen-repellent products. Remove repellent when you come indoors by bathing the baby.
Continue using DEET or picaridin as needed. Apply once — repellent does not need to be reapplied as frequently as sunscreen. For tick prevention, treat clothing with permethrin if you are in tick-prone areas (do not apply permethrin directly to skin). Check for ticks after outdoor play.
Toddlers who play in grass and wooded areas need both mosquito and tick protection. Teach your toddler not to touch their face after repellent application. Continue avoiding oil of lemon eucalyptus until age 3. After outdoor play, check for ticks in hair, skin folds, behind ears, and diaper area.
What Should You Do?
When to take action
- Your baby has a few mosquito bites despite your best prevention efforts — some bites are inevitable
- Mosquito bites cause localized redness and swelling that resolves within a few days
- Your baby is fussy or scratches at bug bites — apply calamine lotion or a cool compress
- You are using an EPA-registered repellent as directed on the label for your child's age
- Your baby has a large, swollen reaction to a bug bite that spreads or does not improve after several days
- Your child develops a fever, rash, or body aches after multiple insect bites, especially if you are in an area with mosquito-borne diseases
- You found a tick on your baby and are unsure whether additional monitoring or testing is needed
- Your baby shows signs of an allergic reaction to a bite — difficulty breathing, facial swelling, widespread hives — call 911 immediately
- Your child develops a bull's-eye rash after a tick bite, which may indicate Lyme disease and requires prompt antibiotic treatment
Sources
Related Resources
Related Medical Concerns
Sunscreen for Babies Under 6 Months
The AAP recommends avoiding sunscreen on babies under 6 months when possible, as their skin is thinner and absorbs chemicals more readily. The primary protection should be shade and protective clothing (long sleeves, wide-brimmed hat, UV-protective fabric). However, if shade and clothing are not available and sun exposure cannot be avoided, a small amount of mineral sunscreen (zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) on exposed areas is considered safe and is preferable to sunburn.
Travel Vaccinations for Babies
Travel with babies may require additional vaccinations depending on the destination. Some travel vaccines have minimum age requirements — for example, yellow fever vaccine is not given before 9 months, and typhoid vaccine before 2 years. The CDC recommends consulting a travel medicine specialist at least 4-6 weeks before international travel with an infant. Some destinations may not be advisable for young babies due to disease risks that cannot be fully mitigated by vaccination.
My Baby's Head Shape Looks Abnormal
Many babies develop temporary head shape irregularities that are completely normal. A cone-shaped head from vaginal delivery reshapes within days. Mild positional flattening (plagiocephaly) from sleeping on the back is very common and usually improves with repositioning and tummy time. However, head shape changes involving ridges, a persistently bulging fontanelle, or rapid head growth changes should be evaluated to rule out craniosynostosis.
Achondroplasia (Dwarfism) in Babies
Achondroplasia is the most common form of short-limbed dwarfism, affecting about 1 in 15,000 to 40,000 births. It is caused by a mutation in the FGFR3 gene and is usually apparent at birth with characteristic features including short limbs, a larger head, and a prominent forehead. Intelligence is normal. With monitoring for specific complications and supportive care, children with achondroplasia lead full, active, and independent lives.
Adenoid Hypertrophy and Breathing
Adenoids are lymphoid tissue located behind the nose that help fight infection in young children. When adenoids become enlarged (adenoid hypertrophy), they can block the nasal airway, causing chronic mouth breathing, snoring, nasal speech, and sleep-disordered breathing. Enlarged adenoids are most common between ages 2-7 and are a leading cause of obstructive sleep apnea in young children. Treatment ranges from watchful waiting and nasal steroids to surgical removal (adenoidectomy) if breathing or sleep is significantly affected.
Air Quality and Baby Health
Babies and young children are more vulnerable to air pollution than adults because they breathe faster, their lungs are still developing, and they spend more time close to the ground where some pollutants concentrate. The EPA recommends keeping babies indoors when the Air Quality Index (AQI) exceeds 100 (orange level). During wildfire smoke events, keep windows closed, use air purifiers with HEPA filters, and monitor your child for coughing, wheezing, or difficulty breathing. Long-term exposure to air pollution can affect lung development.