My Favorite, All-Natural Bug Repellent Products for Kids

My son gets horrible reactions to mosquito bites. He’ll get a bite on his forehead and over the course of a few days, the swelling will move to his eyelid, then under his eye, etc. A bite on his knee will turn into the size of a golf ball. And once, a bite on his cheek swelled up the entire side of his face.  He’s three now and I couldn’t go another summer in fear of mosquitos, so I sent out on a search to arm us with products to keep the bugs away.

Here’s what we’re using and what has worked! Buy, buy, buy to bye, bye, bye!

Nantucket Spider Natural Bug Repellent: Nantucket Spider’s DEET-free insect repellent spray is formulated with a range of organic, high-quality ingredients to provide protection against all types of biting insects. Unlike most other repellents, our long-lasting formula is water-based. The spray is made with a carefully selected blend of organic essential oils, including rosemary, geranium, cedarwood, peppermint, spearmint, lemongrass, clove and citronella. HOW I USE IT: I spray it on their clothes and also carry it around with me outside. Whenever I see a bug come near where my kids are playing, I spray the area.

Avon Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus IR3535® Expedition™ SPF 30 Pump Spray: Deet-free and hypoallergenic provides all DAY protection. It smells great and has been a life saver for keeping the bugs away! Also works against ticks, which I love. HOW I USE IT: I spray this on our bodies for sun and bug protection.

Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus IR3535® Gentle Breeze® SPF 30 Lotion: Effectively repels mosquitoes, deer ticks, black flies, sand flies, gnats, no-seeums and biting midges. PABA-free and DEET-free. Same as the other Avon products: repels mosquitos that may transmit West Nile Virus, repels deer ticks that may transmit Lyme Disease, repels mosquitoes, deer ticks, black flies, sand flies, gnats, no-seeums and biting midges, provides SPF 30 protection, PABA-free and DEET-free, non-greasy, Vitamin E and Aloe, non-comedogenic and non-acnegenic, dermatologist-tested and hypoallergenic. HOW I USE IT: I started off using this on just our faces, but now I use this as our main body lotion too. I even have an extra one to carry in my purse for on-the-go needs (not like we really go anywhere with COVID, but just in case!)

Avon Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus Picaridin Pump Spray: This version contains Picaridin __ —an insect repellent alternative to DEET—and works for DAWN AND DUSK. It has a low odor, with a light, clean feel.  Also works against ticks. HOW I USE IT: I spray this on our bodies when we’re outside at night.

Fairy Tales Rosemary Repel Daily Kid Conditioning Spray- Conditioning Lice Spray for Kids for Lice Prevention, 8 Fl. Oz: This spray has a proprietary blend of organic Rosemary, Citronella, Tea Tree, and Geranium oils. I originally got it to spray on my daughter’s hair before school every day when she started kindergarten and was actually in a classroom, because all my teacher friends said lice is an issue with little kids. HOW I USE IT: I spray it in hair if it’s a particularly buggy day out. Some of the essential oils in it are also bug repellants, and I want added protection near the face!