Non-Toxic Bug Sprays That Are Safe for Kids

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August 06, 2019

By: Carolina King

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Photo By: Imgorthand

Is Bug Spray Safe?

There are some bug sprays that contain high-risk pesticides or insecticides in their products that are not ideal for your health. However, keeping yourself and your children safe from diseases that are transmitted by mosquitoes and ticks is very important.

The Environmental Working Group analyzed commonly used ingredients in bug sprays and found repellents that protect from a variety of biting insects and ticks, have good safety profiles and are registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (meaning the brands must provide data on both efficacy and toxicity).

Look for the following ingredients when buying bug spray:

Picaridin
DEET (at less than 30 percent)
IR3535 (at 20 percent)
Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus or its synthetic derivative PMD
2-Undecanone

Click through to see our favorite bug repellants for everyday use:

Make Your Own

Mama Instincts created a DIY guide for families interested in creating their own bug spray with safe products. The activity is designed for kids ages six and up.

NOW Foods Bug Ban Spray

This bug spray is great at repelling bugs without the use of harsh chemicals.It uses a combination of essential oil extracts that keep away most common bugs. This bug spray is great for everyday use and affordable, too!

BUY IT: Now Foods, $6

Badger Bug Spray

This lab-tested bug spray repels mosquitos and is formulated with organic ingredients. Our favorite feature is the product’s fragrance—you can say goodbye to stinky bug sprays and your little ones complaining about the smell.

BUY IT: Amazon, $10

Bug Protector Tick Repellent

Worried about ticks? This bug spray is specifically formulated to repel dog and deer ticks, which makes it great if you’re going camping or if you live in an area with many insects.This bug spray is safe for kids, adults and even dogs.

BUY IT: Amazon, $9

REPEL Plant-Based Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent

Looking for a safe bug spray that repels mosquitos for more than an hour? Then look no further. Repel banishes mosquitos for up to six hours, which makes it great for a hiking trip. It’s also formulated to repel mosquitos that may have viruses like Zika, West Nile, Dengue and Chikungunya.

BUY IT: Amazon, $5

Oilogic Bug Bites & Itches

It happens: you got a bug bite and now you can’t stop scratching. If you have kids,you know how vigorously they can scratch their skin. This roll-on soothes the itching; all you have to do is apply the product to your bug bite and wait a few minutes. It’s safe for kids two and up.

BUY IT: Amazon, $10