With mosquitoes responsible for over 1 million deaths per year due to the diseases they carry and spread, it’s important that we protect our children from these very harmful and annoying pests!
In this comprehensive review, you’ll find our curated list of the top reviewed bug and mosquito repellent options for your children as well as:
- How mosquito repellents work.
- Whether mosquito repellents are effective.
- What dangers mosquitoes carry.
- Whether mosquito repellents are safe around pets and children.
Top 6 Best Mosquito Repellents
- Riptgear Mosquito Patch Stickers
- Sawyer Products Premium Insect Repellent with 20% Picaridin
- Wondercide Natural Deet-Free Mosquito and Insect Repellent Spray
- Bug Soother Spray
- Mosquito Guard Kids Repellent Bands
- Cutter Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent
1. Deet-Free Mosquito and Insect Repellent Spray
Looking for a very safe and family friendly option? The folks at Wondercide (as seen on Shark Tank) created a true natural option for those concerned with using DEET and other synthetic pesticides on their children.
It protects your babies from bug bites by using the power of only food-grade US made ingredients that repel mosquitoes, sand flies, gnats, and other biting insects.
Now available in wipes and other scents too, this made our list as our favorite option for those concerned with using synthetic options. In some instances this product may not be as effective as your DEET or Picaridin options, but the peace of mind of using a natural, safe option is quite nice.
The Good:
- Natural Solution
- DEET & Pesticide Free
- Various scents, sprays, and wipes
The Bad:
- May not be as effective as pesticide based options according to some customers
Features:
- DEET free formula
- Baby, toddler, and pet safe
- Made from USA food-grade ingredients
2. Sawyer Products Premium Insect Repellent with 20% Picaridin
Picaridin is an insecticide that’s just as effective as DEET and some even say it’s more effective than DEET. This 4-ounce spray bottle of repellent spray has a 20% concentration in it that will last for up to 12 hours against mosquitoes and ticks, and 8 hours against biting flies.
The higher concentration is what gives it its longer lasting effectiveness.
It is free of any fragrances, safe to use on your clothing, fishing gear, watches, and synthetic materials as well as your exposed skin. You can even spray some on your hands then rub them on your face so you don’t have to close your eyes to spray yourself in the face.
The Good:
- 12 hour protection
- Convenient size
- Fragrance-free
The Bad:
- Washes off if you go swimming
Features:
- As effective as DEET
- Safe for all ages
- Won’t damage clothing
3. Riptgear Mosquito Patch Stickers
Natural citronella insect repellents are great. But you still have to spray them around your children. And the smell may be off-putting to some.
But now, you can have the same excellent protection as an insect spray offered in an essential oil patch. Simply apply RiptGear Mosquito Patch Stickers onto any surface, and they repel flying insects, such as:
- Mosquitoes
- Gnats
- No-see-ums
- Biting midges
You can use these stick-on patches for most surfaces, including:
- Clothing
- Backpacks
- Tents
- Baby strollers
- Outdoor furniture
The RiptGear Mosquito patch stickers are DEET-free and safe for children of all ages. The set includes 78 stickers, enough for any outdoor activity. And they come in a resealable bag to keep them fresh and long-lasting.
The Good:
- Convenient and easy to use
- Works for mosquitoes and other biting pests
- DEET-free and all-natural
- 78 stickers included in the set
The Bad:
- May require several stickers, especially in heavily infested areas
Features:
- Convenient and easy to use
- Works for mosquitoes and other biting pests
- DEET-free and all-natural
4. Mosquito Guard Kids Repellent Bands
These wristbands are made for children and can be worn on their wrists or ankles. Each polyethylene wristband contains citronella oil, lemongrass, and geraniol essential oils to keep mosquitoes away from your children.
These individually wrapped bands are advertised as DEET-free, containing only natural products. These stretchy bands are easy to adjust for any size child over the age of 3, making them perfect for any outdoor activity such as hiking, sports, or just laying back on the beach.
It is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as a safe product that will last up to 18 months in its individual packet.
The Good:
- Easy to use: just wear it
- One size fits all
The Bad:
- Not for children under 3
Features:
- DEET-free
- All-natural ingredients
- Recommended by the CDC
5. Bug Soother Spray
Bug Soother Spray combines all-natural essential oils into a blend of highly effective spray that repels unwanted flying pests. And it does so without using DEET or any other harmful chemicals.
Bug Soother is effective against:
- Mosquitoes
- Gnats
- Fruit flies
- No-see-ums
- Black Flies
- Sand fleas
Bug Soother’s premium ingredients include:
- Lemongrass
- Castor oil
- Vanilla extract
- Vitamin E
Take along Bug Soother spray on your next outdoor outing. It’s safe for use on children and pets, and there are no toxic chemicals or fumes to harm the environment.
The Good:
- All-natural and DEET-free
- Effective against mosquitoes and biting insects
- Leaves skin feeling soft and smooth
- Safe on children and pets
The Bad:
- Not sweat-proof and may need frequent reapplication
Features:
- All-natural and DEET-free
- Effective against mosquitoes and biting insects
- Leaves skin feeling soft and smooth
6. Cutter Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent
This is an all-natural pump spray containing oil of lemon eucalyptus, the only one of the essential oils that has been systematically tested and found to be an effective insect repellent. It gives you hours of protection, up to 6 hours at a time.
This is a natural insect repellent that is safe and effective. However, it hasn’t been lab-tested to determine if it’s safe for young children under 3 years of age. Based on our experience, we suspect it is safe but we can’t actually prove it.
The natural ingredients are non-toxic, non-greasy, non-sticky, and won’t stain your clothes.
The Good:
- Effective
- Non-greasy
- Non-sticky
- Won’t stain your clothes
The Bad:
- Some people have allergic reactions to it
How Do Mosquito Repellents Work?
Mosquitoes and other flying insects are attracted to us by the carbon dioxide in our breath as well as by our body heat. Ticks and other biting insects are also attracted to us the same way. Repellents act by confusing their senses so we effectively become invisible to them.
Dangers From Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes are carriers, also known as vectors, for a wide range of diseases; Dengue fever, West Nile virus, and Zika, among others. Ticks carry Lyme disease. The Centers for Disease Control website has a long list of diseases carried by insects.
Mosquitoes lay eggs in stagnant water. When the larvae hatch, they swim around eating algae until they mature. After leaving the water, they mated and the male dies so it’s the female that’s biting you. She needs a meal of blood to provide protein for each batch of eggs.
Each time she bites, there is a chance that she will pass on one of the many diseases that mosquitoes carry. Therefore it’s important to keep them away from you and your kids.
How Do You Find The Best Mosquito Repellents?
Let us do that for you. Our staff is composed of people with real-life field experience as licensed pest control technicians. We have years of experience using pesticides and repellents of all kinds.
We’ve put all that experience to work finding the best insect repellents available and bringing them together in one place with the information you need to decide which bug repellent will best suit the needs of you and your family.
Check out the following video for more info on kid-safe mosquito repellents.
Are Mosquito Repellents Effective?
Yes. The level of efficacy varies from one product to another but they all work.
Are Mosquito Repellents Safe Around My Pets And Children?
Yes. All of the mosquito repellents reviewed here are safe around pets and children. In fact, one of them may even make you into your cat’s new best friend.
