Tick Protection for Kids and Babies
Most of the repellent advice on this site is written for adults, but kids are actually the ones at the highest risk, they're outside more, lower to the ground, and a lot less likely to notice something crawling on them. Here's what's actually safe to use and at what age.
I've got kids myself, and the rule I go by is simple: dress them right first, repellent second, and never skip the check at the end of the day. None of the products below are a substitute for that last step.
Babies Under 2 Months
For this age, you're relying entirely on the other layers: dress them in long sleeves and pants if you're going to be anywhere near grass or woods, and use fine-mesh netting over a stroller or carrier if you're outdoors for a while. Make sure the netting still lets air through and you can see the baby clearly. Skip the bug spray entirely and just keep them out of tall grass and brush.
2 Months and Older
Once a baby hits 2 months, DEET and picaridin are both considered safe by the EPA, the CDC, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, when used as directed. Here's how the two stack up for kids specifically:
- DEET, 10 to 30 percent concentration. 10% lasts about 2 hours, 30% lasts about 5 hours. Don't go past 30% on a kid, it doesn't add more protection, just more chemical on their skin. Apply once a day, not more.
- Picaridin, 5 to 20 percent. A 20% concentration covers 8 to 14 hours, 10% covers 5 to 12 hours. No real smell, doesn't feel greasy, and a lot of parents find it easier to deal with than DEET.
For Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE), the rule is different: don't use it on any kid under 3 years old. After age 3, products with 30 to 40% OLE give around 6 hours of protection.
How to Actually Apply It
A few things that matter more with kids than adults:
- Spray it into your own hands first, then pat it onto their face and neck. Never spray directly at a kid's face.
- Skip their hands entirely. Little kids put their hands in their mouths, and you don't want them swallowing repellent.
- Only put it on exposed skin, not underneath their clothes.
- Apply it outside, not in an enclosed space, so nobody's breathing it in.
- When they're back inside, wash it off with soap and water, and wash their clothes before they're worn again.
- Never combine a sunscreen and bug spray in one product. You reapply sunscreen way more often than you should reapply DEET, and a combo product means you're either under-protecting from the sun or over-applying the repellent.
What I Skip for Kids
Essential oils, citronella, soybean oil, the whole "natural" aisle, none of that has solid research behind it for actually keeping ticks off, especially compared to DEET or picaridin. The American Academy of Pediatrics specifically calls these out as providing limited protection at best. If you've got a real tick concern in your area, like we do here in northeast Ohio, this isn't the spot to go all-natural. Save the essential oil sprays for situations where the disease risk is lower.
Repellent wristbands, clip-on fans, ultrasonic devices, citronella candles: none of these are proven to work and I wouldn't rely on any of them for a kid playing in the yard.
Permethrin Is for Their Clothes, Not Their Skin
This one's worth repeating because it's the most effective tool you've got and parents sometimes skip it out of caution that isn't actually warranted. Permethrin goes on clothing, shoes, and gear, never on skin. Spray it on, let it dry completely before the kid puts it on, and it'll hold up through several washes. It's one of the best things you can do for a kid who's going to be playing in the yard or in the woods all summer. See the clothing page for more on how this works.
The Tick Check Still Matters Most
Repellent buys you time, it doesn't make you immune. Check kids every single time they come in from outside, especially behind the ears, the scalp, behind the knees, and the groin. Kids don't always say anything if something's crawling on them, so this part is on you. Full details on what to look for and where on the tick checks page.