Best Mosquito Repellent Patches to Keep Kids Safe

Defending your family against mosquitos without harmful chemicals

Nothing can ruin your family trip in the great outdoors more than mosquitos. Mosquitos seem tend to pick their favorite people and if you’re anything like me, you’re the sacrificial fodder. Many many children also seem to fall foul of that delicious allure for these winging nemaces!

No more! We’ve been looking for ways to combat our mosquito problems for good.

At home, we have put in place many efficient mosquito-repelling techniques and planted suitable moquito repelling plants, but once we leave home and the kids are running about, we’ve had to invest in some new defence systems.

We’ve tried all sorts of sprays and wipes but by far we’ve found with our children (especially our oldest who has very senesitve skin) mosquito repellent patches are the most effective, cost-efficient and inoffensive method of dealing with our mosquito problem.

This post is part of our best travel products series and outdoor adventures with kids

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Different Types of Mosquito Repellents

When it comes to children, choosing a mosquito repellent can be a daunting job. You have to be careful about the kind of chemicals used in the product and how your child might feel about using it. Let’s take a quick look at the different types of mosquito repellents:

1. DEET Repellents – These come in various forms and can keep away different insects for hours. But they have an odor – and a high-percentage DEET products are not for kids.
2. Picaridin Repellents – These are non-greasy and harmless for the skin. They can be applied to clothes, too, however, there are not enough studies to talk about its long-term effects.
3. IR-3535 Repellents – These repellents contain IR-3535 which is considered safe for infants and pregnant women. It effectively keeps away mosquitoes without killing them.
4. Permethrin Repellents – These repellents are not designed to be used on the skin. But you can put them on clothes to help keep away different insects, including mosquitoes.
5. Repellents with Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus – These have a synthetic form of extracts from eucalyptus. Though natural, these haven’t been tested on kids under 3 years.
6. Natural Repellents – These repellents have natural ingredients like citronella, garlic, peppermint, basil, etc. They are much milder for the skin and free from chemicals.    
7. Clip-On Fans – These repellents are attached to the waistband, and they help spread metofluthrin all around to keep mosquitoes away. It prevents chemical use on the skin.
8. Wristband/Waistband Repellents – These bands prevent slathering chemical-rich repellents. They use natural plant oils but may fail to offer full-body protection.
9. Patch Repellents – These repellents are used like stickers used on clothes, bags, strollers, etc. They contain natural and safe ingredients that keep mosquitoes away.

What to Look for in Good Kids Mosquito Repellents

When you go hunting for mosquito repellents, you’ll find plenty of different products and devices – knowing which is best for kids sensitive skin though, and which are really worth paying a little more for to keep them protected is the challenge. From sprays to creams, from high-quality smoke-emitting coils to the best mosquito repellent devices – here are the features you should be looking for to find the best type for your family’s needs:

Application

Topical mosquito repellents come in the form of liquid, cream, aerosol, etc. You can apply some of them directly to your child’s skin. Or, you can spray them or put a few drops on clothes. Then there are mosquito repellent patches for clothes. Wrist- or waistbands also come with repellent oil, though some waistbands have fans that spread metofluthrin.

Portability

Most insect repellents, such as mosquito repellent stickers, sprays, creams, etc., are easy to carry around wherever you take your child. These wearable repellents stay active wherever your child goes – great if they’ll be running around not sitting in one spot. Some repellents like sonic devices or coils cannot always be used everywhere.

Safety

As a parent, you have to consider if the product or its mechanism can cause harm or discomfort to your child. Smoke emitted from coils is not only bad for the lungs but is also carcinogenic. Don’t forget to check if the ingredients and the potency of wearable repellents can keep your child safe from insects that can cause fever, malaria, dengue, etc.

Ingredients

Many ingredients are not safe for children because of their strong chemical content. While many other components are safe, they should only be applied in lower potency levels when it comes to kids. Also, don’t always jump towards natural ingredients because their effects might not have been studied properly, especially on young children.

Smell

An essential feature to consider while choosing a mosquito repellent is the smell. Most topicals give off an odor that everyone hates, and your kid might refuse to use the product. Highly potent chemical-infused products are particularly strong in their smell. But natural ingredients often give off a milder, sweeter aroma. 

Liquidity

Wearable mosquito repellents have different consistency levels. Some are liquid and spread easily, while others are more sticky and thick. You can expect a hard time with your kid if you try to give them the greasy ones. Children are likely to feel sweaty. So, for repellents to be applied to the skin, pick liquid ones – or go for patches for clothes.  

Best Mosquito Repelling Patches

All things considered, one of the ideal options to keep your kid away from mosquitoes or other bugs would be mosquito stickers or patches. These are mostly mild, odor-free, and usable on clothes instead of skin application. So let’s take a more detailed look at different mosquito repellent patches for kids

	Product	Type	Key ingredients
	Mosquito Guard Repellent Stickers	Round Stickers	Citronella, Lemongrass, peppermint, Geraniol
	RiptGear Mosquito Patch Stickers for Kids	Round Stickers	Citronella
	Buggy Bands Mosquito Repellent Patches	Round Stickers	Citronella
	Bug Band Mosquito Stickers	Round Stickers	Geranium, Lemongrass, Citronella
	RiptGear Square Orange Mosquito Patch	Square Stickers	Citronella
	BuggyBands Baby Yoda Mosquito Stickers	Square Character Stickers	Citronella, Mint
	BuggyBands Animal-Shaped Mosquito Patches	Square Character Stickers	Lemongrass, geraniol, citronella

Mosquito Bands and Bracelets

If you’d still prefer not to apply mosquito repellent directly on your child’s skin, another effective alternative that moves with your child is a mosquito repellent band that can be worn around a wrist or ankle. Not as effective with very young children who still like to put everything in their mouth, but certainly worth a try with your older kids.

We’ve previously used Para’Kito with success, though we do find they don’t last a full 15 days and the refills can be pricey. We are testing a couple more new brands this summer, so will report back to you soon with our favourite bracelet and band mosquito repellent products.

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More ways to keep your kids happy & safe outdoors

We have a great range of advice and product guides perfect for keeping your kids safe and happy playing outside in the great outdoors. Why not also check out:

• The best gift ideas for outdoorsy kids – includes fun & essential gear kids will want on a camping trip
• Essential Camping Gear for a Baby – all the items we couldn’t live without when camping with our babies
• Toddler Hiking Tips – top tips for taking little ones hiking; what gear to pack and how to keep them motivated on short trails and longer hikes
• Best Aqua Shoes for Kids – keeping little feet protected, our top slection of beach and aqua shoes designed for your active outdoor child
• Family First Aid Kit – what we always pack for safety and hygience travelling with our kids

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