Mosquito bites on babies are not only painful and itchy but could also put the baby’s health at stake. One of the main preventive tools to protect babies from mosquitoes is using mosquito repellents. When it comes to mosquito repellents, it is always wise to rely on homemade natural mosquito repellents for babies.
You would be right to do so. Mosquitoes are a great danger to babies and can cause a lot of discomforts, in addition to the possibility of spreading ailments. Since a baby’s immunity is not very strong yet, it is necessary to prevent the scenario entirely.
However, several synthetic mosquito repellents are unsafe for babies. It may have unpleasant side effects. So, to counter the problem, it becomes imperative to find some natural, safe mosquito repellent.
That is where this article comes in. This article will shed some light on some of the best homemade natural mosquito repellents for babies so that you can easily make safe repellents for your little one at home.
9 Homemade Natural Mosquito Repellents For Babies
Looking for effective homemade natural mosquito repellents for babies? Want a safe, simple, affordable solution to the mosquito problem? Want to add your special loving touch to it? You are not alone! Many mothers, including me want to keep mosquitoes away from kids using natural methods.
You don’t need to be a rocket scientist, nor do you need advanced equipment to make these mosquito repellents. They are completely natural, affordable, and easy to make. Just a few minutes are enough!
The basic formula of homemade natural mosquito repellents is the combination of various essential oils diluted with a carrier oil. This makes these homemade mosquito repellents safe for the delicate skin of the baby. However, it is important to closely watch for side effects after applying these mosquito repellents on babies.
Jotting down are 9 homemade natural mosquito repellents for babies. And these are completely safe, with none of the side effects that artificial mosquito repellents can bring about.
1. Safe mosquito repellent for newborn babies
When it comes to newborn babies, only a few ingredients are safe to apply to their supple skin. Also, it is important to use minimal quantities of essential oils and dilute them to their max by means of a safe carrier oil. Here is a safe combination of essential oils for newborns whose smell keeps mosquitoes away.
All you need is a teapot with an infuser, olive oil, and some herbs like eucalyptus leaves (5 numbers), bay leaves (2 numbers), dried lavender leaves (2 tablespoons), and rosemary (1 tablespoon). You can make necessary changes in the quantities if you think this is too strong or not strong enough.
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Put all the ingredients mentioned above in the infuser. Boil some water separately in a pan and pour the boiling water into the infuser. Let it boil for around 20 minutes after covering the pot with a lid.
After 20 minutes, you can remove the infuser. Now squeeze the ingredients in the infuser gently with a spoon, so that all its essence is squeezed out. To this mixture add olive oil in 1:3 ratios (30 ml herb solution: 90 ml olive oil)
You can apply this mosquito repellent for newborn babies evenly over the body of newborns. The smell of this solution helps to keep mosquitoes away.
Note: If you don’t have a teapot with an infuser, you can use a thin muslin cloth to hold the herbs.
2. Coconut oil mosquito repellent
Coconut oil mosquito repellent for babies carries all the benefits of coconut oil. When combined with essential oils like Lavender oil drops and Citronella oil drops it makes a great spray that keeps mosquitoes at bay.
Take 4 to 5 tablespoons of coconut oil in a bowl. Add a few drops of lavender oil and citronella oil. Mix well. You can apply it evenly to the body of the baby. As coconut oil has sunscreen properties (SPF around 6), this mixture can also be used as a sunscreen to some extent.
3. Natural mosquito killer spray
To make this natural mosquito killer spray you need equal drops of citronella oil, olive oil, tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil drops, lavender oil, witch hazel, and lemongrass oil. Take a spray bottle. Add all the ingredients and shake well.
Spray little of this mixture in the arms and legs and rub gently. Never spray it near the eyes. Take a little in your arm and you can rub it in the forehead and other parts of the face. This makes an excellent homemade mosquito killer spray.
4. Neem-camphor mosquito repellent
According to studies, neem oil can effectively keep away different species of disease-spreading mosquitoes. It is found 2% neem oil mixed in coconut oil provides 96-100% protection against anophelines mosquitoes, 85% protection against Aedes mosquitoes, 61-94% against Culex, and 37.5% protection against Armigers. Therefore, neem oil is an effective remedy against mosquito bites.
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To make neem–camphor mosquito repellent all you need is neem oil, camphor powder, and coconut oil. Take an equal amount of camphor powder and neem oil in a bowl and mix well. To this add some coconut oil until you get the needed consistency. Mix well.
An effective homemade natural mosquito repellent with an excellent aroma of camphor is ready.
5. Neem –coconut oil mosquito repellent
Due to its composition and strong aroma neem holds strong natural mosquito-repelling properties. Here comes another natural homemade mosquito repellent that is safe for babies.
To make this natural mosquito repellent, you need 10 drops of neem oil and 30 ml of coconut oil. Coconut oil makes an excellent carrier oil. What you have to do is add neem oil to coconut oil and mix well. You can apply this directly to the exposed areas of the baby’s body at least twice a day.
6. Peppermint oil -coconut oil mosquito repellent
Peppermint oil is another essential oil that has a strong mosquito-repelling property. Coconut oil is the perfect carrier oil as it is loaded with unsaturated fatty acids and emulsifiers that slow down the evaporation of the repellent molecules. This helps to retain the mosquito repellent property of essential oils for a long time.
To prepare peppermint oil mosquito repellent, take 30 ml of coconut oil in a bowl. Add 12 drops of peppermint oil. Mix well. Keep it in an airtight container. Apply this mixture directly to the hands and legs of the baby.
7. Cinnamon oil spray
Studies show components of cinnamon oil have strong mosquito repelling properties against disease-carrying mosquitoes. To prepare cinnamon oil spray mix 10 drops of cinnamon oil to 30 to 40 ml water and mix well.
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Pour this into a spray bottle. You can gently spray this over the legs and hands of the baby before going out. This is an effective homemade mosquito killer spray.
8. Lemongrass And Rosemary Essential Oil
Lemongrass and rosemary oils are well-known for their mosquito repellent property. Take equal amounts of rosemary and lemongrass oil (precisely 10 drops each) to 60 ml of carrier oil, preferably coconut oil. You can apply this mixture evenly over the baby’s body.
Alternatively, you can add essential oils to 60 ml of water and pour it into a spray bottle and use the solution as a spray.
9. Organic mosquito spray for babies
Here comes an excellent formula for safe, organic mosquito repellent spray for babies.
Take 60 ml of alcohol–free, distillate, and organic witch hazel to a bowl. To this, add one teaspoon of Vodka, and 10 drops each of lavender and citronella oil in a bowl. Now add 60 ml of boiled water. Fill this mixture into amber or dark-colored spray bottle (preferably glass).
This makes an excellent mosquito repellent spray.
Unsafe Mosquito Repellents For Babies
Most of the mosquito repellents available in the market are not safe for babies –especially for babies under 3 months of age. Many of these mosquito repellents contain harmful chemicals like DEET, picaridin, and IR3535.
If the baby gets exposed to mosquito repellents with more than 30% DEET, it can trigger many health issues.
Here are some mosquito repellents that are unsafe to use on your baby to keep mosquitoes away. Also, understand why you should keep these mosquito repellents away from your baby.
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1. Mosquito coils
Inexpensive mosquito coils available in the market are found to emit a lot of smoke and an unpleasant smell. Though many coils claim they are safe for babies over 2 months of age, it is found that using mosquito coils especially when used for a long time and when burned indoors, can trigger breathing issues and allergies in babies.
2. Liquid vaporizers and plug-in mats
Due to the convenience to use, plug-in liquid vaporizers and mats are the most commonly used mosquito repellents in households. However, these liquid vaporizers and plug-in mats emit harmful chemicals that keep the mosquitoes at bay. Inhaling these chemical fumes adversely affects the health of the baby.
3. Fogging and chemical fumigation
Chemical fumigation is very effective in getting rid of mosquitoes. However, it is not at all safe for babies and affects them as it makes babies susceptible to asthma and could trigger, allergic reactions in the lungs and respiratory tracts. It can also bring about eye irritations.
4. Mosquito repellent crèmes and sprays
Many mosquito repellent lotions and crèmes that are available in the market are loaded with chemicals and can be harsh on the soft baby skin. Using mosquito repellent spray on the baby increases the risk of harmful chemicals get into the lungs of the baby, thereby, triggering breathing issues.
Conclusion
Not all homemade natural mosquito repellents for babies act in a similar way. While some of the above-mentioned mosquito repellents act for long durations, some will be effective only for a short duration.
The time duration of homemade mosquito repellent depends on the ingredients used and its concentration. However, it is always recommended to apply the mosquito repellent to clothing rather than skin and, of course, never spray it on their faces.