If there’s one thing that causes all kinds of issues for kids with sensitive skin it’s mosquito bites. Not only does the sting of the bite cause trouble, the resulting swelling can cause kids to scratch endlessly. This scratching only causes more itching which starts a cycle that can be almost impossible to stop. As with all things, the best remedy for mosquito bites is to avoid them in the first place. The problem with that is many mosquito repellents are loaded with chemicals that can irritate sensitive skin, or put chemicals on their skin we don’t want them to be exposed to.

To make big fighting as easy and safe as possible, we’re sharing some super simple homemade bug repellent recipes with you that can help keep your kids happy and safe all season long with no bites!

Essential Oils

One of the most gentle and most effective ways to keep mosquitoes away is essential oils. These oils have been extracted from natural plants and contain scents or other botanical ingredients that mosquitoes can’t stand! Some of the best essential oils to work with to keep the bugs away include:

• Catnip
• Lemongrass
• Lemon Balm
• Citronella
• Clove
• Mint
• Peppermint
• Cedar
• Lavender
• Eucalyptus
• Tea Tree

Even though essential oils are all natural, they can be irritating to some skin types. The best way to work with them is to water them down in a convenient spray bottle with distilled water and a splash of witch hazel. Always test this blend on a spot of skin on the inside of the wrist to catch any allergies or sensitivities.

Herbs

If you want the natural mosquito repellent properties of the essential oils above but need a gentler mixture, try using the dried herbs instead of the oils. You can make a strong tea using 4 Tablespoons of dried herb to 1 cup of water, letting it cool completely, and then adding it into a spray bottle with 1 cup of witch hazel. This spray is super effective and many people find it to be gentler than using essential oils.

You can use either of these simple sprays in the same way you would a conventional mosquito repellent. Just spray liberally over skin making sure to avoid the eyes, mouth, and any areas of skin that are injured.

When It's Too Late - Healing Mosquito Bites Naturally

While using a natural repellent to avoid the nastiness of mosquito bites is always the best policy, sometime the sneaky things manage to find their way to our kids resulting in itching and uncomfortable reactions. We've found that you can't go past the Bamboo Bubby Sensitive Skin Relief Pack for soothing the itch of any sort of bite and allergic itch - in particular the Aloe Spray which is cooling and healing and can be used as often as needed on sensitive skin.

Here’s to a bite-free season!