International Header

Baby List: The Best Bug Sprays for Babies and Toddlers

Keep baby's sensitive skin protected from biting bugs with these insect repellent creams, sprays & wipes.

Baby List: The Best Bug Sprays for Babies and Toddlers

Last updated:
April 7, 2025
|  5 min read
A baby walking and insect repellents.

Baby List: The Best Bug Sprays for Babies and Toddlers

Baby List: The Best Bug Sprays for Babies and Toddlers

YouTube video highlight

Keep baby's sensitive skin protected from biting bugs with these insect repellent creams, sprays & wipes.

Read more about the project

Baby List: The Best Bug Sprays for Babies and Toddlers

Pa gen atik yo te jwenn.

The Best Bug Sprays for Babies and Toddlers

No one likes getting bug bites. Even worse is seeing your baby suffer from itchy mosquito bites or a latched-on tick. And with the different diseases that insects can transmit, including Zika and West Nile virus from mosquitoes and Lyme disease from ticks, insect repellent should be top-of-mind before any outdoor adventure (second only to a great sunscreen, of course)—especially in the summer.


But can you even use insect repellant on babies? Thankfully, yes. There are several main bug repellent ingredients that are safe for babies and toddlers, including:

DEET: The most effective and widely studied option for insect repellent. Formulations of up to 30% are safe for babies and toddlers and provide about five hours of protection against mosquitoes and ticks, but amounts of 10% or lower are just as effective and are recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

Picaridin: This repellent is odorless, non-greasy and lasts longer than DEET, but may not be the most effective option (it’s still pretty effective, though).

Essential oil-based repellents: Made with ingredients like citronella, lemongrass and peppermint, these plant-based alternatives can offer some protection but may need to be reapplied more frequently.

Continue reading to learn more about the best bug sprays for babies and toddlers, written by Amylia Ryan.

Baby List: The Best Bug Sprays for Babies and Toddlers

The Best Bug Sprays for Babies and Toddlers

No one likes getting bug bites. Even worse is seeing your baby suffer from itchy mosquito bites or a latched-on tick. And with the different diseases that insects can transmit, including Zika and West Nile virus from mosquitoes and Lyme disease from ticks, insect repellent should be top-of-mind before any outdoor adventure (second only to a great sunscreen, of course)—especially in the summer.


But can you even use insect repellant on babies? Thankfully, yes. There are several main bug repellent ingredients that are safe for babies and toddlers, including:

DEET: The most effective and widely studied option for insect repellent. Formulations of up to 30% are safe for babies and toddlers and provide about five hours of protection against mosquitoes and ticks, but amounts of 10% or lower are just as effective and are recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

Picaridin: This repellent is odorless, non-greasy and lasts longer than DEET, but may not be the most effective option (it’s still pretty effective, though).

Essential oil-based repellents: Made with ingredients like citronella, lemongrass and peppermint, these plant-based alternatives can offer some protection but may need to be reapplied more frequently.

Continue reading to learn more about the best bug sprays for babies and toddlers, written by Amylia Ryan.

Foto thumbnail Blog Otè
Associate Editor
Amylia Ryan
Amylia Ryan is the Associate Editor at Babylist, specializing in the topics of health, wellness and lifestyle products.
Medya Mansyone

Baby List: The Best Bug Sprays for Babies and Toddlers

The Best Bug Sprays for Babies and Toddlers

No one likes getting bug bites. Even worse is seeing your baby suffer from itchy mosquito bites or a latched-on tick. And with the different diseases that insects can transmit, including Zika and West Nile virus from mosquitoes and Lyme disease from ticks, insect repellent should be top-of-mind before any outdoor adventure (second only to a great sunscreen, of course)—especially in the summer.


But can you even use insect repellant on babies? Thankfully, yes. There are several main bug repellent ingredients that are safe for babies and toddlers, including:

DEET: The most effective and widely studied option for insect repellent. Formulations of up to 30% are safe for babies and toddlers and provide about five hours of protection against mosquitoes and ticks, but amounts of 10% or lower are just as effective and are recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

Picaridin: This repellent is odorless, non-greasy and lasts longer than DEET, but may not be the most effective option (it’s still pretty effective, though).

Essential oil-based repellents: Made with ingredients like citronella, lemongrass and peppermint, these plant-based alternatives can offer some protection but may need to be reapplied more frequently.

Continue reading to learn more about the best bug sprays for babies and toddlers, written by Amylia Ryan.

Foto thumbnail Blog Otè
Associate Editor
Amylia Ryan
Amylia Ryan is the Associate Editor at Babylist, specializing in the topics of health, wellness and lifestyle products.
Medya Mansyone
browse all articles
Isit la nan Sawyer
February 27, 2026
6 Min
Garage Grown Gear: 2026 PCT Top Picks!
Read More

Medya Mansyone

An investment helps provide years of safe drinking water for entire families and schools.

Blueprint Digital
Blueprint Digital
Online Marketing Agnecy

Medya Mansyone

You spray [permethrin] on your clothes and gear and it turns them into a barrier bugs don't want to cross.

Consumer Betterment
YouTube Channel

Medya Mansyone

The Smartwater bottle’s small opening allows you to screw on filters, such as those from Sawyer.

Mary Andino
Kontribye ekriven
<<  Previous Post
No previous post!
Check out our Directory
Next Post  >>
No next post!
Check out our Directory
Explore All Sawyer has to Offer

Built for the Outdoors

see ALL PRODUCTS