Depending on where you live, mosquitoes tend to be a summertime staple—and, sometimes, a pest all year long! Chances are, you’ll have to deal with mosquito bites on your baby. Luckily, these itchy bites are usually just a nuisance and nothing more. You do not want anyone in the family to deal with the risk of mosquito bites, but that is especially true for babies who have very sensitive skin. Read on to learn how to prevent and treat mosquito bites on babies.
Prevention Is Your Main Goal
Protection outside — Leave as little skin as possible exposed:
- Clothe your baby from head to toe. Use long sleeves and pants, lightweight mittens and hats when you are outdoors, even on a hot summer night. Fortunately, babies usually need more layers than adults. Bright colors and colorful floral prints attract mosquitoes so dress the baby in light colors. White, beige, khaki, pastel yellow, and even soft gray are good options.
- Use netting to protect the baby. Nets can be very effective if used well and the advantage is they have no negative health effects. Use mosquito nets for strollers and baby carriers when you take your baby out in the evening. It would be preferable to use a net made of fine mesh fabric with elastic edging that easily fits over the entire item. While doing so, make sure that no mosquitoes are caught under the net.
- It is safe to use DEET on babies. DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) is a chemical found in insect repellents. DEET will protect from biting flies, ticks, and mosquitoes. DEET is safe to use on children and for moms breast-feeding their babies. Look for repellents that contain at least 30 percent DEET; the higher the percentage, the longer it lasts. Thirty percent lasts about six hours. In general, insect repellents should not be used on infants younger than 2 months old.
Protection measures for your yard — Preventative things you can do to enjoy the great outdoors:
- Standing water should be eliminated. Water is necessary for mosquito eggs to hatch into larvae, so the female mosquitoes scout out a moist location to lay her eggs. The larvae feed on organic matter in stagnant water. So, eliminate clogged gutters and standing water in low places in the yard that puddle. If you have birdbaths and ponds or things that you want in your yard with water involved there are chemicals that you can use. The chemicals are non-toxic to birds and fish but kill mosquito eggs and larvae.
- Grow insect repelling plants. Growing insect repelling plants like horsemint, citronella grass, marigolds, lavender, and basil can make all the difference in protecting your home (when used with other mosquito control methods). These plants all have distinctive smells that many types of mosquitoes cannot stand, and they have the potential to repel mosquitoes
- Shrub maintenance helps. Like you, mosquitoes retreat to shady areas to escape the heat of the day. Doing something as simple as regular maintenance to shrubs and other vegetation around your backyard can make all the difference. As abundant vegetation provides mosquitoes with a great place to hide during the day. Therefore, maintenance ensures your property does not become a refuge for those mosquitoes looking to hide during the daytime.
A&A Can Help Control Your Mosquito Problem
We use a barrier spray treatment that will kill adult mosquitoes and larvicides to kill mosquito larvae. Mosquito control treatments are applied several times a year and before big events. The barrier spray contains pyrethrin, which is a pesticide derived from dried chrysanthemum or pyrethroids which is a synthetically produced insecticide. Pyrethrin breaks down quickly when exposed to sunlight and moisture. The barrier spray chemicals are approved by the EPA because in their words they “do not pose risk concerns for children or adults.” Larvicides are used in retention ponds, ditches, lakes and backyard ponds and the most common larvicide is BTI. Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (BTI) is a naturally occurring bacterium and is nontoxic to mammals, fish and birds, according to the EPA.
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About A & A Lawn Care & Landscaping
A & A Lawn Care & Landscaping can beautify your lawn and landscaping using our vast experience in turf grass management. Our complete lawn service is designed for both residential and commercial lawns and we keep your lawn healthy without harming your family, staff, or pets.