The Best Natural Insect Repellent for Babies and Children: A Parent’s Guide

TL;DR — key takeaways

• For babies under 2 months, health authorities advise no chemical repellent at all — use a fine-mesh mosquito net over the pram or cot instead.
• The product label sets the minimum age — always the most important line to check. incognito®’s plant-based Kids spray is DEET-free and suitable from 6 months.
• Once a child reaches the age on the label, a plant-based, DEET-free PMD repellent formulated for sensitive skin is a good everyday choice — gentler than DEET and kinder to skin and clothing.
• The ‘best’ repellent is the one you actually use correctly: apply a thin even layer to exposed skin, avoid hands and faces, and combine it with clothing and nets.
• Reapply after swimming, towelling or heavy sweating, and wash it off with soap and water at the end of the day.

Choosing an insect repellent for a baby or young child raises a fair question: how do you keep mosquitoes and ticks away without putting harsh chemicals on delicate skin? This parent’s guide explains what the evidence says, which ingredients are suitable at which age, and how to apply repellent safely — so you can protect your family with confidence this season.

What makes a repellent suitable for children?

Children’s skin is thinner and more sensitive than an adult’s, and young children are more likely to rub their eyes or put their hands in their mouths. A child-suitable repellent therefore needs three things: an active ingredient with a good safety record, a gentle formulation, and clear age guidance on the label.

• Proven active ingredient. Public-health bodies recognise a short list of effective repellents: DEET, picaridin, IR3535, and PMD (para-menthane-3,8-diol), the refined plant-based active.
• Gentle, sensitive-skin formulation. Lower fragrance load and skin-friendly carriers matter for little ones.
• Age-appropriate. Every product states a minimum age — this is the single most important line on the label.

DEET-free vs DEET for kids: what the evidence says

DEET is effective and, used as directed, is considered safe for children above the label age. But many parents prefer a DEET-free option for daily use because it is gentler on sensitive skin, kinder to clothing, and avoids DEET’s practical drawbacks. Health authorities also cap DEET for children — typically 10% or less, none under 6 months, no more than once a day for ages 6 months to 2 years and up to three times a day for ages 2 to 12 — and advise the lowest effective concentration, keeping it off hands and faces, and washing it off afterwards. The good news is that you do not have to trade effectiveness for a plant-based choice: PMD is the only plant-derived active recommended by the CDC alongside DEET and picaridin, and it works at lower concentrations.

How the main options compare

The honest caveat: undiluted essential oils such as citronella smell pleasant but wear off quickly, so they are not a reliable stand-alone choice for a long day outdoors.

Age by age: what is safe to use

Babies under 6 months

Lean on physical protection rather than chemicals. Drape a fine-mesh mosquito net over the pram, carrier or cot, and dress your baby in loose, light, long-sleeved clothing. Health authorities advise no chemical repellent at all under 2 months, and for older babies still under the minimum age of your chosen repellent, nets and clothing remain the safest approach.

From 6 months

Once your baby reaches the age on the label, a gentle DEET-free PMD repellent can be added on top of those physical measures. incognito®’s Kids spray is suitable from 6 months and made for sensitive skin. Always confirm the label permits your child’s age, and apply it for the parent to spread, not the child.

Toddlers and older children

A DEET-free, sensitive-skin PMD repellent is a practical everyday option, provided the label permits your child’s age. Apply a thin, even layer to exposed skin only.

How to apply repellent to a child safely

1. Read the label first and check the minimum age and reapplication interval.
2. Spray or squeeze the product onto your own hands, then smooth it onto your child’s exposed skin.
3. Avoid the eyes, mouth, cuts and irritated skin; use sparingly around the ears.
4. Do not apply to children’s hands — little fingers end up in eyes and mouths.
5. If using sunscreen too, apply sunscreen first, let it absorb, then the repellent.
6. Reapply only as often as the label allows, and after swimming or heavy sweating.
7. Wash treated skin with soap and water once you are back indoors.

Beyond repellent: layered protection that works

• Dress children in light-coloured, loose, long-sleeved tops and trousers.
• Use mosquito nets over prams, cots and beds — the cornerstone of protection for the youngest.
• Avoid peak mosquito hours (dawn and dusk) where you can.
• After time in long grass or woodland, check children for ticks, especially the hairline, behind the ears, the armpits and behind the knees.
• Remove standing water around the home where mosquitoes breed.

How incognito® helps

Suitable from 6 months, our Kids Insect Repellent Spray for sensitive skin is a DEET-free, vegan and biodegradable option built around plant-based PMD (Citrepel®) — clinically proven and recommended against both mosquitoes and ticks. For the rest of the family, the incognito® Insect Repellent Spray uses the same gentle, DEET-free formula. As always, check the product label for the minimum age and reapplication guidance before use.

FAQs

What is the best natural insect repellent for babies?
For babies under 2 months no repellent should be used — a fine-mesh mosquito net over the pram or cot is the safest, most effective protection. From the age stated on the label, a gentle DEET-free PMD repellent can be considered; incognito®’s Kids spray is suitable from 6 months.

At what age can a child use insect repellent?
It depends on the product, and the label states the approved minimum age. No chemical repellent should be used under 2 months. incognito®’s DEET-free plant-based Kids spray is suitable from 6 months.

Is DEET-free repellent as effective as DEET for children?
PMD is the plant-based active recommended by the CDC alongside DEET and picaridin and works at lower concentrations. For everyday family use it offers comparable protection with a gentler, lower-odour profile.

Can I use insect repellent and sunscreen on my child together?
Yes. Apply sunscreen first and let it absorb, then apply the repellent. Reapply sunscreen as needed, but only reapply repellent as often as its label allows.

How do I protect a baby from ticks?
Dress them in long, light clothing, keep prams away from long grass, and check the skin afterwards — especially the hairline, behind the ears and the backs of the knees. Remove any attached tick promptly with fine-tipped tweezers.

Where should I not apply repellent on a child?
Avoid the eyes, mouth, any cuts or irritated skin, and the hands. Apply it to your own hands first, then smooth it onto exposed skin.

Sources

• CDC — Prevent Mosquito Bites
• EPA — Skin-Applied Repellent Ingredients
• EPA — Find the Repellent that is Right for You
• NHS — Insect bites and stings
• ECDC — Protective measures against mosquitoes

This article is for general information and is not medical advice. Always read and follow the product label, and consult a pharmacist or doctor about repellent use on babies and young children, especially in areas with malaria or other insect-borne diseases.