Summer is in full force, meaning that mosquitoes are, too. While there is no reason why toddlers and children should be more susceptible to mosquito bites, it does seem that every time the kiddos play outdoors, they end up covered in them.

Read on as our team at AFC Urgent Care Athens, TN offers some tips on avoiding those bites.

How Can I Keep Kids Safe From Mosquito Bites?

Some of the best ways to protect children from mosquito bites involve tweaking your outdoor habits to be less interesting to mosquitoes in the first place.

Mosquitoes are more active at dawn and dusk, so avoiding being out at these times can go a long way by itself.

Mosquito Bite Prevention

• You should also check your yard for any standing water, as it only takes a few tablespoons of water for mosquitoes to breed.
• If you can, dress your child in loose-fitting, lightweight clothing that covers the areas that mosquitoes like to bite the most: ankles, feet and wrists.
• It is best to avoid bright-colored clothing in general, because it can attract bugs.

Are DEET Bug Repellents OK for Children to Use?

While most professional advice cautions against using insect repellEnt too much, especially on young children, sometimes it is the best way to protect them if the risk of mosquito bites is high.

Just be sure to follow some basic guidelines by age for using DEET-based insect repellants for children:

Age-Appropriate Use of Repellent

• For children 6 months to 2 years old, use only up to 10% DEET once per day, only when necessary.
• For children 2 years to 12 years old, use up to 10% DEET no more than three times per day.
• For children older than 12 years, use up to 30% DEET.

If your child has a rash or other concerning symptoms, we are always here to take a look at them! Contact us to schedule an AFC TeleCare appointment with the AFC Urgent Care Athens, TN team today.