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To ask for help protecting my baby from being eaten by mosquitos

10 replies

mosquitomurderer · 06/06/2019 11:32

We're in Italy for the next three weeks and are under assault by vengeful mosquitos.

In the last week my husband has got at least 30 angry bites over his body, many bleeding from where he's scratched them. I have 10 red raised welts, mostly on legs and wrists, but until the last couple of days our 7 month had escaped. Prior to that there was maybe one or two mosquitos that had made it into our bedroom at night and I was having reasonable success at killing them. Now numbers have exploded, there are currently 8 I can see on the ceiling, and I don't know how to get them out or stop them coming back and most importantly stop them biting my baby.

She has 3 bites on her face and 3 on her body We have bought an electronic plug-in which seems to have done nothing, were given supposedly child friendly wrist bands with citronella which are too big for her but I've warn them (she sleeps beside me) and they don't seem to have done anything either, and we bought a child friendly natural repellent in a pharmacy here I've been reluctant to rub into her skin because she's so little (that was before she was actually bitten) I used it on me and it didn't seem to make much difference.

We have curtains pulled during the day, there is mosquito netting on the bedroom window but I guess there are gaps. There's no way to rig up a mosquito net.

What can we do for her? I never realised mosquitos in Italy could be this bad, years ago I lived in mosquito-affected countries and wore DEET but I really don't want to rub that into her skin- also everything (hands and feet) go in her mouth at the moment.

I feel so bad looking at her little face and the big red marks- does anyone have advice on what could work?

OP posts:
NoTheyAreNotTeenagers · 06/06/2019 11:48

Long loose fitting clothes. Put the kid friendly spray on their clothes rather than skin, where the can't reach I.e. back. On the fabric of the buggy or baby carrier. Top of sun hat. I

Daffodil2018 · 06/06/2019 11:53

I'm guessing she wouldn't sleep in a travel cot with a net over it? That is really the only way you're going to be able to protect her properly.

NearlySchoolTimeAgain · 06/06/2019 12:04

You could consider a good spray of insect repellant and leaving the room for a few hours.

A fan is meant to help - could you direct one towards where she sleeps?

As an act of love when there was a mozzie in the room I let it bite me and covered DS well.

NearlySchoolTimeAgain · 06/06/2019 12:12

How old is she?

Can you find anything with picardin in?

Picaridin is a newer insect repellent ingredient, and is odourless and less sticky when compared to DEET. It may be more pleasant to use, and does not dissolve plastic. Studies have found picaridin to be as effective as DEET; however, it is not as long-lasting and will need to be reapplied more often. Products containing 10 per cent picaridin will prevent mosquito bites in most situations.

mosquitomurderer · 06/06/2019 12:13

Should have mentioned we have a fan, a plug in rather than ceiling one. She's generally covered except face, in grobag at night, we could def spray something on grobag so will try that. Getting her to sleep in any cot would be a win! She manages an hour max then ends up in bed next to me.

DH has been trying to be a mosquito magnet to draw them away from her: week one he got covered in bites and she got none, but now the numbers are up they're going for her as well. I also think they must be able to bit through clothing - she had a bit on her thigh when I was changing her and she's in leggings in the day and babygrow plus grobag at night so I've no idea how they managed that

OP posts:
StarEclipse · 06/06/2019 12:31

Can you face the fan toward you so it constantly blows over you both at night? It will be really annoying for you and your baby, but they don't seem to like the cold or the strong airflow.

Bagshot · 06/06/2019 13:45

Avon's SSS original dry oil body spray works a treat repelling those nasty blighters.

Stressedout10 · 06/06/2019 13:50

Lavender essential oil on clothes and bedding also oil burners helps keep them out of the room.
Also works for midges Smile

Enb76 · 06/06/2019 13:54

A net really is the only thing. Mozzies were particularly bad in Spain this year as well - I've got around 30 bites and normally I'm unaffected.

NearlySchoolTimeAgain · 06/06/2019 14:59

Have you got ac? As star said they don’t like cold - could you turn it down lower?

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