Mosquito panic please help!

[forty6]

What do I put on my 4 year old and my 9 year old who have sensitive skin and are bitten so much my mossies. We're about to go to the west indies and what shall we put on them so they don't spend weeks itching.

In Asia so not sure what is available in UK. We use Off! mozzie repellent. Also we use wrist bands that are inpregnated with repellent.

If you sit out in the evening make sure you have citronella candles burning to keep mozzies away.

There are lots of other suggestions on-line. Just Google.

If your children are likely to react badly have some good antibacterial cream and a course of antibiotics in your luggage. We always do this as one DD always ends up with infected bites.

Avon's skin so soft body oil is an excellent mossie repellent even though it is not advertised as such. You can order it from their website.

Tiger balm is great to stop bites itching.

Have a lovely time!

This is one. Only £2.50 just now!

off is brilliant, can it be bought in the UK?
It was amazing stuff when I lived abroad.

You can probably get Off and Skin so soft when you get there depending on which island you're going to. Best protection is to cover up with long trousers and long sleeves in light fabrics.

how can you get a course of antibiotics to take with you? Do GPs issue these?

I agree with Sancerrre long sleeves and trousers are the best deterrent.

Anything with citronella would be good for your DC, but I have to admit to using Deet on exposed areas (apart from the face) for my DC when they were young and we travelled in the caribbean and the far east. Avon Skin so soft is good too, but I have been bitten whilst slathered in the stuff (admittedly in borneo)

Which Island are you visiting? In the Carribean pure (from the plant) aloe vera is readily available for us british sweet blooded people and helps to reduce itches and swelling.

I would advise (from experience) to keep your DC out of the open air at dusk when the pesky blighters bit the most.

I used to live in Sulawesi and they were a nightmare there. We had fans blowing across us in the evenings, were very vigilant with our nets (kept them tucked in under the mattresses all the time - which also helped keep off the emormous spiders) and ate tonnes of garlic. The Avon stuff helped total onslaught, but wasn't 100%.

There are natural remedies available - a friend of mine went homeopathic for a recent Africa trip and said it was very effective.

That Avon oil skin so soft does work; I always have problem with mossies- they love me but I am allergic to their bites, so I must not be biten, so I have used them all- the best is that one; I also take high dose vit B for at least 3 months prior to travelling, but discuss that with your GP

Geranium based stuff is good. As is lavender oil (eases the bites as well) Dobble it round the room and the mozzies tend to stay clear. The last 2 summers I've used the Raid plug in night and day thingies, and have to say, dd has been spared, before she used to be covered from head to foot. Last 2 yrs she's only had a couple.

I don't normally get bitten much but I thought I would try some skin so soft as everyone kept raving about it and I got bitten more than ever before

I would recommend Off!, that works very well

This is great stuff, the After Bite is amazing
Caribbean Blue Insect Repellent Developed by two naturopath Doctors who live in the Caribbean because they were concerned about the ingredients in sunscreens and other creams being absorbed by children. You can buy it in St Lucia. Even if you don't be the repellent, buy the after bite.