Travel with baby & insect repellent

[Lunaspoona]

Hi, I’m due to travel long haul with my 2 mont old baby. I need to get some form of insect repellent but am finding conflicting advice online about what to use. Some sites say use deet based products from 2m onwards as they are the only effective ones and safe for baby but others say it’s not safe and suggest natural remedies. Any ideas? Should I also get a net?

Any other tips for long haul travel in general while we’re here?! We are EBF.

No deet. None. Yuk.

There's a load of organic nice baby insect sprays. And take a net.

Deet isn't safe for anyone.

And I'm saying that coming from a tick infested area with high lymes, and other fatal tick diseases.

Thanks for your advice. I do think there’s a place for deet with adults at least - nothing else stops me from getting bitten because they love me - but yes I’m unsure if ok for baby. It’s not a malarial area. Trying to weigh up the risks between the chemicals and getting bitten. The thing is that while deet is apparently only recommended for over 2 months, citronella which seems less bad is only recommended for much older children?

And yes thanks will take a net. Presumably a non- chemical impregnated one? Are there any organic sprays you’d recommend?

Where are you going? If it's somewhere where mosquitoes are an annoyance but pose no infectious disease risk, then I would use one of the natural creams. We found one at Boots when ours was little and that seemed to work well (no idea what it was called, but they can only sell so many natural brands).

If you are going somewhere that poses an infectious disease risk (malaria, dengue, zika, etc.) I would be more cautious. I personally would probably use a deet sprayed bed net and then I'd consider using a deet spray if you are outside at/after dusk (probably would just avoid being, stay in somewhere a/c in the evenings with the windows shut). It would depend on the area though. I used to work in Africa and it parts of Asia, so I'm extra cautious about particular areas knowing the risk and having spent enough time trying not to get sick there. But if it's like, Florida, I wouldn't be too concerned, etc.

Thanks, it’s on the Cape in SA so no diseases that I’m aware of. I don’t think there are many mosquitoes but as baby is so young I’m just being cautious. Ill perhaps head to boots to find a natural one based on what you’re saying. Maybe a net too just to be on safe side?