Mosquitoes in the Algarve - protecting baby while travelling

[Torrach21]

Hi everyone.

Travelling to Algarve Martinhal Sagres resort in a few weeks with babies - twins less than 1. Trip was postponed from earlier in the year but I think now we are going at peak insect season. I react really badly to mosquitoes (have been hospitalised a couple of times) and am super attractive to them (only max deet has ever worked to repel them). I am really worried the babies will be very reactive to bites also - and not found any product I can use safely for them. I know I will keep them covered but in hot weather I am not sure it will always be practical…

Please does anyone have any tips on travelling with baby and protecting from mosquitoes?

And does anyone know how bad mosquitoes are in the Algarve? Even one or two is a nightmare for me mind.

thanks so much in advance

Bring your own mosquito netting. Do not expect to find it there. I find that if I take a claritin, it keeps me from reacting to mosquito bites. You could ask your doctor is it's ok to give pediatric claritin to your babies if they get a bite and react badly. Also bring topical Diphenhydramine hydrochloride 1% cream for bites

Sorry no advice on protection but I have been to Martinhal and surrounding areas for a holiday this time of year and can't remember a single mosquito.

We have this which is ok for babies:
www.amazon.co.uk/Vie-Spray-Mosquito-Suitable-Children/dp/B01B1I4JFQ

However, we away at the moment and there are a lot of mosquitoes (not the Algarve don’t worry!) but the baby is the only one not to have been bitten as he’s in bed asleep when it’s dark which is mostly when they tend to come out. I’d like to give credit to the spray but the 5YO has still been bitten so that’s probably not it. If you want the babies to sleep in a pram whilst you have dinner you could get a snoozeshade or similar so you’ve basically got them under a mosquito net.

Can you reschedule?

If you’ve already looked at the available repellants (there are a number which can be used on babies) and mosquito nets and you’re not satisfied with them, then this is going to be a very stressful holiday. Is it worth it?

We found our babies didn't get bitten as they're not up in the evenings which is when the mosies are out

Oh and we got those little bracelets they can wear with insect repellents on for the two occasions we went out for dinner - again, no bites on them. Infant piriton is a good shout to take with you though.

I would probably take a mosquito net that would fit over the cot or whatever they are sleeping in and make sure they are inside at dusk when the mozzies mostly bite. Not sure if your accomodation has screens over door and windows? Mosquitoes are usually worse after rain and the weather at the moment has low precipitation and humidity so hopefully you will be lucky.

Take vitamin b1 and garlic capsules. Don't know if you can find them in liquid form for the children? These help to ward off mosquitoes and I've had great success on holiday having been bitten rarely.

Avon skin so soft actually works brilliantly as an insect repellent and had no deet, so should be fine for your little ones. It wasn't quite enough to stop everything when we were deep in the Amazon, but it covered us for the rest of our trip round South America.

I'd get a newer for the pram too, so you can still go out when they're asleep at night

We go regularly to the Algarve and I have never once seen a mosquito so you might be ok. However, having said that… I also react very badly to bites and swell up badly-have been on antibiotics/in A and E with cellulitis, so understand your concern.

I’d go to the chemist before you go and get everything they recommend as a precaution. The Repel/Trek spray is the best I’ve ever used. Don’t whatever you do get the dreadful Avon ‘spray’ that people (often Avon reps!) recommend. It smells absolutely vile, is horribly slimy and the mosquitos still bite you. Get an actual mosquito repellent.

Just come back from the Algarve, and did have any problems at all with mosquitos.

Didn't

As mentioned above, I swear by Avon's skin so soft.
I spent my childhood and teens summering on an island in Maine, where the mosquitos are lethal. Skin so soft was our miracle worker.
I've never used anything else (still use it to this day!).

I have to admit, I've never had a problem with mosquitos in the Algarve. It's hot and dry so they probably won't be a huge battle for you.
Just a note to anyone interested, if you ever have stagnant water near you that attracts mosquitos, dump some washing-up liquid into the water. Works a treat at getting rid of mosquitos.

I know someone who was there last week and got lots and lots of bites. They are rampant.