Make Homemade Insect Repellent for Babies
Edited by Rose B, Lynn, Robbi, Graciela Franchesca Rosario and 12 others
Babies are so delicate, and vulnerable to insect bites. The last thing we want is to leave our infants at the mercy of insects, but we also don't want to expose them to the harmful chemicals found in insect repellent sprays available on the market. We need to protect our children, but we need to protect them with something that is as safe for them, as effective as it is against biting insects.
This article will teach you how to make homemade insect repellents out of essential oils. The spray, made of essential oils, is safe - even for babies, provided you dilute the essential oils enough, because it could also cause an allergic reaction or burning sensation on the delicate skin of your baby.
You should, as with any product, check with your baby's pediatrician' to make sure this homemade spray is safe for your baby.
Before applying this spray, try it out first on one small part of the baby's skin and see how your baby's skin reacts to the spray.
- 1 Homemade Insect Repellents for Babies
- 2 Newborns
- 3 Babies Over Three Months
- 4 Benefits of Homemade Mosquito Repellent
- 5 Herbs for Specific Insects
- 6 Bug Repellent for Plants
- 7 Tips & Warnings
- 8 Questions and Answers
- 8.1 She is allergic to coconut and pineapple and has a very sensitive skin?
- 8.2 I am from Myanmar (Burma). I want to try to make homemade mosquito repellent for my preschool kids.
- 8.3 It's listed to include eucalyptus but I don't think that is safe for babies?
- 8.4 I have a 9-month-old. I wanted to make a mosquito repellent for our trip to Belize, and want to know the ingredients best to use?
- 8.5 Can concoct help as a mosquito repellent?
- 8.6 How to create an insect repellent safe for infants?
- 8.7 Mosquito repellent- homemade, I have a daughter of 1.5 years, I need a repellent which is very natural, and no chemical should be mixed in it?
- 9 Comments
Homemade Insect Repellents for Babies
Mosquito repellents are designed to keep the mosquitoes away. Usually, it's the smell that works to repel them. Insecticides can be in the form of lotions but they are usually sold as an aerosol. If the essential oil is mix with water the essential oil will break down, so you need to reapply frequently. Bear in mind, that re-applying your homemade repellent too often will irritate the baby's skin.
Mosquitoes use their antennae to locate warm-blooded animals. The antennae have chemical receptors. This chemical receptors sense where the lactic acid is, which warm-blooded animals (including humans) emit. If you use repellent that contains DEET, the lactic acid will evaporate. BUT DEET IS DANGEROUS TO YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN'S HEALTH, AND SHOULD NEVER BE USED ON INFANTS.
Some of the essential oils used to make insect repellent for babies are the same essential oils we make use of to make insect repellent spray for adults; however there are many that should never be used for babies.
Newborns
You are limited by the essential oils you can use on a newborn baby. The best advice is to simply keep them out of harm's way. The maximum recommended amount of essential oils used on newborn babies topically, should not exceed .2% of the recipe, or 1-2 drops of essential oil per ounce of carrier oil.
Best Herbs For Newborns
- Chamomile, Roman and German (Anthemis nobilis, Matricaria rectutita)
- Dill (Anthum graveolens)
- Lavender (Lavendula angustifolia)
- Yarrow, Blue (Achillea millefolium)
Mosquito Repellent
INGREDIENTS
- Bay leaves (dried)
- Rosemary (dried or fresh)
- Eucalyptus (dried leaves)
- Lavender (dried or fresh)
- Tea pot (with infuser)
- Olive oil
PROCEDURE
- 1An infuser is a plastic or glass "basket" that sits in the teapot. When the tea is steeped, you can lift the infuser out of the teapot, without the need to strain.Put all the herbs into a teapot with an infuser.
- 2Pour about a cup of boiled water into the pot.
- 3Steep for 20 minutes.
- 4Push the herbs with a spoon to get more of the essential oils form the herbs.Remove infuser from teapot.
- 5For every ounce of "herb juice", add 3 ounces of olive oil (1 part herb juice - 3 parts olive oil)
- 6If you just have a regular teapot, strain the herbs through a strainer or cheesecloth, pressing all the liquid from the herbs.If you don't have an infuser.
WHEN MIXING ESSENTIAL OILS WITH CARRIER OILS THE RULE OF THUMB ONLY 1-2 DROPS OF ESSENTIAL OILS, FOR EACH OUNCE OF CARRIER OILS.
Babies Over Three Months
There are more herbs and essential oils you can use once your baby is over three months, but the list is still very limited. The maximum recommended amount of essential oils used on newborn babies topically, should not exceed .5% of the recipe, or 3-5 drops of essential oil per ounce of carrier oil.
Safe Essential Oils For Babies Over Three Months
- Bergamot
- Cedarwood
- Clary Sage
- Coriander
- Cypress
- Frankincense
- Chamomile
- Juniper Berry
- Lavender
- Lemon
- Mandarin
- Marjoram (Sweet)
- Neroli
- Patchouli
- Sandalwood
- Sweet Orange
- Tea Tree
Citronella Oil
Using grapeseed as a carrier, this insect repellent contains effective, as well as pleasant-smelling oils. INGREDIENTS
- 1 drop citronella essential oil
- 1 drop cedar essential oil
- 1 drop lavender essential oil
- 1 drop tea tree oil
- 1½ ounces witch hazel
- 1½ ounces grapeseed or olive oil
PROCEDURE
- 1In a spray bottle, combine all the ingredients.
Essential Oil Insect Repellent Spray
INGREDIENTS
- 1.5 ounces witch-hazel
- 2 ounces boiled or distilled water
- 5 drops citronella essential oil
- 1 tsp. of jojoba oil(optional, if you add this to the mixture, only use 1 ounce of witch hazel)
PROCEDURE
- 1Mix the 5 drops of citronella to the witch hazel.
- 2Pour this into a dark bottle and shake well.
- 3Avoid getting this solution into your baby's eyes.
- 4Reapply every 2 hours or when needed.
- 5Keep away from sunlight or other sources of heat.
- 6You can also use this on your pets.
Mosquito Repellent with Coconut Oil
INGREDIENTS
- 4 tbsp. of melted coconut oil
- 1 drop citronella oil
- 2 drops lavender oil[ [[Image:Lavender.png|center|300px]]
'PROCEDURE
- 1Add the essential oils to the melted coconut oil.
- 2You can adjust the essential oils to your preference.
- 3The proportion should be 2 drops per 4 tablespoon.
- 4Coconut oil contains SPF of 4 to 6, so the repellent can also prevent sunburns, but a higher SPF is advised.
Once Bitten
If your baby has already been bitten by an insect, try any of these suggestions:
- Dab apple cider vinegar onto the bite.
- Apply an ice cube to the bite.
- Apply lemon slice to the bitten area.
- Try dab a bit of toothpaste on the bite.
- A slice of onion will remove the pain.
Benefits of Homemade Mosquito Repellent
- 1The method of making the mosquito repellent is easy to do and only takes few minutes.Easy to make.
- 2There's something special about making things yourself, with love, especially when you are making them to keep your baby healthy and safe.Put love into it.
- 3The ingredients are natural and safe to use. There are no side effects, provided your baby isn't allergic to any of the ingredients. Unlike the chemical ingredients that often have side effects, some very severe.Safe to use.
- 4You can pick the herbs from your garden. The ingredients are also few so you don't have to spend a lot. None of these require expensive ingredients or equipment. You can get the materials from your kitchen. Any essential oils you need to purchase, will last a long time, as you need to use so little.The ingredients are affordable.
Herbs for Specific Insects
Read on to discover what herbs target specific insects. These are as follows:
- 1FLEAS.
- Citronella.
- Orange.
- Tea tree oil.
- 2MOSQUITOES.
- Thyme.
- Citronella.
- 3TICKS.
- Juniper.
- Grapefruit.
- Rose geranium
PROCEDURE
- 1Pour 2 ounces of boiled water into a 4 oz spray bottle.
- 2Add 6 -10 drops of essential oils.
- 3The essential oils should be under .5% in ratio to the boiled water.
- 4For moisturizing effect you may add jojoba oil.
- 5Don't fill the bottle completely because you'll need to shake the bottle every time you use it.
Bug Repellent for Plants
There are also easy to make insecticides you can make to help your plants fight off unwanted pests.
Aphids
This is a spray insecticidal soap you can use on plants - especially roses. It will kill spider mites. As a fungicidal solution, it will remove powdery mildew. Always apply this at cooler temperature (morning and evenings) because the sun will evaporate it quite quickly. INGREDIENTS
- Liquid dish soap
- cayenne pepper
- 1 quart of water
PROCEDURE
- 1Mix 1 teaspoon of liquid dish soap, cayenne pepper and 1 quart of water.
- 2Don't dilute before you spray on the plants.
- 3Spray cold water on the leaves to remove aphids.
White Flies
- 1of liquid soap, water in a spray bottle. Spray this to the foliage of the plant.To get rid of whiteflies, mix rubbing alcohol, 1 tbsp.
- 2Mix water and dishwashing detergent and then spray or wipe this to the leaves of baby roses.
- 3Naturally-occurring insects like ladybugs will eat aphids.
- 4Horticultural oil should not be applied to other plants like black walnut trees and plants with blue foliage, like blue hostas. This will make the plant green instead of their original blue color. #If the plant looks thirsty, water it before spraying horticultural oil.Use a soapy emulsion of alcohol spray or horticultural oil.
- 5To make the horticultural oil more effective, add baking soda.
- 6If it's too strong it will damage the leaves.If you add oil to the horticultural oil, read the directions for the recommended percentage.
- 7Don't forget to spray underneath, and the leaves that are hidden, as insects will be hiding there.
- 8The temperature is between 40 to 90 degrees. Make sure the air is calm, and it's not windy.The best time to spray is at a cool time.
- 9If the plant is infested with many insects, then water the plant first to remove them, then spray at the right time.
- 10Soaps react physically and not chemically to insects. Soaps disrupt the membranes, while oils protect the plant from contamination of diseases caused by fungus.Oils and soaps are good for sucking insects (spider mites, scale, and aphids), but are not effective on adult chewing insects (beetles and caterpillars).
Tips & Warnings
- Always inquire with your baby's pediatrician about what is safe for your baby.
- Always take care to keep the spray away from the baby's eyes.
- Do not use peppermint oil.
- Before you make use a homemade insect repellent, do an allergy test.
- Take a small amount of the spray or lotion and rub it on the baby's hand or inside their elbow.
- Wait 24 hours to be sure that there are no red marks or raised bumps before you use the lotion on your baby.
- Use lavender, lemon, sweet orange, or tea tree oil, as these are most commonly safe for babies. (Bear in mind that even the ones which are the least likely to cause an allergic reaction can still do so.)
- Do not just rely on sprays to keep off insects.
- Instead of spraying, we can also cover the baby's skin.
- Clothes with long sleeves or long pants and blankets can be used to protect babies.
- Use a mosquito net to protect them while they sleep.
To read about making homemade insect repellents for adults, check out this VisiHow article, Make homemade insect/mosquito repellent.
Questions and Answers
She is allergic to coconut and pineapple and has a very sensitive skin?
Oil blend that is safe for infants.
VisiHow QnA. This section is not written yet. Want to join in? Click EDIT to write this answer.
I am from Myanmar (Burma). I want to try to make homemade mosquito repellent for my preschool kids.
My question is can I mix baby oil and lemongrass oil?
VisiHow QnA. This section is not written yet. Want to join in? Click EDIT to write this answer.
It's listed to include eucalyptus but I don't think that is safe for babies?
Eucalyptus isn't safe for infants? Correct? This recipe includes it. I have tried: Eucalyptus is dangerous for infants so why is it in this recipe, it will alter their breathing?
You are very right! It is not safe for babies. This article has been edited to ensure the safety of your baby. Thank you so much for posting.
I have a 9-month-old. I wanted to make a mosquito repellent for our trip to Belize, and want to know the ingredients best to use?
I want to make a mosquito repellent for our trip to Belize, and want to know the ingredients best to use?
VisiHow QnA. This section is not written yet. Want to join in? Click EDIT to write this answer.
Can concoct help as a mosquito repellent?
He keeps getting bit by mosquitoes repeatedly so of course, this means he has no way of getting insect repellent. I was trying to think of something he could mix together from the items at hand or what he may be allowed to get from the commissary. Thank you. I have tried: Nothing. I think it was caused by: Mosquitoes.
VisiHow QnA. This section is not written yet. Want to join in? Click EDIT to write this answer.
How to create an insect repellent safe for infants?
I have a few essential oils like lavender, peppermint, lemon but I don't have witch hazel oil. Can I use them to create insect repellent with water only?
This article has been updated to be safer for your baby. Lavender is fine for an infant, however, peppermint and lemon are too harsh for their delicate skin. You could put one or two drops of lavender oil in one ounce of olive oil. Not only will it keep the bugs away, but your baby will smell lovely, and it will be good for your baby's skin.
Mosquito repellent- homemade, I have a daughter of 1.5 years, I need a repellent which is very natural, and no chemical should be mixed in it?
I have a daughter of 1.5 years, I need a repellent which is very natural, and no chemical should be mixed in it. I'm from India
VisiHow QnA. This section is not written yet. Want to join in? Click EDIT to write this answer.
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