Health & Safety Products The 10 Best Bug Sprays for Kids in 2023 By Ashley Ziegler Ashley Ziegler LinkedIn Ashley Ziegler is a lifestyle writer specializing in motherhood, family health, and consumer products. She has written for Romper, Moms.com, and more. Learn about our editorial process Updated on March 13, 2023 Print We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Outdoor activities often come with the inevitable bug bite, and for kids, the itchy bites may feel unbearable. But mosquitos and ticks cause more than uncomfortable itching. These pests can carry diseases, which is why using bug spray can help to protect the youngest members of your family from insect bites. When choosing a bug spray for children, you’ll first want to check the label to make sure the ingredients are kid-safe. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, insect repellents containing DEET and picaridin are safe to use for children two months of age and older. Lemon eucalyptus oil, commonly found in natural repellents, is safe for children age three and up. (To protect babies younger than two months, Dyan Hes, MD, Director of Pediatrics at the Concorde Medical Group, advises, “Use netting over a stroller, crib, or play gym.”) To find the best bug sprays for kids, we spoke to three pediatricians about which ingredients to look for and how to apply the products. We considered each bug spray for effectiveness, ease of application, and longevity, as well as scent and the feel of the product (two factors that make a big difference for kids). In addition to bug sprays, we considered lotions, wipes, and wearables to deter bugs. Based on our research, these are the best bug sprays for kids on the market today. Our Top Picks Best Overall: Off! Family Care Insect Repellent at Amazon Jump to Review Best DEET-Free: Repel Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent at Walmart Jump to Review Best With DEET: Off! Deep Woods Insect Repellent at Amazon Jump to Review Best Wipes: Cutter All Family Mosquito Wipes at Amazon Jump to Review Best Fragrance-Free: OFF! FamilyCare Insect Repellent at Amazon Jump to Review Best Natural: Badger Anti-Bug Shake & Spray at Amazon Jump to Review Best Wearable: Cliganic Mosquito Repellent Bands at Amazon Jump to Review Best Organic: Hello Bello Organic Bug Spray at Walmart Jump to Review Best for Sensitive Skin: Babyganics Natural Insect Repellent at Amazon Jump to Review Best Tick Repellent : Quantum Health Buzz Away Extreme Insect Repellent Buzz Away Extreme Insect Repellent at Amazon Jump to Review In This Article Expand Our Picks How We Selected What to Look for FAQ Why Trust Verywell Family? Best Overall Off! Family Care Smooth & Dry Insect Repellent 4.7 Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On CVS Pros Safe for children Aerosol spray makes for easy application Leaves skin feeling soft Cons Contains fragrance Because of its non-greasy application and long-lasting effectiveness, OFF! Family Care Insect & Mosquito Repellent is our favorite bug spray for kids. What we appreciate most about this insect spray is how it applies. The aerosol spray allows for an easy application with a continuous sweeping motion. Rather than leaving a greasy residue or film on the skin, the spray goes on dry like a powder and leaves the skin feeling soft. While it’s not unscented, users report that this spray has a lighter and fresher scent than most insect repellents (a huge plus for those sensitive little noses). The spray is formulated with 15% DEET for several hours of protection. The slim, lightweight spray can take up minimal space and is easy to carry for daily use or when traveling. Price at time of publication: $14 Key Specs:Active Ingredient: 15% DEET | Application Type: Spray | Bug Protection Type: Mosquitoes, biting flies, gnats, ticks, chiggers, and fleas Best DEET-Free Repel Plant-Based Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent 5 Amazon View On Walmart View On Basspro.com View On Cabelas.com Pros Plant-based Protection up to 6 hours Good for people with a DEET allergy Cons Has an oily feel Strong smell Unsafe for children under age 3 This bug spray is DEET-free but still effective. Its active ingredient is lemon eucalyptus oil (30 percent) which protects from mosquitos for up to six hours. The spray contains natural oil, so it must be rubbed into the skin for the best effectiveness. It may leave the skin with a slight oiliness but is sure to keep away mosquito bites. Users report that it works just as effectively as products that include DEET and is safe to use in Malaria-prone areas. The formula is kid-friendly, applies easily, and has a strong citrus smell until it fully dries. Price at time of publication: $11 Key Specs:Active Ingredient: 30% Lemon eucalyptus oil | Application Type: Spray | Bug Protection Type: Mosquitoes Best With DEET Off! Deep Woods Insect Repellent 5 Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Cpooutlets.com Pros Powder-dry formula Long-lasting protection Cons Contains fragrance What the Experts Say: “Chemical products with DEET provide the best protection against insect bites, while permethrin is most effective against ticks.“ For camping trips, playing in wooded areas, or traveling to areas that might expose you and your kids to Zika, Dengue, or West Nile virus, this bug spray offers great protection. It contains 25 percent DEET and a single application can protect your child from mosquitos, ticks, chiggers, gnats, and flies for up to six hours. Once applied to the skin, this bug spray does need to dry or be rubbed into the skin, making application easy and quick. With its powder-dry formula, this spray is non-greasy and non-oily, making you feel like you're not wearing a bug spray. Price at time of publication: $13 Key Specs:Active Ingredient: 25% DEET | Application Type: Spray | Bug Protection Type: Mosquitoes, ticks, chiggers, gnats, and flies Best Wipes Cutter All Family Mosquito Wipes Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart Pros Non-oily/greasy Convenient for travel Cons Wipes may dry out if not sealed properly If your child does better with wipes than with a spray, these ones offer great protection from mosquitos and other bugs for up to 2 hours. Perfect to pack in their backpack for summer camp, each pack comes with 15 wipes in a resealable packet, that are rubbed directly on the skin and make for a more controlled application. WIth a slight citrus scent, these wipes can be used on the body, face, neck and ears. The wipes are formulated not to leave a greasy or oily residue behind and contain 7.15 percent DEET. Price at time of publication: $7 Key Specs:Active Ingredient: 7.15% DEET | Application Type: Wipe | Bug Protection Type: Mosquitoes, gnats, ticks, fleas, chiggers, and biting flies. Best Fragrance-Free OFF! FamilyCare Insect Repellent Walmart View On Amazon View On Walmart View On 123office.com Pros Unscented No greasy/oily residue Can be used on clothing Cons Not plant-based For kids who are sensitive to smells, this bug spray is formulated to be unscented without compromising its effectiveness. It contains 7 percent DEET and doesn’t leave a greasy or oily residue behind. It’s great for use in everyday areas like the backyard, at the beach, or the playground. The best part is that the spray will not damage cotton, wool, or nylon, so it can also repel bugs on the outside of your clothes and will save your kiddos from carrying any unwanted guests home. Price at time of publication: $10 Key Specs:Active Ingredient: 7% DEET | Application Type: Spray | Bug Protection Type: Mosquitoes that may carry Zika, Dengue, or West Nile viruses, ticks, biting flies, gnats, no-see-ums, and chiggers Best Natural Badger Anti-Bug Shake & Spray Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Evitamins.com Pros Formulated with natural ingredients 95% organic ingredients Vegan and cruelty-free Cons Has to be rubbed into skin This bug spray is completely DEET-free and formulated with all-natural and mostly organic ingredients. It’s made with natural repellents, including lemongrass, citronella, and rosemary oils. This bug spray applies as a fine mist and needs to be rubbed into the skin, but it doesn't have an oily/greasy feel. It will provide up to three hours of protection against mosquitos. Plus it's made with recyclable packaging in a 100 percent solar powered facility, making it an environmentally-friendly choice. Price at time of publication: $20 Key Specs:Active Ingredient: Lemongrass, Citronella, and Rosemary oils | Application Type: Spray | Bug Protection Type: Mosquitoes Best Wearable Cliganic Mosquito Repellent Bands Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On IHerb Pros Avoid spraying/wiping Waterproof No need for reapplication Cons Unsafe for children under 3 years old May not offer complete protection on all areas of the body What the Experts Say: “Use netting over a baby stroller, crib, or play gym to protect the youngest babies from mosquitoes."You can avoid spraying or wiping down your child altogether with these bracelets that are designed to repel mosquitos. They use a completely DEET-free formula and instead rely on natural repellents including geraniol oil, citronella oil, and lemongrass oil. These bracelets have a one-size-fits-all design that can be worn on arms and ankles, and are waterproof, so your kids can wear them in the pool or during other water activities with no worries. They come in a multi-color pack of 10, with individual resealable bags that can help to increase life span. Price at time of publication: $13 Key Specs:Active Ingredient: Geraniol oil, citronella oil, and lemongrass oil | Application Type: Wearable | Bug Protection Type: Mosquitoes Best Organic Hello Bello Organic Bug Spray Walmart View On Walmart View On Hellobello.com View On Vitacost Pros Hypoallergenic Plant-based and organic Safe for pets (when used as directed) Cons Must be reapplied every two hours What the Experts Say: "Do not apply repellent directly to a child’s face. Rub it on your hands and then apply to the face, avoiding the eyes, nose, and mouth."This bug spray formula is completely plant-based, organic, DEET-free, paraben-free, and hypoallergenic, so it’s great for kids with sensitive skin. It repels mosquitos for up to four hours with ingredients like citronella oil, lemongrass oil, peppermint oil, cedarwood oil, and thyme oil, and does not leave a strong chemical smell behind. It can also be used on clothing, tents, fishing gear, and backpacks. Price at time of publication: $11 Key Specs:Active Ingredient: Citronella oil, lemongrass oil, peppermint oil, cedarwood oil, and thyme oil | Application Type: Spray | Bug Protection Type: Mosquitoes Best for Sensitive Skin Babyganics Natural Insect Repellent Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On CVS Pros Organic ingredients Safe for sensitive skin Cons Only two hours of protection Has an oily feel This bug spray is made from all-natural, non-allergenic, plant-based ingredients and is 95.25 percent organic. Its DEET-free formula is also free from parabens, sulfates, phthalates, synthetic fragrances, and dyes, making it safe for sensitive skin. It's made with plant and essential oils like soybean oil, rosemary oil, citronella oil, geranium oil, cedarwood oil, peppermint oil, and lemongrass oil. This bug spray provides up to two hours of protection from mosquitos and is available to purchase as a single or double pack. Price at time of publication: $24 Key Specs:Active Ingredient: Rosemary oil, citronella oil, geranium oil, cedarwood oil, peppermint oil, and lemongrass oil | Application Type: Spray | Bug Protection Type: Mosquitoes Best Tick Repellent Quantum Health Buzz Away Extreme Insect Repellent Buzz Away Extreme Insect Repellent View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Zulily.com Pros Good for sensitive skin Plant-based Cons Needs frequent reapplication Strong essential oil scent For people who are looking for an all-natural way to repel bugs, this bug spray is DEET-free and made with a botanical formula that repels mosquitos and ticks. Containing essential oils like citronella, cedarwood, geranium, and peppermint oil, with scents that may be pleasing to humans but are known to repel bugs. With this blend of oils, a strong scent is unavoidable but does fade within a few minutes. The essential oils are carried in purified water and plant-based preservatives like castor oil, making the spray completely safe for kids. Users with sensitivity have reported that it worked well without causing any reactions, even on eczema-prone skin. The spray’s protection lasts for 3.5 hours, but for protection against ticks, it’s advised that you reapply every 2 hours. Price at time of publication: $10 Key Specs: Active Ingredient: Essential oils: Citronella, geranium, lemongrass, cedarwood, and peppermint | Application Type: Spray | Bug Protection Type: Mosquitos and ticks How We Selected Bug Spray for Kids When selecting bug sprays for this list, we took safety and application advice from two pediatricians. The experts we spoke to included: Whitney Casares, MD, MPH, pediatrician, founder, and CEO of Modern Mommy Doc and The Modern Mamas Club app Dyan Hes, MD, Director of Pediatrics at the Concorde Medical Group In New York City We also researched and compared product details and user reviews from well-known and reputable brands that passed our quality tests. We considered the safety of the key ingredients, the wearability of the product such as ease of application and scent, and the effectiveness of the promised level of protection from the specific bugs that the product was intended for. What to Look for When Buying Bug Spray for Kids Ingredients Your child’s bug spray may contain a variety of ingredients, but pediatrician Whitney Casares, MD, MPH, notes “parents should avoid using products with more than 30 percent DEET” in them because, as pediatrician Dyan Hes, MD, explains, bug sprays with “more than [this do] not offer better protection". Another ingredient to be on the lookout for is permethrin. While this ingredient is very effective at preventing tick bites, “Permethrin is an insecticide and it should not be applied directly to the skin,” says Dr. Hes, “but it is very safe in treated clothing". Understanding ingredients in bug sprays can be difficult, so here’s a breakdown of three different ingredients. DEET DEET is a chemical that’s been used as the most common ingredient in bug repellents for more than 50 years. There's a lot of uncertainty surrounding DEET because it’s a chemical, but it’s actually very safe to use as long as you’re using it correctly. You only need to apply it once during a single day unless you’re spending time in a heavily wooded area.There is a drawback, though—some people do experience skin reactions from DEET, especially if it’s sprayed too close to the eyes. Natural There are many parents and caregivers who prefer to go the natural route when picking out bug spray for kids. Natural ingredients, like citronella and lemon eucalyptus oil, are perfect for light protection against mosquitoes.If you plan on being in an area where mosquito- and tick-borne illnesses are present, though, you’ll want a stronger repellent. Picaridin This pesticide repels insects, ticks, and chiggers, making them not want to bite. Repellents with this ingredient can work as well as repellents containing DEET. While it is considered non-toxic to birds, it is moderately toxic to fish. Effectiveness You want to be sure that whatever bug spray you purchase for your family is actually effective at preventing bug bites. You can do this by doing your due diligence and reading user reviews. If you are going to be around a variety of bugs, like ticks and chiggers, DEET-based options are going to be the most effective. Dr. Casares notes these products “provide the best protection against insect bites.” This is especially important if you and your family will be outside for a long period of time. Application Bug sprays come in many different forms, like spray, lotion, wipes, and wearables, so it can be tough to decide which application method works best for you and your family. Spray: Typically coming in some type of a bottle, you simply spray the repellent on any areas with exposed skin, or clothing, too. This method is easy to use and typically does not have to be rubbed into the skin. When using bug spray on kids, it's advisable that the parent does the spraying as sensitive areas like eyes and mouth need to be avoided. Lotion: Similar to applying sunscreen and regular lotion, you rub the lotion into any areas of the body not covered by clothes. You can typically cover more areas of the body when applying via a lotion method. Wipes: Think of baby wipes, but in bug repellent form, as all you have to do is take a wipe and rub it along the areas with exposed skin. These are convenient since you can carry them in a bag or purse easily. Wearables: Bug repellents that are wearable come in the form of jewelry-like products, such as a bracelet, and are filled with more natural ingredients, like citronella. These are ideal for kids as they are more likely to forget to apply a bug spray or do so ineffectively, and there is no need for reapplication with wearables. However, they are a less effective method of insect repellent. Frequently Asked Questions Is bug repellent safe for kids? Bug repellents are safe for kids over two months old. For young babies, Dr. Hes suggests parents “use netting over a stroller, crib, or play gym to protect [them] from mosquitos.”For older kids, it’s safe to apply bug spray to exposed skin, however, “do not apply repellent directly to a child’s face,” explains Dr. Hes, “Rub it on your hands and then apply to the face, avoiding the eyes, nose, and mouth.” Can toddlers use bug spray? Yes, children over two months old can use bug spray, however, the application method is key. Dr. Casares says, “For kids over 2 months old, only use enough repellent to cover exposed areas of skin and clothing.” Should kids use DEET free bug spray? Using natural and DEET-free repellents is a good alternative when there is no risk of insect-borne illness or disease, but you want to protect your kids from the discomfort and itchiness of bites. However, it is advisable to use DEET-containing products in areas that might expose your kids to mosquito or tick-borne illnesses. Is Picaridin or DEET safer for kids? Both DEET and picaridin are completely safe for kids (over 2 months old), but there may be reasons you might prefer one over the other. While DEET is an incredibly effective insect repellent and has been around for longer, some people may not like the scent of it or find it irritating on the skin. Picaridin tends to have no scent and is comparably effective, but might be better for kids with sensitive skin, as users tend to report less irritated skin, however, Picaridin is relatively less researched than DEET. How much do bug sprays cost? The bug sprays on this list range in price from $7 to $24. Our “Best Overall” product costs about $14. You can expect prices to increase if a product contains organic and plant-based ingredients. You can however find DEET-free and natural products at an affordable cost. The type of application and duration of protection can also impact the cost, as wearables are reusable and might be a more affordable option long-term, while sprays and lotions that require reapplication and full-body application will need to be replenished more often. Why Trust Verywell Family? Ashley Ziegler is a full-time parenting writer and mom to a 2-year-old and a 4-year-old and she has personal experience in researching and purchasing children’s products. Key considerations she used when selecting these recommendations include expert advice, ingredients, and user reviews. 4 Sources Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Balk SJ. Choosing an Insect Repellent for Your Child. Safe use of insect repellents can minimize itching, scratching. AAP News. 34(6). Is deet bad for you (And your kids)? Health Essentials from Cleveland Clinic. Picaridin general fact sheet. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit