Is DEET safe for children?

The American Academy of Pediatrics approves DEET use in children over 2 months old at concentrations up to 30%, and at recommended use levels the acute toxicity risk is low. However, DEET is absorbed through skin and has been detected in blood and urine after application, and animal studies have shown neurotoxic effects at higher doses. For families applying repellent frequently throughout summer on young children, the cumulative exposure question is reasonable — especially since safer alternatives with equivalent efficacy now exist. Picaridin at 20% is the CDC-recommended DEET alternative and matches DEET’s performance against mosquitoes and ticks in head-to-head studies, with minimal skin absorption and no documented neurotoxicity. For most families with young children, picaridin is the better choice — equally effective, without the lingering questions around repeated neurological exposure. If you do use DEET on children: avoid concentrations above 30%, don’t apply to hands (children put hands in mouths), avoid eyes and mouth, and don’t apply to irritated or sunburned skin.

Is insect repellent safe during pregnancy?

Protecting against mosquito-borne diseases during pregnancy — particularly Zika, West Nile, and dengue — is genuinely important, so using an effective repellent is recommended rather than forgoing protection entirely. The CDC recommends DEET, picaridin, and OLE as safe options during pregnancy when used as directed. Of these, picaridin is our preferred recommendation for pregnant women: it has an excellent dermal safety profile with minimal systemic absorption, no documented reproductive toxicity, and equivalent efficacy to DEET. DEET crosses the placental barrier in animal studies and has been detected in fetal cord blood in human studies, which is why many pregnant women prefer to avoid it despite regulatory approval. Essential oil-based repellents are popular among pregnant women who want to minimize synthetic chemical exposure, but provide shorter protection and are not CDC-endorsed for disease-endemic areas. If you’re pregnant and in an area with active mosquito-borne disease transmission, picaridin at 20% is the safest high-efficacy option.

Do natural bug sprays actually work?

It depends on the active ingredient and the setting. The honest answer: most essential oil-based bug sprays provide real but short-duration protection — typically 30 to 90 minutes — which is adequate for casual backyard use but not for hiking in tick-endemic areas or travel to regions with mosquito-borne disease. Citronella, the most common essential oil repellent ingredient, has legitimate efficacy data but short protection windows. Geraniol and clove oil have also shown efficacy in studies. The problem is that many products in the “natural” category use these ingredients at concentrations too low to be meaningfully effective, or make claims based on weak or inapplicable studies. Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) is the exception — it’s plant-derived and CDC-endorsed for protection against disease-carrying mosquitoes with 6–8 hours of protection at appropriate concentrations. Picaridin, while synthetically produced (from a pepper plant compound), is also considered a clean alternative by most non-toxic standards and delivers full-strength, all-day protection. For families who want a genuinely effective non-DEET repellent without compromising on performance, picaridin is the most defensible choice.

What insect repellent is safe for babies?

For babies under 2 months, no insect repellent — chemical or natural — is recommended. Physical protection (mosquito nets over carriers and strollers, protective clothing, staying indoors at peak mosquito hours) is the appropriate approach for newborns. For babies 2 months and older, picaridin is our top recommendation: it’s CDC-approved for use in infants, minimally absorbed through skin, and available in formulations specifically designed for sensitive skin. DEET is also approved by the AAP for children over 2 months at concentrations up to 30%, but we prefer picaridin for the reasons described above. Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) is not recommended for children under 3. Essential oil-based repellents are not recommended for infants — many essential oils (including eucalyptus, peppermint, and clove) are contraindicated for young children and can cause respiratory issues. For application on babies: apply to clothing and exposed skin while avoiding hands (which go in mouths), face, and any broken or irritated skin. Always apply the product yourself rather than letting the child handle it.

Can I use insect repellent and sunscreen at the same time?

Yes, but with some important caveats. Apply sunscreen first, let it absorb for a few minutes, then apply insect repellent on top. Do not use combination sunscreen-repellent products — sunscreen needs to be reapplied every 2 hours, while most repellents (especially picaridin and DEET) should not be reapplied that frequently. Using a combo product means either over-applying repellent or under-applying sunscreen. The interaction between sunscreen and insect repellent is also worth noting: studies show that DEET reduces sunscreen SPF by approximately one-third, meaning a SPF 30 sunscreen applied with DEET may effectively provide SPF 20 protection. Picaridin does not have this interaction with sunscreen, which is another practical advantage over DEET when sun protection matters. For the face specifically, apply both products carefully to avoid eyes and mouth — spray repellent into hands and pat on rather than spraying directly on the face. On children, a parent should apply both products rather than allowing self-application.

Insect Repellent

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DEET is the most effective insect repellent ever studied — and also one of the most scrutinized for safety. The concern isn’t acute toxicity at recommended use levels, but the reality that most families apply insect repellent repeatedly throughout summer, often on young children whose skin absorbs more and whose developing nervous systems are more vulnerable to neurotoxic compounds. Every product in this collection uses plant-based active ingredients — primarily picaridin (a synthetic compound derived from plants with an excellent safety profile) and essential oil-based formulas with proven efficacy — that repel insects effectively without the concerns associated with DEET or permethrin.

How to Choose a Safe, Effective Insect Repellent

The insect repellent category is full of products that are either safe but ineffective, or effective but concerning. Here’s how to navigate it:

What’s Wrong with DEET?

DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) has been used since 1946 and is undeniably effective. At recommended concentrations and use patterns, it’s considered safe by the EPA for adults. The concerns are more relevant for children and frequent users: DEET is absorbed through the skin and has been detected in blood and urine after application; animal studies have shown neurotoxic effects at high doses; and there are case reports of encephalopathy in children with heavy repeated exposure. The American Academy of Pediatrics approves DEET use in children over 2 months at concentrations up to 30%, but recommends avoiding it on hands, around eyes and mouth, and on irritated or sunburned skin. For families who apply repellent daily throughout summer on young children, the cumulative exposure question is reasonable. Picaridin is the CDC-recommended DEET alternative with equivalent efficacy and a significantly cleaner safety profile — it’s minimally absorbed through skin and has no documented neurotoxicity.

Picaridin: The Best Non-Toxic Active Ingredient

Picaridin (also called icaridin outside the U.S.) is derived from a compound found in the pepper plant family and is the most effective non-DEET repellent available. At 20% concentration, it matches DEET’s performance against mosquitoes and ticks in head-to-head studies, with protection times of 8–12 hours for mosquitoes and up to 8 hours for ticks. It’s odorless, doesn’t dissolve plastics or synthetic fabrics (unlike DEET), and has an excellent dermal safety profile — it’s not significantly absorbed through skin. The CDC, WHO, and EPA all recognize picaridin as a safe and effective repellent. It’s our top recommendation for families who need reliable, all-day protection.

Plant-Based and Essential Oil Repellents

Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) — not to be confused with lemon eucalyptus essential oil — is the only plant-based active ingredient the CDC recommends as comparable to DEET and picaridin for protection against mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus and other diseases. OLE is a refined extract with a specific active compound (PMD) and has good efficacy data. It’s not recommended for children under 3. Other essential oil-based repellents (citronella, clove, geraniol, cedar, rosemary) have shorter protection times — typically 30–120 minutes — and are most appropriate for low-risk settings like backyard use, not hiking in tick-endemic areas or travel to regions with mosquito-borne disease. They’re a reasonable choice for families who want to minimize all synthetic exposure and are diligent about reapplication.

We screen insect repellents for: no DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide), no permethrin for skin-contact products, no synthetic fragrance masking the active ingredients, full disclosure of both active and inactive ingredients, and demonstrated efficacy — not just a compelling ingredient list. We prioritize EPA-registered repellents where available, as registration requires submitted efficacy data. For essential oil-based formulas, we look for products with independent efficacy testing against target insects (mosquitoes, ticks) at realistic field conditions, not just lab studies. A repellent that smells nice but doesn’t actually repel insects puts families at risk — efficacy is non-negotiable.

Insect Repellent FAQs

The American Academy of Pediatrics approves DEET use in children over 2 months old at concentrations up to 30%, and at recommended use levels the acute toxicity risk is low. However, DEET is absorbed through skin and has been detected in blood and urine after application, and animal studies have shown neurotoxic effects at higher doses. For families applying repellent frequently throughout summer on young children, the cumulative exposure question is reasonable — especially since safer alternatives with equivalent efficacy now exist. Picaridin at 20% is the CDC-recommended DEET alternative and matches DEET’s performance against mosquitoes and ticks in head-to-head studies, with minimal skin absorption and no documented neurotoxicity. For most families with young children, picaridin is the better choice — equally effective, without the lingering questions around repeated neurological exposure. If you do use DEET on children: avoid concentrations above 30%, don’t apply to hands (children put hands in mouths), avoid eyes and mouth, and don’t apply to irritated or sunburned skin.
Picaridin at 20% concentration is the most effective non-DEET insect repellent available and the one we most often recommend. It provides up to 12 hours of protection against mosquitoes and up to 8 hours against ticks — matching DEET’s performance in controlled studies — while being odorless, non-greasy, and safe for use on children and during pregnancy. Unlike DEET, it doesn’t dissolve plastics or synthetic fabrics, making it practical for outdoor gear and clothing. The CDC and WHO both recognize picaridin as a safe and effective repellent. Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) — a refined plant extract with the active compound PMD — is the only essential oil-based repellent with CDC endorsement for protection against disease-carrying mosquitoes, providing 6–8 hours of protection. It’s a good option for adults and children over 3 who prefer a plant-derived formula. For low-risk backyard settings, essential oil-based formulas (citronella, geraniol, cedar) are a reasonable choice with shorter reapplication intervals of 1–2 hours.
Protecting against mosquito-borne diseases during pregnancy — particularly Zika, West Nile, and dengue — is genuinely important, so using an effective repellent is recommended rather than forgoing protection entirely. The CDC recommends DEET, picaridin, and OLE as safe options during pregnancy when used as directed. Of these, picaridin is our preferred recommendation for pregnant women: it has an excellent dermal safety profile with minimal systemic absorption, no documented reproductive toxicity, and equivalent efficacy to DEET. DEET crosses the placental barrier in animal studies and has been detected in fetal cord blood in human studies, which is why many pregnant women prefer to avoid it despite regulatory approval. Essential oil-based repellents are popular among pregnant women who want to minimize synthetic chemical exposure, but provide shorter protection and are not CDC-endorsed for disease-endemic areas. If you’re pregnant and in an area with active mosquito-borne disease transmission, picaridin at 20% is the safest high-efficacy option.
It depends on the active ingredient and the setting. The honest answer: most essential oil-based bug sprays provide real but short-duration protection — typically 30 to 90 minutes — which is adequate for casual backyard use but not for hiking in tick-endemic areas or travel to regions with mosquito-borne disease. Citronella, the most common essential oil repellent ingredient, has legitimate efficacy data but short protection windows. Geraniol and clove oil have also shown efficacy in studies. The problem is that many products in the “natural” category use these ingredients at concentrations too low to be meaningfully effective, or make claims based on weak or inapplicable studies. Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) is the exception — it’s plant-derived and CDC-endorsed for protection against disease-carrying mosquitoes with 6–8 hours of protection at appropriate concentrations. Picaridin, while synthetically produced (from a pepper plant compound), is also considered a clean alternative by most non-toxic standards and delivers full-strength, all-day protection. For families who want a genuinely effective non-DEET repellent without compromising on performance, picaridin is the most defensible choice.
For babies under 2 months, no insect repellent — chemical or natural — is recommended. Physical protection (mosquito nets over carriers and strollers, protective clothing, staying indoors at peak mosquito hours) is the appropriate approach for newborns. For babies 2 months and older, picaridin is our top recommendation: it’s CDC-approved for use in infants, minimally absorbed through skin, and available in formulations specifically designed for sensitive skin. DEET is also approved by the AAP for children over 2 months at concentrations up to 30%, but we prefer picaridin for the reasons described above. Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) is not recommended for children under 3. Essential oil-based repellents are not recommended for infants — many essential oils (including eucalyptus, peppermint, and clove) are contraindicated for young children and can cause respiratory issues. For application on babies: apply to clothing and exposed skin while avoiding hands (which go in mouths), face, and any broken or irritated skin. Always apply the product yourself rather than letting the child handle it.
Yes, but with some important caveats. Apply sunscreen first, let it absorb for a few minutes, then apply insect repellent on top. Do not use combination sunscreen-repellent products — sunscreen needs to be reapplied every 2 hours, while most repellents (especially picaridin and DEET) should not be reapplied that frequently. Using a combo product means either over-applying repellent or under-applying sunscreen. The interaction between sunscreen and insect repellent is also worth noting: studies show that DEET reduces sunscreen SPF by approximately one-third, meaning a SPF 30 sunscreen applied with DEET may effectively provide SPF 20 protection. Picaridin does not have this interaction with sunscreen, which is another practical advantage over DEET when sun protection matters. For the face specifically, apply both products carefully to avoid eyes and mouth — spray repellent into hands and pat on rather than spraying directly on the face. On children, a parent should apply both products rather than allowing self-application.

An Honest Review of Bobbie Organic Gentle Infant Formula