Spring Safety Guide: Best Mosquito Protection for Babies
The spring season comes with so much joy. Greenery everywhere. Blooming flowers, lush-green landscapes, and colors everywhere. The breeze, the freshness in the air, such an inviting time for spending time with family outdoors.
Dengue fever cases rise during warmer months across regions Whether you are just blessed with a newborn, or it's been a while, it is when they get some playtime in nature. But then you remember, the mosquitoes!
These stubborn little creatures you will find populating in spring after they have all been gone in winter. Also, it is their breeding season. You will find them everywhere. As a parent, you can’t just choose a random mosquito repellent off the shelf for your baby. Their sensitive skin needs much gentler and safer protection.
The Hygo Care Mosquito Patches and Hygocare Natural Mosquito Repellent Spray are just the things you are looking for. These are specifically made for babies. You don’t have to compromise your baby’s safety with generic solutions.
In this article, we help parents understand why mosquitoes are a huge problem in spring and mosquito protection tips for kids during winter.
We will even explore mosquito protection tips for kids during the spring season. Also, we will help you with finding a better and healthier alternative for natural protection from mosquitoes.
Why Do Mosquitoes Come Back During the Spring Season?
When the temperature increases, this causes the mosquitoes to be active after a long time when they have been inactive during the winter season.
The rains in the spring season create so many water puddles everywhere outdoors. Just a small amount of standing water accommodates hundreds of larvae within days.
The Health Risks Of Spring Mosquito Bites.
Your baby is more vulnerable as his or her immune system is not fully developed yet. They are not able to fight infections as well as adults with their bodies. Here are some potential health risks that mosquitoes pose to your baby’s health:
- Dengue fever cases rise during warmer months across regions.
- Malaria transmission increases rapidly with mosquito population growth.
- Chikungunya causes severe joint pain and high fevers in children.
- West Nile virus affects the nervous system in severe cases.
- The Zika virus poses risks, especially for pregnant women nearby.
- Skin infections develop when babies repeatedly scratch bites.
Why Do Babies Attract Mosquitoes More Often?
Babies attract mosquitoes surely, more than us. They have faster breathing. The baby's body heat is higher as well. They also become more detectable due to their sweet scent. They also exhale more CO2, which also contributes to them being more on mosquitoes’ radar. Then, there are some more factors as well that contribute to attracting mosquitoes to babies:
- Sensitive skin produces more lactic acid through tiny pores
- Higher body temperatures constantly draw heat-seeking mosquitoes closer
- Inability to swat away insects makes babies easy targets
- Sweet-smelling baby products act like mosquito magnets outdoors
- Limited movement during sleep leaves babies completely vulnerable, always
- Thin skin allows easier blood access for feeding mosquitoes
- Newborns cannot communicate discomfort from bites effectively, either
Choosing Safe Mosquito Repellent for Toddlers.
Almost all the top-of-the-shelf generic repellents in the market are chemically strong. Definitely not ideal for your baby’s sensitive and soft skin.
You should consider natural alternatives that offer more effective protection without causing health concerns to your baby. This is why you should prefer specialised products that are particularly made to help infants and them only.
Why You Must Avoid DEET-Based Products.
Parents must not use DEET-based products. It is a synthetic compound found in most commercial repellents. These chemicals affect the skin and enter the bloodstream fast. You wouldn’t want that for your baby. It is worse for infants because their skin absorbs chemicals much faster than adults:
Here are the health concerns with DEET-based protection for babies:
- It can lead to rashes on delicate baby skin
- It can lead to allergic reactions, causing redness and swelling in the applied area
- Neurological effects reported in high-concentration exposures historically
- Eye irritation happens if the product accidentally touches the face areas
- It is not recommended for infants under two months old ever
- Any strong chemical odor overwhelms the baby's sensitive sense of smell
- Pediatricians advise against DEET use on babies whenever possible
Benefits Of Natural Citronella And Lemongrass.
These are not artificial or chemical-made but natural. It helps hide the body odor, the distinct smell of mosquitoes. Due to this, they are unable to locate a human.
Since this aromatic oil is quite pleasant to smell, it is quite gentle on your baby’s sensitive skin but lethal enough to repel mosquitoes and other insects.
You can be relaxed that there is no chemical on your baby’s delicate and sensitive body at all. Using these herbal scents also does not irritate the respiratory system like the chemical alternatives available in the market.
Hygo Care Mosquito Patches and Hygocare Natural Mosquito repellent spray are natural as they use citronella and lemongrass.
Indoor and Outdoor Protection Strategies.
The comprehensive and perfect mosquito protection requires you to prepare through multiple defense layers. The best is to use physical barriers like a net with the natural repellents together. You reduce the chances of mosquito bites with this.
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Use Mosquito Nets To Secure The Nursery
When your baby is sleeping, the mosquito nets can protect them. It will create barriers around your baby. Small or bigger, mosquitoes or any other insect won’t be able to enter. It is an effective solution to protect your baby from mosquito bites. So, here’s how you set a foolproof mosquito net:
- You should install nets securely over cribs and cradles before bedtime.
- Make sure that the mesh touches the floor completely with no gaps anywhere.
- Tuck netting under mattress edges to ensure that openings are properly sealed.
- You need to check regularly for tears or holes that need immediate repair.
- It is better to go for white colored nets to spot mosquitoes trapped inside easily.
- Remember to wash nets on a weekly basis to remove dust and maintain breathability.
- Dream Time Mosquito Net from R for Rabbit fits standard cribs and bassinets perfectly.
Protecting Your Child During Park Playtime.
You cannot compromise on the outdoor playtime for a child. However, protecting them from outdoor insects in the spring season is on you as well. You cannot create a barrier, as your baby will move all the time, as it should be. So, the natural repellents are the better solution here, for visiting parks, stroller walks, or sunny day picnics.
Here’s a mosquito protection checklist as a parent, you need to go through before going outdoors:
- You must use natural mosquito patches on clothing before leaving home.
- Afternoons are always better for going outdoors as there are fewer mosquitoes at that time.
- Remember to get patches on the shoulders, back, and everywhere on the outfit.
- You stick patches on stroller canopies and diaper bag exteriors.
- Choose the light-colored and loose-fitting, breezy cotton clothes.
- Never use the scented lotions.
- You must always prefer shaded play areas away from standing water sources.
Treatment: What To Do If They Get Bitten.
No matter how cautious you are, mosquito bites happen anyway. In such instances, you must be ready with a faster cure to alleviate pain and avoid any form of complication. First of all, it is important not to immediately apply some home remedy or ointment cream.
Soothe Baby’s Itchy Skin With Natural Remedies.
You should use less warm water to clean the bitten area. Then, you pat dry with a soft cotton cloth. Don’t rub the baby's skin. This will remove bacteria that could cause infections from scratching. Let’s look at some natural treatments for mosquito bites for your baby:
- You should apply a cold compress for ten minutes to reduce swelling.
- You can utilise ice wrapped in a cloth, never directly on skin.
- Get natural lavender cream or lotions to soothe irritated skin.
- You can also use coconut oil for moisture. It also helps calm down the itching.
- Get Aloe vera gel to cool down the hot, burning and irritating bite area.
- Trim down your baby’s nails so scratching doesn’t hurt much.
- Try to make your baby scratch the bite area.
When You Should Consult A Doctor For Bites
It is important to keep an eye on the bite area for a few days. You should see whether it is healing or not. If the bitten spot is getting worse, it is time when you need to consult a pediatrician for a proper checkup. Here are some warning signs when you should consult a pediatrician:
- Excessive swelling spreads beyond the bite site rapidly.
- Redness expands in circular patterns around bites.
- Fever develops within twenty-four hours after bites.
- Pus or discharge appearing at bite locations.
- Baby refusing to eat or seeming lethargic, unusually.
- Difficulty breathing or wheezing sounds after bites.
- Bites near the eyes, causing vision changes or swelling.
- Multiple bites covering large body surface areas.
- Severe allergic reactions require emergency care immediately.
R for Rabbit’s Winter Guide for Kids
- Top 5 Ways to Protect Newborns in Cold Weather
- Baby Hygiene Tips for Cold and Flu Season
- Gentle Home Remedies For Preventing and Treating Chapped Baby Skin
- Cold Weather Diapering Tips for New Parents This Winter
- Keeping Your Baby Warm: Tips for Diapering in Indian Winters
- A Parents’ Guide To Swaddling In Winter
- How To Dress A Baby For Winter Car Rides In India?
Key Takeaways!
You need to get your baby their playtime outdoors. In the spring season, it becomes so risky due to the multiplying population of swarming mosquitoes. You need to protect your baby from them.
It is better that you prevent this in the first place. For that, you first prepared for it. Have natural chemical-free mosquito protection solutions like natural repellent sprays, patches, and nets.
You should always combine various protection strategies for the best results. Make sure you use nets indoors, patches outdoors, and proper clothing everywhere. Also, as we learned, the natural repellents are a much better option as they work effectively without compromising your baby’s health.
R for Rabbit prioritises your baby’s safety as you do. We address the parents' concern about your baby’s protection and well-being. Our Hygo Car Mosquito Patches and Hygocare Natural Mosquito Repellent Spray are a testament to that. Since these are free from chemicals and natural, it allows you and baby to enjoy outdoors in spring without any stress.
