DEET is safe for children when used correctly. Both the EPA and the American Academy of Pediatrics support its use on kids, and a large-scale study of more than 20,000 exposure cases found that children actually experienced fewer severe reactions than adults. Still, there are age-specific guidelines and application rules worth knowing before you spray your child down for a day outside.
What the Safety Data Actually Shows
DEET has been available for nearly 70 years, and concerns about neurological effects in children have not held up under scrutiny. In almost five decades of use, only 10 reports of seizures in children following skin application were published, and none appeared after 1992. A large population-based study published in 2002, drawing on data from American poison control centers covering more than 20,000 pediatric and adult cases of accidental DEET exposure, found that children had lower rates of moderate, severe, and fatal events than adults did. The authors concluded that children experienced more of the less severe outcomes, while adults experienced more of the worst ones.
The EPA’s position is unambiguous: normal use of DEET does not present a health concern to the general population, including children. There is no federal age restriction on DEET use and no restriction on the concentration percentage for children, because animal testing showed no difference in effects between young and adult animals. Less than 10 to 20 percent of DEET applied to the skin is absorbed into the body, and at normal application levels this amount is not considered harmful.
Choosing the Right Concentration
The percentage of DEET in a product determines how long it works, not how strongly it repels insects. A product with 10% DEET protects for about 2 hours. A 30% concentration lasts around 5 hours. Anything above 50% doesn’t add extra protection time, so there’s no benefit to going higher.
For most outings, matching the concentration to your time outdoors is the simplest approach. A trip to the backyard or a short hike calls for 10 to 15%. A full day at camp or an evening cookout might warrant 25 to 30%. The AAP advises applying DEET sparingly on infants and children under 2, since their skin can differ from that of older children and adults.
How to Apply DEET on Children
Adults should always handle the repellent, not kids. Apply it to your own hands first, then gently spread it on your child’s exposed skin. This prevents children from touching the product directly, which reduces the chance of it ending up in their eyes or mouth. Only cover skin that’s actually exposed. Don’t apply under clothing, on cuts, or on irritated skin.
For the face, spray the product onto your hands and rub it on, avoiding the eyes and mouth and applying only lightly around the ears. Skip your child’s hands entirely. Young kids touch their faces constantly, and keeping DEET off their fingers is the easiest way to prevent accidental ingestion or eye irritation. DEET is toxic if swallowed, so this step matters.
Use just enough to lightly cover exposed skin. Heavy application doesn’t improve protection. Once your child comes indoors, wash the treated skin with soap and water. Any clothing that was sprayed should be washed before it’s worn again.
Avoid Combination Sunscreen Products
Products that combine sunscreen and DEET in a single bottle are convenient but not recommended. Sunscreen needs frequent reapplication, sometimes every two hours, while DEET should be applied sparingly and less often. Using a combo product means you’ll either under-apply sunscreen or over-apply DEET. If your child needs both, put sunscreen on first, let it absorb, then apply the insect repellent on top.
How DEET Compares to Other Repellents
Picaridin is the most common alternative to DEET and is also recommended by the CDC for protection against mosquitoes and ticks. At similar concentrations, picaridin provides comparable protection times and has a lighter feel on the skin with less odor. Oil of lemon eucalyptus is another CDC-recommended option, though it is not approved for children under 3.
DEET remains the most extensively studied repellent available, with the longest track record in both adults and children. If you’re choosing between options, any CDC-recommended repellent applied correctly will protect your child. The best one is the one you’ll actually use properly, reapply when needed, and wash off when the day is done.