Babies younger than 2 months old should not wear any insect repellent at all. For infants 2 months and older, EPA-registered repellents containing DEET, picaridin, or IR3535 are considered safe when applied according to label directions. The key is choosing the right ingredient, using the right concentration, and knowing what to avoid.
The 2-Month Rule
The CDC is clear on this: no insect repellent of any kind should go on a baby younger than 2 months. That includes DEET, picaridin, and “natural” options alike. For newborns, physical barriers are your only tools. A stroller fitted with mosquito netting, lightweight long sleeves, and long pants provide real protection without putting anything on their skin.
Once your baby turns 2 months old, you can begin using EPA-registered repellents. That EPA registration number on the label matters. It means the product has been evaluated for safety and effectiveness on vulnerable populations, including children and pregnant women.
Which Ingredients Are Safe
Three active ingredients have solid safety records for babies 2 months and older: DEET, picaridin, and IR3535. All three are EPA-registered and widely available in forms suitable for children.
DEET is the most studied repellent ingredient on the market. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that products used on children contain no more than 30% DEET, and that it be applied only once per day. Lower concentrations (10% to 20%) still provide meaningful protection and are a reasonable choice for shorter outdoor outings. Higher concentrations don’t repel mosquitoes more effectively; they just last longer.
Picaridin works comparably to DEET and tends to feel lighter on the skin. It doesn’t have the strong smell or greasy texture that some parents associate with DEET, which can make application easier on a squirmy baby. Products with 20% picaridin offer several hours of protection.
IR3535 is another EPA-registered option, commonly found in some spray and lotion formulations. It has a long safety track record in Europe and is widely used in the U.S. as well.
What to Avoid Under Age 3
Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) and its synthetic version, PMD, should not be used on any child younger than 3 years old. Both the CDC and the AAP are explicit about this restriction. Despite the “natural” branding, these ingredients are not approved for toddlers and infants.
Essential oil repellents like citronella, cedarwood, and peppermint are not EPA-registered, which means they haven’t gone through the same safety and efficacy evaluation. Their protection is also dramatically shorter. In lab testing, a 10% citronella lotion protected against mosquitoes for about 30 minutes. Cedarwood provided less than 20 minutes. Compare that to hours of protection from DEET or picaridin. These oils can also cause allergic contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals, and safety studies on essential oil repellents specifically exclude vulnerable populations like infants. There’s simply not enough evidence to recommend them for babies.
How to Apply Repellent Safely
Choosing the right product is only half the equation. How you put it on your baby matters just as much.
- Avoid hands, eyes, and mouth. Babies put their hands in their mouths constantly. Never apply repellent directly to a baby’s hands or face. Instead, put a small amount on your own hands first, then carefully apply it to your child’s face, steering clear of the eyes and mouth.
- Skip broken skin. Don’t apply repellent over cuts, scrapes, or irritated patches of skin.
- Choose lotions or sticks over aerosol sprays. The AAP recommends sticks, lotions, or unpressurized sprays. These give you more control over where the product goes and reduce the chance of your baby inhaling it.
- Apply over clothing when possible. Repellent on exposed skin is necessary, but you can also lightly apply it to the outside of clothing for added coverage.
- Wash it off when you come inside. Once your baby is no longer exposed to mosquitoes, wash the repellent off with soap and water. Prolonged, unnecessary contact with the skin increases the risk of irritation.
Sunscreen and Repellent: Don’t Combine
Avoid products that mix sunscreen and insect repellent into one formula. Sunscreen needs to be reapplied every two hours, while DEET should only go on once a day for children. A combination product forces you to reapply DEET every time you reapply sunscreen, which means your baby gets far more repellent than intended.
If your baby needs both, apply sunscreen first and let it absorb. Then apply the insect repellent on top. Keeping them as separate products gives you control over how much of each your baby receives.
Protecting Babies Under 2 Months
Since repellent is off the table for newborns, physical barriers become essential. A fine-mesh mosquito net draped over a carrier or stroller is the single most effective option. Make sure the netting doesn’t touch your baby’s skin, since mosquitoes can bite through fabric that’s pressed against the body.
Dress your baby in lightweight, long-sleeved shirts and long pants. Light-colored clothing is slightly less attractive to mosquitoes than dark colors. Tuck pant legs into socks if you’re in a high-mosquito area. You can also treat clothing and gear with 0.5% permethrin, which kills mosquitoes on contact. Permethrin binds to fabric and lasts through multiple washes, but it should never be applied directly to skin.
Signs of a Skin Reaction
Most babies tolerate EPA-registered repellents well, but watch for mild redness or hives at the application site. These reactions are usually minor and resolve once you wash the repellent off with soap and water. If you notice blistering, significant swelling, or a rash that doesn’t fade after washing, stop using the product.
More serious reactions are rare but worth knowing about. If your baby seems unusually drowsy, disoriented, or develops tremors after repellent exposure, wash the product off immediately with plenty of water and call Poison Control (1-800-222-1222). Long-term use of high-concentration DEET (above 50%) has been linked to neurological effects in small children, which is why sticking to 30% or lower and applying only once daily is important.