Summer is upon us and it's time for
fun outdoors. My favorite thing about winter is that there are no bugs! True
story: I went to the ER once for a mosquito bite because my leg swelled up so
much I could barely walk. If you're like me, you'd do anything to keep those
disease carrying biting creatures away from yourself and your kids. But as a
cloth diapering, holistic mom and well informed scientist, I'd also do anything
to keep pesticides and dangerous chemical away from myself and my baby. What to
do?
You might already have
some bug spray ready to go. Let’s find out what’s in your bug spray; its pros
and cons.
What’s in your bugs spray?
While I don’t use these myself and
don’t recommend using these on your body, I think it’s important to understand
their applications and pros and cons when deciding what’s best for your family.
DEET - An insect repellent that discourages
insects to land, but does not kill the insect. It can be purchased at 5% to
100% concentrations. Generally, the
higher the percentage, the longer the protection, but for most applications, 10
to 25% is sufficient. The Center for
Disease Control recommends under 35% for adults and under 10% for children.
Pros:
Proven, long lasting protection and approved to prevent spread of disease by
the Center for Disease Control. Excellent mosquito repellent.
Cons: May
cause headaches, lethargy, seizures, and convulsions. Not recommended for
children under 2 years of age. Dissolves plastics such as fishing lines,
breathable fabrics such as GoreTex, sunglasses, etc. Poor tick repellent. May
cause skin irritations, avoid contact with eyes or broken skin.
