THE MOSQUITO REPELLENT DEBATE

I was a little overwhelmed when I learned about the harmful ingredients in mosquito repellent. Trying to find the right repellent for my family seemed like a no-win situation with all the conflicting information. Half of the articles I read warned that DEET was dangerous for children, while the other half said it was perfectly safe. In addition to DEET, there are other ingredients being included that are also a concern, such as perfumes, aerosol and parabens.

So, as a do-it-yourselfer, I decided to make my own bug spray, so that I would know exactly what’s in it. However, there is one minor drawback to making your own natural mosquito repellent – it has to be re-applied about every 20-30 minutes. Thankfully, the kids do not mind, because they like the scent and find the light spritz refreshing on summer nights.

OVER THE COUNTER OR DIY

If you prefer an over-the-counter repellent, I suggest getting one with a lower percentage of DEET or avoiding it all together. Additionally, I would find one that is made with natural ingredients and is in a spritz form vs. aerosol as an aerosol can easily get into the lungs when applying.