Mosquito Bites in Children: How to Prevent Them?

Rising temperatures and sunny weather are the perfect call for mosquitoes. And little ones are often one of their easiest targets. Their skin is also so sensitive, and because they cannot protect themselves on their own, they are much more vulnerable to mosquito bites. That is why we are sharing some tips and guidelines we can follow to reduce these bites as much as possible.

Mosquitoes in babies and children: How can we protect them from bites?

How mosquito bites affect children

As mentioned above, little ones' skin is thinner and more sensitive than adults' skin. That is why bites are much more visible, can become more swollen and may be more uncomfortable for them. Also, because they do not know how to control scratching, it could end up causing lesions if the area becomes too irritated.

How we can prevent bites to avoid complications

To prevent mosquito bites in babies and children, some recommendations we can follow and keep in mind are:

• At key times such as dusk, which is when mosquitoes usually appear most, we should avoid damp areas.
• Light colours help avoid attracting mosquitoes, so we can choose to dress them in these shades. Clothing should also be light and preferably long-sleeved so that more of the body is protected.
• Mosquito nets are a great ally and can be fitted to prams, cots, pushchairs...
• Or we can use mosquito repellents for babies that are suitable for their skin.

What anti-mosquito products or repellents can we apply to children?

One of the ranges we recommend most is the citronella range from Pranarom because of its composition, as it is formulated with ingredients that are very well tolerated by little ones' skin, making them excellent mosquito repellents for children.

Among the ingredients in this formula, known for their effectiveness as mosquito repellents, we highlight citronella oils for babies, palmarosa, eucalyptus and geranium.

This Pranarôm range offers a wide variety of products, including:

Spray Aromapic Citronela+

Spray aromatic cuerpo citronela+ has a pleasant smell and protects thanks to the essential oils mentioned above, as well as ginger or citriodiol. It is also enriched with coconut extract so it does not dry out the skin, while also not leaving it greasy. These mosquito repellents for children are recommended from 30 months onwards.

Between this age and 6 years, it should be applied 1 or 2 times a day at most and only on the arms and legs.

For children over 7 years old, it can be applied to all exposed areas of the body and reapplied every 7 hours. On the face, it is advised not to spray directly, but to apply it to the hands first and then spread it over the face.

It is also suitable for pregnant women from 4 months onwards, with a maximum of 2 applications a day as well.

Roll-On Citronela+

Roll-On citronela+: This format is very similar to the spray, with essential oils such as citronella, geranium, lavender, eucalyptus and citriodiol, among others, which have a powerful insect-repelling effect. It does not leave a greasy residue and is very convenient to apply.

This is also recommended for children over 30 months. The dosage is similar to that of the spray.

From 30 months to 6 years, only on the arms and legs, a maximum of twice a day, as in the case of pregnant women from the fourth month of pregnancy.

For children over 7 years old and adults, it can be applied to all exposed areas of the body and reapplied every 7 hours. Including the face, such as the forehead and neck.

Precautions with mosquito repellents for babies and children

We advise caution when using them, as they contain citronellol and geraniol and could cause skin sensitisation. Therefore, in the case of sensitive skin, it is better to test on a small area of skin first to see whether or not it causes a reaction before using it all over the body.

What should you do when they have already been bitten by mosquitoes?

In cases where they have already been bitten, stopping them from scratching would be almost mission impossible.

That is why we recommend some products that can help relieve that intense itching, which in some cases may come with swelling or stinging.

Pranarom Aromapic gel crema calmante

Pranarom aromapic gel crema calmante is recommended for children over 3 years old. Its formula contains essential oils such as spike lavender, field mint, turmeric and marjoram and is also enriched with aloe vera to soothe and keep the area hydrated.

Pranarom Aromapic roll-on gel calmante

Pranarom aromapic roll on gel calmante post picadura: this format is little ones' favourite because it helps them apply it themselves without having to spread it thoroughly like the gel cream. It is enriched with essential oils of spike lavender, field mint, wormseed and turmeric. Also for children over 3 years old, it can be applied 1 time from 3 to 4 times a day. In these cases, it would not be advisable for pregnant women.

In short, we can use products and tips to prevent mosquito bites in babies and children during periods of higher humidity and heat, as well as relieve itching and swelling once a bite has already occurred. However, if you notice that the bite involves very severe swelling, causes an allergic reaction, the lesion does not improve within 2 or 3 days, or it causes fever or lethargy, we recommend seeing a doctor so they can assess the situation.