Dear Diary,

When my daughter turned one, she celebrated her birthday at the lake. I packed everything except the kitchen sink and headed to Deep Creek, Maryland.  In addition to her bathing suits, cover ups, sunglasses and sunscreen, I remembered to toss insect repellent in the bag.  But with her history of eczema and her young age, I had to research what I rubbed on her sensitive skin. Before I spray DEET, I wanted to see if there were any organic alternatives available to prevent pest problems.

Here is a safe insect repellent for your infants and toddlers.

Homemade Insect Repellent 

Want to make your own safe insect repellant for babies and toddlers? Rub on essential oils like lemon balm (citronella), pennyroyal, lavender, peppermint, clove or rose geranium.  Check with your pediatrician before applying the mix to your baby’s sensitive skin.  Natural isn’t equivalent to safe.  Some kids are allergic to plant oils. And remember, natural repellents typically require repeat applications.

Repellent Recipe #1:

10-25 drops essential oil

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 tablespoon aloe vera gel

Mix the ingredients in a bowl. Pour into a travel bottle. Rub a few drops on your child’s skin or spray on his/her clothes.

Repellent Recipe #2:

25 drops essential oil (see above)

1/4 cup water or organic apple cider vinegar

Hey DFTM Fam–What repellents do you use on your little one?