# Bug Spray, Tick Checks and Sunscreen for Babies and Kids

> Repellent by age, tick checks and removal, stings and itchy bites, and sunscreen for babies and young kids.

Stage: toddler - Topic: Safety - Page: https://www.askcladle.com/guides/toddler/bug-bites-ticks-and-sunscreen

Grounded in: AAP HealthyChildren guidance on insect repellents, sun safety and bee stings, CDC guidance on preventing tick bites and tick removal, and EPA guidance on registered repellents. Summarized in Cradle's own words; none of these sources endorse Cradle. General information, not medical advice.

Reviewed: 2026-11

## TLDR

- No repellent under 2 months (use netting). From 2 months, DEET up to 30% or picaridin is considered safe.
- Check for ticks daily after woods or tall grass; pull straight up with fine tweezers.
- Sunscreen SPF 30+ from 6 months, reapplied every 2 hours. Face swelling or trouble breathing after a sting: epinephrine if prescribed and 911.

## Insect repellent

- **Under 2 months:** skip repellent. Use mosquito netting over strollers and carriers, and dress
  baby in light long sleeves.
- **2 months and older:** repellents with DEET (up to 30%) or picaridin are considered safe when
  used as directed. A higher percentage protects longer, not better.
- Oil of lemon eucalyptus products aren't for children under 3.
- An adult applies it: spray on your hands, then rub on. Skip the hands, eyes, mouth, cuts and
  skin under clothing. Wash it off at the end of the day.
- Avoid combined sunscreen-plus-repellent products, since sunscreen needs reapplying and
  repellent doesn't.
- Clothing treated with permethrin repels ticks; it goes on clothing, never skin.

## Ticks

- After time in woods, tall grass or with pets, check your child daily: scalp, behind ears,
  underarms, belly button, behind knees, groin and waist.
- **Removal:** grab the tick close to the skin with fine-tipped tweezers and pull straight up with
  steady pressure. Don't twist, burn it, or smother it with petroleum jelly or nail polish.
- Clean the spot and your hands. Note the date and where you were.
- Over the next month, watch for an expanding red rash (sometimes a bull's-eye), fever, aches or
  a stiff neck, and tell your pediatrician.

## Mosquitoes, stings and other bites

- Empty standing water weekly: toys, buckets, plant saucers and kiddie pools.
- Bee sting: scrape the stinger out sideways with a card, wash, and use a cold pack. Big local
  swelling is common and usually not dangerous.
- For itchy bites: cool compress, calamine or 1% hydrocortisone if the label allows, and short
  nails to limit scratching.

## Sunscreen and sun

- **Under 6 months:** shade, hats and light clothing first. If shade isn't possible, a small amount
  of sunscreen on exposed areas like the face and backs of hands is OK.
- **6 months and older:** broad-spectrum sunscreen, SPF 30 or higher, applied 15 to 30 minutes
  before going out and every 2 hours, and after swimming or sweating.
- Mineral sunscreens with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide are gentler on sensitive skin.
- Use enough: about a shot-glass amount for an adult body, less for small kids, and don't miss
  ears, feet and the part in the hair.
- Shade between 10 am and 4 pm, wide-brim hats, UV-blocking sunglasses and sun shirts work
  even when sunscreen wears off.
- Sunburn: cool baths, fluids, aloe or moisturizer, and pain relief dosed by weight. A burn with
  blisters, fever or chills in a young child needs a check.

## When to check in

- Tell your pediatrician about a tick bite followed by rash or fever, or a bite that's getting
  redder, warmer and more painful after a day or two.
- Ask about sun-sensitive skin or many moles at a checkup.
- If a sting is followed by swelling of the face or lips, hives all over or trouble breathing, use
  epinephrine if prescribed and call 911.