The best insect repellents for children – and the family

If you are looking for as much protection as possible against pesky mosquitoes and insects, DEET provides you with the best protection. Each pump of the spray will last six hours before re-applying is needed. This spray is suitable for use on children over 12 years of age.

Review: "Absolutely Amazing product! I Work with animals, so all sorts of flies and they won't come near me when wearing this and normally I get eaten alive, especially by horse flies. Very pleased."

This bug spray is perfect for little ones as it does not contain any DEET or Picaridin. The spray shields you from mosquitoes, midges, sandflies, horseflies, ticks and other bothersome bugs. It also lasts for five hours and is approved by the Vegan Society.

If you use this spray to protect a very young baby, the brand recommends spraying the formula mainly on clothes and lightly on their skin.

Review: “Absolutely fantastic. Total natural, safe protection and great for children with sensitive skin as well as adults. We've had no bites when wearing this in mosquito-laden areas. Works in tropical/malaria zones as well as places with, well, lots of bugs and insects - a fantastic alternative to DEET.”

If you are looking for a bug deterrent that you do not apply to your skin, then this candle is infused with citronella oil, green citrus with undertones of fresh, clean fragrance. Additionally, the fragrance is safe for humans, pets and the environment; it’s biodegradable and eco-friendly. Also, it comes in a beautifully packed bowl so that it will be great in any room or patio.

Review: “This La Jolie Muse Citronella Candle is really good value for money and presentable. The candle comes attractively boxed and is in an attractive tin complete with a lid. Being a soy candle, it burns quite cleanly. Still, the citronella scent is unmistakable and highly effective at warding off flying insects which are proving a real nuisance during this unusually hot spell. We love this candle and think it's very good value for money.”

Another alternative to sprays is insect repellent bracelets. This bracelet from The Mosquito Company lasts for 250 hours before needing to use a new one – ideal for family holidays. This natural formula contains oil of citronella, lemongrass, and geraniol oil. It’s suitable for children, too. This is one of the best insect repellents.

Review: “These are the first brand I have found that is actually big enough to fit around my ankle and yet have enough tension to actually use to tie my hair, although once stretched they do not seem to shrink. Even so, I have used the same one in my hair overnight for a week. Overall, I think they are better value for money than the other brands I have tried and I will be buying them again.”

Patches are also a great way to deter bugs. These mosquito patches also repel other insects such as midges and are suitable for all ages. You do not need to apply the patch directly to the skin. Instead, you squeeze the patches to activate the deterring essential oils. Once the patch is active, you can attach it to clothes, car seats, prams and cots. This natural and simple formula contains citronella and lemon eucalyptus oils and will last up to 10 hours.

Review: “I always use these around my son's bed at night in mosquito areas, and he never gets bitten at all. Used when he was 18 months old and now again at three and a half years old. Recommended product!"

The Hospital of Tropical Diseases recommends this maximum strength formula from The Jungle Formula range and now has a line for children that does not contain any DEET. It is suitable for children over one year old and will protect your children for six hours and ward off mosquitos, midges, horseflies and ticks. One thing to note is that the formula will not be strong enough if you are going to countries with insect-borne diseases such as Malaria. In that case, you will need to apply something with more strength.

Review: “Worked really well for my 1-year-old daughter. She hardly got bitten. We stayed a month in Bangladesh. There were a lot of mosquitos more than usual, but this worked great.”

This new formula from Boots helps prevent mosquito bites and lasts up to 45 days. For use in many countries worldwide, this pack comes with a three-pin plug and one liquid refill. This product has been tested for efficacy against common mosquitoes (Culex quinquefasciatus), Tiger mosquitoes (Aedes albopictus) and yellow fever mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti) that can spread e.g Dengue Fever, Chikungunya, Zika Fever, and Yellow Fever viruses. You’re well equipped with this one.
Make sure to read all of the information before purchasing and using.

Review: “After questioning what had been biting me for a month and purchasing one of these I was right to suspect it was mosquitos. The morning after I plugged it in I found 8 dead. I get eaten alive and this worked wonders.”

This effective plant-based mosquito repellent made with Citriodiol will shield your child for 15 days after opening. So they will be protected for all bloodsucking pesky mosquitoes and bugs.

If your baby or toddler has sensitive skin then this natural DEET-free formula is made with sensitive skin in mind, so could be a good choice if your child has eczema. This spray stops babies from getting bitten, using p-menthane-3,8-diol (synthesised from lemon eucalyptus). This spray claims to protect for up to six hours.

Review: “I was worried about purchasing this as my son has really bad eczema, and I was worried it either wouldn't be strong enough to deter the mosquitos or would flare up his eczema, but honestly, I was so pleased and glad I got this! So gentle on my son's skin (he has extreme eczema too) didn't flare him up at all, and he didn't get bit all holiday, unlike us, so we started using this instead and never got a bit too. Really recommend it!”

Made with the same formula as the best-selling incognito spray, this roll-on insect repellent will shield you from bugs for up to five hours. The formula is DEET-free making it the perfect family-friendly repellent. This is one of the best insect repellents you can grab on the market.

Review: "Ideal for the little ones in the family, non-greasy and works!"