Safer Bug Spray: Natural Bug Repellents

With summer come the mosquito bites. And with the bug bites come the bug-borne diseases. But while the threat of West Nile virus or Lyme disease might make you uneasy, so might slathering your kids with a chemical bug repellent every day.

So how do you weigh the risks of the insects with the risks of the chemicals engineered to keep them away? Is there a natural bug repellent that works?

This is a hard issue, says Sonya Lunder, MPH, a senior analyst at the Environmental Working Group in Washington D.C. It's one that I've gone through many times before, both as an expert in toxics and as a parent.

The good news is that there are some all-natural bug killers that can keep insects off you, your kids, your pets, and your garden.

Natural Bug Repellents: What Are the Options?

The bug sprays on the marke - including ones with DEET - have been deemed safe by the Environmental Protection Agency, at least when used as directed. Still, many parents want to limit their kids' exposure to potentially toxic chemicals. So what are some natural bug repellent alternatives?

For instance, while catnip seemed promising, a 2005 study showed it significantly less effective than DEET in preventing mosquito bites. The 2002 study showed that various formulations of citronella could keep mosquitoes at bay, but only for up to an hour. Avon's Skin-So-Soft Bath Oil - long rumored to be an effective bug repellent - only kept mosquitoes away for 30 minutes or less.

Should I Use DEET?

Given that natural bug repellents like oil of lemon eucalyptus work, should you swear off products with DEET? Lunder says it depends on your situation.

If you're just dealing with mosquitoes that are a nuisance, natural repellants may be fine, although you may have to apply them more often, says Lunder. But if you're in an area where mosquitoes are known to be carrying disease, you may want to go with something really strong like DEET.

If you do decide to use a DEET insect repellent, do it wisely. Lunder reminds people that DEET is an insecticide and it can affect the nervous system. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends using repellents with no more than a 30 percent concentration of DEET for kids over 2 months. Don't apply insect repellent to kids younger than 2 months. If you're not going to be outdoors as long, you may want to choose a repellent with a lower concentration of DEET. A 10 percent concentration of DEET protects for about two hours.

If possible, Lunder recommends putting repellents with DEET on your clothing instead of your skin. Look for a pump spray instead of aerosol, so your child doesn't breathe in as much of the chemical. Don't apply DEET to your child's hands, and always wash your own hands after touching a DEET insect repllent - especially before handling food. Wash your child's skin to remove any repellent when they come back indoors.

Natural Insect Control: Other Ways to Beat the Bugs

Natural bug sprays aren't the only nontoxic ways that you can fight back against mosquito bites and other bugs. Here are some other approaches to natural insect control - see which ones work and which don't.