Treating and Preventing Mosquito Bites in Children

Medically Reviewed by Robin Schaffran, M.D. on

Does your child seem to have magnetic appeal to mosquitoes and the painful, itchy bites they leave behind? It’s not that bugs are more attracted to babies and toddlers, but little kids may be oblivious to them — which make them easy targets for insect bites, especially from pesky mosquitoes.

The best way to prevent them? Be vigilant about where your child plays outside. Still, mosquito bites are bound to happen. Minimize the scratching by getting savvy about treating them.

How to prevent mosquito bites in children

Avoid mosquito dens. Try to stay away from areas where mosquitoes are prone to nest or congregate, such as garbage cans, small pools of water, uncovered foods and gardens. Also dump out any standing water (e.g., your tot's kiddie pool) in your yard or around your house weekly: Mosquitoes breed in it.
Choose your hours wisely. Wait until after dawn to go outside and head indoors at dusk, when mosquitoes are most active.
Close up shop. Keep mosquitoes and other flying insects out of your house by using screens on doors and windows.
Cover up. Dress your child in long-sleeve shirts and long pants if you’re going to be where mosquitoes can’t be avoided.
Spray on protection. Use insect repellent sparingly on the exposed skin of children over the age of 2 months old.^[1] Most common insecticides are made with the chemical DEET, which is effective at preventing mosquito bites in children as well as tick and spider bites in children. Just be careful about the concentration levels in whatever repellent you choose: up to 30 percent DEET or 10 percent picaridin is okay for little ones. Avoid spraying your child's hands and face and don't reapply unless needed. You can also spritz it on top of clothes for added protection. If you aren’t sure if a particular insect repellent is okay for your baby or toddler, ask your doctor to recommend a safe one.
Protect your clothes. Spray permethrin, a type of bug repellent that works well against ticks, on clothes (never directly on skin). It's usually good for several washes.

How to treat mosquito bites in children

Head off swelling. If you happen to catch a mosquito munching on your child, brush it off his skin with a gentle sweep of your hand, then apply ice to the scene of the crime to prevent itching and swelling.
Ease itching. Apply calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream to treat the bite as needed.
Discourage scratching. Sharp little fingernails can break the skin around a bite and let bacteria in. Besides doing all you can to prevent itching, explain to your child that scratching or picking will make the bug bite worse, and trim his fingernails as short as possible.
Watch out for symptoms of illness. Mosquitoes can carry disease — in particular, West Nile virus. Four out of five people who are infected with this virus don’t get sick at all, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), but you should still be aware of the symptoms, which include fever, headache, nausea and vomiting.^[2] If your child experiences any of these, check in with his pediatrician and mention that he’s recently been bitten. Also check in with your child's doctor if you see any signs of infection (usually because your child scratches or picks at a bite) such as redness, swelling or pus, or if the area around the bite feels warm to the touch.