11 Safe Bug Sprays For Babies and Kids, According to Pediatricians

Sawyer Products 20% DEET Premium Family Insect Repellent Controlled Release Lotion ($9)

Some families may prefer to use a pest-control lotion on children. "Lotions are a safe option when used as directed. They allow for more precise application compared to spray," Dr. Stovall says. This Sawyer lotion contains 20% DEET, which repels ticks and all mosquitos, including those carrying the West Nile virus. The controlled release means it takes longer to absorb into the skin, reducing reapplication needs. (The brand cautions against using this product on infants under 6 months old.)

Top review: "This stuff works like magic. My two children have been at summer camp in the woods and near ponds and swamps, early morning and dusk, for the last week and a half, and neither one has one single bug bite on them. Not one bite. I put just a dab on and easily spread it around."