• Reduce mosquito breeding.
  • Remove sources of standing water, such as old tires, bird baths, and planters, from your yard. Clean clogged gutter pipes. Repair leaky plumbing. Keep trash cans covered and wading pools empty when not in use.
  • Use goldfish or freshwater minnows to control larvae in ornamental pools. Mosquito dunks or disks containing Bacillus thuringiensis israeliensis, bacteria that kills mosquito larvae, can be used in ponds or other garden water features without fish or other aquatic wildlife.
  • Plant scented geraniums, lemon thyme, marigold, tansy, citrosa plants, sweet basil, and/or sassafras near your home.

• Create a safe haven from mosquitoes indoors.
  • Use screens on windows and doors, and keep them in good condition.
  • Turn on the air conditioner in place of opening windows and doors.
  • Stay inside at dusk and early morning when mosquitoes are most active.
  • Do not spray bug sprays (repellents) indoors.

• Think twice about mosquito-killing gadgets.
  • Don't rely on zappers, sonic devices, or carbon-monoxide (CO2) traps to keep from getting bitten. Zappers kill mostly larger, beneficial insects, which eat mosquitoes. Tests on sonic devices show they don’t repel mosquitoes, and while CO2 traps work in theory, their efficacy has not been proven in a typical, suburban setting.

• Protect yourself from mosquitos while outdoors.
  • Do not use scented products, which attract mosquitoes.
  • Wear lightweight, long sleeves and pants.
• Use the appropriate repellant.
  • Use natural repellants like Bite Blocker or lemon eucalyptus derivatives like Repel
  • If you do deem it necessary to use DEET, choose the lowest concentration of DEET required for the time to be spent outdoors, and apply sparingly. DEET concentrations of less than 10% are recommended, and will offer up to two hours of protection.
  • Apply DEET only once a day. Repeated applications may increase the toxicity of DEET.
  • Apply DEET to clothes instead of the skin. If using on the skin, do not apply over cuts or wounds and use sparingly. Avoid using near the mouth, on the hands and face, or near food.
  • Wait 30 minutes between applications of DEET and sunscreen. When used together, sunscreen can worsen the side effects of DEET. DO NOT USE SUNSCREENS CONTAINING DEET, since sunscreens require repeated applications.
  • Do not use DEET on children younger than 2 months old.
  • Thoroughly wash treated clothing and skin upon returning indoors.

Consult your pediatrician to learn their specific recommendation for your child.

"Courtesy of Healthy Child Healthy World: a 501(c)(3) nonprofit insping parents to protect young children from harmful chemicals."