What are insect repellents?

Insect repellents are substances that help to stop insects from biting and stinging.

They come in many different forms, including:

• Roll-on
• Sprays
• Aerosols
• Gels
• Creams.

How do insect repellents work?

All insect repellents contain ingredients that are designed to be unappealing to insects. The fewer insects that are attracted to the body, the less likely people are to get bitten or stung.

Two of the most common ingredients in insect repellents are DEET and picaridin.

DEET (D-ethyl-meta-toluamide) is a common ingredient that works well at repelling mosquitoes, biting flies, fleas, and ticks. It has been used safely around the world for many decades. DEET is available in concentrations from 10 to 80%. It is safe to use products with up to 30% DEET on children over two months old.

DEET has a distinct smell and can feel sticky. It may also cause eye stinging if it gets into your eyes.

You can put DEET on cotton, wool, and nylon fabrics, but it may damage plastics and synthetic materials, such as spandex, rayon, acetate, pigmented leather, and vinyl.

Picaridin

Picaridin is a newer insect repellent. It is available in 10, 20, and 25% concentrations. It is safe to use products with up to 25% picaridin on children over two years old.

It does not have a smell, and it is less sticky than DEET. Unlike DEET, picaridin does not damage plastics and synthetic materials.

Natural ingredients

Ingredients such as citronella oil and lemon eucalyptus oil may also be effective at repelling insects. However, they need to be reapplied more often – especially in areas with a lot of biting insects. Essential oils can also cause allergic reactions in some people.

How to use insect repellent safely on children

It is important to read the product instructions carefully before using any insect repellents on your child.

Under two months old

• Do not use any insect repellent on children under two months of age.
  • This is because their skin is very sensitive.
• Dress your baby in long, loose and light-coloured clothes to lower their risk of insect bites.
• You can also use pre-treated insect nets to physically stop insects from getting to your baby. Only use netting which allows for adequate air flow, be aware that thicker coverings can trap heat and pose a risk to your baby.

Over two months old

If your child is over two months old, it is safe to apply insect repellents to their skin. However, it is best to wash the product off as soon as the risk of biting insects is gone. This will limit the risk of skin irritation. For example, you could put insect repellent on your child before a bush walk, but you should wash it off when you get home.

• If there is an ongoing risk of biting insects, rub or spray insect repellent onto your child’s clothes instead of their skin.
  • This reduces the risk of skin irritation.
• When applying insect repellent to your child’s skin:
  • Only apply repellent to areas of skin that clothes do not cover.
  • Put the product on your hand first, then rub it onto your child’s skin.
  • Only use enough to cover their exposed skin in a thin, even layer. Using more repellent does not make it more effective and may make their skin more irritated.
  • Do not apply repellent to cuts, wounds, or irritated skin.
  • Avoid areas around the eyes or mouth, or the hands of young children.
• If your child needs both sunscreen and insect repellent, put the sunscreen on first.
  • Wait around 20 minutes after applying sunscreen to your child before putting on insect repellent.
  • It is better to use separate sunscreen and insect repellent, rather than a combined product, because sunscreen needs to be reapplied more often.
• Reapply your child’s insect repellent after swimming or activities that make them sweat.
• Wash insect repellent off skin with soap and water.
• Store all insect repellents out of reach of children.

Helping your child avoid mosquito bites

• Dress your child in long, loose and light-coloured clothes. This is particularly important in areas where mosquito-borne diseases are common.
  • Mosquitoes are more attracted to darker clothing.
  • Aim to cover their wrists and ankles.
• Permethrin is a substance poisonous to insects, including mosquitoes. You can apply it to clothing and outerwear.
  • Combining permethrin-treated clothing with insect repellent on the skin may help to protect your child from insect bites in high-risk areas.
• Avoid dams, ponds and other sources of still water – they tend to attract mosquitoes.

To reduce mosquitoes around the home:

• Cover any water storage containers and empty them when they are not being used, to reduce places where mosquitoes can lay eggs.
• Seal and cover septic tanks.
• Remove excess plants from garden ponds. Adding fish may help, too, as they eat mosquito larvae.
• Avoid turning on indoor lights until all windows are closed.
• Fit insect screens to all suitable windows.
• If you live in an area with a lot of insects, consider using an electric device that releases a safe insect repellent into the room at night.
  • These usually plug into a power point.
  • There is no evidence that citronella candles repel mosquitoes when placed next to a person.

For more information

• Speak to your child’s doctor or a pharmacist
• Kids Health Info: Insect bites and stings

Developed by The Royal Children’s Hospital Pharmacy department, with input from the Infectious Diseases department. We acknowledge the input of RCH consumers and carers.

Reviewed October 2026

Please always seek the most recent advice from a registered and practising clinician.