Natural tick prevention for kids

[Anonymous]

How does one protect our children? Is there a nontoxic spray for their clothes? I’m reading about an uptick in ticks. Pun intended.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2022/05/01/tick-bite-lone-star-meat-allergic/?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR2DLGBzFDyGQSlme6FPr0QS-jhjKLhc_n8dB9kA1Klm4t_B1Nap4LpJqI4

[Anonymous]

We use the badger spray and it seems to work

[Anonymous]

I have my son wear hiking pants. No shorts. Then ankle socks with shoes. If we're going into the woods or on a trail I'll spray him with Off bug spray.

Then at night i do a quick check for ticks. I've found one so far and pulled it off immediately.

[Anonymous]

Try rose geranium oil.

[Anonymous]

Look for a mosquito product that also repels ticks.

On your property, get a fence if you can. They can jump 6ft fences, but won't if they can access food elsewhere. Plant deer-resistant plants. Avoid bird feeders and make trash inaccessible so you don't encourage rodents, that also carry ticks. And above all else, keep your lawn mowed short and shrubs neat and tidy so that ticks can't jump on people.

Outside your property, on trails, closed shoes and trousers that tuck into socks are a must. Avoid going off trail, and do not walk in long grass and undergrowth. Use large trails that are well-cleared and not narrow paths with overhanging vegetation.

Finally, support reduction in deer populations!

[Anonymous]

We have our yard sprayed. I know its controversial but I'm more afraid of Lyme than the spray. My kids don't roll in our grass, and we are a no shoes house so the shoes stay in the garage and they always wash their hands when they come in.

[Anonymous]

Just put the Deet or Pemethrin on your kids. Make the shower and comb out hair at night

[Anonymous]

I make a tea tree oil, lemon essential oil, lavender essential oil and vitamin E cream concoction. Ticks don't like those scents.

[Anonymous]

Ticks are rsmpant in our area, and Lyme disease and Alpha-Gal allergies are no joke. Use Deet or picaridin. I like Sawyers and Natrapel brands for picaridin. You can get lotions and wipes if you want to limit inhaling or consuming it. Lemon oil of eucalyptus is a natural product but doesn’t work as well and isn’t recommended for young children. You can also spray clothing with permethrin before wear.

Both Deet and picaridin have been used for years and even EWG recommends them.
https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/news/ewgs-top-three-bug-repellent-recommendations-kids

[Anonymous]

Also consider tick tubes for your yard. We have used them and noticed fewer ticks in our yard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have our yard sprayed. I know its controversial but I'm more afraid of Lyme than the spray. My kids don't roll in our grass, and we are a no shoes house so the shoes stay in the garage and they always wash their hands when they come in.

Spraying your yard is not effective for ticks. That is why bait boxes attract the hosts, like mice, so that the insecticide can be brushed on their fur to kill the ticks. Do not spray poison. If you want to use a pesticide for dealing with ticks, you should wear clothes treated with permethrin.

Washing your hands is insufficient; ticks may be under the armpit, groin, etc. You should bathe and do a tick check on your children. If you find a tick you can remove it.

BTW a new study indicates that most people with Lyme did not catch it in their own yards. So even if there were magically a new spray that's totally safe and effective, you still need to learn to do the other steps because realistically your kids are probably more at risk when at camp, hiking, friends' houses, etc.

https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/HHS-Program/PHS/LymeDisease/LymeDiseaseIndex.html

[Anonymous]

I really like natrupel if you want to avoid ticks. Spray especially around the legs as they jump up from the grass.

Permithen treat shoes, socks and pants or jackets for camping.

If you’re really worried, hats or kerchiefs for hair.

Best prevention is a tick check—they don’t really transmit disease if you get them off promptly.

Finally, I will share this….a large youth group went camping. Many of the boys got ticks in their groin. None of the girls did. I question whether it was because the boys tend to wear looser shorts and then wear boxers underneath. My son, who was wearing tightie whities, did not get them. Very unscientific, I know, but if they are going to be sitting on the ground, think about the pants and underwear, as ticks like the groin/crotch. Picnic blankets are not a bad idea either.

Tics can’t go very far—they lie in wait until they smell a warm blooded animal, and then jump.

[Anonymous]

That natural stuff doesn’t work. Both of my kids got Lyme. Please just use DEET. It’s worth the chemical exposure.

[Anonymous]

We spray the yard and spray the kids. I'm not messing around with Lyme.

[Anonymous]

Picairdin on clothes, socks, and boots, tall light colored socks with pants tucked in of we ever have to hike through grass or fallen leaves.