Best Insect Repellent for Kids (2026): Ages and Actives

Children need the same EPA-registered repellents adults use, applied by an adult and matched to the child's age. Parents heading to a campground, a ballfield at dusk or a tick-heavy trail have three decisions: which active ingredient the child's age allows, which form an adult can put on without it reaching eyes and mouth, and how many hours the day needs.

How we chose: we did not test these repellents; we read the CDC's and the American Academy of Pediatrics' rules for children, checked each listing's active ingredient and age statement, and kept only lotions and wipes sold by Amazon.com or the brand's own store and in stock on September 29, 2026.

The age rules

The CDC's mosquito bite prevention fact sheet sets two hard limits:

• Under 2 months: "Do not use insect repellent on babies younger than 2 months old." Dress the baby in clothing that covers arms and legs, and cover the stroller or carrier with mosquito netting.
• Under 3 years: "Do not use products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or para-menthane-diol (PMD) on children younger than 3 years old."

Past those two lines, follow the bottle. Labels set their own minimum ages: OFF!'s Adults & Kids lotion says 6 months and up, and OFF!'s aerosol version says 1 year and up. A label's age is part of how the product was registered, so it is not a suggestion.

DEET, picaridin or IR3535 for a child?

All three are on the CDC's list of six actives, and the CDC does not rank them for children. The EPA says DEET is approved for use on children with no age restriction and no limit on percentage, and that it repels mosquitoes for two to twelve hours depending on its percentage.

The American Academy of Pediatrics puts the DEET numbers in plainer terms on its HealthyChildren.org repellent page: 10% DEET protects for about 2 hours, 30% for about 5, and "anything over 50% DEET does not provide longer protection." It suggests the lowest concentration that covers the time outside. The same page says 20% picaridin can protect for 8 to 12 hours.

We picked picaridin lotions for reasons you can check on the labels: they are odorless, Sawyer says its formula won't damage plastics such as sunglasses and pack buckles, and 20% picaridin covers a full day out by the AAP's 8-to-12-hour figure. A DEET lotion is a fine choice too; our DEET vs picaridin guide covers Sawyer's controlled-release DEET lotion.

Four family repellents side by side

Prices are Amazon's, as of the time shown, and subject to change. Details

Where a listing gives no age or no hours, check the printed label or search the EPA's repellent finder, which lists registered products by active ingredient and protection time.

Sawyer's picaridin FAQ says lotions usually last longer than sprays because you control how much goes on, and gives half an ounce as the amount for one application. It gives no minimum age, pointing instead to Canadian travel-medicine advice that treats picaridin as the first choice for travelers from six months to 12 years.

How to put it on a child

The CDC's rules for children come down to who applies it and where:

1. An adult applies it. "Adults: spray insect repellent onto your hands and then apply to a child's face," says the CDC fact sheet.
2. Not on the hands. The CDC says not to apply repellent to a child's hands, eyes, mouth, cuts or irritated skin. The AAP explains why: children put their hands in their mouths and eyes.
3. Exposed skin only. The AAP says to put repellent on exposed skin and the outside of clothing, never under clothing, and to use just enough to cover. More does not work better.
4. Wash it off. Back indoors, wash the child's skin with soap and water and wash their clothes before they wear them again, per the AAP.

The AAP also says to choose "sticks, lotions or unpressurized sprays" for children and to avoid pressurized sprays they might inhale or get in their eyes. That is why every pick here is a lotion or a wipe.

Two products the AAP says to skip

Sunscreen-repellent combinations. The AAP says not to use them on children: sunscreen needs reapplying every 2 hours and after swimming or sweating, and reapplying a combination "may expose your child to too much insect repellent." Use a separate sunscreen first, then repellent, which is the order the CDC gives.

Wristbands, stickers and ultrasonic devices. The AAP lists wristbands soaked in repellent and ultrasonic devices among products "not proven to be effective against mosquitoes." Plant-oil lotions made with citronella or peppermint are not on the CDC's list either.

Clothing does half the work

The CDC's first advice for babies is clothing that covers arms and legs, and the same logic helps older children: less bare skin means less repellent on it. For tick country, permethrin-treated clothing adds a layer that never touches skin. The CDC says not to put permethrin on skin, and our permethrin clothing guide covers how to treat a child's socks and pants.

For a sleeping baby at a campsite, a net over the carrier or play yard does what no repellent may. Our guide to mosquito nets for cots, hammocks and camp beds covers mesh sizes.

Which one we would buy

Buy the Sawyer 20% picaridin lotion for most families: odorless, long-lasting, and easy to rub onto a face from your palms.

Buy Boogie's 20% picaridin lotion if you want more lotion per bottle for several children.

Buy OFF! Adults & Kids lotion if your youngest is between 6 months and a year, because its label names that age.

Buy Avon's picaridin towelettes for the car or diaper bag.

Related: tick removal tools for the check after the walk, and head nets for black-fly country.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I use on a baby under 2 months?

No repellent at all, per the CDC. Cover the stroller, carrier or crib with mosquito netting and dress the baby in clothes that cover the arms and legs.

Is it safe to use DEET on a toddler?

The EPA says DEET is approved for children with no age restriction and no limit on percentage. The AAP says to apply it sparingly on children under 2 and to weigh the risk of insect-borne illness against the risk of absorbing chemicals.

Can my 8-year-old put repellent on by themselves?

The AAP says to supervise older children when they use repellent, and every DEET label carries the line "Do not allow young children to apply this product," per the EPA. Keep the bottle out of young children's reach.

What if my child gets a rash from repellent?

Stop using it and wash the skin with soap and water, then call the pediatrician or Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222, says the AAP. Take the container with you if you go to the doctor.