Child-Friendly Insect Repellant

[maricier]

Does anyone have any experience with non-DEET insect repellents that worked in Belize (or Roatan, for that matter) on young children? I have a 2 and 4 y.o., and I've used a citronella-based repellant back home in NJ that works "ok", but I have a feeling the Central Americans insects are a bit nastier. We'll be there on the Carnival Valor in a couple of weeks. Thanks much!

[doctordi]

I just got back from Belize two weeks ago. I can understand your concerns with using a DEET containing product on the children. But frankly for Belize I would use DEET. I saw some people who didn't use anything and you could not lay a quarter on any exposed skin with out hitting a mosquito bite! The area around Belize City is actually below sea level and we saw quite a bit of standing water. I used a DEET product and got not a single bite.

 

I think that the risk to the children from using DEET for a few hours is small compared to the agony of multiple mosquito bites and the possibility of contracting malaria or Bot fly from a bite.

 

If you apply the product wisely and just before you go on the excursion and wash it off as soon as you reach the ship, every one will have much happier vacation.:)