With Zika as an ongoing risk, my OB recommended that I wear bug repellant with DEET on an upcoming vacation and this summer.
Will you be wearing DEET this year? IF so, what DEET bug repellant will you be wearing this summer?
You might also enjoy...
-
Crap, I forgot that I have to think about that now. I have no clue.
-
I'm torn - I don't think I'll wear the Deep Woods one made for repelling ticks that is something like 25% or 36% DEET....but definitely something since we get Mosquitos in our backyard. I need to research...
-
I also completely forgot about this. Definitely need to do some research and will be following here. Traveling this summer to a location where this will be extra important too.
-
My mom actually did the research on this and found this one to be one of the best:
Sawyer Insect Mosquito Repellent Picaridin Spray .5 oz-Safe Gear
It comes in a skinny blue spray tube.
-
@pregnantbee: This is the one I am going to be using this summer too (TTC not pregnant).
-
@pregnantbee: thanks for sharing! Did she say why this one seemed to be the best?
-
I wore some last night at an outdoor play -- no bites! I'm on the gulf coast and keep hearing warnings about zika coming here... I got Off! FamilyCare brand smooth and dry version. It actually smelled pretty good, not all chemical-y.
-
@PinkElephant: I'll ask and post back.
-
I was just starting to research. I don't want to hide out in my house all summer. I'm getting my backyard treated professionally this year too. I hate having to worry about this.
-
@katsupgirl: Definitely on the backyard ...I'm wondering if it's worth it for us to do it if our neighbors don't bother, though...
@pregnantbee: no pressure - I was just curious. I'll Share anything I find as well.
-
Probably not or not very often. There does seem to be a few studies of deet during pregnancy that finds it safe to use, so that's reassuring and maybe I will very occasionally. But I need to do more reading. There's a number of studies that link pesticide exposure during pregnancy and decreased head circumference - prob depends somewhat on route of exposure, amount, type of pesticide. But since there's no known Zika where I am, I'm hesitant to expose myself to pesticides without a lot more reading (since the reading I've done so far hasn't been particularly reassuring).
-
@PinkElephant: She said it was touted by Consimer Reports:
http://www.consumerreports.org/insect-repellents/mosquito-repellents-that-best-protect-against-zika/
<<The most effective products against Aedes mosquitoes were Sawyer Fisherman's Formula Picaridin and Natrapel 8 Hour, which each contain 20 percent picaridin, and Off! Deepwoods VIII, which contains 25 percent deet. They kept mosquitoes from biting for about 8 hours. (The Sawyer product was more effective at repelling ticks than the deet products we tested, making it our top insect repellent overall.)>>
-
@katsupgirl: @PinkElephant: I wouldn't count on a pest control company to eliminate the mosquitoes that transmit Zika. It's my understanding that they basically can't spray for that type effectively, you have to kill the larvae to eliminate them, which means a certain bacteria being introduced into the standing water where the larvae live or eliminating the water. Do your own research, of course, but I live in a mosquito-prone spot and we're being told that prevention means no standing water, and commercial spraying is essentially useless against Aedes.
-
For a spray, I like Repel Lemon Eucalyptus. We mostly just wear lots of clothes and spray the clothes instead of skin.
-
We wear OFF on our clothing and shoes.
-
I don't really get bit by mosquitos and there aren't even any cases of it spreading in FL, much less the NE so I'm not going to bother.
-
The baby factory is closed here, and I live in a state with no reported incidents of Zika, but since there isn't a whole lot known about it, I'm still not willing to risk it. I'm getting Natrapel spray for us and wipes for the kids.
-
I normally try to avoid excessive amounts of feet but this year we are going a bit heavier on bug repellent.
I do have the doTerra in a spray for when we are going to be out for just a minute or two (or walking/moving) but I've still been bitten. So back to the tough stuff.
-
@honeybear: If I remember the pitch correctly from the sales pitch they put out a bait for the mosquitoes that's more inviting than me. Just trying to reduce us getting bit with a multilayered approach.
@PinkElephant: I hear you about the neighbors. City living!
-
Picaridin repellents are so much nicer than DEET. They smell faintly fresh and citrusy, but don't have an overwhelming stank like DEET. Picaridin also doesn't melt plastic the way DEET does. I ruined a pair of Rx sunglasses learning that lesson the hard way.
-
@katsupgirl: I would be interested to know what kind of bait they use. I live in mosquito central and we have been really careful about standing water, but I haven't heard of any other effective preventive solution beyond bug spray.
-
@honeybear: I can't remember but if I don't get too lazy I will call next week. I'm using terminix. While it's still cold I'm going to get some mosquito dunks for any standing water I have outside. It's mosquito war this year!
-
Oo, love this thread! I wasn't eve thinking about this, but realized that I will be TTC-ing later this summer so I will need to be careful! Totally adding that Sawyer one to my cart right now!
-
I'm not pregnant but did a ton of research last summer for DS who was <1 at the time. I like EWG for this type of information: http://www.ewg.org/research/ewgs-guide-bug-repellents
We live in an area with tons of mosquitos and high rates of west nile virus. For him, I wanted to use picardin and a pump (not aerosol spray) -- we picked Avon Skin So Soft bug gard + Picardin. Bonus: it smells good! https://www.avon.com/product/31314/skin-so-soft-bug-guard-plus-picaridin-pump-spray?setlang=en -
When I was pregnant last time, I asked my doctor about it and she said spraying Deep Woods Off on my clothes was fine.
-
i don't mess around with mosquitoes. i wear DEET and put it on LO as well. i usually use off!--the lighter fresh scents.
-
Bumping this. Has anyone tried any of the repellants mentioned here and can say how well they work/don't work? I'm usually a mosquito magnet so I don't really trust the "natural" options, especially right now.
Thanks!
-
Also using the Sawyer 20% picaridin spray this summer - it's as effective as DEET: http://www.amazon.com/Sawyer-Products-SP543-Repellent-Picaridin/dp/B002CMQJYU?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00
Make sure your DH or SO protects himself against mosquitos as well, since Zika can be transmitted sexually (I knew this, but it didn't initially click that baby is at risk from DH as well).
One more thing to keep in mind is that Aedes (the mosquito the transmits Zika) larvae can survive even after you've removed standing water - they can survive/hatch once they are rehydrated (if it rains again) - be sure to turn over or cover anything that catches water: http://www.cdc.gov/dengue/resources/factSheets/MosquitoLifecycleFINAL.pdf
-
@peachykeen: Thanks!!
-
You dont mess with Zika mosquitoes are everywhere not only in our backyards,, deet up to 30 percent is the safest option for pregnants. Less than 25 percent dont last long. 15 percent lasts up to five hours. I work all day so I use 25 percent in clothes (long pants and sleeves all the time) and exposed skin. Im 31 weeks and my baby is doing great. Deet in women lasts less so caution. When I end my labor day I use 7 percent that lasts about 1.5 hours to get home. Lemon eucalyptus is not recommended for the skin of pregnant women, there are no studies. Natural repelents just last up to two hours (probably less)
-
This comment has been deleted by the original poster.
-
@santiagok: how did everything came up with your baby? Did you use this repellent since the first trimester? I read everywhere it is marked as “safe” and recommended by doctors, but has anyone really used it? Is it really safe? I recently found out I’m pregnant with my 1st baby. Last week at 5wks & 2days I was in a place with a lot of mosquitos and freaked out and went to the drugstore, did some google research while there, and by the first info that came up I proceed to buy OFF FAMILY CARE w/ 7% of DEET and applied it on myself. After that spent 1 hour outdoors and then like 4 more hour locked in a car before getting home and washing it all off. After reading it was safe I don’t see any testimony of a real momma that have really used it. I’ve been freaked out, I don’t want to harm my baby.
-
@prettylilflo: I used a lot of deet since I knew I was pregnant. Every day on my clothes and unprotected skin (more than once a day during the week) DEET 25, 15, 10 and 7 depending on how much time I was going to spent outside. At work because they were mosquitoes in the building. I only stopped the day my baby was born. He is perfectly fine and healthy, now 5 months. I was scared of deer and tried natural stuff that didn't work, DEET is safe.
-
@santiagok: So for what I can understand you used it since 1st Trimester, right?
I'm beyond thankful of your response. You gave me peace of mind
May God keep on blessing you and your little prince.
May God keep on blessing you and your little prince.
Reply
Subscribe to our newsletter
- Google Plus
- Stumbleupon
- Twitter
- Facebook
- Pinterest
- Favorite0
34 comments