Grab the sprays and zappers – we're waging war against mozzies! Keep reading for tips on keeping your home mosquito-free.
Mosquitoes are the literal bane of every parent and child in Singapore. It’s not enough that we’re constantly trying to beat the heat and endlessly looking for boredom busters, but these pesky insects are a cause of concern (especially with dengue clusters around). And no matter how many dishes of random stagnant water we tip out, the mozzies always manage to find a way to survive.
Mosquitoes truly suck, especially if you belong to the unfortunate group of people whom these pesky insects have a penchant for, like my partner and son. Which is why repellants are always on our to-buy list, and each room has a mosquito-busting weapon (be it a zapper or a pot of citronella). And I’m more than happy to share my family’s tried-and-tested methods so you can stay mozzie-bite free too.
Top tips for staying mozzie free in Singapore: Safe mosquito repellents & lotions for kids
1. Spray on some mosquito or insect repellent
Believe it or not, I usually bulk buy these. Most preschools in Singapore would request you to pack one in your kids’ bags to be administered before the little ones go outdoors. I also spray it on my kids’ arms and legs during the hotter months, which coincides with the dengue season, just to be safe.
Now, most insect sprays use DEET or picaridin as the active ingredient to keep mosquitoes at bay. These are touted as the gold standard in sprays, however, anything that has more than 30% of DEET or picaridin is not kid-friendly and may lead to health complications.
Preferring a safer choice, my family uses sprays that are made from essential oils of mosquito-repelling plants, like peppermint, eucalyptus, and citronella. Our favourites are by Babyganics and Cubble, both have DEET-free insect repellent sprays that are made without parabens, sulfates, phthalates, as well as artificial fragrances and dye. The Cubble spray lasts pretty long too (up to 12 hours!), and its safe for pregnant mummies too.
If you’re looking for one with DEET, a HoneyKids mum suggested RID Kids Antiseptic Bite Protection that has low DEET concentration, available in the form of a spray and roll-on.
Or, you can make your own mosquito repellent spray by mixing witch hazel, water, and your preferred essential oil made from mosquito-repelling plants. There are many non-toxic and kid-friendly recipes for this online. Just remember to do a patch test before using it on your kids.
Pro-tip: When applying repellent, spray first on your hands and rub it in. Use sparingly on kids’ hands as they’re more likely to stick their hands in their eyes and mouths.
2. Use mosquito or insect repellent lotions
Need something more long-lasting? Consider mosquito repellent lotions and balm then. Mama’s Choice has a baby skin vitamin lotion that includes mosquito repellent properties; and kids above four years old can try Biore’s Guard Mos Block lotion in lavender scent — both are DEET-free options.
Should you be worried about allergic reactions, Ceradan’s Ceramoz mosquito repellent cream is clinically-tested to be hypoallergenic and has a low DEET formula. This is a popular brand among dermatologists, and is safe to use on babies aged two months and above.
3. Get the kids some cool stickers — the type that protects them from mozzies
Should you have a baby who’s into chewing and sucking their hands, mosquito patches could be a good alternative. Natural ingredients or not, I get a little worried thinking about my 10 month-old sucking on her arms after having repellent sprayed on her. Two sticker patches to the back of her onesie (top and bottom) works just as well in warding off mozzies.
There are many patches in the market and, honestly, they all work well. My family usually gets the ones from Eu Yan Sang, Snapkis (my kids love the cute design!), and Tiger Balm (you can’t go wrong with this Southeast Asian household brand for all things pain relief-related).
4. Cover up!
We know the heat doesn’t help, but wearing long pants and long-sleeved tops are a must if the mozzies love you and you’re heading for a day out in the park connectors. That way, mosquitoes have less access to bare skin.
5. Zap and swat ’em
Sometimes you need to go on the offensive with mosquitoes. My go-to is what my son calls the “mosquito racket”, a swat that kills mosquitoes using electricity. We have one of these in each room so my partner and I can quickly swat at any flying pests without having to go through the house looking for a swat. You can easily get one of these from Lazada, Shopee, or even your neighbourhood hardware stores for less than $10.
