Although mosquito bites are usually completely harmless in Europe, you should always make sure that your baby or child is as well protected as possible from bites. Not only is the bite itself unpleasant, the subsequent itching is also terrible and the risk of your child scratching the puncture wound and thereby causing an infection is very high. But no matter how well you prevent mosquito bites on your baby, it can always happen that the baby or child gets bitten, especially when they spend a lot of time outdoors, which they should. To ensure that the time until the mosquito bite heals passes quickly and easily, we have a few tips for you that you can use to treat mosquito bites on babies, toddlers and older children. Simply read the following lines.
Especially with our offspring, we should be careful when choosing products and home remedies, because they arefor adultsdifferent. The little ones react even more sensitively to everything and skin irritations in particular can quickly result. But mosquito bites during pregnancy are usually treated differently. Some drugs get into the body and then affect the unborn baby. However, it is best to take preventive measures so that mosquito bites in babies or children do not even become an issue. As rare as complications after mosquito bites are, you should never take any risks with pregnant women and babies.
Preventive measures to protect against mosquito bites for babies and children
So that you don't have to worry about how you can get rid of the annoying itching caused by mosquito bites on your baby and child and avoid infection, it is of course advisable to do something about the plague in advance. “That’s clear,” you might be thinking, “who lets themselves be bitten by mosquitoes voluntarily?” But be honest. How many times have you forgotten the bug spray or gone for a walk or to the campfire thinking that there won't be as many mosquitoes around? Well, while you may have previously only been responsible for yourself, now you have to take responsibility for your child too, whether it's still in the womb or already born. And preventative measures are not that difficult.
If you don't want to use chemicals or fumigating products to fight mosquitoes, a simple fly screen can protect the whole family from a plague in the home. A mosquito net can be very useful outdoors. But there are also various home remedies made from plants that do not require direct contact with the skin to scare away the annoying insects. These are great alternatives to sprays from the pharmacy. If you still decide to use such sprays, consult your doctor or pharmacist to find a suitable product for children or pregnant women. When you are traveling with your baby, the mosquito net should never be missing. Because this and suitable clothing are the only permitted means of avoiding mosquito bites on your baby. It's just too small for insect sprays and the like. When it comes to clothing, loose clothing offers better protection against mosquitoes than tight-fitting clothing.
If you feel like you're attracting mosquitoes more during your pregnancy, you're not wrong. In pregnant women, the body temperature is increased and mosquitoes particularly like this. These are heat sensitive and findpregnant womenFor this reason it is particularly “appetizing”. And even if prevention is now particularly necessary, you don't actually have to worry about the bite itself any more than before. Of course, this only applies if you tolerate the stitches well. However, if you have an allergic reaction instead, it can be dangerous for the unborn child. Also, be sure to avoid scratching the bite sites, no matter how itchy they may be. An infection that can then arise in the wound also represents a major risk.
As already mentioned, not all insect sprays or products for treating itching from insect bites are also suitable for pregnant women. This is especially true in the risky first trimester. As you probably know, all types of chemicals are then banned. For this reason, it is important that you consult with your doctor before choosing any product. So as you can see, it's not just mosquito bites on babies that need to be treated with greater caution. It's better to be on the safe side. Above all, the so-called DEET as an active ingredient is taboo! It is best to use natural remedies. If you want to treat puncture wounds, the same applies. Electronic stitch healers are also permitted.
And if you have found a suitable spray after consulting a doctor or pharmacist, there are still a few rules to follow:
- Use the product as rarely as possible! You'll probably spend a lot of time outdoors in the summer, but try to protect yourself in other ways too.
- Do you currently have open wounds? Then these should be left out when rubbing. Chemicals enter the bloodstream through the wounds and thus also reach the baby.
- Save your stomach! You should never spray or rub this directly. Instead, protect him from mosquito bites with appropriate clothing.
- You can also choose the amount of chemicals that work. Products with less than 20% active ingredient content are best suited.
What helps babies and are mosquito bites dangerous for babies?
If you discover mosquito bites on your baby despite taking preventive measures, you don't have to panic straight away. Because the symptoms are usually just as uncomplicated as they are for us adults. Babies are usually too small to even notice itching. So you can say that babies usually take the sting better than us adults. The lack of itching also prevents the mosquito bite from being scratched, which also limits the risk of infection to a minimum. The stings usually disappear on their own within one or two days.
Baby's mosquito bites don't go away? Even then, you don't have to be afraid right away. Due to the delicate skin, the baby can sometimes react a little more sensitively. Then the skin should receive very special care so that you can soothe the inflamed puncture site and make it more comfortable for your sweetheart. If the baby's mosquito bites are inflamed or you even notice that the bites are swollen, go to the doctor.
Even with a simple mosquito bite, you can't get away without inflammation. If this corresponds to the norm, you can start with normal treatment. As already mentioned, chemical products are not allowed at all when treating mosquito bites on babies. Their skin is still far too sensitive and delicate, which is unfortunately also the reason why babies are popular victims of mosquitoes. Therefore, home remedies should be used to treat mosquito bites in babies. Simple cooling is usually enough to alleviate the unpleasant symptoms. Various natural products also have anti-inflammatory and even disinfectant properties, so you can use them to clean the puncture site and relieve itching. So it is worth trying to cure mosquito bites with home remedies. If you are still breastfeeding, breast milk is probably the best medicine. Put a few drops on the mosquito bite and let the milk dry there. This works wonders, requires no preparation and you always have breast milk at hand.
A detailed oneList of suitable home remediesyou can find it if you follow the link.
Mosquito bites in toddlers and children
If your offspring is no longer a baby, but a toddler or even an older child, a simple mosquito bite can become more dangerous. Not because the mosquito's poison works differently. That is of course not the case. The dangerous thing with older children is that they often scratch their bites, whereas mosquito bites on babies cannot have such consequences. The open wounds that arise when scratching are the best basis for infection. Therefore, if you are bitten, you should act quickly to combat the itching. If this doesn't work right away, it's important to stop the child from scratching, which is certainly not an easy task. It's difficult for us adults to hold back, so how should it be with the little ones?
One option is to cut your nails as short as possible. This reduces the risk of scratched bites, even if the child scratches. But when you're out and about, you don't always have the opportunity to treat the itching immediately or even cut your nails. But there is one thing you should always have in your bag when you are traveling with children and that is plasters. Yes, that's right, a simple band-aid can prevent children's mosquito bites from being scratched. And if your child doesn't even get close to the mosquito bite, the itching will quickly be forgotten and gone.
Stop itching with medicine from the pharmacy
If you still want to be on the safe side and not just rely on home remedies, you can ask the pharmacy about products that you can use on babies and children. Suitable medicine basically consists only of natural ingredients. Chemical-free products are, for example, Ballistol products, which are available in the form of a spray and a lotion. The lotion marked “Kids” is even suitable for babies from 2 months old. Both variants are also compatible with pregnant women. The Cool Pic Roll On also consists exclusively of plant-based active ingredients, which cools and nourishes the skin. If you would like to treat mosquito bites in your baby with Fenistil, please consult your pediatrician beforehand. In principle, there is nothing wrong with applying it to small areas, as is the case with stitches, but talking to your doctor can never hurt. This also applies to all other means mentioned.
While mosquito bites on babies need to be treated with greater care, with toddlers and older children it is no longer so complicated. Home remedies are a popular option, but they are not always practical and readily available when you are on the go. Then you can also take precautions and pack an ointment just in case. You can treat mosquito bites in children with the products mentioned above or ask your pharmacist or pediatrician about other options.
Mosquito bites in babies and children – when to see a doctor?
As rare as complications from mosquito bites are, they should definitely be monitored. If you notice even the slightest abnormal change, if the puncture sites are inflamed, you need to go to the doctor! If the mosquito bites are accompanied by more swelling than usual or if they fester, there may be cause for concern and the bites need to be checked. A possible cause of swollen mosquito bites in a baby or child could be, among other things, an allergy. Ultimately, only the pediatrician can examine and determine whether the mosquito bites have caused an allergy or whether there is another problem. A fever is also a clear sign that you need to see a doctor with your baby or child. If you notice increased restlessness or severe redness or an increased pulse, you should also seek help.
