repellant products

[colleendonny]

Spring is coming. Today was seventy degrees!

Anyway, we live on South shore MA, where ticks are plentiful. We are new to this and don't see our LLMD until next month . I was wondering the best products that ticks don't like, for the yard and skin and clothing. Any certain bugsprays and sunscreens that we should be getting? Thanks, Colleen

[philamom]

Our LLMD recommended AVON SSS Bug Guard plus IR3535 Expedition or Bug Guard Picaridin insect repellent for my daughter. They sell towelettes as well. Someone here once mentioned Ultrathon (Deet) products - I'm thinking about buying it this season. For a more natural approach, you can mix 2 cups of white vinegar, 1 cup of water, and 20 drops of Eucalyptus or Peppermint oil - spray it on your clothing and skin. I'm not sure how well it works though.

[philamom]

You can also purchase clothing already treated with Pemethrin. They usually go by "Insect Shield" or "Bug Shield". They can be quite pricey, but last 25-70 washings.

 

www.colubia.com

www.REI.com

exofficio.com/insectshield

www.zorrel.com

[LNN]

Our LLMD recommended AVON SSS Bug Guard plus IR3535 Expedition or Bug Guard Picaridin insect repellent for my daughter. They sell towelettes as well. Someone here once mentioned Ultrathon (Deet) products - I'm thinking about buying it this season. For a more natural approach, you can mix 2 cups of white vinegar, 1 cup of water, and 20 drops of Eucalyptus or Peppermint oil - spray it on your clothing and skin. I'm not sure how well it works though.

 

We use the Avon SSS too. Here are their products: http://shop.avon.com/shop/search.aspx?find_spec=bug&search.x=0&search.y=0&department=search

 

The Environmental working group doesn't like this product but it's unclear why - maybe because it doesn't protect against UVA damage, only UVB. EWG also doesn't like aerosol sprays because of the risk you'll inhale any chemicals in the product you're using. They prefer lotions. But I need to balance the risks of lyme disease against other concerns. We use the lotion SSS with IR3535, which is a good tick repellent, because the kids' tick exposure is likely to come during the daytime when we're at the park or by the stream. So the sunscreen product makes the most sense for us. It unfortunately isn't a mosquito repellent, so we use another deet-free plant based repellent for evening outdoor activities. No single, easy solution, I'm afraid.

 

And you have to remember that ticks can easily fall into your hair from a tree or rolling in the grass and you probably aren't going to put suncreen on their hair and maybe not even bug spray. So you still need to do nightly tick checks in shower/tub, including the scalp.

 

That said, you can't live in complete isolation and fear. Mosquitoes carry West Nile and a mosquito can find its way into your house no matter how well you protect yourself when you're outdoors. It's about finding balance.

[dcmom]

I agree with LLM- there does need to be balance. With two girls that have pandas induced ocd, the last thing I want to do is inspire tic or bug ocd

 

We spray perimeter areas, shrubs and beds, and rock walls in the yard with permethrin. The kids (and this is where I am relatively lucky to have two fairly "girly" girls) are not allowed in those areas (shrubbery and rock walls, or weedy areas.) We live across the street from a preserved meadow with a large stream. A deer oasis We do not go into that meadow unless there is snow or the ground is frozen, or if they go in any other time it is with sneakers and white socks, we put all clothes immediately in hot water wash and dry, and we do an extremely thorough tic check.

 

I keep our dog out of probably tic areas, and actually most of his outside time is on our deck (luckily he is more of a lap dog).

 

I am hesitant to use much in the way of bug repellant on the girls or their clothing- but if we were to plan a trip into a wooded area, I would. I privately avoid family outings that involve much "in the woods" activities. In the summer we do a lot of pool and beach- ahhh- not tics there. Spring and Fall they are in school, and we always seem to be busy on weekends- so there is not a lot of time. We went girls scout camping this January, and there was snow on the ground- it was great- I think we may plan to camp as a family then next year (in heated cabins)- it is such a relief not to worry about tics.

 

I told my husband the other day, that I cannot imagine that I am going to make it (alive) until they are in adulthood. Even when things are really good (as they are now) there is so much worry.

[philamom]

Ironic to wake up to this - I spent the entire night unable to sleep worried about my daughter getting another tick bite on top of the symptoms she has now. B4 my 10 year old dd was born, I spent a ton of money making my property into a dreamy woodland paradise. I put in lots of trees, perennials, ornamental grasses, bird feeders - all bordering on the edges of gardens. Now I'm in the process of digging them up to get rid of some. All of our walkways are lined with stalk-like plants/shrubs that ticks like to climb on and hitch a ride. I recently read that if you have Japanese barberry on your property you highly increase your chances of lyme disease. I have my share. They are now listed as an invasive plant. I spray my property twice- spring/fall.

 

I decided I need to have a serious discussion this year about where she should and should not wander. I can't take that chance. I'll work with the additional OCD, if necessary. Her OCD is not extreme right now, so it should be more manageable. She's also aware of her physical pain now, so I will lightly add that to the discussion. I need her to be aware to not just stay out of the mulch gardens and woodland areas, but also to stay away from the edges/borders of them. I'm going to suggest staying away the length of a baseball bat. Of course, when she's with her friends - who knows.

 

I think I worry so much because she is not informed well enough, and I need her to start taking some action on her own prevention. I can't be with her at all times.

 

It's sad to think they just can't go outside for a good game of hide and seek. It's one of her favorites.

 

Now...off to a cup of coffee.

Edited March 20, 2012 by philamom

[LNN]

I've had this talk about "what to tell your kids/not tell them" with several parents. Do you tell them what Pandas is? Will that make them paranoid? What about lyme? You don't want them thinking of themselves as chronically ill...It's a delicate balance between feeding into fears that could explode vs. informing them and helping them become play a role in their own well being.

 

I've tended to err on the side of TMI. It comes with it's own set of challenges. But it also helps him understand what's happening and become responsible for choices - it keeps me from being the over-protective, overly restrictive parent. Yesterday, I met with the school psychologist to discuss some teacher-based school avoidance (he hates his class this year) and I asked for details so we could do some CBT. At the end, it came down to a personality conflict that we probably can't do much about. (I don't care for the teacher either). So I told her I'd end up bribing him - points for every day he completes the school day, resulting in a Game Stop gift card if he goes a month without absence and trip to Six Flags if he makes it thru the rest of the year. The psychologist said "careful. He's bright. He'll see thru your tricks." To which I said "I know he's bright. I gave up trying to trick him a long time ago. Now I just lay out the facts and make him part of the solution, with a pay check tossed in sometimes to reward him for doing the right/necessary thing". He was very excited to hear the plan and went to school this morning with not one complaint of "not feeling well". So we both get something out of the deal.

 

It does suck that they can't enjoy the carefree, barefoot summers we all remember. But they can enjoy pools and beaches and time spent with friends and family and in that sense, their memories will be just as rich as ours.

 

Gosh, I'm feeling serene and philosophical this morning. Think I need a cup of coffee too!

[colleendonny]

Thanks so much for your replies. It definitely helps!

I know that I cannot keep my kids in a bubble this summer (although I wouldn't mind!!). I guess we will try to get lots of beach days in as well!

 

I will check out the Avon site today and order and stock up!

Laura, could you share the name/ brand of the bug repellant that you use?

 

Thanks again everyone!

[colleendonny]

PS, just found some of these products on Amazon for 1/2 the price

[colleendonny]

Okay, may have went a bit overboard, lol, but here is what I got!

3 bottles of Skin so Soft Bug Guard Plus IR3535 SPF 30 lotions

3 bottles of Skin so Soft Bug Guard Plus IR535 SPF sprays

and 2 packages of the toweletts

 

And I ordered from Amazon and spent $68 and free shipping.

 

Thanks again for the reccomendations!

[philamom]

I have them all. My husband prefers the pump, daughter the lotion, and at times when I'm in a hurry I like to use the spray outside. The towlettes are great for the car or purse, but so you know - they don't contain sunscreen (perfect for nightime activities).

[LNN]

Laura, could you share the name/ brand of the bug repellant that you use?

 

I use Naturapel. Used to be able to get it at Big Y grocery stores but had trouble finding it last summer. You can get it on Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=naturapel&x=0&y=0

 

But like all bug sprays, it only works if you put it on. My biggest problem is when the kids dash out the door when a friend comes calling and I don't get a chance to fumigate them before they vanish.

[laure]

Sorry to question this, but are you all quite sure about the beach being safe? Last time I was at Cape Cod I went for a run to meet my family at the beach, (albeit I was on the side of the road), and when I arrived there I picked 2 ticks off my socks. Can they not get to the sand?

Edited March 21, 2012 by laure

[LNN]

Ticks need hydration. That's why you should put any clothes that might be harboring ticks into the dryer on high heat. They shrink up like raisins. So a beach, which offers no shade and high heat, would be deadly for them. Now, sea oats and dune grasses might be a different story. But a white, sandy beach, I think, is fairly tick free.

[LNN]

Ticks need hydration. That's why you should put any clothes that might be harboring ticks into the dryer on high heat. They shrink up like raisins. So a beach, which offers no shade and high heat, would be deadly for them. Now, sea oats and dune grasses might be a different story. But a white, sandy beach, I think, is fairly tick free.