Reston’s warm weather means more than opportunities to venture outside, it also signifies the first signs of mosquito season. These little buggers are more than an annoyance. Mosquito bites can be exasperatingly itchy, and those bugs spread diseases, too — from West Nile virus to dengue fever. In this blog post, See details on how to prevent mosquito bites on children and pets. So what’s the best way to keep your loved ones safe and healthy?
On Knowing The Dangers: Why Mosquito Shield is Important
The wooded neighborhoods surrounding the Reston Trails and Lake Fairfax Park combined with Reston’s summers make it especially conducive to mosquito breeding. Any standing water around the home in ponds, fountains, birdbaths or simply a puddle in a flower pot are potential breeding habitats. Most mosquito bites are harmless, but some can cause discomfort, sleepless nights and secondary infections from scratching. At times, mosquitoes can carry diseases, which tend to become more widespread during the warmer months when the number of mosquitoes is at its highest.
Safe Repellents for Kids: What to Avoid
Safety first above all else when it comes to picking out mosquito repellents for kids. Plugs and wipes with DEET: Many over-the-counter products contain the chemical compound DEET, which works but should only be applied in low concentrations (10–30%) to children older than two months. And yet some parents are looking for something that doesn’t come with synthetic chemicals.
Here are a few safer options:
- Picaridin: A scentless repellent that offers comparable protection to DEET, but without the greasy feel. Safe for children with more than two months.
- Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE): A plant-based repellent that works quite well, but one not recommended for those under 3 years of age.
- IR3535: Contained in some mild repellents and okay for children.
- Natural essential-oil blends (such as citronella, lavender or peppermint): These may be effective in the short-term, low-exposure situation such as a walk in the evening. But they often need several applications, and work less well in high mosquito areas.
Always put repellents on your hands first, and then rub on a child’s exposed skin. Do not aim it directly at the face, or cuts, irritated skin. Do not rely on products that combine repellent with sunscreen, because you may need to reapply the repellent more frequently than the sunscreen.
Protecting Pets Naturally by Keeping Mosquitoes Away
Dogs and cats are also at risk, and in dogs, heartworm disease (passed via infected mosquitoes) is the top concern. Prevention is key, and you can do this by ensuring your pet is taking veterinarian-approved heartworm prevention medication, which is generally administered monthly.
Outside of that, you can implement your own pet-friendly mosquito prevention measures:
Walk your dog later in the morning and later in the evening when mosquitoes are less active.
Consider administering pet-friendly mosquito repellents that come in a spray or as spot-on treatments. Never treat your pets with repellents for humans, including DEET, which can harm them.
Plant mosquito-repelling plants, such as basil, rosemary or marigolds, in your yard or on your patio. These are not harmful to pets and might provide you some mild deterrent.
It also helps to reduce the risk for everyone, by eliminating mosquitoes from your yard. Empty and wipe the insides of containers with standing water once a week, clean birdbaths and ensure that there’s ample drainage near your yard.
Final Words: Striking the Balance Between Safety and Effective
Keeping children and pets safe from mosquitoes in Reston doesn’t require harsh chemicals or keeping everyone indoors during the summer months. By choosing the right safe repellents, with augmented with smart timing, natural pest deterrents and some good lawn care, you can have a verdant, mosquito-free season at the same time you’re keeping health and safety front and center.
If you don’t know where to begin, or if you’ve found activity that is high, find a local pest professional who can supply safe treatments for your children and animals. The key to making sure your home is a safe cocoon for the entire family is getting on it early.
