Whenever I make travel plans that involve taking my daughter anywhere, I always press the hotel, friends, and people on WeChat about whether there are mosquitos. I know I sound like a crazy person for being so overly obsessed with mosquitos, but man, my little girl still has scars from mosquito bites from almost two years ago! We’re not talking one or two – she’s got at least ten of them on her legs. My little girl is a magnet for these pesky bugs.
Any mosquito repellent you’ve seen on the market, I’ve tried.
Here are my personal reviews of the most popular options out there based on whether they work for toddlers and where to buy them online.
The Stickers
I do love the stickers, although I highly doubt they last the 12 hours that the ad promises. The smell tends to fade relatively fast. But on the plus side, they’re so easy to carry around that you can slap new ones on your kid throughout the day. The only downside to these is that you tend to forget about them and they end up in the washing machine. Not a major problem, but also kind of annoying.
Effectiveness: 3/5
Would recommend: Yes
The Rubber Bands
These are so cute and were recommended to me by multiple people. They give off a faint sent and are supposed to keep mosquitos away. You can wear them as bracelets, anklets, hair bands, or hang them on your backpack, but most wear them as bracelets. I think they’re pretty effective, but would recommend them for older kids. My daughter is 2.7 years old and is a little ball of energy who likes to test limits. When she wears these rubber bands they get taken off, tossed, and (worst) chewed on.
Effectiveness: 3/5
Would recommend: Not for toddlers
Bug Spray
These are effective but also highly toxic, especially when you’re spraying them in a closed-off environment. I recommend spraying them down your drains since mosquitoes can travel through pipes, but I wouldn’t recommend spraying this stuff anywhere your kid sleeps and definitely not directly on them.
Effectiveness: 4/5
Would recommend: Yes
Electric Zappers
Definitely get one of these if you’re hanging out outdoors at night. During the day they don’t do much good. Ours has been sitting on a shelf, untouched for nearly a year now…
Effectiveness: 2/5
Would recommend: No
Blue Light Traps
If you’ve got the space, one of these outside your door does wonders. These are the things that hotels usually use to keep mosquitos out of guest rooms. They don’t give off any scent and won’t buzz when a bug gets zapped. They’re silent bug killers that come in various designs.
However, the smaller ones that are usually sold for homes tend to be ones that have a fan that’s supposed to suck in any bug in its vicinity. They get a bit loud and that isn’t great if you’re a light sleeper.
Effectiveness: 4/5
Would recommend: Yes
The Sponge Container
I don’t know what else to call this thing, but it’s a little container of mosquito repellent and a sponge. I definitely recommend it when you’re traveling. The scent is pretty intense, especially considering how small the container is.
I usually put one open container by the door and a few around the bed.
Effectiveness: 4/5
Would recommend: Yes
The Sprays
There are so many brands that sell them, but the most popular here is the green hualushui that can be found at supermarkets and Watsons. I don’t find it particularly effective since my daughter and I have both gotten tons of mosquito bites even when we used it, but it does make a bit of a difference when you use it as a scent defuser.
Effectiveness: 2/5
Would recommend: No
The Plug-In Diffuser
These are great for indoors, but the radius that it covers isn’t as wide as they advertise. The scent isn’t overpowering, which can be nice, but at the same time, doesn’t that mean it’s not really working?
Effectiveness: 3/5
Would recommend: No
The Mosquito Coil Incense
These old-school ones work, but they’re a fire hazard and aren’t great for your lungs. I would say keep this as the absolute last resort.
Effectiveness: 4/5
Would recommend: No
Mosquito Nets
This isn’t the prettiest, but it’s the most effective way to keep your kid from getting bitten at night. A good old-fashioned mosquito net around their bed keeps them safe from the pesky bugs.
They also sell ones that pop up like a tent for larger beds, but be sure to opt for one that’s sturdy. Otherwise, you’ll end up rolling around in a mesh ball at night.
Effectiveness: 5/5
Would recommend: Yes
Images: Taobao, Mina Yan, Pexels
