Family Magazine
Being a mother, my world revolves around my daughter. Her happiness and health is what keeps my mind occupied all the time. In this changing weather what troubles and bothers me most is the threat from mosquitoes to my little one.Mosquitoes can bring with them all sorts of illnesses like dengue, chikungunya and malaria.9 Natural ways by which you can protect your baby from mosquitoes:It is essential to save our little ones from mosquitoes by providing requisite protection.However the mosquito repellents available in the market are loaded with chemicals which are harmful for the delicate skin of our babies. This is why I personally avoid using these commercially available mosquito repellents. Instead I opt for the natural ways to keep those mosquitoes away from my princess.
Lets see how to repel mosquitoes and protect babies from mosquito bites.#1. Camphor:Using camphor as a mosquito repellent works wonders. This is my favorite and so far most effective way of keeping those mosquitoes away.Put some camphor in an oil diffuser and light the candle underneath. Close all the doors and windows. Leave it this way for about fifteen to twenty minutes and enjoy a mosquito free environment.You can also put some camphor in half cup of water if you don’t have an oil diffuser and keep in the room. Then just relax and let the camphor do its work.#2. Tulsi and Basil:Tulsi is extremely effective in killing mosquito larvae and helps keep mosquitoes away. The plant has properties that do not allow mosquitoes to breed and will prevent them from entering your house.According to Ayurveda simply planting a tulsi shrub near your window is all you need to keep mosquitoes away.You can also crush some tulsi or basil leaves in your palms and rub on the exposed part of the body to prevent mosquitoes from biting your little one.#3. Use wire mesh and net:Use wire mesh on your doors and windows to avoid mosquitoes entering your house. The mesh will allow you to enjoy the benefits of fresh air without any worry.Make use of nets for your baby’s cribs and prams. There are many brands online which specialize in making nets for cribs and prams.#4. Dress right:It is important to dress your baby in light colored clothes as dark colors attract mosquitoes. Also make sure that your baby is covered properly with the right clothing.Winter care essentials for babiesHow to take care of babies during winter?#5. Keep your home and surrounding clean:Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water.Keep water drums and buckets covered at all times. It takes 7 to 10 days for mosquito eggs to hatch. So, change water in containers once a week.Add a few drops of kerosene to open drains, small ponds and other places where stagnant water remains. The oil forms a thin film over the water. This stops mosquitoes from breeding.It is also important to keep the plants and bushes trimmed in your garden or windows to avoid mosquitoes.#6. Garlic: Garlic is a great way to keep mosquitoes at bay. Though it might smell bad, but that is exactly why mosquitoes stay away.The strong and pungent odor of garlic is known to prevent mosquito bites and even prevents them from entering your home.All you have to do is crush up a few pods of garlic, boil it in water and use the water to spray around the room you want to keep mosquito free.You can also spray it on your kids when outdoors to avoid being bitten.You can also choose to just crush and rub a little garlic juice on the exposed skin. Your kid is all ready to step outdoor.#7. Lemon and Clove:According to one of my friends, lemon and clove is very effective.All you have to do is slice a lime or lemon in half and press in good amount of cloves and keep aside for an all-natural and effective mosquito repellent.#8. Neem oil:Neem oil is considered to be a great mosquito repellent. Being a potent antibacterial, anti-fungal and antiviral, it lends your skin a particular smell that wards off mosquitoes.Simply mix neem oil and coconut oil in equal ratio 1:1 and rub it on your kids exposed parts. This will protect them from mosquito bites for at least eight hours.I apply this on my daughter’s skin when outdoors and it works like wonders Please note that this should be applied to only toddlers above 1 year of age.#9. Tea tree oil:Tea tree oil has a very strong smell and powerful antibacterial, antifungal agent just like neem. This is why it helps prevent mosquitoes from biting and drive them away.Just rub some tea tree oil on their skin (make sure to do a patch test first). Applicable only to toddlers above 10 months.You can also add a few drops of it to a vaporizer. This way the scent of tea tree oil permeates the air keeping mosquitoes at bay.These are the few ways through which I try and protect my daughter from those blood sucking mosquitoes.Hope you liked this article on how to protect babies from mosquitoes. Share with me in comments which are the natural mosquito repellent methods you use at home.Feel free to share this article in your Facebook and Twitter. Remember sharing is caring If you want to stay updated on many more articles like these, please subscribe to the newsletters of Bumps n Baby.