DEET is safe for kids at the right concentration

DEET-based repellents are safe for children when you stick to the recommended concentrations and apply them properly. The CDC and AAP both greenlight DEET for kids older than 2 months, which is pretty widely accepted now.

For actual numbers: 10% to 30% DEET is the sweet spot for children. 10% gives you about 2 hours of protection, 30% gives you about 5–6 hours. You don’t need anything stronger than that — above 30% doesn’t really last longer, it just feels greasier and riskier. And honestly, for a normal evening outside, 10-15% is plenty. Save the 30% for heavy woods or extended trips.

The big rules: spray it on your hands first and then apply to their face — never directly on their face. Avoid eyes and mouth. Don’t put it on their hands (they put hands in mouths). Wash it off with soap and water when they come inside. And don’t buy the combo sunscreen+DEET products — sunscreen needs reapplication every couple hours, but you don’t want to keep reapplying DEET. Just use separate products.

The old worries about DEET causing seizures or brain damage came from extreme cases where people basically drank the stuff. For normal topical use, the safety record over decades is excellent. The real danger is not using repellent and getting a serious mosquito-borne illness.

Just don’t let them drink it, and you’re golden.