Ticks and Kids: Safe Repellents and Daily Tick Checks

Quick answer

Dress kids in long sleeves and pants tucked into socks, put permethrin on clothing (not skin), and apply an EPA-registered repellent for them, keeping it off their hands. Don’t use oil of lemon eucalyptus or PMD under age 3. After outdoor play, bathe them and check the hair, ears, armpits, waist, groin and behind the knees.

What the guidelines say

CDC: Do not use products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or para-menthane-diol (PMD) on children under 3. Check your child’s body for ticks after time outdoors, including the backyard.
EPA: Adults should apply repellent; don’t let children handle it, and don’t put it on their hands. EPA places no age limit on DEET.
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP): Use only enough repellent to cover exposed skin and clothing, choose the lowest concentration that covers the time your child will be outside, and wash it off when they come in. Permethrin goes on clothing and gear, not skin.

Insect repellent for kids: the rules

Parents often worry most about repellents. The good news is that the main U.S. agencies agree on the basics. Here is what each one says, side by side.

Product	What the sources say about children
DEET	EPA: approved for children with no age restriction and no percentage limit. AAP: a child’s skin may differ from an adult’s until about age 2, so parents of newborns and premature babies should be especially cautious; pick the lowest concentration that covers your time outdoors.
Picaridin, IR3535, 2-undecanone	CDC Yellow Book: no age restriction for children.
Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) and PMD	CDC and AAP: do not use on children under 3. EPA notes that some OLE-only products are labeled differently, so always read the label. If you are unsure, choose a different ingredient for young children.
Permethrin	AAP: for clothing and gear, never skin. AAP calls it the most effective product for ticks.
Sunscreen-repellent combos	AAP: avoid them. Sunscreen needs frequent reapplication, which could mean too much repellent.

How to apply repellent to a child

Choose a stick, lotion or non-aerosol spray (AAP).
Put it on your own hands first, then rub it on your child’s exposed skin (EPA, CDC Yellow Book).
Skip their hands, since kids put hands in mouths and eyes. Keep it away from eyes and mouth, and use it sparingly around ears.
Never apply it under clothing or on cuts, wounds or irritated skin.
Use just enough to cover. More does not work better (AAP).
Spray in an open area, not indoors, so no one breathes it in.
Wash it off with soap and water when your child comes inside, and wash treated clothes before they are worn again.

Store repellents out of children’s reach. For questions about a product, EPA points families to their health care provider or the National Pesticide Information Center at 1-800-858-7378.

Babies

For infants, the CDC Yellow Book recommends clothing that covers arms and legs, plus mosquito netting over strollers and baby carriers. AAP gives the same netting tip. Talk with your pediatrician before using repellent on a newborn.

Clothing that helps

Closed shoes or boots, long sleeves and long pants.
Pant legs tucked into socks or shoes.
Long hair pulled back, or a hat.
Light colors, which make ticks easier to spot.
Permethrin-treated clothes for camp or hiking days (treat ahead and let them dry, or buy pre-treated).

The daily tick check

A quick check after outdoor play is one of the most useful habits you can build. Make it part of bath time, which also rinses off ticks that haven’t attached. CDC says showering within two hours of coming indoors has been shown to lower Lyme disease risk.

Top half

Scalp and hairline: part the hair and look closely
In and behind the ears
Under the arms
Inside the belly button
Around the waist and waistband

Bottom half

Groin and between the legs
Behind the knees
Sock lines and ankles

Also check backpacks, jackets, sleeping bags and the family dog, because ticks can hitch a ride indoors on gear and pets (CDC). Toss outdoor clothes in the dryer on high heat for 10 minutes to kill any ticks on dry clothing.

Blacklegged ticks can be very small before they feed, so use good light. Older kids can learn to check themselves, with a parent helping with the scalp and back.

After a tick bite

If you find a tick attached to your child, remove it right away with fine-tipped tweezers, pulling straight up with steady pressure (CDC). Don’t use petroleum jelly, heat or nail polish. Then watch for a rash or fever over the next several weeks. If either appears, call your child’s doctor and say when and where the bite happened. Full steps: what to do after a tick bite. What symptoms look like in kids: Lyme disease in children.

Camps, school and outdoor time

Kids spend a lot of time outside without a parent nearby. A few questions and supplies help:

Ask the camp whether counselors do or remind kids to do tick checks, how they handle a tick found on a camper, and whether they will apply repellent you send.
Pack smart: permethrin-treated clothes, a labeled repellent your child is allowed to use, and a note on whether you want to be called if a tick is found.
Teach self-checks to school-age kids before overnight camp, especially behind the ears, the hairline and the waistband.
School field trips and recess near fields or woods: an evening check is a simple habit for those days.
Write down bites: note the date and place any tick was found so you can tell the doctor if symptoms show up later.

If your child is already dealing with Lyme disease, our guide to Lyme disease and school covers accommodations and talking with teachers.

Talking to kids about ticks without scaring them

Children take their cue from us. A calm, matter-of-fact tone works better than warnings about disease.

Make it routine, like brushing teeth: “We always do a tick check after the park.”
Use simple facts. Ticks are tiny bugs that live in tall grass and leaves. They can’t jump or fly, so staying on the path helps.
Give them a job. Let younger kids be “tick detectives” with a flashlight on a stuffed animal or on a parent’s arm.
Praise, don’t panic, if they find one. Remove it calmly and explain that finding it early is exactly the goal.
Keep outdoor time. The point is to make outdoor play safer, not to keep kids inside.

What patients tell us

We are collecting real experiences about protecting children from ticks from people who have lived it, shared with their permission. As stories come in, they will appear here, clearly marked as personal experience rather than medical advice.

Share your experience

Frequently asked questions

Is DEET safe for kids?

EPA approves DEET for children with no age restriction, based on its safety review. AAP advises using the lowest concentration that covers your time outdoors, applying only to exposed skin, and taking extra care with newborns and premature babies.

What insect repellent can I use on a toddler?

For children under 3, CDC says not to use oil of lemon eucalyptus or PMD. Products with DEET, picaridin, IR3535 or 2-undecanone have no age restriction, according to the CDC Yellow Book. Always follow the label.

Where should I check my child for ticks?

In and around the hair and ears, under the arms, inside the belly button, around the waist, between the legs, behind the knees, and along sock lines.

Should I bathe my child after playing outside?

Yes. CDC says showering within two hours of coming indoors has been shown to lower Lyme disease risk, and EPA and AAP say to wash off repellent when kids come inside.

My child had a tick. Do they need to see a doctor?

Remove the tick promptly, then watch for a rash or fever over the following weeks. Call your child’s doctor if symptoms appear, or if you have questions about the bite.

Keeping Kids Safe From Ticks