Bye bye bugs: The 10 best bug sprays for kids according to moms and experts

All natural bug sprays don’t have the best reputation for performance. Herbal Armor, on the other hand, is an exception. This kid-friendly bug spray features a non-irritating, DEET-free and herbal lemongrass scent that’s pleasant but not overpowering. It’s powered by soybean, citronella, peppermint, cedar, lemongrass and geranium, and despite its natural ingredients list, it does a pretty fantastic job of keeping mosquitos and other annoying bugs at bay. It’s not left any stains on clothes or other fabrics either! The formula itself has a thicker, milky consistency which makes it a little tough to spray sometimes, but the screw top makes it easy to just pour a bit into your hand and rub on.

From their chapped hand-saving Badger Balm to their convenient sunscreen sticks, we’re all around fans of the women-owned, solar-powered Badger brand. Their “anti-bug” spray is another favorite of both ours and Dr. Leah’s. Packaged in a sustainable aluminum spray bottle, it’s DEET-free and includes cold-pressed oils from citronella, rosemary and lemongrass. It’s suggested that it offers three hours of protection, but in our experience you might have to spritz a little more often for it to really do the trick.

With 20% Picaridin, this impressively powerful bug spray came highly recommended not only from Dr. Leah, but various experts and friends. It absolutely works like a charm whether you’re sitting in the backyard or hiking deep in the woods. Mosquitos, ticks, flies, chiggers, gnats, those little suckers don’t stand a chance–and it’s not even scented! And while it’s what’s inside that counts, I also have to shout out the slim little bottle which is so much easier to tote along than the big ‘ol cans of Deep Woods Off that it so handily replaces.

Murphy’s Naturals is another impressively effective all-natural option which is made with just three ingredients: oil of lemon eucalyptus, water, and corn-derived ethanol. The scent is strong, but less offensive since it smells more lemony than bug sprayish, though that said, bugs must absolutely despise it given how well it works. The DEET-free formula has effectively kept mosquitos, ticks and other irritating bugs at bay through some of our family’s buggiest hikes and backyard hangs. It comes in both a pump spray and an aerosol spray but we prefer the aerosol. The formula is the same, but the aerosol delivery is easier to apply to clothes and hats. Just make sure to not spray it on the face and keep your mouth closed when applying.

Similar to their OG pick above, we also have to shine a light on the super convenient Mosquito Repellent Balm Stick from Murphy’s Naturals. It’s made with a more complex blend of natural ingredients including castor, lemongrass, rosemary, cedarwood and peppermint oils which all help mask our scent so mosquitos can’t find us. It glides on nicely and isn’t greasy or sticky either. And while a stick-based formula won’t help clothing, you can’t beat the convenience. It’s also a fantastic alternative for kids who don’t like sprays!

As a self-proclaimed scent-snob, my biggest hang up with bug spray is that I generally can’t stand the way it smells. That’s honestly the reason I was most intrigued by Grand Tongo which markets itself as “a great-smelling, powerful, DEET-alternative mosquito spray”. Having tried it first-hand, I can attest to the fact it’s all three. Not only could their two scents (Green Tea + Mint and Citrus + Sandalwood) pass for body lotions I’d happily apply, they also fade relatively quickly. More importantly, they handily keep the awful mosquitos in our backyard from forcing us to retreat inside. The Picaridin-powered spray is lightweight and not sticky and guards against ticks as well. The only thing I’ll note is that the 12-hour window seems a bit of a stretch. Re-application after a few hours is the best way we’ve found to ensure the bugs really leave you alone.

For exposed skin, we’re super impressed with the kid-friendly Trek for Kids from Lemongrass Farms. The spray lotion leaves behind a silky, moisturizing feel that rivals actual moisturizers and delivers a powerful lemongrass scent that smells super fresh and energizing–not like your typical bug spray at all! It did a great job of keeping the June mosquitos at bay on a recent moonrise picnic though it did require an additional application halfway through. (As someone who actually can’t stand the smell of traditional bug spray, this is a welcome trade off. I’m actually now completely devoted to this stuff. It’s more like skincare than bug spray!) The only thing to keep in mind is that it’s not designed to use on clothing.

OFF! is practically synonymous with bug spray, so it’s probably no surprise to find one of their formulas on our list. But unlike the kind you probably doused yourself in as a kid, this Clean Feel formula has a few major improvements. For one thing, it’s powered by 20% picaridin and does an impressive job deterring all the biting and harassing bugs summer has to offer. I also love that it’s fragrance-free and not at all sticky or greasy. (I’m possibly more whiny about being sticky and stinky than my children.) Thanks to a thin aerosol mist, it offers complete coverage in just a few sprays. Our family has used it while camping in the woods of Vermont and it was the difference between being driven mad and actually enjoying ourselves.

Squirmy babies and bug spray aren’t exactly a match made in heaven. So why not apply it in the most baby-friendly way possible? The brilliant plant-based wipes from Babyganics are made with a blend of plant and essential oils including citronella, peppermint, rosemary, lemongrass and geranium and free of the bad stuff like parabens, sulfates, phthalates, synthetic fragrances or dyes. And not only is the application smart, they’re so easy to stick in your diaper bag or purse!

I recently brought this along on a family trip to the drive-in and could not believe how effective it is. It’s like a cloak of invisibility against the swarms of mosquitos that generally feast on us while we feast on popcorn. The aerosol application doesn’t stain or mark fabrics and while there’s a faint scent at first spray, it doesn’t leave any on your skin, and it’s not sticky in the least. It’s actually hard to believe it’s DEET-free!