According to the EPA and CDC, DEET is safe for children and adults, as long as you follow all the instructions on the product label.

In addition, the American Academy of Pediatrics says insect repellents containing 10% to 30% of DEET are safe when used according to the directions. They also suggest it is okay to use repellents with low concentrations of DEET on infants older than two months.

The same precautions you use for DEET should also be applied to products with more "natural" ingredients, especially when it comes to reading labels for warnings. For example, according to the label, oil of lemon eucalyptus products should not be used on children under the age of three. And, natural products are not always safe because some of the oils used can be toxic and irritating in high concentrations.
Millet - (187 Days to go-)

I recently purchased some Deet that if I remember correctly was 90+%. I remember reading the label briefly andrecall that I thought there were a lot of rules for using it. Maybe what you printed is why.

Personally I don't use anything and I bought this for the wife. When mosquitos bite me it damages their probiscus cause I'm so tough! LOL The only repellant I need is to stand near someone else. I guess I don't taste good thankfully.

DID YOU KNOW:

>> Only female mosquitoes bite because they feed on blood to help their eggs develop.

>> Repellents don't protect everyone equally. The effectiveness depends on the type of mosquito, as well as the person's age, gender, level of activity and scent.

>> You're most likely to get bitten at dawn or dusk, when mosquitoes are most active.

>> Mosquitoes are more likely to bite men, people with type O blood or those who are overweight.

>> Mosquitoes are attracted to heat, so wearing dark-colored clothing that increases your body temperature also increases your chance of being bitten.

Our county sprays but I'm not sure what they spray. I may try to find out. I'm sure you remember from your younger days how the sprayer was truely a fogger and would create immense clouds of insecticide that kids (including me) would ride our bikes through. It's a wonder that we all are not brain dead or run over by cars in the cloud.

Ten Mosquito protection myths:

1. MYTH >>
Eating garlic, onions and other food repels mosquitoes.

This myth is pure fiction. While garlic, onions and other potent-smelling foods may keep your friends away, they won't have any effect on mosquitoes.

2. MYTH >>
Lemon dish soap or Listerine mouthwash will kill mosquitoes.

This hoax has, unfortunately, led to many an unsuspecting person being bitten. The idea is to leave small containers of soapy water or mouthwash around the yard to attract and kill mosquitoes. And the trick does work — if the bug happens to land in the liquid. But just having the dishes outside does nothing to attract or kill the mosquitoes.

3. MYTH >>
Meat tenderizer soothes an itchy bite.

This is actually true. According to the Mayo Clinic, mixing 1 teaspoon of water with 1 teaspoon of dry meat tenderizer creates a paste that, when applied to the bite, helps calm the itching. You can even apply it several times a day as needed.

4. MYTH >>
Bug zappers help to reduce the amount of mosquitoes in an area.

The bug zapper myth falls just short of being true. While zappers do kill a large number of insects, most of them are moths and beetles; only 7% are mosquitoes. It's also been shown that yards with zappers have just as many mosquitoes as yards without them.

5. MYTH >>
You get the best protection by using a product that combines a repellent with sunscreen.

Unfortunately, this too is false. These products are actually some of the weakest forms of protection out there; when the two are combined together, it reduces the effectiveness of both. Plus, sunscreen is meant to be applied frequently, while repellents should be used sparingly. For best results, apply a generous amount of sunscreen, then add a layer of repellent on top.

6. MYTH >>
Taking vitamin B makes you less attractive to mosquitoes.

The jury is still out on this myth. Some evidence shows taking 75 to 150 milligrams of vitamin B a day can change your scent and make you less attractive to mosquitoes, which reduces your risk of being bitten. However, the vitamin B myth has never been definitively proven.

7. MYTH >>
Citrosa plants and citronella oil keep mosquitoes away.

Citrosa plants, geraniums that have citronella oil added to them, are often called "mosquito plants." But don't be fooled by the nickname. The plants don't emit a strong enough odor to keep the bugs away. To be effective, you would have to crush the leaves and rub the oil onto your skin — and even then, studies show it would only protect you for less than 20 minutes.

8. MYTH >>
Special electronic devices repel mosquitoes.

You should save your money for something else. Studies have yet to prove electronic devices that emit high-frequency sounds have any effect on mosquitoes.

9. MYTH >>
Mosquitoes can't bite through clothing.

Unfortunately, clothing alone won't protect you from mosquito bites. It will only slow the bugs down because it makes it more difficult for them to bite you. Experts suggest spraying bug repellent over your clothes to be truly effective (be sure to read the repellent label to see if it is okay to use on clothing).

10. MYTH >>
Dryer sheets can keep you from being bitten.

While dryer sheets are good at making your clothes soft, they are bad at repelling mosquitoes. In fact, many household products, like banana peels and Vicks VapoRub, which are rumored to protect against mosquitoes, have yet to be proven as effective as DEET.