Summer provides families the opportunity to get moving outdoors. However, bug bites can quickly take the fun out of an outdoor activity. To safely protect your children from bug bites this summer, use these tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics:

• Don't use scented soaps, perfumes or hair sprays on your child.
• Avoid areas where insects nest or congregate, such as stagnant pools of water, uncovered foods, and gardens where flowers are in bloom.
• Avoid dressing your child in clothing with bright colors or flowery prints.
• To remove a visible stinger from skin, gently scrape it off horizontally with a credit card or your fingernail.
• Combination sunscreen/insect repellent products should be avoided because sunscreen needs to be reapplied every two hours, but the insect repellent should not be reapplied.
• Insect repellents containing DEET are most effective against ticks and mosquitoes, and can prevent Lyme disease.
• Check the percentage of DEET in your insect repellant. The concentration of DEET in products may range from less than 10 percent to over 30 percent. The maximum concentration currently recommended for infants and children is 30 percent. DEET should not be used on children under two months of age.

For more information on DEET visit http://www.aapnews.org/cgi/content/full/e200399v1.

Source: American Academy of Pediatrics.