Baby sun protection & keeping mosquitoes at bay...

[Knomester]

Now that we have our summer hols booked I'm starting to get planning for what we need to take with us. Baby Knomester will be about 9 months old when we go away and, although we're not staying in a mosquito hotspot, I alwaysget bitten badly and am worried Baby Knomester may attract them in the same way.

I just wondered if anyone has any advice for me on what the best products / devices are to keep the mossies away? I've seen little things like this love bug mosquito reppeller and these patches but no idea if they're any good? What about sprays, nets, etc?

I'd also be grateful for any advice on which high factor suncream to go for - Baby Knomester is pale skinned like me so a good factor 50+ is in order!

Thanks ever so much

[zeban]

This brand is good, can be used on babies and is natural.

http://www.lessmosquito.com/

You can buy it online or in retailers. They sell it in Whole Foods and I should be going to High Street Kensington tomorrow so let me know if you wanted me to grab you one.

Zeban

[ClareC]

Boots have a good range of sun creams specifically for babies, usual one's are not recommended for babies. I think ours was made by Simple, worked really well but did stain clothes which made application once dressed more difficult than it needed to be.

The all in one UV suits and a wide rimmed sun hat are great.

[mammamia]

Oh good timing on this thread! Have been mentally compiling lists for days of what we need to bring with us on holiday abroad for our 8 month old in a few weeks time... Kitchen sink about only thing (along with mossy spray - thanks!) currently not on the list

Lotion or spray (or both?!) best for Baby sun cream?

Do you bring your own car seat or hire one at destination?

And buggy wise are we mad to bring our bugaboo chameleon? Should we be bringing a maclaren or equivalent lightweight better folding

solution?!

Aside from the list making and minor concern that I will most definitely have to sacrifice my usual holiday wardrobe, can't wait to get away!

Happy holidays knomester

[The Nappy Lady]

Would second the UV all in one suits, they are really brilliant. We use all day & only let little one be in the sun without it at the start or end of the day for a brief period, with cream on of course.

I like the Australian brand suncream the sell in Lloyds on Northcross Rd, White bottle with pink or orange label on. I got a big, pump action top bottle of F50 last year, really easy to apply, water resistant (coped with 6 year old in & out of pool 8-12 hours a day for 3 weeks & didn't upset her sensitive skin either, which many better known childrens brands do.

Some of the creams are really thick & hard work to apply too.

[sunbob]

Jungle formula's family version is very effective against mosquitos and really gentle We used it when daughter was one in extremely mosi ridden location It was also really hot and the combo of that plus sensitive fact 30 didn't produce any reactions

[BB100]

As someone who always gets bitten, even when everyone else doesn't, I have become rather OCD on keeping mozzies away. I haven't had one bite for 5 years now so it seems to be working but you need more than just some spray. Here goes........

1. Don't apply any fragranced product including baby oils, creams, unless they are fragrance-free.

2. Wash with non-scented soap.

3. Use after-sun with a mosi-repellant included. http://www.babyworld.co.uk/features/summertime/summerbuys_must.asp.

4. When you go out at dusk cover the legs and arms (trousers & long sleeves). And spray on a repellant, especially around the ankles. For adults the best ones are the ones with the most DEET. http://www.which.co.uk/home-and-garden/archive/reviews-ns/insect-repellents/insect-repellents-compared/. You can also wear mozzie bands http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mosiband-Insect-Repellent-Wrist-Ankle/dp/B000YH3S94/ref=pd_sim_kh_6 - although few products are for babies.

5. Put a dab of tea-tree oil on the clothes. They hate that.

6. When you arrive at your destination head for the shops and buy a large can of insect killer. (Buy abroad as it is stronger stuff). Then when you leave the apartment in the evening for dinner (so you don't have to inhale the fumes) do a good spray - especially around the lights and behind any curtains/blinds.

7. Also buy electronic plug-ins (usually cheaper abroad) which confuse the mozzies from finding you.

8. When you go to sleep have the windows closed and leave the bathroom light on so the mozzies head for the light and not for you. Spray the light in the morning with insect killer.

9. Booking somewhere with air-conditioning reduces the mozzies.

10. My consultant dermatologist recommends Boots Soltan range of suncreams becuase it has one of the highest UVA protections on the market.

Have a happy holiday.

[ludoscotts]

hi I can second the boots soltan suncreams, im very fair skinned and burn easily but normally get prickly heat on hol too, used boots soltan last year and no burning and no prickly heat-brilliant. We bought the kids version for our then 2 year old and she was fine all hol no burning and she spent most of the hol in and out of the pool or sea so very impressed with it.

When she was very small we used a mosi band from mothercare on her buggy handle and aloe first spray. Can highly recommend getting a bottle of aloe first spray, its completely natural ingredients, works as a mosi repellant, cools and sooths burn, cools you down when too hot, and calms things like prickly heat, nettle stings etc. it comes in a huge bottle so we keep a bottle of it on the kitchen window sill and when we go away we decant some of it into little travel spray bottles.

if you do order some aloe first order some aloe jelly too as its also fab. its pure aloe vera in a gel, its great on nappy rash and to put on burns etc, also one application normally clears up a break out of eczema.

and lastly I always keep a stick of the aloe lip balm in my bag. The best lip balm ive ever used and again because its pure aloe vera it means that if you are out and about and get a cut or bite you can put this on there and it soothes and protects so first aid in a stick fab.

link to website below

link for lip balm

link to aloe first

spray

link to aloe jelly

and in reply to mammamia we personally hired a carseat at the other end, we were told that if you want to use carseat on flight you have to buy a seat for the baby. other wise because of size of them they have to be checked in and when you see the way they throw the luggage around I wouldnt like to risk how bumped and bashed around it would be by the time it arrived.

same really for your pram, we have took a smaller umbrella style buggy when we went away and was so glad when I saw them literally throwing the buggies on to the plane.

Would seriously take a sling with you too in your hand luggage. You are allowed to take buggies up to plane door when you get on the plane but 9 times out of 10 you wont get it back until the luggage carousel with your suitcase. so could be a long time of holding your little one before you get the buggy plus juggling baby, hand luggage passport controletc with them in your arms is tiring!

can also recommend buying a popup sun shade from jojomaman bebe. will put link below. They are brilliant, its an oval sunshade that folds down to a side plate size so really compact to slip in your change bag. it has little bulldog clips on it which means it can clip on to any buggy, or car seat of high chair etc making it very versitile. going to go out and get another one for this summer for our new arrival due this fri! as ours is past its best after 3 years of being constantly used.

link to sunshade

have a fab holiday

[BB100]

Oh and make sure you take more than enough sun cream because it is now very expensive to get named brands abroad.