Insect repellent with DEET is unsafe for children

What the research found

A 2019 review looked at the controversy over DEET and found lethal poisonings are few, and usually follow deliberate or accidental overdoses that ignore the label. The main side effects are skin reactions. Even when seizures occurred, they often passed without lasting harm.

A randomised trial from 2001 followed 897 pregnant women who used DEET daily in the second and third trimesters. It found no harmful effects on survival, growth or development at birth or at one year. DEET did cross the placenta, but was found in only a small share of cord blood samples tested. This trial was in pregnancy, not in children.

Child health guidance in Australia and the US agrees. DEET has been used safely around the world for many decades. Insect repellents with up to 30 per cent DEET are safe for babies over two months old. Reports of side effects are rare, and DEET poses no health risk if used appropriately.

What it doesn’t mean

• This depends on correct use. Concentrations above 30 per cent may be dangerous for children. Use the lowest concentration that works, and apply only a thin layer to exposed skin.
• Avoid cuts, irritated skin, eyes, mouth and young children's hands. Wash it off when you come indoors. Skip combined sunscreen and repellent products, and put sunscreen on first.
• The guidance covers babies over two months old. Talk to a GP or child health nurse about younger babies, or if your child gets a rash or seems unwell after using repellent. Picaridin is another option.