Insect Bites

How do you treat your toddlers’ itchy bug bites?

Our Mommy MD Guide’s reply: One annoyance of playing outside is the prevalence of insects. I don’t use combination sunscreen/insect repellants. You have to reapply sunscreen every few hours, but you don’t want to keep spraying your kids with insect repellant.

I use Cutter Advanced Insect Repellant, which contains picaridin, a more child-friendly chemical. You can buy Cutter online and in many drugstores for around $5 for six ounces.

When my toddlers get bug bites, I apply a topical, over-the-counter, steroid cream such as cortisone, and that usually reduces inflammation and itch.

—Amy J. Derick, MD, a mom of three-year-old and 19-month old sons who’s expecting another baby and a dermatologist in private practice at Derick Dermatology, in Barrington, IL