6 Natural Home Remedies For Soothing Bug Bites

Keeping your curious toddler safe is easier said than done. One minute they are sitting perfectly still next to you, and the next they are running around in a park filled with mosquitoes; or getting stung by a bee when they investigate a flower. Parents can try to control their kids, but at the end of the day, they can’t keep children away from everything. Especially if the thing in question is bugs. Bugs are everywhere and there really is no avoiding them. But if your little one does succumb to an annoying and rather painful bug bite, there’s still no need to panic. There’s also no need to drag your baby to the emergency room every single time. All you have to do is raid a couple of ingredients in your kitchen to do the trick. If you want a few quick and effective home remedies to soothe a bug bite, then this article is for you. These kid friendly products will have your child looking happy and healthy in no time. Read on to know more!

1. Ice

We’re sure your own parents have used ice on you for many reasons throughout your childhood years, and there’s a very good reason why. Applying ice to a particular spot on your body will help constrict the blood vessels and minimize the spread of histamine which is what triggers an allergic reaction. So if you see your child scratching their skin because of a bug bite or going “ouch”, all you need to do is apply an ice bag or place a couple of ice cubes on a napkin and trace it over the allergic area for about 15 minutes or until the ice fully melts. This will help their skin calm down and will lessen the spread of the allergic reaction.

2. Green Tea

This criminally underrated drink is tasty and has anti-inflammatory properties which will help the bite shrink faster. And the best part is that your picky child doesn’t need to consume it in order to avail this benefit. All you need to do is stick a store bought green tea bag into the fridge. Then take them out as and when you need them or when they are cool and place them directly on the bite. Keep here for 10 minutes and see the bite shrink before your eyes!

3. Vinegar

This is a handy everyday ingredient to have on hand if you are going to the beach or going on an exotic vacation with your little one. This is because the acidity from vinegar does a great job of neutralizing the venom from bees and jellyfish. It can calm the stinging feeling in no time. All you need to do is dilute some white or apple cider vinegar with the same amount of water and gently apply it to the affected area using a cotton ball or pad. Let your skin soak in the vinegar solution and the stinging sensation will start to fade away.

4. Basil Leaves

Don’t have any ice in the fridge but got some basil leaves? That’s okay, they will work just fine! Basil leaves are packed with menthol and camphor compounds. And so, it is known to create a cooling sensation that can aid in eliminating the itchy feeling that comes with a sting or bug bite. All you need to do is take a couple of basil leaves and crush them into a paste. Then apply this paste directly onto the bite and cover with a bandage. This will help your baby’s skin calm down and keep them from scratching the bite and aggravating it.

5. Milk

Who doesn’t have milk in their fridge? This staple can be used for many things and one of them is to reduce redness and swelling on the skin. The protein in milk has anti-inflammatory properties. All you need to do is dab some onto the bug bite with a cotton ball and your skin will be looking good in no time!

6. Lavender Oil

This calming oil isn’t just soothing to the senses, it also makes for a great mosquito repellent. That’s because lavender oil has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. Not to mention that unlike every other mosquito repellent it smells wonderful. To use lavender oil you must first dilute it with another carrier oil like coconut or olive oil. You can sprinkle a few of these drops on your clothes or bed sheets to keep mosquitoes at bay or even add it directly onto your skin to soothe it.

Keeping your child safe from bug bites might be impossible but helping them feel better instantly with some natural remedies isn’t. We’re sure you have one of these ingredients on hand to help your child whenever a bug decides to attack them!

Sources

1. The Antibacterial Activity of Lavender Essential Oil Alone and In Combination with Octenidine Dihydrochloride against MRSA Strains, NCBI
2. Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Ocimum basilicum L. (sweet basil) from Western Ghats of North West Karnataka, India, NCBI
3. Vinegar: Medicinal Uses and Antiglycemic Effect, NCBI
4. The role of histamine in allergic diseases, NCBI

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