To some, mosquitoes are nothing more than a pesky nuisance, often putting a major damper on summer fun. For parents, however, the tiny bloodsuckers are an absolute nightmare.
From the boo-boos and uncontrollable sobs to the constant reminder not to scratch, when it comes to our vulnerable kiddos, mosquitos are the worst. Not only do they bother our children, but the creepy fliers often leave behind red welts that are so itchy, they can reduce even the toughest kid on the playground to tears.
Masters at turning on the waterworks, mosquito bites are annoying at best and, at worst, can lead to life-threatening illnesses like malaria and dengue fever. In other words, keeping the winged beasts far, far away from our young ones is of the utmost importance.
Not sure how?
Don’t worry — The Natural Patch Co. is here to help!
In this post, we’ll tell you how to keep the hungry skeeters away from your little ones to prevent itchy ouchies and, most importantly, unhappy kiddos. But first, why are mosquito bites so itchy anyway? And is there a way to fix the itch?
You’ve got questions, and we’ve got answers. Read on to discover more:
What Actually Happens When a Mosquito Bites?
Before we explore the best way to prevent mosquitoes from biting your tiny tyke and how to kick a case of the itchies to the curb, it’s helpful to understand why the icky insects bite in the first place and what happens when they do.
SO, why do mosquitoes bite? Simple — because they need our nutrient-rich blood to nourish their itty-bitty bodies so that they can lay eggs (aka, make more mosquitoes).
While Mother Nature’s most annoying pest does enjoy a nice refreshing drink of sweet plant nectar from time to time, it’s our blood that they’re really after. But, not all skeeters: only the females.
Unlike males who don’t bite and are relatively harmless, female mosquitoes have a special mouthpart used to pierce the skin and suck blood needed to create eggs. Without a blood-rich diet, the life cycle for mosquitoes would end.
Got It — So, What Happens When a Female Lands?
A hungry skeeter will track your child by following the trail of carbon dioxide your kid breathes out. When a mosquito gets close, they are also drawn to other specific smells.
These oh-so-delectable smells can be from the chemicals in your sweat, body, odor, or even the tiny bacteria that naturally live on your body.
The alluring smells help the biting bugs decide who to bite, which is why some appear to be mosquito magnets while others seem to rarely get bit. In other words, mosquitoes have preferences. Some of us have certain blood types that mosquitoes tend to look for.
That being said, after a hungry female locates and lands on your baby, she will quickly inject her proboscis into their skin. The proboscis is the skeeter’s long, sucking “mouth.” This mouthpiece is relatively short: It only extends just beyond the surface of our skin.
Once a vessel has been found, the insect will inject a little saliva into the skin. This saliva helps blood to flow seamlessly so that the mosquito can successfully drink. It is also what causes those super itchy red welts.
Is Mosquito Saliva the Culprit Behind Itchy Bug Bites?
Yes, that is exactly what we’re saying!
You see, when a female mosquito injects her saliva into the skin, your body’s immune system is immediately triggered to come and destroy the foreign substance. In doing so, your own immune system leads to the development of the infamous itchy red bumps we all know (and gets on our nerves): “mosquito bites.”
For most of us, we experience a little swelling, inflammation, and of course, itching following a mosquito bite. No big deal, right? As long as we fight the urge to itch, an uncomfortable bug bite should go away within a few days.
For our little ones, however, a bite from one of these pesky bugs could cause a whole lot of trouble and, in some cases, even result in a trip to the pediatrician (especially for those with immune system disorders or allergies).
What Is Skeeter Syndrome?
In young kids who haven’t developed a strong immune system against mosquitos just yet, bites can sometimes produce huge areas of redness and a large area of swelling, followed by swollen lymph nodes and hives. This is all thanks to histamine production caused by the presence of proteins in the mosquito saliva.
Dubbed as Skeeter Syndrome, some of the symptoms to look for include:
- A large inflammatory reaction to a mosquito bite shortly after being bitten
- Soreness, redness, or warmth around the bite site
- Bruising
- Blisters
- High fever
- Body aches
For parents, the most extreme cases — although quite rare — can be very worrying. Some allergic reactions can include anaphylactic shock. With that being said, if your little one is showing any serious symptoms of breathing difficulty — contact your doctor immediately.
Keeping an eye on your child after mosquito bites is critical. These bugs can carry infections. Some of the possible viruses include the Zika virus, Yellow Fever, and West Nile Virus, says the CDC.
What’s the Best Way To Protect Kids From Biting Bugs?
Whether your precious treasure has skeeter syndrome or simply can’t stand the itch — day or night — prevention is KEY. Prevent itchy bug bites from happening in the first place by protecting your little one with BuzzPatch.
Our #1 all-natural, non-spray shield to protect you and your family against itchy bites, our Mosquito Patches are pure magic (well, magic meets science, anyway).
These are made with a blend of highly effective, all-natural pure essential oils that have been used for hundreds of years by indigenous communities to repel mosquitoes. With BuzzPatch, you can finally say goodbye to the icky bugs — the natural way.
To use BuzzPatch, simply peel off a sticker and place it on your little buddy’s clothing nearest to the exposed body areas.
For babies aged zero to two years old, use one patch placed centrally on the body. For tiny tots aged three to five years, place two patches on the body — one on the torso and one on the legs. For big kids who are six or older, use two to four patches — one placed on clothing next to each exposed limb.
Perfect for indoors and outdoors, our chemical-free mosquito patches are effective for up to six months and can be used whenever you need them.
Stop the Itch Quick
We've all grown up hearing of the various home remedies and over-the-counter recipes to stop itching. Whether you grew up slathering your bites in calamine lotion, anti-itch cream/gel, or even just a dash of aloe vera, oatmeal, and ice pack, we know that these items don't work as well as they need to.
No parent is perfect, and sometimes we forget the insect repellent.
If you forgot to put a BuzzPatch on your tiny tot and now try to deal with an unhappy kid who won’t quit scratching an itchy bug bite? Never fear — our MagicPatches are here!
Designed for families by families, MagicPatch uses our scientifically engineered Grid-Relief Technology to gently lift the skin, helping the lymphatic system to naturally drain the biochemicals from the mosquito’s saliva that caused the itch sensation.
We recommend putting on a patch as soon as you notice the bite so it will get to work and do its job efficiently. Within 30 seconds to one minute after applying a patch to your little one’s bug bite, they should begin to feel relief from the itch.
Mosquitoes No More
"Do mosquito bites itch?" Yes
"So, why are mosquito bites itchy?" Read on.
Simply put, when a female skeeter lands on the skin to suck blood, she injects some of her saliva to prevent clotting. This "insect spit" from female mosquitoes bite is what’s responsible for all the itchiness.
Here at The Natural Patch Co., we know how much kids hate putting on sticky sprays and smelly lotions. We also know how miserable itchy bug bites can make them! That’s why we designed BuzzPatch to be a super fantastic emoji design that kids just love to wear. After all, what kid doesn’t like stickers?
Made with our powerful — yet gentle — kid-friendly essential oil blend to hide your little ones from their senses, with BuzzPatch, you can finally say goodbye to mosquitoes naturally.
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