REPELLENT LEDGER · GRADE C: EPA REGISTRATION TABLES
Mosquito repellent for kids: four actives, one table.
Everything below transcribes EPA registration data and CDC guidance. Concentration buys hours, not strength. The table
The active-by-active comparison
Four actives carry EPA registration for skin application. A fifth, oil of lemon eucalyptus, is included with its age floor highlighted.
| ACTIVE | CONCENTRATION | HOURS | AGE FLOOR | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEET | 10-30% | 2-8 | 2 months | The benchmark. Once daily for children; wash at bedtime. |
| Picaridin | 5-20% | 2-8 | 2 months | Odorless, less plastic-damaging than DEET. Comparable protection in head-to-head trials. |
| IR3535 | 7.5-20% | 2-6 | 2 months | Gentler profile; shorter protection window at low concentrations. |
| Oil of lemon eucalyptus | 30% | 2-6 | 3 YEARS | Plant-derived, EPA-registered. Not for under-three. |
| Citronella candle | - | <1 | - | GRADE D. Cage evidence only; field reduction is marginal and local. |
| Coffee grounds | - | - | - | GRADE D. No replicated field evidence of any repellent effect. |
Concentration-duration data: US EPA registered repellent concentration table; CDC repellent guidance, checked 2026-09. Grade definitions
PLATE 011
- Thin even film: no pooling, no rubbing in
- One pass at label distance, not point-blank
- Coverage edges: wrists, ankles, ears thin out first
THE QUESTION PEOPLE ACTUALLY TYPE
Is DEET safe for a two-year-old? Yes: CDC and the AAP accept 10 to 30 percent DEET from two months of age, applied once daily, washed off at bedtime, kept off hands and the eye area.
CDC repellent guidance, checked 2026-09
How to read the table like a clinician
Three rules cover most households.
Match hours, not labels
A two-hour evening on the patio needs 10 percent, not 30. Higher numbers buy duration, not safety margin.
Age floors are hard floors
Under two months: no repellent at all, netting and clothing only. Under three years: skip oil of lemon eucalyptus.
Application beats active
Thin even layer on exposed skin, reapply per label. Skipping the ankles fails every active equally.
Protect more, not less
Registered actives at label strength are consistent with use in pregnancy; dengue and malaria risk make bites the greater concern.
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How to apply so the label hours are real
The table buys hours only if the film is even. Smell is not a clock.
A thin even film on exposed skin. For an adult's arms and legs, about a teaspoon total, not a puddle.
Sunscreen first, repellent second. Clothing covers what you do not coat. Keep it off cuts and the eye area.
Once a day from two months of age, washed off at bedtime, kept off hands. Under two months: none. Under three years: skip oil of lemon eucalyptus.
At the table's hours, and after swimming or heavy sweat. Do not wait for the scent to fade.
Do coffee grounds keep mosquitoes away?
No. Coffee grounds sit at grade D on the table: no replicated field evidence of any repellent effect. Citronella candles last under an hour outdoors and stay grade D. The four registered actives are the ones with hours you can plan around.