Written by Editorial Team
A Bug bite is one of the most common causes of a visit to the doctor’s office and happens all the time, especially in babies. Babies can be bitten by different types of bugs such as mosquitoes, fleas, bedbugs, wasps, bees, horseflies, ants, or centipedes. Although not dangerous, bug bites in babies can be quite annoying as they can be itchy, painful, and sometimes may cause a slight sting or swelling.
However, on rare occasions, these bug bites end up in severe reactions. How the body of the baby reacts to the insect bite depends on how sensitive he is to the particular insect, the location of the bite, and the quantity of toxin injected by the bug or insect. To know how to treat these bug bites effectively in babies, keep on reading.
In This Article
To treat a bug bite, it is important that you recognize and differentiate it from some skin infections which are also quite common in babies. If your baby spends considerable time outside or if you take her out frequently to parks and gardens, then she is more likely to have bug bites than a baby who is mostly indoors with the windows tightly shut.
Here are some of the symptoms that you should pay attention to. Just keep in mind that these are very common symptoms shown by babies who develop no severe allergic reactions, and mostly these symptoms will disappear in a day or two.
Some insects and bugs like a hornet, honey bee, wasp, fire ant, etc., can cause severe allergic reactions in some babies. Immediate medical attention is needed, as sometimes these allergic reactions can be fatal. Look out for the following allergic signs after a bug bite and if the baby develops any of these symptoms then take him immediately to a nearby hospital.
Once your baby has an insect bite or bug bite:
Most bug bites simply resolve within a couple of days. Here are five immediate treatment measures to cure bug bite in your baby if there is no serious allergic reaction:
Applying a cool compress provides immediate relief from swelling and pain. Apply a cloth drenched with cold water or ice cubes covered in a towel as a cold compress. You should apply a cold compress in the area for 10 minutes and then remove it. Repeat the process until the baby is relieved from pain and swelling.
A paste or a mixture of baking soda and water applied topically may help reduce itching. Similarly, calamine lotion or creams, gels, or lotions containing hydrocortisone, pramoxine, or lidocaine will help to reduce the itching and pain and prevent your baby from scratching the area.
An antihistamine formulated for children may help with swelling and itchiness followed by a bug bite. Be sure to check with your baby’s pediatrician before using an antihistamine. Pain relievers that are formulated for babies can also help. The dosage will be prescribed by the pediatrician depending on your baby’s age.
Some home remedies provide immediate relief from pain and itchiness from an insect or bug bite. You can apply the following pastes in the bitten area:
Sandal and Turmeric Paste Applying sandalwood paste along with turmeric helps to cure bug bites in babies. Sandalwood paste has a cooling effect while turmeric has antiseptic properties. Also, you can apply:
Try to stop the baby from rubbing or scratching the affected area because scratching the bite will only aggravate the itching. It is better to cover the bitten area by dressing the baby in long-sleeved clothes. If the bite is on the baby’s feet or ankles, it is better to cover the feet with socks.
It will be wonderful if you can prevent bug bites in your baby. Here are a few preventive measures you can undertake to keep the bugs at the baby:
We hope all these remedies will help to prevent bug bites in babies. Please share with us in the comments section below if you have any other ways to treat bug bites in babies.
With a rich experience in pregnancy and parenting, our team of experts create insightful, well-curated, and easy-to-read content for our to-be-parents and parents at all stages of parenting.Read more.
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