Bug off

This is the time of year when parents start to get nervous about mosquitoes. The media starts talking about scary, mosquito-borne illnesses, and suddenly every time you hear that high-pitched whine in your ear, it’s a life-or-death mission to find and eviscerate the perpetrator.

Despite the hype, most mosquito bites are harmless. But they’re itchy and annoying no matter what, and it’s certainly better to avoid them. If you’re a homeowner, be very vigilant about any standing water – make sure your kids don’t leave toys out in the rain to fill with water, too. Even one cup of water is enough to breed a small town’s population of mosquitoes. They’re also most active at dawn and dusk, so if you’re going out at that time of the day, use bug spray that contains DEET, Picaridin or Lemon-Eucalyptus oil.

Or you can put your kids in bug-repellent clothing.

Soy Genius has come out with Buggies – a line of clothing and accessories that’s been infused with Insect Shield, a safe, man-made version of a natural insect repellent found in certain chrysanthemum plants. The protection lasts about 70 washes – the standard life expectancy of a garment. Insect Shield has been proven to repel mosquitoes, fleas, ticks and flies. The Soy Genius fabrics are a mix of organic cotton and soy fibers.

We’re carrying the Buggies hats, which are very cute and reversible, too, as well as the Warmers, a pair of open-ended tubes that can be worn on children’s arms or legs – perfect protection for cool summer evenings.

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