Mosquito Prevention for Kids – What Parents Should Know

Mosquitos are dangerous pests that transmit a variety of life-threatening illnesses such as West Nile virus, Eastern equine encephalitis, and malaria. As a parent, keeping a mosquito-free home should be a priority. The following are some tips for making your home safer for you and your family.

Tips to Keep Mosquitos Away from Your Home

1.      Eliminate Their Breeding Grounds

Hollow spaces where water can accumulate and remain stagnant for days are hotbeds for mosquito infestations. If you want to better identify breeding grounds, check out this checklist of mosquito breeding grounds. Be proactive and inspect your house, especially your outdoor spaces, for places or objects such as:

• Tarpaulins

Tarps used to cover equipment, furniture, or anything draped will wear over time and sag into pockets during the rainy season. Tighten or dispose of them as needed to prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs.

• Toys & Play Sets

Kids tend to leave toys such as teacups and fire trucks out in the yard. If left unattended, they will collect stagnant water. Instill discipline in your little ones by teaching them to tidy up after playing outside. Let is also be a reminder that mosquito prevention for kids is a team effort.

Tire swing sets and jungle gyms can also invite mosquitos, but they’re usually immovable, so it’s not as if you can ask your kids to bring them indoors whenever it rains. If getting rid of them isn’t an option, clean them regularly or surround them with insect-repelling plants like citronella grass to keep mosquitos away.

• Puddles

Puddles are a prime breeding ground for mosquitos and they’re unavoidable in properties with patchy yards. Eliminate pools by investing in landscaping services or fixing leaky water pipes. These repairs and restorations may come at a premium, but they’re well worth it if you want to keep your property mosquito-free.

• Water Fountains or Bird Baths

While fountains or birdbaths add to your home’s aesthetic, they also attract pests. The simplest option is to demolish them, but if you prefer to keep them, make sure you clean them regularly to prevent stagnant water from accumulating. 

• Rain Gutters

Unmaintained roofs are luxury hotels for mold, mildew, and mosquitos, all of which pose health risks to you and your children. Don’t neglect cleaning your rain gutters. Have them inspected frequently to ward off these hazards.

2.      Place Traps

Have you grown tired of a mosquito’s incessant, high-pitched buzzing? Use UV mosquito-repellent lamps to drive them away from your property or the more traditional vertical sticky paper.

A pro tip is to set traps away from crowded places in your home, such as the kitchen or dining room. If you’re looking for a more active strategy, contact pest control to fog and mist their breeding sites.

3.      Take Organic Measures

Most mosquito sprays use chemical-based aerosols. While they are effective insecticides, they expose your family to harmful substances. 

A safer alternative to keeping these two-winged hecklers away from your home is by calling in Native Shield. Our services take a non-toxic approach to pest elimination. Keep your children safe and call us today for a free estimate.