Since moving to the woods we have had to battle flying bugs of all kinds every time we go outside. 
We now have a collection of products to help protect against and eliminate these pests so we can safely play outside and explore our new property in the woods! Below you will find seven types of gear to make outdoor play safe and enjoyable!
Outdoor Research Kid’s Sentinel Hat 
– I ordered this hat for Caden before we moved, as I wanted something to protect him from both the bugs and the sun and this hat does a great job of both! The hat is made of nylon, has a UPF of 30 and is treated with odorless, EPA- registered insect shield. Insect shield protects against mosquitoes and ticks. Since wearing this hat Caden has not had a single bug bite! 
Rubber Boots– Soon after we moved it became clear that if we wanted to explore the woods on our property we would want some rubber boots. There is a little stream that flows on our land and I am itching to start exploring it! Tall boots like rubber boots are also another level of protection against ticks. By tucking your pants into your socks and boots you can prevent ticks from crawling up your legs and attaching themselves there. We bought Caden a pair from Target similar to these from Amazon.
Gloves– Gardening gloves or work gloves really come in handy when exploring the great outdoors! They kids’ protect hands from many dangers; such as splinters, thorns, and bites or urine from any animals you might find and pick up. We picked up a pair of children’s gardening gloves from Target for Caden, but I think these would be even better because of the leather palms.
All Terrain bug spray– I bought this big spray before we moved. I liked it because it is a DEET-free, all natural bug spray. It works great, but we recently switched to another brand because although it is a spray, it comes out at a lotion which we needed to rub in and that is not as convenient as a more liquid spray. But I still like this brand, but wish it was more of a spray than a lotion.
Coleman Skin Smart Aerosol Insect Repellent (Deet free & odorless)- I picked this bug spray up at a local store, I liked that it is DEET-free, odorless and that it sprays a fine mist. Plus it works really great to keep the bugs away, even the pesky black gnats! 
Sunscreen– Don’t forget to wear sunscreen! We’ve used Banana Boat Natural Reflect Kids Sunscreen Lotion for a little while now. I’ve been pretty happy with it so far. And I like that it is easy to find in most stores and isn’t too expensive. When this runs out I may look for a more natural solution.
Dynatrap Insect Trap– The biggest purchase we have made to protect ourselves from insects while outside is the Dynatrap Insect Trap. It is very simple to use and runs on electricity. So far it has caught moths and beetles, but hopefully it will start to attract mosquitoes when they are out in full force in the coming weeks. I hope you find this post useful in helping make your outdoor time safer and more enjoyable! Are there any products you use that I should add to our list?© 2014 – 2017, Stir The Wonder. All rights reserved.
That certainly must take some getting used to! These are useful to have on hand for a hike as well!
Samantha,
These are great ideas! I’m featuring this post on the Thoughtful Spot tomorrow. Thanks for linking up such a wonderful resource!
Those are some really good suggestions! We wouldn’t get by without our rain boots, that’s for sure, and I like that the insect repellants you suggest are DEET free. Our kids’ polyurethane mud pants are also in heavy rotation, and for colder climates I’d consider snow pants an essential for getting outside as well. Popping over from the #outdoorplayparty.
Thanks! This gear this is for spring/summer, I really should make a list of what we use in winter because it’s totally different!