How to Protect Your Child from Tick Bites

Parents worry about head lice, chickenpox, and accidents everyday, but ticks rarely enter our minds regarding children. Learning how to prepare your child to play outside, and what to watch for when they come in can greatly reduce the chances that your child will suffer the negative effects from a tick bite.

Teaching your child to stick to well worn paths when he walks outside may help parents of timid children. However, the more adventurous child is probably going to spend time playing in areas with brush, tall grass, and woods, which are all places that your child could encounter ticks.

If ticks concern you, plan ahead before sending your child out to play. When the weather permits it, dress your child in clothes that cover most of his skin. (Pants and long-sleeved shirts.) If you are particularly concerned about tick bites, tuck your child's pant legs into his socks, and refuse to let him play outside in sandals instead of shoes. Light colored clothing also helps. Because ticks often cling to clothing in search of flesh, light colors will make the black ticks easier to spot. Finally before letting your child out the door, make sure you apply tick repellent. (This should be applied to the clothing, not the skin.)

Once your child's outdoor adventure has ended, and he's back at home, safe with you, make sure that he didn't bring any parasites home for dinner. Scan your child's body for what appears to be a small black dot that feels like a scab. While checking for ticks, pay special attention to the areas that they prefer to hide, like the back of the neck, the hairline, the armpits, behind the ears and behind the knees. Finding a tick on the clothing should prompt a more complete search. However, if that search turns up nothing, simply throw the clothing into the dryer for about ten minutes, The heat will kill any ticks on the clothes.