In the previous post we looked at bug bite prevention. However, sometimes your baby might get bit, no matter what you do. Here are some helpful tips.

Don’t worry so much about Lyme Disease. Research shows that Lyme disease caused by tick bites, while dangerous, is not  very common. Fewer than 2% of tick bites actually result in Lyme disease. It’s still smart to know the signs and symptoms of Lyme disease, just know that endless worrying is not necessary. 

Know your bites - a bee sting looks red and swelled, a mosquito bite is bumpy and itchy, rashes that are set around a tiny prick or in a bull’s-eye pattern may indicate another bug like a spider or tick. Learn more about how bites look.

To learn total first aid for all kinds of bug bites on kids visit the Nemours Foundation.

NEVER EVER try to burn a tick off. You may have heard that you should, but this is an old wives tale. The only thing that will happen if you try this, is you’ll have a bit and now burned baby. This is what you should do with tick bites.

When to call 911:

If your baby or toddler (or anyone really) has been bitten by a bug of any kind and has any of the following symptoms call 911 right away.

• shortness of breath
• wheezing
• redness or hives over most of the body
• swelling of the face, lips, or tongue
• feeling like the throat is closing up
• nausea
• vomiting
• chills
• muscle aches or cramps
• weakness
• fever

Another time to call 911 or your baby’s doctor, is if you’re not sure what to do with a bug bite. If you don’t know how to treat, always call first so you don’t make it worse.