Is DEET (N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide) safe for babies and kids?
Moderate risk for kidsDo not use on infants under 2 months per EPA/AAP guidance. Limited application for older infants.
What is deet (n,n-diethyl-meta-toluamide)?
DEET (N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide) is a insect repellent, amide, aromatic compound.
The IUPAC name is N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide.
Also known as: DEET, N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide, N,N-Diethyl-3-methylbenzamide, m-DET.
- IUPAC name
- N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide
- CAS number
- 134-62-3
- Molecular formula
- C12H17NO
- Molecular weight
- 191.27 g/mol
- SMILES
- CCN(CC)C(=O)C1=CC(C)=CC=C1
- PubChem CID
- 4284
Risk for babies
Moderate riskDo not use on infants under 2 months per EPA/AAP guidance. Limited application for older infants.
Per EPA and American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines, DEET should not be used on infants younger than 2 months. For older infants, use low concentration products (10-30%) applied sparingly by an adult. Do not apply to hands or face.
Risk for pregnant and nursing people
Low riskCDC recommends DEET for pregnant women in malaria-endemic areas. No evidence of teratogenicity at recommended use levels.
Per CDC guidance, DEET-based repellents are recommended for pregnant women traveling to areas with mosquito-borne diseases (Zika, malaria, dengue). Animal reproductive studies have not shown teratogenic effects at dermal exposure levels consistent with label use. EPA 2014 re-registration did not identify reproductive or developmental concerns.
Regulatory consensus
4 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified DEET (N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide). The classifications differ — that's the data.
| Agency | Year | Classification | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| US EPA | 2014 | Registered pesticide (active ingredient in insect repellents) | Re-registered 2014; considered safe when used as directed |
| WHO | — | Recommended for malaria prevention | WHO recommends DEET-based repellents for personal protection against vector-borne diseases |
| CDC | — | Recommended insect repellent | CDC recommends DEET along with picaridin, IR3535, and OLE as effective repellents |
| EU BPR | — | Approved biocidal active substance (PT19 — Repellents and attractants) | Approved under EU Biocidal Products Regulation |
Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.
Where kids encounter deet (n,n-diethyl-meta-toluamide)
- Insect Repellent Spray — OFF! Deep Woods, Cutter Backwoods, Repel 100
- Insect Repellent Lotion — OFF! FamilyCare, Ultrathon
- Treated Clothing — Military BDU treated uniforms, insect repellent wristbands
Safer alternatives
Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to DEET (N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide):
- Picaridin (Icaridin)
- Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE/PMD)
- IR3535
Frequently asked questions
Is deet (n,n-diethyl-meta-toluamide) safe for kids?
Do not use on infants under 2 months per EPA/AAP guidance. Limited application for older infants.
What products contain deet (n,n-diethyl-meta-toluamide)?
DEET (N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide) appears in: OFF! Deep Woods (insect repellent spray); Cutter Backwoods (insect repellent spray); OFF! FamilyCare (insect repellent lotion); Ultrathon (insect repellent lotion); Military BDU treated uniforms (treated clothing).
What should I do if my child is exposed to deet (n,n-diethyl-meta-toluamide)?
Do not use on infants under 2 months. For older infants, use low concentration DEET sparingly. Adults should apply the product.
Why do regulators disagree about deet (n,n-diethyl-meta-toluamide)?
DEET (N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide) has been classified by 4 agencies including US EPA, WHO, CDC, EU BPR, with differing conclusions. Regulators apply different standards of evidence (animal data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds), which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. See the regulatory consensus table on this page for the full picture.
See DEET (N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide) in the baby app
Look up products containing deet (n,n-diethyl-meta-toluamide), compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.
Open in baby View raw API dataReference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific data; not a substitute for veterinary, medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Why we built ALETHEIA →