Is Picaridin (Icaridin) safe for babies and kids?
Low risk for kidsCDC allows use on infants >2 months. Preferred over DEET by some pediatric guidelines due to gentler profile.
What is picaridin (icaridin)?
Picaridin (Icaridin) is a insect repellent, piperidine derivative, carbamate ester.
The IUPAC name is butan-2-yl 2-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperidine-1-carboxylate.
Also known as: Picaridin, Icaridin, KBR 3023, Bayrepel.
- IUPAC name
- butan-2-yl 2-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperidine-1-carboxylate
- CAS number
- 119515-38-7
- Molecular formula
- C12H23NO3
- Molecular weight
- 229.32 g/mol
- SMILES
- CC(C)OC(=O)N1CCCCC1CCO
- PubChem CID
- 125098
Risk for babies
Low riskCDC allows use on infants >2 months. Preferred over DEET by some pediatric guidelines due to gentler profile.
Per CDC guidance, picaridin can be used on infants older than 2 months. Its non-irritating, odorless profile makes it a preferred choice for some pediatricians. Adults should apply the product for infants.
Risk for pregnant and nursing people
Low riskCDC recommends picaridin for pregnant women, especially in areas with mosquito-borne disease risk. No evidence of reproductive or developmental toxicity.
Per CDC and WHO guidance, picaridin-based repellents are recommended for pregnant women traveling to areas with Zika, malaria, or dengue risk. Reproductive toxicity studies in animals have not identified concerns. Very low systemic absorption from dermal application.
Regulatory consensus
4 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Picaridin (Icaridin). The classifications differ — that's the data.
| Agency | Year | Classification | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| US EPA | — | Registered pesticide (insect repellent active ingredient) | EPA-registered; classified in lowest acute toxicity category (Category IV) for oral and dermal |
| WHO | — | Recommended for malaria prevention | WHO recommends picaridin alongside DEET for personal protection against vector-borne diseases |
| CDC | — | Recommended insect repellent | One of four CDC-recommended active ingredients for insect repellents (with DEET, IR3535, OLE) |
| EU BPR | — | Approved biocidal active substance (PT19 — Repellents and attractants) | Approved under EU Biocidal Products Regulation; registered in >40 countries |
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 picaridin (icaridin)
- Insect Repellent Spray — Sawyer Premium Insect Repellent, Natrapel Tick & Insect Repellent
- Insect Repellent Lotion — Sawyer Picaridin Lotion, Ranger Ready
- Insect Repellent Pump Spray — Natrapel 8-Hour, Total Home Picaridin Spray
Frequently asked questions
Is picaridin (icaridin) safe for kids?
CDC allows use on infants >2 months. Preferred over DEET by some pediatric guidelines due to gentler profile.
What products contain picaridin (icaridin)?
Picaridin (Icaridin) appears in: Sawyer Premium Insect Repellent (insect repellent spray); Natrapel Tick & Insect Repellent (insect repellent spray); Sawyer Picaridin Lotion (insect repellent lotion); Ranger Ready (insect repellent lotion); Natrapel 8-Hour (insect repellent pump spray).
What should I do if my child is exposed to picaridin (icaridin)?
Do not use on infants under 2 months. For older infants, adults should apply product. Avoid hands, eyes, and mouth area.
Why do regulators disagree about picaridin (icaridin)?
Picaridin (Icaridin) 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 Picaridin (Icaridin) in the baby app
Look up products containing picaridin (icaridin), 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 →