Beat the Ticks so they Don’t Beat You
Tick Season
Ticks are most active from March through October, with peaks in May–August. In most of the U.S., particularly the Mid-Atlantic, Northeast, Midwest, and Southeast, both blacklegged (deer) and lone star ticks are common.
Always check for ticks after outdoor play, even in suburban yards or local parks.
How To Prevent Tick Bites
Stay on clear, well-traveled paths—avoid brush, tall grass, and leaf litter.
Wear long sleeves and pants, tuck pants into socks, and wear light-colored clothing to spot ticks.
Use EPA-registered insect repellents on exposed skin:
DEET (≥20%), picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus (≥ 3 years old), or 2-undecanone.
Infants > 2 months can use DEET (would use 10%) but if concerned can spritz on clothes instead of directly on skin
Treat clothing and gear with 0.5% permethrin (don’t apply to skin).
Shower within 2 hours of coming indoors.
Do a full-body tick check, especially scalp, ears, armpits, waist, groin, and behind knees. We check after being outside but then again at the end of a weekend in case someone was hiding amongst the clothes and bites on later
Tumble clothes on high heat for 10 minutes to kill hidden ticks.
Bites Happens: What To Do
Remove the tick immediately using fine-tipped tweezers. Grasp close to the skin and pull straight out without twisting.
Clean the area and your hands with soap and water or rubbing alcohol.
Do not use heat, petroleum jelly, or soap to smother the tick.
Tick testing is not recommended for diagnosis or treatment. What’s most helpful is to snap a pic and try to see if it looks engorged versus flat. Can throw in ziplock if not sure and want to save.
If the tick was attached ≥36 hours, and your child is seen within 72 hours, your pediatrician may recommend a single dose of doxycycline to prevent Lyme disease—this is safe even in young children under current guidelines.
What To Watch For After A Tick Bite
Monitor your child for up to 4 weeks after the bite. Contact your pediatrician if any of the following occur: You may want to mark the day you found the tick in your calendar so you can easily recall
Fever, headache, fatigue, or body aches
Rash (especially expanding or “bull’s-eye” rash within 3–30 days)
Nausea, vomiting, joint pain, or neurological symptoms
Early symptoms of Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever are often nonspecific, but early treatment greatly improves outcomes.
Let Your Pediatrician Know
Even if your child seems fine, inform your pediatrician. Let them know:
When and where the bite occurred
How long the tick was attached (if known)
Whether the tick was engorged (full of blood)
Any symptoms or concerns
They will record the exposure, guide follow-up, and help determine if preventive antibiotics or further action is needed.
TLDR
Remove ticks quickly with tweezers. Clean the bite site and hands. Watch for symptoms for up to 4 weeks. Let your pediatrician know. Ask about doxycycline only if the tick was a blacklegged tick, attached ≥ 36 hours, and your child is seen within 72 hours of removal. Stay calm, early removal reduces risk, and most tick-borne illnesses are treatable.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Tick Bite: What to Do, Preventing Tick Bites, Tickborne Disease Surveillance Data Summary, Tick Bite Prophylaxis
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP): HealthyChildren.org: Insect Repellents, Tick Bites Parent Handout
Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA): Clinical Practice Guidelines: Lyme Disease, 2020
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Find the Right Repellent, Tick Safety for Children
Virginia Department of Health: Insects That Carry Disease: Ticks
Wisconsin Department of Health Services: Tick Bite Prevention