How to choose a bite relief device that you will actually use

Almost all the damage from a bite comes from scratching in the first hour. A product that works in seconds prevents broken skin; a product that works in forty minutes arrives after the harm is done.

Ask one question of any product: how long between deciding to use it and the itch stopping? Creams are typically 20 to 60 minutes. Suction has to be immediate or it is pointless. Thermal pulses act in seconds.

Short relief means reapplying through the night, which defeats the purpose for children. In our testing a thermal pulse held for several hours per bite, cream needed topping up, and static clickers wore off within the hour.

Anything you put on a child should have a lower-intensity mode and no active drug where possible. Repeated hydrocortisone on thin skin is not something I recommend for a whole season.

Never use a heat-based device on anyone with reduced sensation in the treated area, on broken skin, or near the eyes.

A £6 tube looks cheap until you buy eight of them and still lose a night's sleep. Reusable devices have one cost, and the only ongoing requirement is a USB-C charge.