How to Prevent Bee Stings

When my daughter was stung by a bee last week, it was somewhat of a fluke. The bee flew into her preschool classroom, stung her and flew out. After some research, I found out I had made a couple of mistakes that morning concerning bee safety. Here's some good info for all moms to know:

-- Don't spray your child with perfume or use anything with strong scents. I had sprayed my daughter with a few squirts of good smelling body spray. Oops.

-- Dress your child in light-colored solid prints. Avoid bright colored, really dark colored and floral prints. They attract bees! I dressed my daughter in pink and yellow polka-dots that day. I think the bee liked that.

-- Teach your child to stand still if a bee approaches. Bees only sting in defense. I tell my kids to yell: "Bee Buzz Off!" And for the most part, it works.

-- Don't let your child carry around an open drink outside. The sweet smell could attract bees and just imagine if a bee went inside the can and your child took a sip. Ouch.

-- Make sure your kids wash their hands after eating. Bees like sticky fingers.

-- Cover up any uneaten food on the table.

-- Make sure your child wears shoes outside. They could easily step on a bee pollinating a dandelion.

-- Be extra cautious around flowers in general. They are of course a bee's favorite place.

-- Notice where bees migrate. If you notice more than one bee hanging around, you could be near a bee's nest. Bees love to make nests in swing sets and under your shed. Be very careful when removing a bee's nest or better yet, hire a professional.

Lastly, I try to educated my kids on the importance of bees, so they can also appreciate them. My girls know why we have bees and their role in making flowers. If we do our part to keep bees in check, we might just be able to all get along.

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