How to check your child for ticks: the quick check after playing outside

TickSpot Guide · Updated July 2026

In short: After every afternoon outdoors, a quick tick check is worth it — it takes less than two minutes once you know where to look. On children, ticks are found on the head and hairline far more often than on adults, because children move with their heads closer to grasses and bushes.

Check these spots first

• Hairline, scalp, and back of the neck — the most common spots on children
• Behind the ears and inside the outer ear
• Neck and armpits
• Belly button and the diaper or waistband area
• Groin, backs of the knees, and between the toes

Ticks often wander across the skin for a while before they bite — another reason to check right after coming inside: many ticks can be found and removed before they've even attached.

A routine that works even with wriggly kids

1. Make it a routine: Always check at the same moment — say, before washing hands or while changing clothes. What's routine doesn't get negotiated.
2. Top to bottom: Head first, then neck, torso, legs. That way you don't miss anything, even when it has to be quick.
3. Phone instead of magnifying glass: With TickSpot, your phone's camera becomes a search aid: in the inverted view, a dark tick glows as a bright dot — easy to spot even when your child won't hold still. One hand parts the hair, the other holds the phone.
4. Freeze instead of stare: Found a suspicious spot? Freeze the image and look at it calmly while your child is already wriggling off.

Found a tick — now what?

Stay calm: a tick discovered quickly is exactly what the check is for. Remove it promptly with a tick card or fine-tipped tweezers — how to do that and what to watch for afterwards is covered in our article "Tick bite — what to do now".

Note: This article offers general tips and does not replace medical advice. If your child has a tick bite, redness, fever, or if you're unsure, seek advice from a pediatrician.