Safety Guide for Using Essential Oils on Babies

Essential oils are basically concentrated form of natural plant fragrances. These oils have been hailed for their medicinal value for more than 6,000 years. Not only adults, but even young children and babies can benefit from the cautious medicinal use of these highly aromatic essential oils. Aromatherapy using essential oils has proven effective in soothing the symptoms of anxiety, colic, and restlessness in little ones. However, incorrect use of essential oils can trigger serious adverse reactions like toxicity and breathing issues. So, to prevent these side-effects, one should always consult a qualified aromatherapy practitioner and doctor before using any essential oil on babies. Want to use aromatherapy to calm down your restless baby? Wondering how and which essential oils to use? Here’s a safety guide for using essential oils on babies.

A single drop of an essential oil, like lavender or chamomile oil, should be diluted into 30 ml of almond oil and then used to massage a baby. This low concentration of essential oil is safe to use as a massage oil to calm down and relax a restless baby.

A drop of citronella, eucalyptus or clove oil should be diluted in 90 ml of water and this mixture should then be sprayed on a baby’s torso, legs and arms to repel mosquitoes and ticks. Although effective, these essential oils can also irritate an infant’s airway and so parents should always consult a doctor before using citronella oil on babies aged less than 6 months. Essential oils should never be applied in high concentrations or near the baby’s mouth.

A drop of fragrant oils like neroli or lavender oil can be added into the baby’s bath to give the infant a pleasant scent while also soothing their anxiety and restlessness.

Parents should use a commercial diffuser to spread an essential oil’s scent throughout their home. Although a bit of the oil is absorbed into the child’s bloodstream, this practice is still considered safe for the babies. This method specifically proves useful to ease cough in infants suffering from upper-respiratory infections. Eucalyptus oil is spread using the diffuser to thin the mucus and ease the baby’s discomfort.

A drop each of ginger oil and fennel oil are mixed into 60 ml of almond oil and this mixture can then be added into the baby’s bath or rubbed onto their belly to ease constipation, colic, nausea, reflux and indigestion.

• Essential oils should never be applied directly to an infant’s skin.
• Also, essential oils should not be administered orally, as most essential oils are poisonous for internal use and prove toxic if ingested.
• In case a child accidentally ingests some essential oil, parents should not attempt to induce vomiting. They should rather seek immediate medical help.
• Essential oils should also not be used around or on a baby who has a history of asthma or breathing problems. All essential oils must be kept out of reach of babies and children.
• Essential oils should never be used neat. These oils should always be used in diluted form on babies and children.
• Essential oils should be introduced one at a time to the baby and should only be used in small quantities in an infrequent manner. This is done in order to look out for any sort of reaction and also to allow the baby’s body to slowly get used to the essential oil.
• The baby should never be introduced to more than 1 essential oil in a day.
• Essential oils should not be used on babies less than 3 months of age since their skin is not mature enough and is more sensitive and permeable to essential oils. Parents should be all the more careful in case of premature babies.

The above mentioned are the just general guidelines and extra care should be taken to research every essential oil’s maximum dermal use individually prior to its use. In cases where essential oils cannot be used, hydrosols are a much gentler and safer alternative option for your baby.

Also Read:

• A Guide to Basics of Essential Oils: Its Preparation, Use, Benefits, Precautions
• Essential Oil Recipes For Your Health
• Essential Oils that are Contraindicated during Pregnancy & Why?
• Aromatherapy for Weight Loss|Essential Oils for Aromatherapy Weight Loss
• Remove Blemishes on Face With These Home Remedies & Essential Oils
• 8 Best Essential Oils For Your Health
• 5 Essential Oils To Relieve Itching
• The Side Effects of Eucalyptus & Lavender Essential Oils