Published : 2023-07-13

Essential oils for children: good or bad idea?

- Categories : Baby Sleep

IN THIS ARTICLE :

Essential Oils and Babies: What Precautions Should You Take?
The Benefits of Essential Oils for Your Baby
Popular Essential Oils for Babies: Safe and Gentle Choices
How to Use Essential Oils Safely for Your Baby

Essential oils are well known for their wide range of natural benefits.

Their highly potent properties can help soothe skin conditions, ease colds and bronchitis, and even relieve headaches and stomach aches.

However, their use on babies must be approached with extreme caution.

Certain active compounds can be very dangerous for infants!

Let’s take a closer look at the risks and best practices when using essential oils for babies.

Essential Oils and Babies: What Precautions Should You Take?

The following guidelines are based on the book by Danièle FESTY titled "I Don’t Know How to Use Essential Oils – Children’s Edition".

Before diving into the details, a few key precautions should be kept in mind:

🌿 Essential Oils: Not Safe Before 3 Months Old Essential oils should never be used on newborns or infants under three months of age unless prescribed by a medical professional. At this stage, babies are simply too young to be exposed to such highly active substances!

That said, it’s not uncommon in some hospitals to find incubators gently scented with vanilla, known for its soothing effects on babies’ breathing patterns.

❗ Some Essential Oils Are Toxic for Children Certain essential oils can be toxic for young children. This includes those containing terpenes (such as juniper, turpentine, or lemon) or ketones (like sage, camphor, and others).

According to the European Pharmacopoeia, these essential oils are strictly prohibited and are intended for use by trained professionals only (Article D.4211-13, French Public Health Code).

👄 Under 7 Years Old: No Oral Use Allowed For children under the age of 7, essential oils must never be taken orally — regardless of the type or amount used.

Instead, opt for topical application, gentle diffusion into the air, or a few drops added to bath water.

It’s important to treat an essential oil as you would a real medicine.

Even though a small bottle may seem harmless, it contains highly active compounds. But there's no need to be afraid! While some oils do carry risks (like those with terpenes or ketones), most are completely safe when used correctly.

Their use should therefore be carefully monitored — not all essential oils are created equal!

The Benefits of Essential Oils for Your Baby

Essential oils can deliver excellent results when it comes to treating everyday discomforts and minor ailments—especially in young children!

They offer a wide range of natural properties: antibacterial, antiseptic, disinfecting, healing, stimulating, and calming.

For a deeper understanding, we recommend the excellent book by Danièle FESTY, a pharmacist specializing in essential oil use for children, titled: "I Don’t Know How to Use Essential Oils – Children’s Edition".

If you’d like to learn more, here’s a list of essential oils featured in her book and how they can benefit your child!

Eucalyptus Radiata - Respiratory Conditions:

For children under 6: Tea Tree, Ravintsara, Eucalyptus Radiata, Saro, Ho Wood.

For children over 6: Tea Tree, Ravintsara, Eucalyptus Radiata, Saro, Ho Wood.

Helps relieve: Bronchiolitis, bronchitis, nasopharyngitis, sore throat, ear infection, whooping cough, fever, asthma.

Roman Chamomile - Oral and Dental Issues:

For children under 6: Roman Chamomile, Bay Laurel.

For children over 6: Roman Chamomile, Bay Laurel.

Helps relieve: Teething pain, mouth ulcers, abscesses.

Provence Cypress - Nervous System Disorders:

For children under 6: True Lavender, Mandarin.

For children over 6: Provence Cypress, True Lavender, Mandarin.

Helps relieve: Bedwetting, sleep disturbances, restlessness.

Rose Geranium - Childhood Skin Eruptions:

For children under 6: Rose Geranium, Ravintsara.

For children over 6: Rose Geranium, Ravintsara, Lemon Eucalyptus.

Helps relieve: Measles, rubella, chickenpox.

Lavandin - Parasitic Infections:

For children under 6: Lavandin Super, Tea Tree.

For children over 6: Lavandin Super, Tea Tree.

Helps relieve: Scabies, ringworm, head lice.

Lemon Eucalyptus - Pain Relief:

For children under 6: Roman Chamomile, Wintergreen.

For children over 6: Lemon Eucalyptus, Roman Chamomile, Wintergreen.

Helps relieve: Muscle pain, joint pain, nerve pain.

Ginger - Digestive Issues:

For children under 6: Ginger, Lemon, Tarragon, Linalool Thyme, Roman Chamomile.

For children over 6: Ginger, Lemon, Tarragon, Linalool Thyme, Roman Chamomile.

Helps relieve: Colic, constipation, diarrhea, stomach flu, hiccups, nausea, vomiting.

Some Examples of Essential Oils for Babies:

Mandarin Essential Oil: Lightly scented and soothing, mandarin essential oil has naturally calming properties. It’s a gentle remedy to ease anxiety, stress, and restlessness. You can also use mandarin oil to support digestion and relieve tummy aches. Simply blend 10 drops of mandarin essential oil with 5 drops of ravintsara essential oil and diffuse in your child’s room before bedtime.
True Lavender Essential Oil: A must-have at home, true lavender oil helps regulate the nervous system, bringing calm and relaxation. Place a drop on your child’s pillow before the bedtime routine to encourage peaceful, restful sleep.
Chamomile Essential Oil: Long used by grandmothers in herbal teas, chamomile is well known for its powerful calming effect. As an essential oil, it soothes nervous tension. Add a drop to your child’s bath to promote relaxation. Alternatively, mix one drop of chamomile oil with a carrier oil like jojoba, sesame, or calendula for a gentle massage.
Petitgrain Bigarade Essential Oil: Extracted from the bitter orange tree, petitgrain bigarade essential oil is prized for its calming and soothing properties. It’s ideal for children who have trouble staying still! Use it in a diffuser or simply place a drop on a tissue for gentle inhalation.

From age 3 and up, certain essential oils can safely help calm your child. You can also consider niaouli essential oil, which is toning and decongesting, or tea tree oil, known to boost the immune system. Great natural allies for getting through the winter season. And when in doubt, always consult your pharmacist or doctor.

How to Use Essential Oils for Babies:

It’s important to make sure that dosages are adapted to your child’s body and age.

If you choose to use essential oils, we strongly recommend investing in a trusted guidebook on the subject and/or consulting a certified aromatherapy specialist.

Here are a few safe ways to apply essential oils:

Diffuse the essential oil into the room air.
Spray it onto your child’s pillow or a tissue for gentle inhalation.
Try a topical application — directly on minor skin irritations, or in a massage (on the tummy for stomach pain; on the throat, chest, or spine for respiratory issues; or on the solar plexus and soles of the feet to promote relaxation).
Add a few drops to the bath for an instant calming effect.
Use oral application only after age 7 — for example, by applying with a cotton swab or placing a few drops on the fingers (always under professional guidance).

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