Are Essential Oils Safe for Babies?

Essential oils have extensive medicinal benefits that have been used for thousands of years. They provide aromatherapy that help improve sleep, reduce stress, and relieve allergies. They contain no chemicals and are known to be effective. But are they safe to use for babies?

Essential oils are popular and widely available in the market. Many people trust in their great benefits while some mothers wonder if these oils are safe to use for infants. Essential oils are concentrated extract from leaves, flowers, seeds, roots, barks, and peels from plants. Many of them are all natural which may be good for babies.

Most of the essential oils are considered safe for adults. However, it may not be the case for babies. Some essential oils have harmful effects for infants especially if not diluted. Babies have more sensitive skin and their immune system is not yet fully developed. This means that parents should be extra careful when choosing and using these oils for their babies.

It is important to understand the right ratios and application methods before using essential oils for babies. These oils are highly concentrated and can be very strong for the little ones. There are three safe methods to use them for infants:

1. Skin application – Essential oils must be diluted with a gentle carrier oil like coconut oil before applying on babies’ skin. The recommended dilution ratio for babies is 1% essential oil to 99% carrier oil.
2. Spritz – Spraying the diluted essential oils in baby’s room.
3. Diffuse – With an aromatherapy diffuser, the essential oil is dispersed into the air to be inhaled and easily absorb by the body.

Drinking or ingesting essential oils is not safe for babies. Even if the manufacturer states that their product is safe to ingest. Babies’ digestive system is still developing and very sensitive. Taking essential oil orally is toxic to them. If you are breastfeeding, make sure not to put essential oil on or near your nipples as your baby could ingest it.

Not all essential oils are pure. Some are premixed with alcohol. And some are just synthetic fragrance which may look like essential oils but are completely different from essential oils. They are not natural, don’t carry benefits, and can be irritating to skin.  Make sure to check product labels to ensure that you are using pure, authentic, and unadulterated essential oils.

Essential oils have many benefits for babies. It can make them calm, improve their sleep, and relieve symptoms of colic to name a few. They are great help for mothers in taking care of the little ones. However, it is important to note that infants under 3 months old should not be exposed to essential oils. Even when diluted. It can cause skin irritation and sun sensitivity on them.