Are Essential Oils Safe For My Child?

Essential oils have been around for thousands of years, but it’s only been recent that this craze has gained popularity. Many people use essential oils for their naturalistic remedy approach, but are they safe for your child? We are sharing which oils are safe to use.

Essential oils are plant extracts. They're made by steaming or pressing various parts of a plant (flowers, bark, leaves, or fruit) to capture the compounds that produce fragrance. It can take several pounds of a plant to make a single bottle of essential oil. In addition to creating a scent, essential oils perform other functions in plants, too.

Tips on using essential oils: 

Talk with your physician before using them on your child. Essential oils can interact with medication and direct sunlight.

• Always dilute a carrier oil, such as coconut oil.
• Never ingest essential oils.
• Do NOT put directly onto your child’s skin. Children have thinner, more porous skin, which can be toxic if too much oil is absorbed.
• Stay away from certain oils, such as
  • Peppermint oil
  • Wintergreen oil
  • Rosemary oil
• Diffuse oils in a large area.
• Always watch for an allergic or adverse reaction.

Dilution Safety: 

• Ages 0-1: 8 drops carrier oil to 1 drop of essential oil
• Ages 2-6: 3 drops carrier oil to 1 drop of essential oil
• Ages 7-11: 1 drop carrier oil to 1 drop of essential oil
• Ages 12+: Full label concentration

(Source: Young Living)

Essential oil safe list: 

• Bergamot (Citrus bergamia)
• Cedarwood (Cedrus atlantica)
• Chamomile, Roman (Chamaemelum nobile)
• Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens)
• Frankincense (Boswellia carteri)
• Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens)
• Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
• Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
• Lemon (Citrus limon)
• Mandarin (Citrus reticulata)
• Marjoram (Origanum majorana)
• Melaleuca-Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia)
• Orange (Citrus aurantium)
• Rose Otto (Rosa damascena)
• Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
• Rosewood (Aniba rosaeodora)
• Sandalwood (Santalum album)
• Thyme (Thumus vulgaris CT linalol)
• Ylang Ylang (Cananga odorata)

Essential oil and remedies:

Colic: Bergamot, ginger, mandarin, marjoram, Roman chamomile, rosemary, or ylang-ylang. Blend: Combine 2 Tbsp. Almond oil with 1 drop Roman chamomile, 1 drop lavender, and 1 drop geranium. Mix and apply to stomach and back. 

Note: Burping the baby and keeping the abdomen warm with a warm (not hot) water bottle will often bring relief.

Common Cold: Cedarwood, lemon,  rosemary, rose, sandalwood, or thyme. Blend: Combine 2 Tbsp. Coconut oil with 2 drops melaleuca (Tea Tree), 1 drop lemon, and 1 drop rose otto. Massage a little of the blend on the neck and chest.

Constipation: Ginger, mandarin, orange, or rosemary. Dilute one of the oils and massage on the stomach and feet.

Cradle Cap: Blend: Combine 2 Tbsp. Almond oil with 1 drop Lemon and 1 drop geranium or with 1 drop cedarwood and 1 sandalwood. Mix and apply a small amount on the head.

Croup: Marjoram, rosewood, sandalwood, or thyme. Dilute for massage or diffuse. Bundle baby or child up and take outside to breathe cold air.

Crying: Cypress, frankincense, geranium, lavender, roman chamomile, rose otto, or ylang-ylang. Dilute for massage or diffuse.

Diaper Rash: Lavender (dilute and apply). Blend: Combine 1 drop Roman chamomile and 1 drop lavender with vegetable oil and apply.

Digestion: Lemon or orange. Dilute and massage feet and stomach.

Dry Skin: Rosewood or sandalwood. Dilute and apply.

Earache: Lavender, melaleuca (Tea Tree), Melaleuca ericifolia, roman chamomile, or thyme (sweet). Put a diluted drop of oil on a cotton ball and place it on the surface of the ear; rub a little bit of diluted oil behind the ear. Blend: Combine 2 Tbsp. coconut oil with 2 drops lavender, 1 drop roman chamomile, and 1 drop melaleuca (Tea Tree). Put a drop on a cotton ball and put on the ear’s surface, rub it behind the ear and on the ear Vita Flex feet points.

Fever: Lavender. Dilute in vegetable oil and massage baby or child (back of the neck, feet, behind the ear, etc.).

Flu: Cypress, lemon, melaleuca ericifolia. Dilute 1 drop of each in 1 Tbsp. bath gel base for a bath or diffuse.

Jaundice: Geranium, lemon, lime, mandarin, or rosemary. Dilute and apply on the liver area and the liver Vita Flex feet points.

Rashes: Lavender, roman chamomile, rose otto, or sandalwood. Dilute and apply.

Teeth Grinding: Lavender (rub on feet).

Tonsillitis: Ginger, lavender, lemon, or melaleuca (Tea Tree), Roman chamomile. Dilute and apply.

Thrush: Geranium, lavender, lemon, melaleuca (Tea Tree), melaleuca ericifolia, rosewood, or thyme. Dilute and apply. Blend: 2 Tbsp. garlic oil, 8 drops lavender, 8 drops melaleuca ericifolia, 1 ml. Vitamin E oil. Apply to nipples just before nursing, or with a clean finger into the baby's mouth.

The information presented is in no way intended as a substitute for medical counseling. Anyone suffering from any disease, illness, or injury should consult a qualified health care professional.