Essential Oils For Kids

While essential oils are usually reserved for adult, there are some instances where kids can also use them. You just need to be extra careful with the type you use and how you administer them to your children.

Essential Oils for Babies

First of all, you need to be really careful about what essential oils you use with your baby. You need to make sure they are diluted and that the proper carrier oil is used. If you fail to do this, your baby could become ill. There are also only certain essential oils that are good to use on babies. The oils include dill, lavender, chamomile, and blue yarrow. Make sure with chamomile, you only use German or Roman chamomile, not any other varieties.

Oils That Need to be Diluted For Topical Use

There are another category of essential oils that need to be diluted in order to use as a topical application for younger children two years of age and younger. These are safe to use as long as they are diluted with a carrier oil or with plenty of water. You should still discuss using the oils with your doctor before applying it to your baby’s skin. However, some of the safer oils for topical use in younger children are:

• Bergamot
• Blue tansy
• Catnip
• Cinnamon leaf
• German chamomile
• Citronella
• Geranium
• Eucalyptus
• Lavender
• Frankincense
• Tea Tree
• Grapefruit
• Lemon

Introduce One at a Time

If you plan to start using essential oils on your kids, regardless of the method of administration, make sure you are only introducing one of them at a time. These can often be much too harsh for children, especially younger toddlers and babies. You never know what your child is going to be allergic to, so use the gentlest oils that are diluted properly, and just one of them at a time. Don’t take any chances with your child’s welfare, even though they are natural.

In addition to choosing the right oils and diluting or adding carrier oils, be careful how you administer the oils. On the skin can cause irritation if you don’t do it correctly. When your child is very young, you might not yet know their allergies, so introduce them slowly. Talk to your doctor if you have any concerns about using essential oils in your home or directly on your child’s skin.