Essential Oils Around A common relaxation technique includes the use of essential oils by diffusing or through application. Studies have proven that it does contribute to decreasing the perceived level of stress and lowering the levels of the stress hormone, cortisol. But could the use of essential oils really be baby-safe? In simple terms—no, essential oils are not safe for babies.
“I would not recommend the use of essential oils around infants,” she added, says Diane Hindman, MD, PharmD, a board-certified pediatrician, medical toxicologist, and registered pharmacist.
When Can I Use Essential Oils Around My Baby?
To be on the safe side, wait until your baby is 2-3 years old to use essential oils around them.
What Are Essential Oils Used For?
Stress relief is one reason people turn to essential oils. A few of the others are anxiety, pain relief, digestion, and sleep.
“There are a few different ways to get these benefits,” says Josh Axe, DNM, CNS, DC, founder of Ancient Nutrition and DrAxe.com. “Essential oils can be applied topically to the skin, diffused or inhaled from the bottle, and ingested. But using a diffuser in your home or office is the most popular method.”.
What Parents Need To Know About Essential Oils
In general, essential oils should not be used around a baby, but a child can apparently possess many healing properties. One reason is that essential oils are relatively unregulated.
“Essential oils and other substances deemed ‘natural health products’ are not subject to the same rigorous clinical research and safety legislation, regulations, testing, and standards as prescription or even over-the-counter (OTC) medications,” explains Dr. Hindman.
This means that you don’t know the exact level of concentration of the active ingredients in the different oils, so you might be inadvertently exposing your baby to high levels of those harmful ingredients.
Their systems are undeveloped, and that includes the skin and the respiratory system. This also increases the risk of adverse effects from the essential oils. According to Dr. Axe, the one workaround is if you are typically applying the essential oils topically to your own skin.
Also Read : Soft Spots on Your Baby’s Head
Risks of Using Essential Oils Around Babies
Using essential oils around babies, particularly newborns could pose certain risks for their adverse health effects. The following are some of the possibilities you should be aware of:
Wheezing and sinus issues
“Inhaled scents and oils can cause some people and even some babies to wheeze,” explains Christina Johns, MD, an emergency care pediatrician and vice president of communications at PM Pediatric Care.” “Babies’ sinuses are still in the maturing process, and you should not diffuse oils around them at all.”
Skin irritation and inflammation
If essential oils are applied or inhaled by an infant, it can result in skin irritation and sensitization, respectively. “Infants have more sensitive and thin skin than older individuals,” says Dr. Hindman. It can cause inflammation, such as a rash, from even baby-specific products that incorporate essential oils.
Essential oils that contact a baby’s skin may be more than skin irritating. “Their thin skin makes absorption through the skin much more likely,” says Dr. Hindman. “Once absorbed, the active substance can cause systemic and local toxicities.” Some of the possibly dangerous effects of certain essential oils include:
| Wintergreen Oil | The active compound in this oil, methyl salicylate, is a chemical that acts in the body similarly to aspirin when applied topically. It is toxic when ingested in large quantities |
| Lavender Oil | Lavender oil, as has been discussed in the study earlier, has the potential to trigger more or less the same kind of symptoms as the usage of tea tree oil does. |
| Tea Tree Oil Tea | Tea tree oil was also part of the study and demonstrated effects similar to those of lavender. |
| Nutmeg Oil | The vial constituent of nutmeg oil, myristica oil, can turn toxic and impart symptoms such as chest pain, double vision, pacing heart, and hallucinations when consumed in larger amounts. |
| Wormwood Oil | Wormwood oil, also known as artemisia absinthium or absinthe, contains a chemical called thujone. This chemical is what creates the side effects of drinking absinthe like hallucinations and psychosis. Even tiny amounts are toxic. |
Applying Essential Oils To Children’s Skin
Only use diluted oils on children. It is recommended that essential oils not be used on children under the age of 3. However, if you need to apply essential oils to a younger child’s skin, the book, Essential Oil Safety, second edition, suggests the following dosages:
- 2-6 years: 1% to 2%
- 6-15 years: 1.5% to 3%
- Over 15 years of age: 2.5% to 5%
