Can You Use Essential Oils Around Your Baby?
No, it's not safe to use essential oils around babies until they reach at least 2 years of age. Learn more about essential oils and when they should be used.Medically reviewed by Bree Lustre, MDMedically reviewed by Bree Lustre, MDA popular relaxation strategy is diffusing or applying essential oils as a form of aromatherapy, which had been shown to reduce the perception of stress as well as lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol. But are essential oils safe for babies? The short answer is no, essential oils are not safe for babies.“I would advise against the use of essential oils around babies,” says Diane Hindman, MD, PharmD, a board-certified pediatrician, medical toxicologist, and registered pharmacist.
When Can I Use Essential Oils Around My Baby?To stay on the safe side, wait until your baby is 2-3 years old to use essential oils around them.
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What Are Essential Oils Used For?In addition to stress relief, there are many reasons people choose to use essential oils, including:AnxietyPain reliefDigestionBetter sleep"There are a few different ways to get these benefits. Essential oils can be applied topically to the skin, diffused or inhaled from the bottle, and ingested. Using a diffuser in your home or office is the most popular method," says Josh Axe, DNM, CNS, DC, founder of Ancient Nutrition and DrAxe.com.What Parents Need To Know About Essential OilsIt is generally not safe to use essential oils around babies, especially newborns. 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.That means that it’s difficult to know the actual concentrations of active ingredients present in different oils, so you may be unknowingly exposing your baby to high concentrations of harmful ingredients.The undeveloped nature of many of babies’ systems, including their skin and respiratory systems, also poses an increased risk of adverse effects from essential oils. The one workaround, says Dr. Axe, is if you typically apply essential oils topically to your own skin.“Make sure that the oil is absorbed into the skin before touching the baby, which will take about 10 to 15 minutes,” Dr. Axe says, adding that even if you’re using this method, you should avoid using essential oils during the first three months of your baby’s life.Risks of Using Essential Oils Around BabiesUsing essential oils around babies (newborns in particular) can expose them to potential risks for adverse health effects. Here are some of the possibilities you should be aware of.Wheezing and sinus issuesIt’s not uncommon for newborns to have a stuffy nose or to sneeze frequently, but diffusing essential oils near them won’t help.“If inhaled, fragrances and oils can cause wheezing in some people, including babies,” notes Christina Johns, MD, pediatric emergency care physician and vice president of communications at PM Pediatric Care. “Since babies’ sinuses are in the development phase, it’s not a good idea to diffuse oils around them at all.”Because babies exclusively breathe out of their noses for the first six months or so of life, you don’t want to introduce anything into their environment that may make this more difficult.Skin irritation and inflammationIf essential oils come into contact with your baby’s skin, it can lead to irritation. “Infants have more sensitive and thin skin than older individuals,” explains Dr. Hindman. This can cause inflammation like rashes, even from baby-specific products that contain essential oils. “I would caution that if formal OTC or health and beauty products, such as baby lotion with lavender, are utilized, the directions for use should be carefully followed.”How Certain Essential Oils Poses Risk to BabyEssential oils that make contact with a baby’s skin can not only lead to skin issues but may also cause other problems. “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 potentially harmful effects of certain essential oils include:
Wintergreen Oil
The active ingredient in this oil, methyl salicylate, is a chemical that acts the same way as aspirin in the body when applied topically. It is poisonous in large amounts.
Lavender Oil
While lavender oil can be calming and is even included in small amounts in some baby products, repeated topical use has been found to disrupt sex hormones in both sexes.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil was also included in the aforementioned study and found to have the same effects as lavender.
Nutmeg Oil
The active ingredient in nutmeg, myristica oil, is poisonous in large amounts and can cause chest pain, double vision, rapid heartbeat, and hallucinations, among other symptoms.
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 SkinOnly diluted oils should be applied to a child's skin. It's recommended that essential oils not be used on kids under 3. But if you do choose to apply essential oils to a younger child's skin, here are the recommended dosages, from the book, Essential Oil Safety, second edition:2-6 years: 1% to 2%6-15 years: 1.5% to 3%Over 15 years of age: 2.5% to 5%
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