Essential Oils and Children: A Complete Guide for Parents
Essential oils are effective in treating many physical and mental ailments, but are they safe for children to use?
This is a question many moms are asking as they consider picking up a bottle for their kids.
We’ve compiled this quick guide on essential oils and children to help you sift through the issue. Below, we’ll answer the questions of whether they are safe for kids, what they can treat, how to use them, and finally how to learn more about essential oils.
Are Essential Oils Safe for Kids?
The truth is anything you give your child, including prescription medications, carries a risk. Your child could experience an allergic or adverse reaction to any substance, and that’s why you’d need to keep a close eye on them.
Essential oils aren’t a new phenomenon. They’ve been used for thousands of years and over that time people have been able to observe their effects.
If used carefully, essential oils are perfectly safe for children. Many parents even use certain types of oil on babies older than three months.
While they’re safe to use on children, it’s a good idea to discuss using them with your pediatrician first.
Essential oils can be very potent. To avoid irritation, you will have to dilute the oil and research the best ways to apply it. Children won’t be able to use it the same way as adults.
One tip from the experts is to check all the product labels in the store to ensure the oil you’re buying is natural and pure. Oils mixed with alcohol or synthetic fragrances can be irritating to the skin.
The most important thing to do is to store your essential oils where your children can’t find them. A University of Sydney study discovered an increase in the number of essential oil poisonings from children drinking out of the bottles.
Of these incidents, 80% of the poisonings were accidental and 63% of the cases were in children under the age of 15.
Essential Oils and Children: What Can They Treat?
Let’s look into the ways essential oils can help you and your children.
First, you need to understand that essential oils are not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Most of the benefits are anecdotal.
You should also understand what essential oils are: highly concentrated extracts from seeds, flowers, fruit, leaves, stems, or roots that can be steam-distilled or cold-pressed. The oils are inhaled or rubbed on the skin.
Experts point out that essential oils have psychological (emotional), pharmacological (the body’s chemistry), and physiological (the body’s processes) affects on the body. Often the smell alone is enough to elicit a response.
Using an oil diffuser for children is a good idea, that way they’re breathing it in through a gentle mist.
Here is a list of safe essential oils to diffuse for children:
- Cedarwood: A natural antimicrobial agent
- Fir: Helps to ease congestion and breathing problems
- Grapefruit: Reduces stress and blood pressure
- Lavender: Treats many symptoms include nausea, insomnia, depression, and eczema
- Lemon: Lifts mood and energy
- Spearmint: Soothing any digestive troubles
- Tangerine: A popular skin treatment
Parents should use caution when diffusing the following oils because they irritate mucous membranes: bay, cinnamon bark, clove bud, lemongrass, peppermint, and thyme.
Tips on Giving Children Essential Oils
Earlier, we talked about altering the way you give essential oil to children. This is because their bodies are still developing.
Make sure you dilute any essential oils before applying them to your child’s skin. A good essential oil ratio to follow is using 1-2 drops in a teaspoon of carrier oil. Make sure to only use the oils we listed above for children.
The safest way to use essential oils for children is with a diffuser. This is a device you can buy at most major retailers. It works by breaking down the oil into smaller particles, blending them with water, and releasing them as a mist.
It’s much easier to quickly switch off a diffuser if your child has a bad reaction.
All you have to do is add water, the number of oil drops recommended on the bottle or by your doctor, and simply switch the device on.
There are many ways to use essential oils. Even simpler than the diffuser, you can inhale the oil straight from the bottle or breath it in from a bowl of hot water. Some people even add essentials oils to their bath or shower.
Finding Helpful Essential Oil Resources
If this is your first time using essential oils, then you’re probably seeking information from books or webpages.
Life Science Publishing has spent ten years sharing information on natural product lines with customers and distributors. Their “Essential Oils Desk Reference,” now in its eighth edition, is a best-seller for parents wanting to learn more about oils.
Books and resources specifically on safe essential oils for kids are also available.
You can search online for a good aromatherapist as well. They possess the knowledge and expertise to help you find the best oil and use it safely.
There is no national certification, but you can search for an aromatherapist at the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA). Online reviews are another good way to determine whether an aromatherapist is right for you.
A reputable oil supplier will also help you learn more about their product. Their customer service departments are a wealth of information.
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Being a mom isn’t easy, but we’re all in this together!
We hope this article has taught you more about essential oils and children. Essential oils are great to help treat your child’s upset stomach, hyperactivity, or even a rash.
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